The Tycoon's Tender Triumph Page 0,20

thought.

She shook her head, not bothering to turn around. “I have to go. Thank you for the warm meal. It was delicious.”

“We need to talk.”

Chloe shook her head. “No, I have to get back to work. I need to get that roof fixed as quickly as possible.”

“And what about a sprinkler system? Are you going to install that on your own?”

Chloe had no idea what he was talking about and her eyes whipped around to look up at him. “Sprinkler system?”

“And a solid feed system? And what about heating and ventilation equipment? I don’t know if you’re equipped to install all of that on your own, but I’m guessing you’re going to try, aren’t you?”

Chloe stared at him for a long moment, absorbing his words and trying to make sense of them. As she finally did, her mind went numb. “You’re right. A sprinkler system would be needed to keep the horses safe. I don’t know about a feeding system or heating equipment, but there’s no way I would be able to install all of that by myself.” Her shoulders sagged with the overwhelming information he’d imparted. “I probably can’t get insurance for the guys if I don’t have at least a sprinkler system installed.”

“Damn right!” he put a hand to the door and closed it with a solid thud. “And I don’t think you’d make the horses sleep in an unheated stable, now would you?”

She sighed and leaned back against the kitchen door. “No. I couldn’t do it, I wouldn’t put my guys through it either. You’re right, of course.”

Sam looked down at her and felt slightly mollified that she was at least listening to him and acknowledging that she couldn’t do it all on her own. “Now that we’ve established that you need some help, how about if we move into my office and discuss some options?”

Chloe didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to be alone with him, much less admit that she needed his help. Wasn’t there anyone else she could discuss the matters with besides him? Looking around, Jessy was her only other option right at the moment and she was up to her elbows in making what looked to be cookies. “Fine,” she said with as much graciousness as she could muster at the moment with her heart racing.

She took a deep breath when Sam nodded in approval and finally pulled back, putting some space between them.

“Good. I have some ideas if you’re willing to listen to them. This way,” he said, gesturing to the other side of the kitchen.

Chloe pushed away from the door and walked around him, giving herself a good two feet of space and feeling a little ridiculous when she saw Sam smother a smile, as if he knew what she was doing.

Walking through the kitchen, she was fairly sure she could feel his eyes on her back. And other places. She didn’t know how she was so sure, but it was just a feeling she had, as if her back, and bottom were tingling. Which was ridiculous of course. There was no way his eyes could relay the same amount of energy his hands had delivered the day he’d kissed her in New York.

He led her through the house that was familiar, and yet somewhat different. The furniture had all been updated since she’d been here that last summer. Since she entered through the side door on the other end of the house, she hadn’t gone through the great room while visiting and hadn’t noticed the changes before now. It was modern, but with a western, rugged flair to all of it. Gone were the tweedy couches and the more colonial looking tables and everything was replaced by leather and cleaner lines. She liked it, she thought as she walked down a long hallway. Glancing back, she caught him! His eyes were staring at her bottom!

As she glared, his eyes moved upward and Chloe caught her breath at the heat she felt emanating from his look. “A man can appreciate a work of art,” he replied to her unvoiced accusation, his voice husky.

Chloe didn’t know what to say as her cheeks flared with a blush. Turning back, she walked more quickly towards where his office used to be, praying that it was still in the same place.

The door was already open and she walked in, noting the heavy wood desk covered with papers and three computer screens, all with numbers filling up the space.

“Have a seat,” he said behind