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СКАЧАТЬ about: Jack was blind, and she was helping him find the reception desk.

       Nope, that wouldn’t work, since the Hawks probably wouldn’t hire a blind physician.

      That left... Yeah. She was drawing a complete blank.

      “Mira?” Her dad’s voice dragged her from her thoughts.

      Her head came up. “Sorry?”

      “I invited Jack to have dinner with us tonight at eight. Hope that was okay?”

      She couldn’t have been any more shocked if her dad had suddenly started doing the chicken dance in front of everyone in the crowded lobby. She’d expected a scene and had gotten a dinner invitation instead. Although with her dad, it normally came out sounding more like an ultimatum. “No, of course I don’t mind, if it’s all right with him.”

      Jack glanced at the lobby, and Mira noted that Predator in Pink was still watching them closely. “It’s fine with me,” he said.

      Did this make two or three dates with guy number five? She was supposed to be moving on to the next eligible bachelor and then the next. Her gaze slid back to the woman across the room. Yeah, she so did not want to become that. Maybe she should stop being so anxious to zip from man to man.

      Besides, she and Jack hadn’t actually had their first date yet. Right? Because the hot chocolate didn’t count, and the ski lesson had been interrupted by the rescue on the slope, so that didn’t count either.

      And the sleigh ride?

      Hmm, that could definitely be classified as a date. Which would officially mark the end of their association.

      Her father gave her a quick hug. “Do you want to ask Robert to come as well?”

      “Robert?” Nothing like her emotions swinging from relief to panic. She was going to have to break the news to her father. But not now. Not in front of Jack. “I’m sure he’s busy with lessons.”

      “Okay, if you’re sure.” He smiled as he released her. “You know, that boy’s future father-in-law is the owner of this joint. I could probably pull a few strings and have him let off early.”

      Jack visibly stiffened beside her. “It was nice meeting you,” he said to her father. “But I need to turn in my equipment and get cleaned up. Thank you for the dinner invitation.”

      The last thing she wanted was to be left alone with her father. “I can go with you to the rental kiosk, if you don’t remember where it is.”

      “I remember. Thanks for your...help earlier. I think I’ve got it from here.”

      That must be one of the man’s favorite phrases. How many times did that make now? Three?

      About as many times as she’d been with him. Well, that was just great.

      Waiting until Jack was three or four strides away, she raised her voice just enough for the woman across the room to hear. “Don’t forget about making the reservation for the sleigh ride. Believe me, you won’t want to miss it.”

      Now, why had she said that? Maybe because it stung that he couldn’t seem to get away from her fast enough.

      Jack stopped in his tracks for a second or two before throwing her a look that was filled with lazy amusement totally at odds with his abrupt departure. And when his voice came back, it was much lower than hers had been. “Believe me, I haven’t forgotten.”

      A shiver went over her at the dark intensity of his words. She glanced sharply up at her father to see if he’d noticed, but he seemed lost in his own world at the moment. Once Jack had gone through the door she turned her attention back to her father, bracing herself for a confrontation. Better to just tell him the truth and get it over with.

      “Dad, I have something to tell you,” she began.

      “I have something to tell you as well. Actually, I wanted to ask you for a favor. It’s why I came up here today.”

      She gulped. A favor? “Is it about Robert?”

      If he was going to ask her to give her ex a second chance, she might just blow her top. One cheater asking her to forgive and forget the transgressions of another cheater? Not hardly. Especially when one of the women Robert had cheated with was standing on the other side of the room.

      “It’s not about Robert, it’s about...” He focused on her face. “Is everything okay between the two of you?”

      She frowned, trying to figure out exactly what was going on.

      “Things are a little complicated.” A little, Mira? Really? “Anyway, what’s this about a favor?”

      A sliver of worry went through her as she noticed for the first time the taut lines of his face. If he hadn’t come here because of her breakup, then why had he come?

      “Not here. Let’s go back to my office, Mirry.”

      She hadn’t heard that nickname in forever. The sliver grew to the size of a stake. “Dad, is something wrong? Oh God, is it Mom?”

      “No, your mother’s fine. I spoke with her this morning.”

      Mira’s eyes widened. He had? More alarm bells went off as he crossed the honey-planked flooring and headed for the door that led to a different wing of the lodge, one that wasn’t open to the public. She followed him, winding through the narrow corridors until they reached the small annex where his office and the business areas were housed. Once the door shut behind them, he motioned her to one of the leather wingback chairs across from his desk.

      She dropped into it, the creak of leather matching that of her nerves. “Daddy?”

      All the differences of the past several years seemed to vanish as her unease continued to grow.

      Instead of going behind the desk to face her, he went to the bar on the left and got down a tumbler from the open wooden shelves above the liquor bottles and dumped a few cubes of ice into it. He stared at the selection of alcohol for a long time—as if he’d never seen it before—and finally grabbed a decanter, uncapping it and pouring himself a healthy amount. He rarely drank, and only kept the liquor here for VIP meetings and gatherings.

      He took a good-sized swig then sighed and added another splash of whatever was in the decanter. “I know I haven’t done right by you and your mother. I’ve often wished I could go back and change some things, but I can’t.”

      He turned around to face her, leaning against the counter and taking another sip from his glass. As if realizing his oversight, he frowned. “Do you want something?”

      It was probably better if she didn’t have anything this early, but she suddenly felt the need to brace herself for whatever he was about to say. “Maybe a little red wine?”

      He fixed her a glass then brought it over and handed it to her before dragging the other chair around so it faced her.

      She clenched her glass. Something was definitely wrong. “Are you ill?”

      “No, СКАЧАТЬ