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His decisive tone left no doubt in her mind that Blake meant what he said. “It won’t make a difference if they do stop investing in special events, will it?” She didn’t think it would, but she wanted to be sure.
Blake laughed. “Not hardly. Our great great-great-grandfather started the investors group when he needed capital to build Jarrod Ridge. We’ve grown way beyond needing anyone else’s money to do whatever we want with the place.”
“Then why hasn’t the group been dissolved?” she asked, unable to understand why her father hadn’t done so years ago.
“The same reason you were willing to give up your share of Jarrod Ridge and go back to California,” Blake said. “Dad was afraid of what disgruntled investors like Clara and Elmer might say against the resort.”
For the first time since walking into her brother’s office, Melissa felt some of her tension ease. “I take it you don’t care what they say?”
“The locals aren’t the ones keeping Jarrod Ridge going, nor do they make or break our reputation,” he said, grinning as he shook his head. “The tourists do that. We keep the townspeople afloat with the clientele we bring in. I seriously doubt they’re so vindictive they would bite the hand that feeds them.”
“I hadn’t thought of it like that.” Rising, Melissa hugged her brother. “Thank you, Blake. Our talk has helped me more than you can imagine.”
“That’s what family is for, Melissa,” he said, returning to sit at his desk. “And I’m sorry things didn’t work out with you and McDermott.”
“Me, too,” she said sadly as she left his office.
As she walked back to the spa, Melissa wondered why her father hadn’t seen what Blake pointed out about the resort’s importance to the town. Or maybe he had and used the fear of ruining the resort’s reputation to manipulate and control his children. Either way, the next generation of Jarrods weren’t going to have to live under the threat of other people’s opinions.
But the resolution to that problem brought little relief. In fact, it only gave her more time to think about Shane and the incredible loneliness and heartache she’d felt since breaking off their engagement.
Lost in thought, she was halfway across the reception area when she realized her assistant manager had called her name. “Is something wrong, Rita?” she asked, turning to face the woman.
“Ms. Jarrod, I’m afraid I’ve made another mistake with this afternoon’s schedule,” Rita said, looking as if she might burst into tears. “I don’t know how it happened, but we have a guest in the Green Room, waiting for a massage and there isn’t a masseuse available. Could you take the appointment?”
Sighing, Melissa nodded as she headed for the Green Room at the back of the spa. “Not a problem, Rita. Just double-check before you book next time.”
In truth, she was glad to have something to take her mind off of how much she missed Shane. Anything was better than sitting in her office, thinking about all the things that could never be.
As soon as she opened the door to the dimly lit therapy room, the piped-in sound of a waterfall seemed to wash over her and caused her to catch her breath. She’d probably never be able to hear the sound again without thinking of Shane and the afternoon they’d spent together at Rainbow Falls.
Glancing at the massage table, she did a double take. There wasn’t anyone there. The sound of the door being closed and the lock being secured had her spinning around to face whoever was in the room with her.
“Hello, Lissa.” The male voice was so low, so warm and intimate, it felt as if he caressed her, and it caused her heart to skitter to a complete halt.
“Shane, what on earth do you think you’re doing here?”
The sight of him was both heaven and hell rolled into one. She’d missed him so much, but the thought that they’d never be together caused such emotional pain, it was all she could do to keep from crying out from its intensity.
“I told you the other night that our discussion wasn’t over,” he said, advancing on her.
She quickly skirted the massage table to put it between them. “And I told you there wasn’t anything left to say.”
Wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, he folded his arms across his wide chest and shook his head. “Maybe you don’t have anything more to add, but I have plenty.”
Melissa closed her eyes and tried not to think about how wonderful it felt to be wrapped in those arms, to lay her head on that bare chest and have him hold her throughout the night. Opening her eyes, she shook her head. “Please, don’t do this, Shane.”
