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“All set?”
She nodded, trying to maintain her balance on the one foot. With what seemed to be little effort, he picked her up and carried her once more. “This can’t be good for your back,” she commented.
“You wound me. Are you questioning my masculine strength?”
She had to smile. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
To her surprise, rather than plant her back on the sofa, he walked toward the front porch.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” Kicking the door open with his foot, he took her out onto the porch.
Once they stepped outside, the sight before her took her breath away. The lights that Theo had referred to earlier were now lit up. The whole garden looked like a magical holiday light display. Several Christmas trees, a few bushes decorated like presents, glowing lights along the path leading to the river. She couldn’t help her squeal of delight at the festive scene.
“It’s beautiful, Reid! I’m so glad I got to see it.” She knew it was silly, but part of her was almost grateful for the accidental fall that had led her to be able to be here for this sight.
Reid set her down gently on one of the outdoor patio chairs then took a seat of his own. The night was balmy with just enough wind to offer a refreshing breeze once in a while. A silver-gray moon floated above them in a velvet navy blue sky. Celeste couldn’t guess how long the two of them wordlessly sat there simply admiring the view.
Her awareness of the man next to her was near tangible, so she felt it instinctively when his mood seemed to shift. A tenseness suddenly appeared in the set of his shoulders. His chin hardened. His shoulders slumped ever so slightly, yet enough for Celeste to notice. No doubt he was thinking of all the responsibilities waiting for him back at the resort.
“I’m sorry we got stuck here. Due to my carelessness.”
He turned to her, surprise flickering in his gaze. “Don’t apologize, Celeste. You had an accident.” He gestured around him. “Besides, how can I possibly be upset about spending time here amidst all this beauty and calm? I dare say I needed the peace and quiet for an evening.”
Did that include spending time with her? Silly question.
“But you seem quite distracted. I imagine you’re thinking of all you need to get done.”
He shook his head, turned back to stare at the navy blue horizon in the distance. “Just thinking about a phone call I have to make when I get back.”
“Must be some phone call.” The tension was practically vibrating off his skin as he talked about it. “Business or personal? If you don’t mind my asking.”
He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Both. That’s the problem.”
“Want to tell me about it?”
He shrugged. “I have the very unpleasant task of dispelling the notion my father has that he can retake control of Evanson Properties.”
Celeste didn’t know much about Reid’s company, nothing beyond what she’d read in the business papers. But his statement confused her, based on those reports. “I don’t understand. I thought the company was on the brink of bankruptcy until you took over as CEO and turned it around.” He’d done so in an astonishingly brief period of time, too.
“He’s not exactly thinking straight. His motivation has more to do with an outside party. A woman.”
Understanding dawned. She’d also read about the messy, bitter divorce of the elder Evansons. “I see.”
He let out a grunt of a laugh. “My future stepmother has made it clear to him that she fell in love with a CEO, so she’d fully expected to marry a CEO.”
“Sounds like a compromise might be difficult.”
His eyebrows drew together. “Compromise?”
Celeste nodded. “There has to be a way for both you and your father to come to some kind of agreement.”
He blinked at her. “Why would I bother? This is the man who let an uninformed, inexperienced outsider talk him into all sorts of bad investments. Everything from hiring social media influencers who simply took advantage of complimentary stays at our hotels, to investing in a failed music festival which resulted in countless lawsuits.” He inhaled an agitated breath. “Lawsuits I’m still dealing with.”
