Their Colorado Conquest [Spirit, Colorado 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Zara Chase

Author:Zara Chase
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Published: 2012-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“It’s good to see you, Ellie.” Her father kissed both her cheeks and held out a chair for her in the best restaurant in Telluride. Ellie was all for snatching a quick lunch in a deli somewhere, but her father didn’t do down market. “You look well.”

“You, too, Dad. How was Paris?”

“Very French,” he said, grimacing. “But at least it’s at its best this time of year. Paris on the verge of springtime and all that. How’s the new project going?”

“So far, so good.”

“No regrets about quitting your previous job?”

“Not so far.”

“You know you could have come to me. There’s plenty you could do at Kirkwood Enterprises that would make a difference.”

“Dad,” Ellie said, holding up a warning hand, “this conversation’s getting stale.”

“I know, but you can’t blame a proud father for trying.”

Ellie sighed. “I want to make my own way without giving the impression that I’m clinging to your coattails.”

“And I respect you for that. It’s just that—”

The waiter interrupted them, and the next few minutes were taken up with placing their orders.

“No wine for me, Dad, thanks. I have to drive, and I still have a lot to keep on top of when I get back.” Rex for starters.

“Oh, I was hoping we could spend the evening together. We haven’t seen much of each other recently.”

“Sorry.”

As Ellie shook her head to back up her apology she watched her father, trying to see him the way another woman would. At fifty-five he still had a full head of salt-and-pepper hair, kept himself in shape, and had the air of a man who wielded considerable power. It seemed so unfair that when men aged their wrinkles added character to their faces. Women, on the other hand, made panicked beelines to the nearest plastic surgeon. Andrew Kirkwood, with his elegance and old-fashioned charm, drew admiring glances from more than one woman in the restaurant.

They made small talk for a while, but Ellie felt on edge and couldn’t concentrate on what was being said. Her father sent her concerned glances but made no mention of her distracted state. By the time their appetizers were placed before them, the tension had gotten Ellie all knotted up inside. She took a deep breath and cut to the chase.

“You didn’t mention that Annabel had come back to work for you.”

She watched him carefully as she spoke. He kept his head bent over his seared scallops, and she was unable to read his expression.

“Am I seeing a pattern here?” he asked lightly. “You e-mail asking why I employed her straight out of college, and now you want to know why she’s back with my organization.” Her father laid his silverware aside. “What’s going on, Ellie?”

“I was rather hoping you’d tell me that.” Ellie couldn’t hide her disappointment. She’d tried to tell herself her father wasn’t aware that Annabel was once again a part of his extensive empire, but that clearly wasn’t the case. She, too, placed her salad fork aside and tried not to let her anger show when she spoke again.

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