I hardly recognized him with his hair longer, windswept and messy. A dark mustache and beard hid the dimples I remembered. Rugged now in flannel, he looked nothing like the clean-cut groomsman in a tailored suit I’d met five years ago—Brad’s old friend, smiling in the background right before my wedding day had imploded… partly thanks to him.
When his gaze landed on me, it should not have been as warm as it was. Yet there he stood—six-foot-something of masculine trouble, a sly smile on his mouth, and unfairly sexy as sin.
“Lilah.” His voice was too deep and familiar, dragging up feelings I didn’t want. “I’m glad you’re here. I had hoped Toni would finally wear you down and persuade you to join our team. Merry early Christmas to me.”
I stood so fast the chair squeaked. “You’rethe owner?”
He had the audacity to grin. “Surprise.”
“No, absolutely not.” I snatched the contract from the desk. “I’m not working for you.”
Holden’s smile vanished. “Lilah?—”
“Nope.” Iattemptedto rip the contract in half. Damn premium paper. “This was a mistake.”
Toni gasped softly. “Oh, Chef Childs?—”
“Toni,” Holden said, tone gentle but firm, “would you give the chef and me a minute, please?”
“Yes, sir.” She gave me a sympathetic twitch of her lips and slipped out, closing the door behind her.
I spun on Holden. “I can’t work for you?—”
“Calm down.” His voice stayed infuriatingly controlled. “I went to great lengths to find you. When I built this resort and restaurant, there was only one chef I wanted at the helm. You.”
I snorted and planted my hands on my hips. “Right. You want a washed-up has-been leading what I’m sure was ahefty investment into this lodge with your first foray as a restauranteur? What are you expecting, miracles?”
“I know your talent. I believe in you. That’s it.” He crossed to the window and peered out, hands in pockets.
Why did my eyes drop to his perfect ass? I turned away to avoid it. Oh God. This wasn’t happening.
Holden’s tone gentled. “I didn’t expect you’d say yes.”
“Who wouldn’t take a job like this with the pay and benefits offered?” I snapped. “Especially someone like me, who hasn’t seen a serious offer in I don’t know how long. But if I’d known it came from you?—”
“You wouldn’t have taken it.” He exhaled, slow and turned back to side-eye me. “Because you think you hate me.”
“Think?” I rolled my eyes.
Holden stepped close enough that the heat from his body could have melted me. “Look, whatever you heard me say to Brad at your wedding—whatever piece of that conversation you caught—was taken out of context.”
My heart lurched at the memories resurfacing. Brad was everything to me back then, the man I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with. But that wasbeforeI learned of the twisted games he played. Ultimately, I called the wedding off, ran away with my bridal gown still on, and I partly held Holden to blame after all this time.
My jaw set, glaring at his face in front of me now in the office. “You’re just like him. I know what I heard.”
“No, you really don’t.”
His eyes set on me with regret? Or shame? Either way, my pulse stumbled.
“Believe what you want, but I’m not your enemy, Lilah. And you definitely deserved better than Brad.”
He presumed to know what I deserved? My ribs squeezed. I wanted to believe Holden, but the words pressed too close to places I’d barricaded.
I huffed and moved toward the door.
“You know you’re out of options.”
The sentence stopped me mid-reach.
