Dealmaker, Heartbreaker. Rochelle Alers

two months in advance. He allowed housekeeping to come in to clean only twice a week while he went for a walk to gather his thoughts. Viviana thought it weird that he only ate freeze-dried prepackaged meals people purchased in the event of a catastrophic event that would destroy the country’s food supply. But, it did not matter how eccentric he was as long as he did not burn down the guesthouse.

      “Come on in. I have to get your key card. It’s too late for breakfast, but if you want I can fix something for you to eat,” Viviana said over her shoulder as Noah followed her into the great room.

      “Please don’t bother. I told Giles I would hang out with him and Mya later this afternoon. I’ll probably have dinner with them.”

      “The last time I saw Lily she was talking up a storm.”

      “That’s because she’s a Wainwright. When everyone gets together, if you don’t talk fast you won’t get a word in edgewise.”

      Viviana walked into the room next to the parlor that she had set up as her office. She swiped a key card over the sensor and pushed open the door. The room was off-limits to everyone in the ten-bedroom house. Since the bed-and-breakfast had opened for business, she had hired a part-time cook, two part-time housekeepers and a landscape company to maintain the grounds.

      She opened a desk drawer and removed two key cards and activated them. “I’m giving you two in case you misplace one.”

      Noah took the cards and handed her a credit card. “I don’t know how long I’m staying, but put all of the charges on this card.”

      Viviana stared at the black card as if it was a venomous snake. She shook her head. “I’m not going to take that.”

      “Why not?”

      She glared at him. “Because I’m not going to take any more money from you, that’s why.”

      Noah’s eyes flashed with glints of anger. “You’re right when you say that your brother handles the finances. How do expect to run a viable business when you let folks lay up for free?”

      Viviana felt as if he’d given her a stinging slap across the face as she recoiled from his acerbic taunt. She closed her eyes and counted slowly until she felt her anger subside and could say what was on her mind without regretting what she actually wanted to tell him.

      “When I told you to talk to Leland about buying the land, I didn’t think you would pay us more than the prevailing rate for land around here, and that means I’m not going to take advantage of you. Now that you own my land I consider you a business partner, and that means extending certain privileges. You can stay in the guesthouse without me charging you, or you can go and live with your cousin. If you decide not to stay, then give me the key cards and get back in your fancy little sports car and drive away.”

      * * *

      Noah looked at Viviana as if she had taken leave of her senses, and he wanted to tell her he wasn’t her ex looking to fleece her. The rise and fall of her breasts under a white blouse and the slight flaring of her delicate nostrils told him she wasn’t just annoyed but angry. All he wanted to do was pay her for living in the guesthouse, and she’d gone off on him.

      At that point he did not want to do or say anything that would drive a wedge between them. It was apparent he had underestimated Viviana. She had come at him like a cat he’d once seen that’d had a litter of kittens. The one time he tried picking up one of the kittens, the queen sprang and dug her claws into the back of his hand until he let go of her baby.

      “Okay, you win,” he said after an uneasy silence.

      “It’s not about winning and losing,” Viviana retorted. “It’s about what is right and wrong.”

      Noah threw up a hand in exasperation. “You’re right, Viviana.”

      “Please don’t attempt to placate me.”

      Noah smothered a savage expletive under his breath as he forced a smile. “I’m sorry. I think I can find the guesthouse without your assistance.” At that point he did not care if she felt he was being facetious. All he wanted to do was get away from Viviana before he said something he would come to regret.

      He walked out of the house, got into his car and drove around to the guesthouses. As he unloaded the trunk of luggage and electronic equipment, Noah thought about Viviana’s attitude toward him during their first encounter. At that time, he hadn’t known what had made her unapproachable, but now he knew it had something to do with a man—a man who’d used her and nearly ruined her financially. What she would soon learn, however, was that he did not take advantage of women.

      He’d sown his wild oats, and now at thirty-three, he was looking forward to finding that special woman with whom to settle down. Some of his friends teased him, saying he was still too young to talk about marrying and having kids, but few knew that Noah had tired of the nonstop, never-ending parties where he woke feeling worse than when he’d gone to sleep, that he’d dated too many girls. However, he had always been very discriminating when sleeping with a woman. He really had to like and date a woman to make love with her. And when he looked back at his continual party days, he was proud to admit he hadn’t used women.

      He swiped the key card, and the door opened. The lingering distinctive smell of lemon wafted to his nostrils. Noah discovered the structure contained two bedrooms, and there was a loft with a king-size bed overlooking the living/dining area. The kitchen and bath were updated, and the furniture contemporary and functional. A desk, worktable and chair were set up in a corner under a window which was the perfect spot for him to conduct business.

      Noah picked up a brochure on the desk advertising the amenities the bed-and-breakfast offered. There was a buffet breakfast for guests from seven to ten. Check out was at 11:00 a.m., and early check-in was at 2:00 p.m. Cordials and sweet breads were served in the parlor at 8:00 p.m., and all rooms were wired with free cable and Wi-Fi.

      He decided to unpack, shower and change his clothes, then drive over to see his cousin. Perhaps Giles could give him a better read on the enigmatic, beautiful woman with whom he had found himself enthralled.

       Chapter Two

      Noah stood in the middle of the kitchen, smiling when he saw Giles kiss his wife’s forehead. His cousin had changed since becoming a husband and father. And now that Mya had recently announced she was pregnant with their second child, Giles had begun complaining about traveling and leaving her and Lily behind.

      “Noah and I are going to sit out on the porch for a while. I promise not to take too long.”

      Mya smiled at her husband, her hazel eyes softening. “Take your time. I know you and Noah have a lot to talk about. I’ll probably be asleep when you come up.”

      Noah wanted to tell Mya it wasn’t business he wanted to discuss with her husband, but Viviana. “I promise not to keep him too long.”

      He sat on a rocker facing Giles and stared out at the darkening sky. The air in the mountains was cool and crisp. “I can see why you live here. Everything is so quiet and peaceful.”

      Giles’s teeth shone brightly in his face, darkened by the hot Bahamian sun. “Am I hearing you right, little coz? The last time you were here, you complained that it was too quiet, that you could hear crickets in the daytime.”

      “You’re right about that,” Noah agreed. “There’s something about living in the mountains that makes you think and feel differently. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to move here.”

      “Does that difference have anything to do with a beautiful young woman with long black hair?”

      Noah looked directly at his cousin. “What are you talking about?”

      “Not what but who, Noah. You think everyone didn’t notice you gawking at Viviana Remington like a lovesick puppy the first time you met her?”