Flirting With The Boss. Tina Beckett

Чтение книги онлайн.

       CHAPTER EIGHT

      BY THE end of the week Gina and Zack had settled in and were getting into a routine. Her nephew had started school and was making new friends. Of course, Cassie was still taking charge of Zack’s social schedule.

      Life was great, Lori thought, as she arrived at the bank that cold, gray November morning. Thank goodness her car had seat warmers to ward off the near-freezing temperatures. She thought about the upcoming holidays and couldn’t help but smile. Her family would all be together.

      She also thought of Jace. She wanted to invite him and Cassie to Thanksgiving at the house. Would he come? The memory of the kisses they’d shared caused a shiver down her spine. She was crazy to think about a future with the man, especially when he’d been telling her all along he didn’t want to get involved.

      As she entered her office, she decided not to go to the construction site unless absolutely necessary. Besides, she had plenty to do at the bank to keep her busy for a long time. She looked down at the several stacks of files and paperwork covering the desktop. The last thing she wanted to do was spend all her time managing the number of properties, and the rest of the time at the bank. If only she could hire someone to oversee it all. And she didn’t trust the “three amigos” loan officers to handle things on their own. They’d already thought she was in over her head. Maybe she was, but she wasn’t going to let them see it.

      She’d been working nearly two hours when there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Lori called.

      Erin walked in. She wore a simple black A-line skirt and a pin-striped red-and-white blouse. She was carrying a coffee mug and a white paper sack. “Break time?”

      “Thank you, I could use it. Everything is getting a little blurry.”

      “You should have more than coffee. Helen sent over some scones from the Silver Spoon. A thank-you for putting a six-month moratorium on foreclosures.”

      Lori thought of her own childhood after her mother remarried. They’d had some rough times over the years. “I refuse to let this bank play Scrooge especially with Christmas coming soon. The first thing on the agenda for the first of next year is reworking these loans.”

      Erin smiled. “You know, the other bank officers aren’t happy with your decision.”

      Lori took a sip of her drink. “Yes. Mr. Neal has already decided to retire.” She thought about the generous retirement package her father had given him. He wouldn’t be giving up his lifestyle.

      “Oh, I almost forgot,” Erin said. “I located Kaley Sims. She’s working for a management company in Durango. I have the phone number.”

      “Good. Would you put in a call to her and see if she’s willing to talk with me?”

      “Of course. Anything else?”

      Erin was so efficient at her job, Lori wasn’t sure what she would have done without her.

      “There is one thing. In looking over my father’s properties, I found a place called—” she searched through the list “—Hidden Hills Lodge. I’m not sure if it’s a rental property, or what. It doesn’t show any reported income.”

      “Maybe it was a place Mr. Hutchinson had for his personal use. Do you want me to find out more about it?”

      Lori shook her head. “No, you have more than enough to do now.” Maybe she would look into this herself. She had a great GPS in her new car. Surely she could find her way. She stood. “I’m going to be gone the rest of the afternoon. If you need me, call me on my cell phone.”

      Maybe it was time she delved a little further into her father’s past and the opportunity was right in front of her.

      Later that afternoon, Jace got out of his truck as snow flurries floated in the air, clinging to his coat and hat. He took a breath as he walked to the bank. Okay, he’d been avoiding going anywhere he might see Lori Hutchinson. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off the woman, but since he needed her signature on some changes in the project, he didn’t have a choice.

      He walked through the doors and Erin greeted him. “Is Miss Hutchinson in?”

      “No, she’s not. She left about noon.”

      “She go home?”

      “No, I’ve tried to reach her there. I also tried her cell phone, but it goes to voice mail.” Erin frowned. “I’m worried about her, especially with this weather.”

      Suddenly Jace was concerned, too. “And she didn’t say where she was going? A property? Out to the site?”

      “That’s what I’m worried about. I think she might have gone to the Hidden Hills Lodge.”

      “Where СКАЧАТЬ