Up to Snow Good - Kelly Collins Page 0,17
amusement park.”
“Or, it establishes us as the company that does more than builds strip malls. You want to build a water park? This is the perfect way to warm up to that, get the right mechanisms in place like management, and logistics. Think of this as an experiment—a transitional move. She’ll have to sell, Pop. Better to get her to do it on good terms than force her hand because of some deal you made with her father.”
“Yeah,” his father spat back, “I know the transition you’re making, and it’s horizontal and straight into that girl’s bed!”
That grabbed Jane’s attention, and she turned to look at his father.
“Look, this whole Santa’s Village thing won’t save her, but it’ll give us a chance to reintroduce ourselves as caring members of the community. If she doesn’t want to sell, well, we’ll need the goodwill during the potential fallout.”
“Is it the public relations nightmare you’re so worried about?”
“Yes, and rightfully so,” Max said, his voice louder and stronger. “The way things are out there with the internet, memes, and all that. We have to be careful about what we do now. Today’s news is tomorrow’s social fodder.” He let a dramatic moment pass before he went on, “Let me do it my way, and you’ll get the lodge.”
His father glared at him in a way that made his skin crawl. “What I want is to see the last vestige of that family ground into dust.” He leaned back and smiled. “But I’ll have both.”
After dinner, Max strolled through the backyard, taking in some fresh air. The eternal spring would be paradise to some, but to Lauren, it was a dead end, one his father would exploit to the hilt unless Max could stop him, and he couldn’t.
“Max,” Jane said, attracting his attention from behind as she walked up to him. “Your father’s in some state,” she added.
This wasn’t news to him. “He always is.”
Jane hovered closer. “The way you want to do things isn’t wrong, but don’t forget, he’s got the power.”
He heard the seductive slide in her voice; the way she said that last word with special attention. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of my grandmother?”
“I am,” she said, “and I take care of your father.” He couldn’t misinterpret her meaning. “I could help you, Max. Think about it. I can make your father see reason. Let’s just say that I have his ear.”
“Yeah, I get that.”
She chuckled. “I know you do. You’re not a dummy. You know what we’re up to, your father and me.” Max knew what she was angling at. She wanted to upgrade her status by having a life with the great Eaton Hunter.
Max fell back into his typical reaction, which was to say nothing and simply listen.
“I know you’re into that girl,” Jane said. “We can use that.” Lacking a response, Jane went on, “Do what you must to get the lodge, marry her if that's what it takes. Once the dust settles, we’ll still have all of your daddy’s money along with that girl’s property.”
Max pushed down the lump that rose in his throat. “What about my father?”
She let a little giggle leak out of her mouth. “He’ll go on thinking he runs things. I’ll see to that, but believe me, he’s not half as smart as he thinks he is—no man is.”
He should have been angry at Jane for manipulating his father, but Pops deserved no less than to be as miserable as he made Max’s mother. You couldn’t attract love if you couldn’t give love, and Eaton Hunter’s heart had seemed to hollow out years ago.
Chapter Fourteen
Lauren
Mayor Shipley glanced at his deputy mayor, both men returning their attention to Lauren, who stood with them in the reception area of their offices. Miniature desktop Christmas trees and the obligatory red-leafed poinsettia decorated the room. A symphonic version of O Come, All Ye Faithful floated in over the stereo.
“A winter attraction?” Mayor Shipley said with a nod. “That’s an interesting idea.”
“It’s a good way to celebrate the holiday in our little corner of Colorado,” Lauren said.
Deputy Mayor Roberts shook his bald head. “That will bring good coverage on the local news too.”
Mayor Shipley nodded. “Election year coming up.”
“Exactly,” She hadn’t thought about the election year, but if that got them on board, she’d go with it.
Deputy Mayor Roberts said, “Could bring some tourists in, sir.”
The mayor nodded as he considered the possibility. “We could sure use that.”
“We’ve got funding, but an appearance of the