A Little Too Late (Madigan Mountain #1)(76)

“Wow. That’s… a lot.” I sit with that for a moment and try to take it in. “I think I understand us all a little better than I used to, honestly. We all had guilt.”

My dad’s smile is sad. “Maybe. But I need to figure out how to give you less of it. If that means you move here and take over, I’ll hand you the reins. But it has to be for you. I realize how risky it is to give up your fancy job. And the last thing I want is for you to resent me.”

“I won’t,” I insist. “My head is on straight, and I want this opportunity. Even if that means quitting my so-called fancy job.” I lift Ava’s hand to my mouth and kiss her palm. “I mean—Colorado has prettier views.”

Ava smiles, my dad snorts, and Melody snickers.

“All right.” My dad rises from his chair and stretches. “This meeting was a hell of a lot more interesting than I expected it to be.”

“The dismount could be awkward,” Ava whispers, eyeing the door.

A moment later, the middle Sharpe bursts back into the room. He grabs the resort contract off the table and tears it in half.

Or rather he tries to. But that sucker is like thirty pages long, and it doesn’t work. He turns red-faced trying to do it. Then, he rips the paper clip off and throws the papers up in the air. “This has been a big waste of my time. The deal is off!”

“Is it?” I ask. “I thought maybe you were a fan of confetti.”

Ava’s hand flies to her mouth as she swallows back laughter.

Sharpe throws a handful of papers into his father’s fancy briefcase. They land messily, their corners emerging from the edges. But he slams the lid anyway. “Leaking our plans was a dick move, Madigan.”

“What plans?” my father asks cheerfully. “You didn’t tell us anything about a land acquisition in town. And stonewalling us is… What did you call it?”

“A dick move,” Ava and I say at the same time.

“You were getting paid,” Sharpe snarls. “A goddamn fortune for this podunk hotel. I could have made this place into an international destination! Not worth it now. Not if I have to fight every yokel in town over the lease transfer.”

“Not worth it is right,” my father declares. “Keep your check and your liquor, son.”

“And your snake logo,” Ava adds. “And your sexism!”

But he’s already out the door.

“I’m sure he heard you,” I tell her.

She lets out a cute little growl.

“Come back to the house?” my father says. “We all need to decompress.”

“Absolutely. But can you give me a couple hours? I need to talk to Ava.”

My dad smiles broadly. “Of course! How about dinner later? I’ll grill some burgers. Melody said she’s making a new cookie.”

“Almond clouds,” Melody shares. “And I’ll make a salad.”

“What can I bring?” Ava asks beside me.

“Not a thing.” Melody pushes back her chair. “You’ve done more than your share this week, Ava. It’s time for you to get a few moments of peace.”

“Past time,” my father adds. “Take the afternoon off. I’ll head into the office and see what’s what.”

Ava blinks. “Thanks. If you’re sure…”

I tug her to stand up. “He’s sure. Now come with me, lady. We’ve got some private business to attend to.”





CHAPTER 35




K-I-S-S-I-N-G





AVA When Reed mentioned “private business,” I thought he meant the naked kind. So I’m a little surprised to find myself tucked against him on a ski lift instead of a bed.

Surprised, but also thrilled. It’s been a decade since I rode a ski lift with Reed’s arm around my shoulders. I can’t believe we’re here together, and that Mark is going to let Reed get involved with the resort’s future.

Thirty feet below us, the resort is in the midst of a quiet, midweek ski day. A young female snowboarding instructor is leading a student down the trail beneath us, both of their ponytails flying out from beneath their helmets.

It’s a beautiful December day in Colorado, with a flawless blue sky. The wind isn’t even brisk as we skim up the mountain on a quad chair that we’ve got all to ourselves. The white snow reels past like a carpet up the hillside.

It’s beautiful here.

I put a hand on Reed’s thigh. “Well? How does this view stack up to Palo Alto?”

He chuckles and presses a kiss to my temple. “You already know the answer to that. I can’t believe I stayed in Silicon Valley for so long when I could have this for an office.”

“You’re really doing this? You’re going to quit your job?”

“Definitely,” he says. “I’ll have to phase out my work, though. I’m on the board of seven different companies, and it’s not fair for me to resign from them all at once. But I’ll do it. I just need to know a few things first.”

“What’s that?”

He doesn’t answer me, because we’re arriving on the peak. “Can we ski down Zipshot? There’s a spot I’d like you to see.”

“Of course.”