No one here knew who he was. When was the last time he’d been able to go anywhere or do anything without being at the center of attention?
Max stepped up to the door of his cabin after the past several hours touring the ranch with Emberly then halted with one hand on the doorknob.
The freedom to be himself was incredible. Especially with Emberly.
The low light on the porch broke through the darkness of the evening and cast a glow over her where she stood at the bottom of the steps, bundled in her parka, her cheeks rosy, the tip of her nose a becoming pink, and her eyes bright.
“Dinner in Cliffside Dining Room at seven o’clock,” she said again, taking a step back.
She’d been fantastic all afternoon, taking him around the ranch, giving him the history, showing him where all of the activities were located, hiking past the houses and cabins, visiting the barn and corral, introducing him to the horses, having coffee in the Brook Barn regardless of it being closed, showing him the waterfall from the balcony of the Cliffside Dining Room, even skirting past her family’s home on the way back to his cabin.
He hadn’t pressured her to take him inside, although he’d been tempted to ask her to introduce him to her family.
Emberly gave him a final nod. “I’ll see you in the morning after your meetings.”
In the morning? A strange disappointment wove through Max’s chest. “You will not be at dinner?”
She’d started to turn but halted. “You’re supposed to dine with the other members of your group tonight. We’ve prepared the banquet room for you. You’ll have plenty of privacy, and I guarantee you’ll enjoy the food and the view.”
He didn’t care about food or the view. He didn’t care about dining with the other members, even though he had work to discuss. So what did he want? What was the disappointment about? Was it because he wasn’t ready for his time with Emberly to come to an end?
During the time with her, he’d been able to push aside all the concerns of his life. Somehow, the stress had gradually fallen away. The worries about his future had faded in importance. Once he was alone again, all of that would come rushing back, even if he buried himself in work. And he didn’t want it back. At least, not yet.
“I would prefer to have dinner in my cottage.” Once he spoke, a plan began to take shape. “Is it possible to have the meal delivered here?”
“Of course. That’s easy enough.”
“Good. Please have four delivered. One for myself, Braun, Winzig, and you.”
She opened her mouth to respond but then immediately closed it and frowned.
“Is that a problem? If so, I shall have Braun and Winzig go pick up the food.”
She crossed her arms, still frowning. “The delivery isn’t the problem, Max.”
“Oh?”
“You can’t assume I’m available to stay for dinner.”
“Are you otherwise occupied?”
“No, but that’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
“The point is that I’m not like Braun and Winzig. You can’t dictate what I do. You need to ask me first.”
“I see.” She was right. He hadn’t asked her and had instead simply expected her to do so, whether she wanted to or not. Maybe she was tired of him. Maybe she needed time to herself.
Had he always been so callous? He certainly had never considered Braun’s or Winzig’s needs. He had always presumed people would be willing to do whatever he suggested, mostly because no one had ever opposed him before.
“So you have no wish to dine with me tonight?” He didn’t really have the time and should tell her not to worry about it, that he needed to work. But he also knew he could work later, after dinner. Even with jet lag, he could force himself to stay up and get through the most important issues.
She tilted her head and studied his face. “I’m not saying I’m opposed to having dinner with you.” Her words were firm, but her eyes held a kindness that he liked. “What I am saying is that you need to ask. Nobody likes to be ordered.”
Was he too accustomed to ordering people around? Yes, apparently he was. “I apologize. I would very much appreciate your company tonight over dinner, if you would be so gracious as to grant it to me.”
She glanced down and seemed to be biting back a smile.
