them over the past ten years.
“What they or anyone else thinks about me no longer matters.” She felt her gut twist but held her ground.
Walking out of the office with her iPad in hand, she decided to start at the bottom and work her way to the top. She hadn’t expected Liza to follow her around for half of it, complaining and trying to convince her to leave. Two hours later, her cousin Cal found her making notes about purchasing some new equipment in the kitchen.
“So, it’s true.” Her cousin walked over and, to Raven’s surprise, hugged her. “You’re back.”
Smiling, she nodded. Her cousin was even more handsome than she remembered. She knew that he had been hiding the secret of his sexuality from his family, but Raven knew the truth. Still, she kept his secret. It wasn’t hers to give away.
“How are you?” she asked, setting down her iPad and getting a better look at him. “Liza says you’re modeling?”
He shrugged. “A few gigs here and there.”
“That’s great,” she said automatically.
“Liza says you’re taking over this…”—he rolled his eyes— “hot mess.”
“Trying to.” She leaned against the counter. So far, she hadn’t seen a single employee. Anywhere.
“Good. It needs some serious help. Dad’s been absent lately.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Rumors have him and his mistress spending a lot of time together. Which is why Mom drinks.” He sighed and shook his head. “You can find her in the bar upstairs or the one downtown most nights.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Don’t be. She made her own bed. Both of them did.” His eyes ran over her slowly. “You’ve grown up. I like what you’ve done to yourself.”
She laughed. “Ten years,” she reminded him. “You’ve gotten some new muscles and grown a few inches taller yourself.”
He nodded. “You won’t hear a word of discouragement from me. I can’t say the same from my parents or sister. They’ll fight you right up to the end. I wouldn’t put it past them to sue you for control of this place.” He shook his head. “Don’t let them take it from you. Fight. I know you’ve got it in you. And Liza, well, she’ll come around, after she comes to grips with the fact that her access to unlimited income has to end.” He shrugged.
“Yeah.” Raven sighed. “So, about that. I’m having my dad’s old accountant take over. I don’t want to put your family out, but unless they start working, actually working around here, things are going to have to change.”
“Then change them,” he said with a smile.
“What about you?” she asked, worried to make yet another enemy.
“Girl, I’ve got a place to stay. I’ve been… seeing someone,” he said.
She raised her eyebrows slightly.
Cal’s eyes quickly ran over to the kitchen. “You’ll meet him soon enough, when the dinner shift starts. His name is Tim. He works here in the kitchen and wants to be a chef.” He shook his head. “During the season he’s a ski instructor.”
“That’s wonderful. So, your family knows then?” she asked.
He shook his head quickly. “No, they think I’m seeing… someone else. I know you’ve known for ever and, well, I think my secret is safe with you.”
“It always has been.” She touched his arm. “It’s good to be back,” she said suddenly.
“I’m glad your back.” He hugged her again. “Now, I’m off. My family doesn’t know it, but I have a part-time job down at an art studio in town.”
“Good for you.” She nodded. “Before you go, is there anything else I need to know?”
He thought for a moment. “My father’s mistress… happens to run the books for the resort.”
“Morgan Roche?” she asked quickly.
He nodded and walked away, waving over his shoulders. “See you later, cousin.”
By noon, she’d run into a handful of employees around the facility.
Liam Montford reintroduced himself as her uncle’s business manager. The middle-aged man reminded her of a retired lawyer. He was very careful in everything that he said to her and even wore a suit and tie. She scheduled a meeting with the man for the following afternoon, as he claimed his schedule was full for the rest of the day.
She met Eddie Mimms, a younger version of Montford, who claimed to be the manager of the resort. She didn’t know what the difference was, between Liam Montford and Eddie but figured she would find out the following day, since both men seemed to be too busy for her.
She ran into Rachelle Braun in the hallway. The woman had been