Desire slipped through him. Jenny would be working at the Grandview. They could get to know each other. If the attraction was mutual, sooner rather than later, he planned to have her in his bed.
Then he considered the extra hours she would be putting in. “You sure you want to work that hard?”
Jenny just shrugged. “It won’t be forever, only until I get the construction loan paid off and generate a little more business. Besides, I like the idea of contributing to the success of a new hotel. What’s good for Jerome is good for me.”
True enough.An idea slipped into his head. “I plan to book some business conferences at the Grandview as soon as it’s open and we get any operating glitches resolved. I’ll be happy to promote the Copper Star. People want a glimpse of the past when they come to Jerome. What better place than a saloon that’s been there for over a hundred years?”
A wide smile broke over her face. “That would be great.”
Cain smiled back. Looked like the way to Jenny’s heart was to help make her business successful.You aren’t after Jenny’s heart, he reminded himself,just her sweet little body.
He frowned. Or maybe it was more than that. He still wasn’t sure of his intentions.
“I’ll help you with the rest of the stuff you’re moving,” he said.
Half an hour later, the boxes were loaded into the Subaru, the rest in the back of his truck. One load instead of two, and they were on their way back up the hill to Jerome.
A teenager named Tim, a busboy at the Star, helped with unloading and carrying stuff upstairs to a small suite in the new wing. No kitchen, but a cozy living room, bedroom, and remodeled bath.
“You’re probably starving,” Jenny said when they headed back downstairs. “Lunch is on me.”
He’d worked off the sandwich hours ago. A beer and a burger sounded good. “You’re on,” he said.
Jenny led the way into the saloon, which, during the day, was mostly filled with people eating. Cain paused just inside the doorway when he spotted a tall, svelte blonde with voluptuous breasts walking toward him.
Anna Hobbs Somerset.He had gone out with Anna years ago, after he’d returned to high school. She had been a senior, same as he, but after dropping out, then going back, he was older. She’d been a real beauty, popular with the football players, mainly because she liked sex.
She especially liked sex with him—or so she had said—as long as he didn’t tell anyone. Anna couldn’t afford to be seen with a poor, bad-boy, low-class guy like him.
Cain had left town after graduation, and that was the last he had seen of her—until a few months ago.
He’d run into Anna at the Hassayampa Inn when she’d been in Prescott to visit a friend. Anna had invited him to join her for supper. During the conversation, she’d told him she had married Arthur Somerset, an extremely wealthy older man, but Arnold had died, leaving Anna a widow.
“It was so very sad.” Anna dabbed a napkin beneath her eyes. “We’d only been married a few months when Arnold had a heart attack.”
Unfortunate for Arnold, fortunate, indeed, for Anna, who was now a rich woman.
They had spent the night together in Anna’s hotel room; then a week later, he had taken her out to dinner. He’d slept with her a couple of times in Scottsdale, where she lived.
But for Cain, the attraction just wasn’t there. He hadn’t called her since, and he didn’t intend to.
Now Anna was in Jerome. He flicked a glance at Jenny, who watched them from where she stood next to the bar.
Damn.
Anna walked up and air-kissed his cheek, leaning in for a hug that pressed her full breasts into his chest. “Cain, darling. It’s so good to see you.”
“Nice to see you, Anna.” That was a lie. Anna had been a vicious little strumpet in high school. From the few times he’d been with her in Scottsdale, that hadn’t changed.
“I came up to visit Susan Tisdale,” she said. “You might remember Suzy from high school?”
“I’m not sure. It’s been a while.” He hadn’t the slightest memory of the girl, who probably wouldn’t have given a ruffian like him a second glance.
“I was hoping you’d be here,” Anna said. “While I was in town, I thought I’d drop by the hotel, see the progress you’ve made.” She flashed him a smile from beneath her thick lashes. “I’m hoping you’ll give me a tour.”
Of the bedrooms, he thought. Sex was all she’d ever wanted from him. The only difference was, now that he was as wealthy as her late husband, she wasn’t ashamed to be seen with him.
“I’m afraid I’m busy this afternoon,” he said. “Maybe another time.” He smiled. “The hotel should be open in another few weeks. I’ll show you around the next time you’re in town.”
