Taken By Storm. Cat Schield

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ herself ask the question she’d been rehearsing.

      “Hi, Sheila, it’s Isabel Withers from The Opulence.”

      “Hello, Isabel.” Shane’s assistant had a warm, inviting manner so unlike her brisk, all-business boss. “What can I do for you today?”

      “I was hoping I could get a meeting with Shane while he’s here. I have some ideas for the resort that I’d like to go over with him.”

      If Sheila found it odd that Isabel would skip over the resort’s management and go straight to Shane, she gave no indication. In fact, Isabel had already mentioned her idea to Tom, but he hadn’t grasped the value in it. Going over his head was a risk, but if she could convince Shane, the gamble would pay off.

      “With the upcoming Richmond event, Shane’s schedule is full,” Sheila said.

      “If you could squeeze me in,” Isabel persisted, uncaring that she sounded desperate. “I’ll take fifteen minutes. Whatever he can spare.” Hell, she was so convinced her idea was a good one she was ready to chase him into an elevator and pitch him on the run.

      “Well...” Sheila paused and Isabel could hear the keys clicking on her computer. “He’s free for dinner tonight at eight.”

      Isabel didn’t hesitate. “I’ll take it.” Dinner with Shane? A dream come true. “I’ll get us a table at Overlook. Thanks, Sheila.”

      “I’ve added you to his schedule. And you’re his last meeting of the day, so you won’t have to rush.”

      Was it Isabel’s imagination or did Shane’s assistant sound as if she was smiling?

      “Thanks for your help.”

      Hanging up with Sheila, Isabel exited the tiny office and made her way back to the concierge desk. The carpet seemed suspended over hundreds of springs because Isabel noticed an extra bounce in her stride. She noted several guests responding to her wide grin with smiles of their own. This only added to Isabel’s bright mood.

      The concierge currently assigned to the desk looked up from her computer as Isabel approached. “Shane Adams was looking for you a few minutes ago.”

      Isabel’s nerves vibrated in a mixture of alarm and glee. “Did he say what about?”

      “He wanted your report on the arrangements for extra activities during the Richmond retreat.”

      She’d already shared the information with Teresa St. Claire as well as The Opulence management team, but wasn’t surprised that Shane Adams had requested the update, as well. He’d been quite hands-on these last few weeks leading up to corporate’s massive event. And with good reason. This was a major opportunity to show off the best of the hotel’s operation to A-listers and some of the wealthiest people in the country.

      Although Isabel knew she could simply send Shane the report by email, she always grabbed any opportunity to speak to him in person. “Did he say where he’d be?”

      “He’s over there.” Cindy pointed toward the front door, where Shane was currently deep in discussion with The Opulence’s executive manager, Tom Busch.

      As if suddenly aware he was being discussed, Shane glanced toward the concierge desk, and his keen brown gaze struck Isabel, knocking the breath from her lungs. That the man could land such a blow to her senses from clear across a room should’ve put Isabel’s defenses on alert. Instead, she responded with a warm smile that hinted at the strength of her infatuation.

      He blinked.

      Isabel’s heart leaped as his eyes narrowed and he seemed to truly take her in for the first time in a year. This was it. The moment she’d been waiting for. He would see her as a beautiful woman he desired and recognize that she was someone who strove to improve the hotel’s reputation every chance she got.

      And then it was over. Shane turned his attention back to the executive manager, dismissing Isabel from his thoughts.

      She sagged like a leaky balloon.

      Moments later, he ended his conversation and she headed his way. Clutched to her chest was the ten-page document detailing every guest’s preferences, their requested spa services, rounds of golf, and the schedule of visits to area attractions including the local winery and those participating in unique interactive culinary experiences offered at Quintessential Chef.

      “Here’s the report you wanted,” Isabel said, waiting in breathless silence for several heartbeats while Shane scanned the document.

      With his attention focused elsewhere, she took several seconds to drink in the strong structure of his jaw and cheekbones. The ever-present dent between his eyebrows and surprisingly full, kissable lips. She shivered at the thought of how their softness would feel against her skin and wasn’t prepared when he lifted his gaze and caught her staring at him.

      His eyes narrowed as he silently studied her. Isabel bit her lip to stop herself from babbling out an apology for the infatuation he must’ve seen written all over her face, but his phone buzzed, interrupting his focus.

      “If you have any questions, we can go over them tonight,” Isabel said, rushing to make the offer before she lost his attention once more. “I’ve arranged for a table at Overlook at eight.” Isabel barely paused for breath. Shane hadn’t yet answered his phone—his gaze hadn’t even drifted toward the demanding thing—and she was going to capitalize on every millisecond of his notice. “I’m really looking forward to our dinner.”

      * * *

      Heart hammering with uncharacteristic vigor, Shane Adams regarded the plucky redhead standing before him while his phone’s insistent buzz barely registered. Striving for detachment and finding it beyond his grasp, he surveyed Isabel’s flawless pale skin, the thick dark lashes framing her lively hazel eyes, and her lush mouth painted a rosy pink while her words replayed in his head.

       I’ve arranged a table at Overlook at eight.

       I’m really looking forward to our dinner.

      Had she just asked him out?

      Since Isabel Withers had joined Richmond Hotel Group, he’d noticed a disturbing tendency to become distracted whenever he visited The Opulence. With her russet hair and lively personality a beacon for his attention, he’d pinpointed her as the source of his agitation. But it wasn’t until midway through his first quarterly tour, when he caught himself trying to identify what about her perfume had caused him to lean forward and suck in a lungful of the lushly aromatic, sweet scent, that he realized what a danger she was to his disciplined professionalism.

      “Ah—” Damn the woman. Her invitation left him gaping at her like an idiot. “I’m not sure my schedule—”

      “Oh, don’t worry. I already checked with Sheila. She said you were booked into meetings all day, but that you were free after eight. That’s why I arranged for a table at Overlook then.”

      “You spoke to my assistant?”

      Shane imagined the glee with which Sheila had fielded that particular phone call. She was constantly harping on him to take a little time out of his schedule to date. Although he never did anything to fix the situation, Shane recognized the need for balance in СКАЧАТЬ