SNOWFIRES (13 page)

As Angie rattled on, Holly smiled and nodded
at the appropriate times, but her mind raced ahead to tomorrow and
work—and the Thursday morning staff meeting when she’d have to face
Trent in a room full of people.

Would her expression give her away? Would
everyone in the conference room know she’d been sleeping with the
boss? And she admitted that even knowing Trent was a gambler, she
still wanted him. Needed him!

She’d juggled her family’s finances. Ignored
gossip. Tolerated her stepmother’s excesses. Fought to prove
herself capable at Marvel. This was one situation where she had no
experience to fall back on. The intensity of her attraction to
Trent caught her off guard. Left her wondering she was going to
do?

Without a hesitation, she knew. Enjoy it. She
would take what he had to offer for however long it lasted. When it
ended, she’d have memories of great sex to carry her until she
found the man who would share her life.

If only her vision of that man didn’t wear
Trent’s face.

CHAPTER NINE

“
Angie
,
telephone.” Jenny’s voice called down the hall.

Angie rushed to take the call and Holly
retreated to her bathroom. Impossible not to make a comparison, she
noted it was larger than the tiny farmhouse’s bedroom. She’d never
appreciated her bathroom’s sunken marble tub and large glass
enclosed shower more than today.

Revived by a long soak in lavender scented
bath water, Holly emerged from the bathroom as Geneva entered her
room. Holly couldn’t deny her stepmother was still a beauty—if you
overlooked her hardened looks.

Geneva’s dark blond hair was highlighted to
perfection. Botox injections insured no tell tale wrinkles marred
her beauty. Though Holly knew Geneva was forty-five, she could pass
for ten years younger.

Perfect figure, perfect clothes, perfect
bitch!

“
Holly dear, I hope Joe Bob and Ila Mae
are well.”

As if she cared. Holly suspected her
stepmother was fishing, but she played along. “Yes, and your
parents?”

“
Oh, fine. Busy as always.” Geneva sat
on the window seat cushion and crossed her legs. “I hear that man
was at the ranch also.”

“
If you mean Trent Macleod, yes,
Grandpa had invited him for the weekend.” Hmm, Holly wondered how
Geneva acquired that tidbit? Perhaps Grandpa had relayed that
information in his phone message.

Geneva ran a ruby-tipped finger along the
corded seam of the flowered chintz seat cushion. “Why would he do
that? I mean, that man took his son-in-law’s shares of the company
he helped found.”

Holly had wondered the same thing when Trent
arrived at her grandparents, but she soon learned that her
grandfather and Trent had business to discuss. “I haven’t a clue.
Probably company business. And that man has a name, Trent
Macleod.”

Hoping to redirect her stepmother, Holly
changed the subject. “Geneva, you seem coiled tight as a spring.
Why don’t you use some of my lavender bath salts and have a
relaxing soak.”

Geneva narrowed her eyes and snapped, “I’m
fine.” She took a deep breath and put on her phony make-nice face
again. “I do worry what that ma—Macleod is up to, though. How did
he learn about Marvel anyway?”

“
You’ll have to ask him. Is that a new
dress?” More important, would Holly have to pay for it?

Geneva smiled and brushed her hands down the
black wool crepe. “Isn’t it divine? Mama bought it for me. You
missed some wonderful sales the day after Thanksgiving.” As if
recalling her mission, she zeroed back on target. “And speaking of
wool, has Macleod pulled it over Joe Bob’s eyes? You know, Joe Bob
never approved of Walter.”

“
Grandpa never said anything to me to
indicate he disapproved of Dad. What makes you think
that?”

“
For one thing, Walter told me. And you
could see it in Joe Bob’s eyes when he looked at Walter and me.”
She stood. “Of course, that chauvinistic old coot wouldn’t confide
in you—you’re the apple of his eye, but you’re a woman. He thinks a
woman’s only good for the kitchen and the bedroom.”

Holly laughed. “You’re right about Grandpa
being behind the curve on sensitivity training, but he’s a
wonderful man. He’s tried to change with the times, but he grew up
with different values.”

Her stepmother turned up her nose. “Hmph. A
common oil field roustabout. Until he and Walter Sr. came up with
the idea for Marvel neither one was worth notice.”

“
But he’s been good to us. Can’t you
admit that? He gave us this house to live in so we could continue
our lifestyle after Daddy lost our home.” Holly loved the large
Italian revival style house with a view of Turtle Creek, even
though the taxes and upkeep kept her strapped for cash.

“
Wrong, he gave
you
this house.” A cold, steely expression swept
across Geneva’s face, replaced in an instant by her trophy wife
smile. “Of course, Joe Bob’s provided tuition for Jenny and
promised to do the same for Angie next year. I suppose he has some
loyalty to this family.”

Holly didn’t share the fact that her
grandfather called Geneva the wicked stepmother and other less
complimentary labels. “Of course, he does. And in addition to the
financial benefit of seeing Marvel do well, he has the desire to
see the company he co-founded continue successfully.”

“
Before his death Walter explained that
profit was down due to the economy, but we need our shares to pay
well.” Geneva’s eyes widened and she sought to cover her mistake.
“I mean, of course, my daughter’s shares. And yours.”

“
Of course.” Holly suspected Geneva
plotted to help Jenny and Angie spend money held in trust until
they were twenty-one. Already, Geneva had sought to break the trust
and gain access to the funds, but she’d been
unsuccessful.

Holly wondered how much of her father’s small
insurance policy payoff was left. He’d let the big policy lapse and
kept only an older small policy for fifty thousand. Almost a third
of that had gone for the funeral expenses.

“
Well, I’m having dinner with some
friends and must run. Oh, Laura’s been trying to reach you.
Toodles.”

***

Holly had come in early this morning hoping
to catch up on work that piled up in her absence. She thought she
saw a light in Trent’s office, but she didn’t knock. After their
silent drive yesterday, she didn’t quite know what to say.

Now Sara Phillips stood across the desk.
She’d only come two months ago after Holly’s assistant retired, but
already Sara had proven herself to be a gem both as a friend and as
an efficient assistant. Her neat black business suit accentuated
her trim figure and made a good foil for her auburn hair.

Sara smiled. “Anything else, Holly, before
you leave for the staff meeting?"

Holly glanced at her watch. Almost nine. The
time she dreaded had arrived and she’d have to go to the conference
room. “No, that’s it for now. Thanks again for handling things so
well while I was stranded.”

With another smile, Sara left. Holly forced
herself to rise. She told herself to be practical. Thousands of
women had brief affairs and survived. For heaven sakes, she knew a
woman who worked daily with her ex-husband. Surely Holly could face
Trent. She hoped she could appear calm then.

And she did, seconds later as she rushed
toward the conference room. He was about to enter and waited for
her.

His gorgeous green eyes twinkled. “Morning,
Miss Tucker. Hectic day?” He guided her into the room ahead of him
with a hand at her waist.

“
Good morning, Mr. Macleod. Yes, it’s
been a little rushed.” She took her place at the table. Was it her
imagination that everyone stared from her to Trent?

Lila Brewster, Trent’s secretary, passed out
an agenda and Gordon Williams filled everyone in on the disastrous
Amberfield meeting—as if they didn’t already know about it.

Trent stood. “Gordon did a great job with
Amberfield, but the weather betrayed us by stranding me in the
panhandle. I’m the unknown in the company and they wouldn’t commit
without me present. Here’s my plan to woo them back.”

Holly’s mind wandered. She examined the face
of each person present. Some people made notes, some nodded as
Trent spoke, others merely listened in rapt attention. All seemed
in agreement with Trent’s plan.

With a heavy heart, Holly suddenly realized
her father had been wrong. The people gathered here represented the
heart of the company and each one appeared in awe of Trent. They
agreed with his plan. She’d been wrong to fight him.

And now she knew Trent hadn’t caused her
father’s heart attack. Maybe Dad’s heart had failed from the
knowledge he’d lost everything. Whatever the cause, she had to
relinquish assigning blame and move on. Forcing herself to
concentrate, she turned her attention back to Trent’s
presentation.

And just in time. “Miss Tucker, do you have
employee records to demonstrate our low accident rate?”

Holly nodded and sorted through the stack in
front of her. “Yes, I have those figures available. We’ve gone nine
months without an injury that required more than on-site first aid.
No more than two injuries a year required a doctor’s visit in the
past five years. One accident with a faulty crane last year
required a worker’s hospitalization. It was due to a defective part
in the crane’s manufacture and no fault was found with Marvel.”

“
Excellent.” His green gaze met hers
and the heat of it shocked her.

Good heavens, no one could mistake that look
for casual interest. It about melted her panty hose.

“
Thank you.” She looked at her notes,
unwilling to risk visual contact any longer. Listening to his
presentation, she kept her eyes focused anywhere else but on
him.

After another thirty minutes, he asked,
“Anyone have a question or comment about this or anything
else?”

When no one spoke, he dismissed the meeting.
Holly stood with others and prepared to leave.

“
Oh, Miss Tucker, may I have a
minute?”

Lila, who had worked for Holly’s father for
twenty years before Trent came, smiled and patted Holly’s arm as
she passed. Holly returned her greeting then caught Gordon
Williams’ knowing look as he moved by. With a frown for Gordon, she
turned to face Trent. “Of course.”

When everyone else had left, Trent closed the
door. “Thanks for not openly opposing me on this.”

With a flush of embarrassment, Holly recalled
her earlier objections. “I—I realize I was wrong to speak against
you. Obviously everyone else thinks your ideas are good.”

“
And you, do you think they’re good?”
He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

His touch sizzled through her. She stared at
his chest lest she give herself away. “I’m not sure, but my job is
to take care of the employees and not to acquire contracts or
customers.”

“
Holly, I know we disagree on some
things, but your opinion means a great deal to me.” He tilted her
chin to make her meet his gaze. Darn those emerald eyes.

“
I don’t know what you want me to say,
Trent. You’re a gambler, like my dad.” She had a surprising need to
burrow into his chest and cry. What was that about? She
never
cried.

His finger caressed a line along her jaw. “If
I had children or a wife, I wouldn’t gamble with my family’s
welfare, no matter what the stakes. Can you understand the
difference?”

She took a deep breath. “All I know is you
could lose everything. Trent, we could all lose everything.”

“
Please trust me.” His hands cupped her
face.

“
Trust doesn’t come easy for me. I-I
think I’ve used up my lifetime quota and might be out from now on.”
Too many times she’d been betrayed. Never again, buster, no matter
how those green eyes twinkled and mesmerized.

“
Right now I’ll settle for this.” He
lowered his lips to hers.

She should push him away, but she wanted this
kiss too much. Kissing didn’t mean she approved of his plan, didn’t
mean she trusted him. It only meant he was a major hunk and she was
a healthy woman with needs. Right?

Oh, she hoped so.

As if by their own volition, her arms slid
around him. He deepened the kiss and pressed her against the
table.

His hand caressed her breast through her silk
blouse. She thought of the wrinkle that would cause and pulled
away.

“
We must be crazy. Anyone could come in
and catch us.” She buttoned her jacket to conceal unmistakable
fabric creases around her left breast. There was nothing she could
do about the flame of desire burning inside her.

To make her point, the door opened and Lila
peered around facing. “There’s a call on two from Denton at
Amberfield.”

With a wink for Holly, Lila closed the door.
Dear Lord, did everyone know what was going on between her and
Trent?

He straightened his tie and buttoned his
jacket. “I’d better take the call in my office where I have all my
notes.”

She grinned and patted his arousal. “Might
want to compost that lodge pole before you leave the room.” Then
she turned and raced to her office.

***

Holly straightened the napkin on her lap and
gazed around the familiar dining room while the waiter placed her
salad in front of her. From where she sat she had a perfect view of
the sunset over the golf course’s park-like vista. “Thank heavens
you talked me into this.”

Laura’s dark hair fell in a perfect line to
touch the shoulders of her yellow sweater set. “After your first
day back from Icelandia and a hard day at the salt mines, you need
a relaxing dinner in great company.”