Flirting With The Boss. Tina Beckett

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      “It’s good to have you home.” The older woman stepped back and her gaze searched Lori’s face. “How pretty you are.”

      Lori felt herself blush. She wasn’t used to all this attention. “Thank you, Maggie.”

      The housekeeper turned sad. “I’m so sorry about your father.” Then squeezed her hands tighter. “I want you to know he went in his sleep. They said a heart attack. Maybe if we would have been there …”

      Lori could only nod. “No. He couldn’t be helped.” She had no idea this would be so hard.

      Dennis Bradley walked down the hall. “Good. You made it.” He turned and nodded toward Jace. “Mr. Yeager, would you mind waiting a few minutes until I’ve gone over the will with Ms. Hutchinson?”

      “Not a problem.” He looked at Maggie and smiled. “I wonder if you could find a cup of coffee for me.”

      “I’ll bring some out.”

      Once she left, the lawyer said, “We should get started.”

      He motioned them down the hall and into an office. Lori paused at the doorway. The walls were a deep green with dark stained wainscoting. The plush carpet was slate-gray. Bradley sat down behind the huge desk that already had a folder open.

      After they were seated, the lawyer began, “I’ll read through Lyle’s requests. His first was that the will be read here at the family home.” He handed Paige and her copies. “We can go over any details later.”

      The lawyer slipped on his glasses. “I don’t know if you knew that Lyle had remarried for a short time about ten years ago.”

      Nothing about her father surprised her. She shook her head.

      “There was a prenuptial agreement, then two years later a divorce.” He glanced down at the paper. “Lyle did have one other relative, a distant cousin who lives back in Ohio.” He read off the generous sum left to Adam Johnson. Also he read the amount given to the household staff, which included Maggie and Charlie.

      “I’m glad my father remembered them,” Lori said.

      Bradley smiled. “They were loyal to him for a lot of years.” He sighed. “Now, let’s move on to the main part of the will.

      “Lyle Hutchinson has bequeathed to his only living child, Lorelei Marie Hutchinson, all his holdings in Hutchinson Corp.” He read off the businesses, including Destiny Community Bank, two silver mines, Sunny Hill and Lucky Day. There were six buildings on First Street, and this house at 100 North Street along with all its contents, the furnishings and artwork.

      Lori was stunned. “Are you sure this is right?” She looked down at Paige’s copy to see the monetary amount stated. “My father was worth this much?”

      Bradley nodded. “Lyle was a shrewd businessman. Maybe it was because your grandfather Billy lost nearly everything with his bad investments and eccentric living. Lyle spent years rebuilding the family name and recouping the money. And he also invested a lot into this town.”

      Bradley looked at her, then at Paige. “Are there any questions?”

      Lori gave a sideways glance to her lawyer.

      “I probably will once we go over everything.”

      Bradley nodded. “Call me whenever you need to. Now, for the rest I think Mr. Yeager should hear this. Do you have any objections, Lorelei?” With her agreement, he went to the door and had Jace come in.

      He sat down in the chair next to Lori.

      Bradley looked at Jace. “Whatever you thought, Mr. Yeager, Lyle went into the Heritage project honestly. The business complex was to promote more jobs and revenue for the town. He wasn’t trying to swindle you. As we all know, his death was sudden and unexpected.”

      Jace nodded. “Of course I understand, but you have to see my side, too. I need to finish this job, get tenants in and paying rent.”

      Bradley nodded and looked at Lori. “And that will happen if Lorelei will agree to the terms.”

      “Of course I’ll agree to finish this project.”

      “There is a stipulation in the will.” Bradley paused. “You are the last living heir in the Hutchinson line, Lorelei. And this town was founded by your great-great-grandfather, Raymond William Hutchinson, after he struck it rich mining gold and silver. But other business has been coming to Destiny and your father invested wisely. He wants you to continue the tradition.”

      “And I will,” she promised. “I plan to release money right away so the work on Mountain Heritage complex can resume.”

      Bradley exchanged a look with Paige, then continued on to say, “Everything your father left you is only yours if you take over as CEO of Hutchinson Corporation … and stay in Destiny for the next year.”

       CHAPTER THREE

      LORI had trouble catching her breath. Why? Why would her father want her to stay here to run his company?

      “Are you all right?” Jace asked.

      She nodded, but it was a lie. “Excuse me.” She got up and hurried from the room. Instead of going out the front door, she headed in the other direction.

      She ended up in the large kitchen with rows of white cabinets and marble countertops. Of course it was different than she remembered. The old stove was gone, replaced with a huge stainless steel one with black grates.

      Suddenly the smell of coffee assaulted her nose and she nearly gagged.

      “Miss Lorelei, are you all right?”

      She turned around to see a concerned Maggie. She managed a nod. “I just need some air.” She fought to walk slowly to the back door and stepped out onto the porch. She drew in a long breath of the brisk air and released it, trying to slow her rapidly beating heart.

      Two weeks ago, she couldn’t say she even remembered her life here, or the father who hadn’t had any time for her. Then the call came about Lyle’s death, and she’d been swept up into a whirlwind of emotions and confusion. She couldn’t even get herself to visit his grave site.

      “Are you sure you’re okay?”

      She turned around and found Jace standing in the doorway. A shiver ran through her and she pulled her sweater coat tighter around her. “You were there. Would you be okay?”

      He came to the railing. “Hell, with that kind of money, I could solve a lot of problems.”

      She caught a hint of his familiar scent, soap and just his own clean manly smell. She shifted away. She didn’t need him distracting her, or his opinion.

      “Easy for you to say, your life is here, and you wouldn’t have to pull up and move.” Lori stole a glance at him. “Or have Lyle Hutchinson running that life.”

      Jace СКАЧАТЬ