Page 57 of Make-Believe Match

“Bob Oliver,” he said, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Why?”

“Because I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’s trying to cozy up to my Uncle Roddy and my cousin Tabitha and get them to push Gran on the sale to Black Diamond.”

He nodded grimly. “Sounds like him.”

“What should we do?”

“What we’re doing.” He slid his glasses back on. “I made some calls today, and I’m continuing to crunch the numbers, but it’s going to take a little time to put a proposal together. We need estimates from contractors and aerial lift manufacturers. We need to consult a new chef. But in the meantime, we’ll need to make sure your grandmother doesn’t sell out from under us.”

“She gave me to the end of the month,” I said, crossing the room to sit beside him on the couch. “I don’t think she’d go back on her word.”

“You don’t know Bob Oliver. The guy’s a sleazeball, but he’s a good talker. He can con an old lady in the blink of an eye. And believe me, he will do anything to take me down a notch. This isn’t just business for him.”

I chewed my bottom lip. “So should we tell Gran now?”

“I think we have to. Tomorrow.”

My stomach lurched, and I put a hand over it. “Okay. Tomorrow.”

“Don’t look so scared. She wants what we want.”

“Right.” I took a deep, slow breath. “But Tabitha and her father are going to fight us.”

“We can win.” He reached over and put a hand on my knee. “Trust me.”

“Okay.” I inhaled and exhaled again, his touch reassuring. “I trust you.”

* * *

Devlin and I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening sitting at my kitchen table going over renovation ideas. In addition to collecting data, he’d actually drawn a map showing his vision for the new and improved resort.

“The biggest projects, in addition to investing in better snowmaking technology and one high-speed lift, will be the main lodge.” He pointed to it on the map. “The ground floor will be completely remodeled to include retail space, and the lower level will house a spa and heated saltwater grotto.”

“Heated saltwater grotto!” I gaped at him. “What the hell is that?”

“Saltwater has healing properties and it’s great for sore muscles,” he said. “Best of all, no other resort with a spa around here has one. It will be a draw. We’ll also be reducing the number of guest rooms from ninety-four to fifty-six,” he went on.

“Why?”

“Because for the price we’re going to charge, we want to make the rooms bigger. Snowberry is going to be a boutique, luxury experience. We want to attract couples looking for a romantic getaway, women planning ski and spa weekends, and guyslookingfor girls planning ski and spa weekends.”

“But what about families?” I asked. “I was thinking we could fit in a little zip-line adventure thing over here.”

Devlin shook his head. “A little zip-line adventure is not going to compete with The Summit’s activities for kids. We have to target a different market.”

I propped my elbows on the table, my head in my hands, staring at his drawing. “What’s that at the top of the mountain?”

“That’s a bar.”

“Let me guess. It has walls of glass.”

“It should have some big windows,” Devlin allowed. “That’s the point of being at the top of the mountain—the view.”

“I know, but...” I stared at the spot on the mountaintop where I always went to feel connected to my parents. My heart ached.

“You have to be willing to make changes, Lexi.” Devlin’s tone was firm. “You can’t stay stuck in the past.”

“I understand. I just...” My throat was so tight. I tried to swallow and struggled.