Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
D ani had never felt so completely small-town in her whole life.
Minneapolis traffic raced by at her back while she craned her neck upward, taking in the sleek building towering over her, its multiple rows and columns of tall windows creating a prism reflecting the noonday sun. Bright blue and white in color, the hotel seemed to take up the entire skyline, bold and sure of its place in the world. An enclosed pedestrian footbridge shot out from the hotel’s second level, traveling over the intersection and connecting to the building across the way.
“Well?” Once again, Liam wore a three-piece suit under his coat, this one gray and slim fitting. He looked every bit the city dweller and completely comfortable with navigating around, unlike Dani who hadn’t even known where to go to grab a taxi when they’d landed at the airport. “What do you think?”
What did she think? Of course it didn’t compare with the feelings she had for the Grand, but how much of those were wrapped up in her memories, her love of the place where it resided? If she studied the Lucian Hotel on its own, no comparisons to be made, she had to admit it was beautiful in its own right. And there was something attractive about the idea of staying at a modern hotel dripping with such prestige.
But she couldn’t let Liam know she was impressed. Not yet, at least. Besides, she hadn’t even seen the interior yet. Maybe it was dumpy—a case of something being flashy on the outside but rotten on the inside.
Fine, it wasn’t likely. But a girl could hope. Especially a girl who hated to be wrong.
She lifted her eyebrows. “That remains to be seen.”
“Ah, a tough nut to crack.” He pretended to pop his knuckles and move his neck from side to side. “Challenge accepted.”
She wanted to laugh as he strode forward and held open the door for her and said, “After you, milady,” but she refused to let Liam’s charm get to her. This was a business meeting, nothing more.
“Thank you.” She wheeled her suitcase through the doorway then pulled it alongside her and stopped just inside the lobby, which was massive.
The reception desks were along one wall behind a granite waterfall counter. Two attendants stood there, and a concierge in a suit stood at the side. Elevators extended all the way up in gold from the main area, and three stories up drifted two massive chandeliers, their tear-drop crystals glittering with light against the gold accents of the room.
The floor was travertine, but massive Turkish carpets covered the lobby area upon which sat deep blue velvet sofas in groupings around glass tables with gold legs. On each table sat a gold vase filled with a spray of fresh flowers: roses, hydrangeas, fuchsia, freesia, and white lilies. Smooth jazz played from the speakers in the room, softly lending an ambiance of ease along with the fresh fragrance of the flowers.
At the sound of trickling water, Dani searched and found a giant waterfall running down the wall at least two stories high, gentle and dropping softly into a pool of water covered with lily pads.
She’d stepped into paradise.
Wow. “How much does your company have to do with the decorating once the hotel is built?”
They walked toward the desk and stopped behind an elderly couple being helped by the only receptionist.
“I help advise on the decor once the building is complete, but just like the building itself, I don’t get the final say.” He cleared his throat. “Normally, that is.”
Right. Because the deal with the Grand was different. The stakes were high for both of them. That’s why she was here, after all. To keep an open mind.
But there was one thing she was confused about. “I thought this property was under renovation.”
“We’re doing a section of it at a time, and all of it is complete except for the back corner. We’ve tried to minimize the disruption to guests and events so the hotel doesn’t lose as much money as it would if it was shut down completely. In fact, that’s what I’m thinking we’d do with the Grand once we begin. Renovate in stages, one wing at a time, so we can begin opening it sooner.”
Dani swallowed. Of course, they’d discussed the timeline before, but to see it lived out here, in person, was remarkable. They’d done a fabulous job of ensuring guests weren’t disturbed by the work going on somewhere upstairs.
She tapped her fingers along the extended handle of her suitcase and allowed her gaze to wander. She’d missed the bar when she first walked in and now saw it tucked away around the bank of elevators. A long leather bar top stretched along one wall, and small groupings of golden chairs held guests of the hotel—clearly guests that had a lot more money than the people that visited Jonathon Island. Or maybe Jonathon Island was just used to a certain type of tourist.
These people were businessmen and women dressed in suits and dresses and heels. She suddenly felt a little bit dowdy in her jeans, tennis shoes, and sweater. Piano music lifted from the bar, and she spotted a baby grand with a couple of circular sofas surrounding it. A man in a tuxedo played “Piano Man” for the crowd, many of whom were drinking wine, a few singing along. Another group sat in front of a crackling hearth on a leather sofa—epitomizing both opulence and coziness.
Much as she hated to admit it, Liam’s team knew what they were doing.
For Minneapolis, at least. Not for Jonathon Island.
“Okay, so now what do you think?”
“It’s lovely. Exquisite, even.”
Liam smiled. “I’m glad you think so.”
“I do. But that doesn’t mean I think this type of treatment is right for the Grand. Our clientele is different.”
“Is it really, though? Aren’t the people who visit your island looking for the same thing as those who visit this hotel? Rest, rejuvenation, relaxation…”
“But look at all the business travelers.”
“You know who spends a lot of money?” Liam angled her shoulders toward the bar and pointed. “Those kinds of people. And with the conference center I proposed building on to the hotel near the ballroom, your hotel could host business travelers too.”
Huh. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“You’re thinking about what the Grand means to you, all the memories wrapped up in it, right?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing. I just want to expand your horizons. To show you that sure, you can have the tourists who come to step back in time, but most tourists overall want the same thing—an unforgettable experience where they’re treated well and pampered.”
“But all of this”—she waved her hand around the room—“is still so modern. It’s opulent in a way that makes you feel like you should be wearing a fancy dress or suit just to fit in.”
“The old-timey pictures of the Grand show people pretty dressed up too.”
“That’s because there was a dress code after six p.m.” Dani smiled at the memory of Mom forcing her into her Sunday best to join Dad at the hotel for dinner. “But the style of the Grand is a lot brighter than this. Where are marble black-and-white checkered floors adorned with crimson and lime-green floral rugs, the average-height ceilings that make you feel tucked in and safe? The white pillars throughout the lower level, the gorgeous wainscoting and custom crown molding? You can’t see those details when the ceiling is so high. And it’s hard to feel welcome in a place that overwhelms you.”
“Even if it’s overwhelming you with awe?”
“Even then.”
Liam pursed his lips together and studied her. “I’m trying to understand here, okay? But you promised me you’d open your mind too.”
“You’re right. I’m not trying to complain.” She pivoted, now facing the reception desk again. “It really is a beautiful hotel, Liam. And you’ve done a great job here.”
“Wow. Two compliments in the span of a few minutes. Now was that so hard?” He elbowed her playfully and smiled at her with those boyish dimples, tucking his hand into the pocket of his slim-cut gray suit.
He looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for a reply. But much as Dani wanted to joke right back with him, she still didn’t know how much she could really trust Mr. Handsome. Being in his world only served to show her how much this wasn’t her.
But it was Liam.
It was no wonder he’d drawn the plans he had. Of course he had.
“Dani? What’s wrong?” Gone was the teasing, and in its place was concern. Real and true and genuine.
But she couldn’t allow that to cloud her judgment. “I’m fine.” Dani’s chest loosened as the older couple in front of them finally moved on from the desk, and the receptionist waved her and Liam forward. “Oh, look. It’s our turn to check in.”
Liam greeted the receptionist with a warm smile. “Hi”—he glanced at her name tag—“Stacy. I’m Liam Stone and this is Dani Sullivan, checking in for the night. I’ve got a meeting with Mr. Kutcher this afternoon if you could tell him I’ve arrived.”
Stacy, a twenty-something with her blonde hair pulled back into a flawless, tight ponytail, seemed to straighten in her chair. “Hello, Mr. Stone. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Even the collar of Stacy’s white uniform blouse sat starched and crisp at Liam’s attention. “Mr. Kutcher got called into a meeting and wanted me to let you know he won’t be available until three. But I’ve got your rooms all ready for you, and of course, there is the pool, the spa, and the restaurant open for your relaxation and enjoyment.”
Her eyes flitted first to Dani then down the length of her and back up. At least from here, she shouldn’t be able to see Dani’s Converse sneakers. Oh, why hadn’t she thought to wear something business casual at least? It’s not like she didn’t have the outfits—she just didn’t have much occasion to wear slacks and nice blouses on the island.
“Thank you for your help, Stacy. We are so appreciative.”
“Of course.” Stacy moved her gaze back to Liam, who waited patiently for their room keys. She scanned them through the system and handed them over. “There. I got you both moved to the best suites available, Mr. Stone. Yours is on the ninth floor, and Ms. Sullivan’s is on the sixth. And you’ll each find a bottle of complimentary wine in your room to say thank you for visiting.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Dani said.
Stacy pulled a map of the hotel onto the counter and circled a room with her pen. “Here’s your room, Ms. Sullivan. Just take the main elevator to the sixth floor and follow the signs. It’ll be at the end of the hall. And Mr. Stone?—”
“I know the way, Stacy.” He slipped a twenty-dollar bill across the counter. “Thanks again for your assistance. Who do I talk to about making a dinner reservation?”
Stacy beamed. “Normally the concierge, but I’m more than happy to do that for you. What time?”
Liam glanced at Dani, who shrugged. This was his show. And, much as she hated to be impressed, he was quite good at it.
“Let’s say six.”
“Sounds great,” Stacy said.
“Thanks again, Stacy.” Liam grabbed the handle of his suitcase. “Ready to go?”
“Sure.”
They wheeled their suitcases toward the elevator, which allowed a view of the lobby as they ascended to the sixth floor. When they stepped out, even the hallway smelled luxurious, like eucalyptus and lavender, and the plush carpet must have been twice as thick as that of her apartment. Dani was halfway tempted to kick off her sneakers and walk barefoot, but managed to hold off as they approached Room 628.
“You didn’t have to walk me to my room, you know.”
“I didn’t mind. Do you want to drop our stuff and grab some lunch?” Liam leaned against the wall. “I have some time before my meeting, though I do need to go over my notes and check in with the office.”
A yawn popped out before she could stop it. They’d gotten up quite early and taken two different flights to get here.
“On second thought”—he smiled—“why don’t you take a nap? Order room service. You work so hard. Take the time to relax a bit.”
“Room service is expensive. And some of us can’t afford fancy food.” She ran her hand down the length of her body. “Or, clearly, fancy clothes.”
“Fancy clothes are overrated. If I could just wear joggers and T-shirts all the time, I totally would.”
“I call false on that one. I’ve never seen you in anything but a suit.”
“You’re right. I even sleep in them.”
“Ha ha, funny man.” She rolled her eyes.
“And as for ‘fancy food’”—he used air quotes—“the hotel will comp any food we eat while here, so live it up. I want you to get the full picture of the good life.”
Ah, now she understood. Dani crossed her arms. “The Grand had room service too, you know.” Sure, it was only available on the weekends and during limited hours, but it had been there all the same.
“Good for them.” Liam eased himself off the wall. “Seriously, Dani. This isn’t about convincing you of anything. I really just want you to enjoy your time here. You deserve a break just like anyone else. And a nap.”
His words were sweet, but could she trust them? “I’m here to work, same as you.”
He frowned, then nodded. “Rest up for our meeting, then. We’ll do dinner and then I’ll give you the grand tour. There’s so much I want to show you.” He glanced at his watch. “Since dinner’s at six, how about I swing by here around five forty-five?”
If this had been any other situation, she’d be tempted to say “it’s a date” in reply. But tonight was about so much more than a date. She just had to get through his tour, and they’d be able to return to Jonathon Island—where she could give him a tour of her own.
Dani smiled at the thought. “Five forty-five works. See you then.”
* * *
Normally after a client meeting, Liam was exhausted. He’d head “home” to whatever hotel room he was living in, order room service, and turn on baseball or basketball or whatever sport was on and drown out the loneliness with a cheeseburger and a Coke.
But despite the rather poor reception he’d been given by Douglas Kutcher—and all the ways he’d been forced to grovel and soothe away the guy’s worries about the project’s timeline—Liam found himself energized tonight.
And it all was because of Dani.
“And this”—he swept his hand in a grand motion around the hotel’s enclosed courtyard—“concludes the tour.”
She snuggled deeper into her white jacket, which she wore over a casual dress and leggings, her hair down and curled. Though she hadn’t been half as dressed up as others eating dinner in the hotel’s steakhouse, Liam never would have noticed if she hadn’t pointed it out.
Because to him, she was perfect.
Not that it mattered. Though he hadn’t meant to, he’d broken trust with her. Trust he desperately wanted to rebuild—for their partnership’s sake. Maybe their friendship’s too.
He was in no position to give her more than that anyway.
Dani’s eyes swept the courtyard, which was strung with thousands of lights. They hung and burned brighter than the stars above, which twinkled just enough to show themselves. No, it wasn’t the view that Jonathon Island afforded, but for a big-city sky, the inky jewel-studded backdrop was still a beautiful one.
“It really is pretty.” Dani and Liam walked along the stone pathway that cut through the courtyard and veered off in various directions—one toward an open firepit lined with padded couches and chairs, one toward a bank of rooms, another toward a stone fountain that stood in the very center.
“That’s all you have to say?” he teased.
All evening, from the time he’d picked her up at her room and taken her to dinner until now, she’d been fairly quiet, taking it all in. He’d tried to rein in his enthusiasm as he’d shown her the spa, the ballrooms, the penthouse suite—which was undergoing renovation but was almost complete—and all of the other amenities that had the Stone stamp all over it. Before they’d started the renovations, this hotel had been nice but nothing special. But now? Rooms sold quickly and at a premium. He was proud of that fact, if only because the Stone name meant something.
“What do you want me to say?” She smiled, but there was something a bit adrift in it as she lowered herself onto the edge of the fountain and leaned over to dip her fingertips in. A shiver coursed through her body, and she quickly flicked the excess water away and stuffed her hand back into her jacket pocket. “Yes, it’s lovely, and I can see why so many people love it here.”
He sat down beside her. The cold stone pressed through his slacks, and he had to hold in a shiver himself. “But you don’t?”
“It’s not that. My room is really comfortable and relaxing. I love the huge bathroom and tub. The down comforter is really something. But the whole place is so…big. So much.”
“In what way?”
“I don’t know. Like, the television, I guess.” She moved her hand through the air. “The rooms at the Grand never even had televisions, and the ones here take up half the wall space.”
“Well, I did advise against such large screens, but Douglas insisted on going bigger than his competitors. Still, people come here to relax, to indulge, to treat themselves to things they never would at home.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “And that can be accomplished with introspection. The chance to escape from reality. How can they do that with so much to distract them? The Grand always had a lot of spaces for that introspection. The gazebo, the community porch, the walking path around the golf course, benches along the grassy bluff. Space to just sit and breathe in the relaxation.” And then she smiled for real, at the memories, he presumed. “ That’s what a vacation should be.”
He didn’t disagree, not completely, but was she seriously suggesting they provide hotel rooms without the latest, and most basic, amenities? “Times have changed. Some people would go crazy without technology to distract them.”
She pursed her lips and looked at him sidelong. “ Some people?”
He heard what she didn’t say— or you ? Standing again, he offered her a hand up. “I’m just saying we need to allow for differences. If you want to attract a broader clientele back to the island, you need to think bigger than how things used to be.”
She considered him a moment before taking his hand and joining him in standing. Electric currents pulsed through his fingertips for the few seconds before she dropped from his hold. “We’ll have to agree to disagree on that. Or maybe I’ll just have to convince you.”
“You’ll have your chance, but right now, it’s my turn—and I’ve got one more place to show you.” And if they didn’t hurry, it would be closed.
Dani gestured down the path toward the hotel entrance. “Lead on.”
With a wink, he took her through the doors and down a hallway toward his favorite place in the entire hotel.
Dani’s eyes widened when he held the door open to her. “An ice cream parlor?”
“Yep.” They stepped into Donna’s Delights, where only a few patrons currently took advantage of the warmth inside the 1950s-style shoppe with its high-class red booths, checkered floors, and gleaming black tabletops. Behind the counter, a twenty-something woman greeted them and offered them samples of a dozen different flavors. “The peanut butter pretzel is my personal favorite,” he said.
“Sounds amazing. I’ll try that one, please.”
The woman handed Dani a tiny spoon containing some of the creamy delicacy, and Liam couldn’t help the dryness in his throat as he watched her take it between her lips, close her eyes, and sigh. “Oh my goodness, that’s amazing. I will definitely have one of those, please.”
“Make it two, but I’ll take mine in a waffle cone.”
“Right away, Mr. Stone.” The woman set to work getting their ice cream served up, and within minutes, they were tucked away in a corner booth.
Somewhere above them, a speaker played an Elvis Presley ballad.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever had ice cream in April.” Dani dipped her spoon into her cup and held it up, as if examining it from every angle. “But I’m highly in favor.”
“You and my mom both.” Liam licked his cone, the bits of chocolate finding the sweet spots on his tongue. “She always said ice cream should be a year-round thing.”
“Sounds like my kind of woman.” Dani cocked her head. “Her name wouldn’t happen to have been Donna, would it?”
How had she figured it out? Liam stared at every ridge of the cone. “Every hotel we renovate gets a Donna’s Delights. It’s part of our normal contract. Kind of our signature thing. Of course, our contract for the Grand is a bit outside the norm, so no worries about being forced to add one.”
“I’m not worried.” Dani reached across the table and placed her hand on his forearm. Squeezed. “I think it’s amazing that you’ve found such a great way to honor her memory.”
His gaze shifted to her fingers, each one long and thin. Her teal fingernail polish was chipped around the edges, but it didn’t seem to bother her. He knew plenty of women back home who had their nails done every week or so, but he’d never seen a hand as beautiful as hers. “Thanks, Dani.”
They ate in silence for a few long moments, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. More like she was sitting with him in the memories. Then she finally spoke. “I’d love to hear more about your mom. If you don’t mind telling me.”
Liam inhaled a shaky breath. “I don’t mind.” But what could he say to really describe how amazing his mom had been? How could he really do her justice? “She…” He watched a drip of ice cream slide down the side of his cone and plop onto the table. “She always had a snack waiting for me after school. We’d sit and talk about my day, or about her day. She was a freelance editor. Really smart. And she was always doing things for other people, you know? Taking them meals when they’d had surgery, watching their kids for them when they had doctor’s appointments, that kind of thing. And she loved me and my dad like…” His words choked him. He coughed. “Like we were the best things in her life. Like we mattered more than anything. She’d drop whatever she was doing and just be with us. And she made our house a real home. Decorated it with all of these knickknacks she’d get garage saling. Drove my dad crazy, and he’d tease her about it.”
Liam blinked against the memories. Oh man. He hadn’t meant to talk for so long. His ice cream had dripped more than once all over the table, and he grabbed a fistful of napkins from the silver dispenser. Wiped away the mess before he got the courage to look up at Dani.
Her eyes were watering. Was she crying?
“You okay?” he asked.
“Sorry, yeah.” She tugged a clean napkin from his pile and dabbed her eyes. “It’s just really beautiful to hear about her.”
“She was a really great mom. And she gave me a great childhood home. Things were never the same after she died, you know? Dad and I moved from the suburbs to downtown L.A. A friend of his and our biggest client owns a hotel there and lets us rent the penthouse for dirt cheap.”
“You live in a hotel?”
Her question didn’t come across as judgmental, just curious. Maybe with a touch of surprise too.
“It’s weird, I know. But not so bad. I’m not home much anyway. Always running off to manage the next job. I’m never in one place for very long. Though I do hope to change that.”
“You mentioned something about that last week. How are you hoping to change it?”
“I’ve got a project in the works with a buddy of mine. We’re hoping to get Dad to buy a hotel and renovate it ourselves.”
“So you’d be your own client?”
“Basically. It’s in Los Angeles, and it would be a strong asset to add to our portfolio. I’m thinking that once we have one under our belt, maybe we can buy others in the area. Kind of create a new revenue stream, you know? And that would keep me there, in one place. I could maybe get Dad to retire.”
“Does he want to retire?”
“He should, for his health.” Liam took a bite of ice cream. “But I need to be in L.A. for him to even consider it.”
“Hmm.” Dani swirled her spoon in her ice cream cup. “So, your mom. How…how did she die?”
He shifted in his seat and set his cone down on the dirty napkins. His appetite had fled. Because after all the memories came the dreaded emptiness—the memory that Mom had gone and taken any semblance of home with her. “Um, childbirth. It was…” The words got stuck in his throat.
“It’s okay.” Dani’s voice was quiet, soothing. “You don’t have to tell me.”
He just sat there, staring at the table, blinking. Because it wasn’t that he didn’t trust her enough to tell her. It was just that, well, what was the point? Liam cleared his throat. “So, what about you? Are you and your mom close?”
“We used to be.” Dani stood and tossed her ice cream bowl and spoon into the nearest trash can. “Not so much anymore.”
“Sorry to hear that.” Standing, he threw away the rest of his cone and pile of napkins. “What about your dad? And you said you had six siblings, right?”
“I do.” Dani hauled it out of the parlor like she was being chased. Then she turned in the hallway that led to the lobby, cocked her head. “But you don’t want to hear about my family drama.”
“Actually, I do.” And he found that he meant it. He wanted to know more about what had made this woman into the fascinating, loyal, passionate person she was. And he wanted more than that. Wanted to draw her to him, to soothe away any pain others had caused her. That he’d caused her. Liam took a step closer. “I really do.”
Her vanilla scent wrapped around him, and she looked up at him with wide eyes. Dani’s mouth opened, closed, and for a moment, both of them were still.
Liam leaned in just a hair.
But Dani blinked and drew back, breaking the spell. “Um, hey, so, I’m pretty tired right now. I think I might head to bed if that’s all right. But thank you for sharing about your mom.”
He shook himself from his stupor. “Thanks for listening.”
“Sure.” They stepped onto the elevator and rode in silence. When they reached Dani’s floor, she stepped off and turned to face him, arms folded over her chest. “Night, Liam.”
“Night.”
And then she was gone.
What had just happened? He’d wanted to kiss her, that was what. More than he’d wanted to kiss anyone in a long time. No woman since Tiffany had even come close to capturing his interest, and he’d known Dani exactly a week.
He needed to get focused. Did he like Dani? Yeah, fine, okay. But that was a non-factor. Because he was needed back in LA. and was leaving in a week.
There was no future here.
And yet, even as he hit the button for the ninth floor, a part of him stayed back with Dani on the sixth.