Holden shrugged like money was the least of his worries. “Let’s just say that I have anobscenebudget. I want this to be the premier destination in the Northeast. I’m not afraid to spend what’s needed to make it so.”
Before I could process the wordobscene, Caleb slid in smoothly.
“When the budget’s that strong, cost doesn’t matter,” he said with a grin toward Holden. “What the client wants, the client gets. Right?”
Holden laughed, clearly charmed. “Exactly. I like you already.”
Archer’s jaw ticked. “Sure,” he said evenly. “As long as physics agrees with the client.”
Holden shrugged. “Two other firms didn’t seem to think it’d be a problem.”
Archer straightened. “Wait—two other firms?” His voice lost its calm edge. “Holden, a word?”
They stepped a few paces away, but Caleb and I were close enough to catch their low voices bouncing off each other.
“What the hell?” Archer said quietly, though the tension in his shoulders said plenty. “Given our friendship, I thought we had an understanding that we’d be working on this project for you.”
Holden lifted his hands. “Relax. Call it due diligence. I gathered a few opinions before jumping in. I’ve never built anything like this. You can imagine how much hand-holding I’ll need.”
A smile ghosted across his lips, though his tone stayed polite. “That’s exactly what you’ll get when you hire my firm—hand-holding the entire way.”
Holden grinned, patting his shoulder. “Like dating, huh? As long as we get past first base.”
Archer chortled. His eyes flicked toward the view instead, scanning the valley. When they rejoined the group, his smile looked practiced.
The rest of the day blurred into motion. Our team spread out, the interns, too, snapping photos, sketching,taking measurements, discussing potential problems and opportunities with the build. Maya conferred with Holden about guest-flow logistics. I trailed them all with my tablet, logging ideas.
Holden’s enthusiasm never dimmed. He wanted a top-notch gourmet kitchen to match the five-star restaurant he planned to add—open concept, with glassed-in wine storage and a Michelin-rated chef. He pointed towards the terrace outside. “Infinity pool there, heated year-round with a retractable roof like the Astrodome,” he said. “I have a vision of people swimming while it’s snowing.”
I chuckled, scribbling notes. “Holden, I grew up in Steele Valley. What about the locals?” I asked. “Will you still offer community days—discounted lift passes and use of facilities each season?”
Holden’s expression softened. “Absolutely. My PR team will schedule those before we even open. The locals keep this valley running, so they deserve to enjoy it, too. And I believe in encouraging the youth of today to take up my sport. I even have a foundation that outfits underserved youth with equipment.”
That answer earned him a smile from me. Maybe he was a dreamer, perhaps a big talker, definitely a charmer and gorgeous, but my gut said Holden West wasn’t heartless. He was simply a man with means who wanted to build himself a legacy—on top of a mountain.
By late afternoon, the light was fading, and I needed a stretch, my sketchbook almost full of ideas. I filtered back through the lodge lobby, seeing heads bent over tablets and lists. At the self-serve coffee bar, I fixed myself a latte, and caught bits of Caleb’s conversation as he lingered with Holden at the nearby bar area.
“With my management approach,” Caleb was saying, “I could streamline all of this for you—keep the same timeline,maybe even under budget. Bellamy Brothers has incredible designers, of course, but there are others. I can personally oversee the design and construction, make sure everything stays efficient.”
Holden nodded, clearly intrigued. I hesitated. It sounded like a pitch Caleb was making for Holden’s business outside of Bellamy. I searched and found Archer in an alcove with Maya and Brooks, talking to the interns about load-bearing walls and structural stress points.
Caleb brushed by me, joining them, the little mini-class taking on a life of its own. I bit my tongue about what I thought I heard and turned back to my notes.
By the time we returned to the Steele Valley Resort, twilight threatened to cloak the valley. Archer and I said goodbye to everyone and stepped off. The company shuttle moved on, taking the team back to the city. I’d driven my own car, planning to spend the night at Mom’s place.
With the shuttle out of view, Archer finally faced me, his eyes warming, the air thick with unsaid things. “Hi. Interesting day.”
“Yes, an exciting project, if we can rein in Holden’s desires.”
He exhaled a chortle, steam curling from his breath. “He’s always been a big thinker.”
“I saw that, yes. But—sorry if it’s not my place—I overheard Caleb sounding like he was pitching Holden on managing the project himself.” I tilted my head.
A muscle jumped in his jaw, eyes narrowing. Then he snorted. “That’s Caleb. Gets chummy with clients. It’s part of his charm—and why he’s good at bringing projects in.”
“Okay. I wasn’t sure if it was something to worry about.”
“I’m glad you told me. But let’s be honest here. Without you and Maya and the team behind him, Caleb wouldn’t be able to manage a thing.” He smirked faintly. “You’ve worked with him for the past few weeks. You know.”
