The Professional Bride: Billionaire Marriage Brokers Book Three (16 page)

“Good luck,” said Amber.

“Later, man.” Jeremy gave Rym a little wave, and Rym lifted a couple fingers off the table to show he’d heard.

“Well, that was unexpected.” Amber pushed her plate away.

“Was it?” Rym didn’t know why, but he was suddenly suspicious. She leveled him with a look, but Rym didn’t drop the accusation from his tone. “You spend hours on the computer and have email on your phone. For all I know, you guys could be in touch every day. It’s obvious you’re close.”

“We aren’t.”

“Please, he gets your calendar updates.”

“Don’t worry.” She pulled out her phone. “I’m sending a text to Trish right now to tell her to get him off.”

“He knew about your lobster thing and I just found out tonight.”

Amber’s jaw dropped. “Are you jealous?”

Rym’s face burned. “No.” He shifted in his seat. “He’s your ex-husband. It’s weird to have him show up, especially at our anniversary dinner.”

Amber’s eyes went wide. “I thought we were celebrating the water rights.”

Rym fumbled with his fork. “We are. McGraw mentioned the anniversary earlier.” Throwing down his cutlery, Rym barked, “Did you kiss him?”

Amber’s mouth fell open.

“Or…more?” Rym’s stomach twisted and his hands shook. He needed to know. The wondering and imagining were way worse than the actual answer could possibly be. Unless the answer was that she’d actually kissed Jeremy. Then he’d have to follow the guy out to the parking lot and make sure he never came back.

Amber leaned back in her chair. She crossed her arms for a minute and just looked at him. “I, I’m at a loss for words.” She used her napkin to wipe her mouth. “I can’t believe I have to spell this out for you. I have not taken advantage of the physical intimacy clause during any of my marriages.”

Rym hated himself for feeling so weak when it came to Amber. “Not even a little bit?”

Amber glared at him and appeared to be counting her breaths to calm down. Finally, her shoulders relaxed and she chuckled. “I should seriously be mad at you for a week for this. But, if I look at things from your perspective, I guess I can understand how you would wonder. Especially after Jeremy shows up here.”

“And gets down on one knee.”

“Yeah, there was that,” Amber conceded.

“And begs you to come back.”

“That too—which is not my fault, by the way.”

“Oh, it’s totally your fault.”

Amber’s arms fell to her sides. “How?”

“You’re kind of hard to forget.”

Every line and angle on Amber softened. “I care about Jeremy like I care about my little brother. If he calls—and it better be a call and not a visit—I’ll help him through because I want good things for him, but I don’t want him back.”

The knot at the base of Rym’s skull loosened, and he relaxed for the first time since Jeremy flashed his toothpaste commercial smile. He realized that Jeremy had come hoping Amber would leave with him, and instead, she’d sent him packing. She was a lot nicer about it than he would have been, but still she was here, and that thought created a warm feeling in his chest. “Should we go back for more lobster?”

Amber smiled. “I think I’ve had enough for the night.”

“Dessert?”

She leaned forward. “Chocolate?”

Rym faked a panicked look. “Don’t tell me you’re addicted to that too?”

“Not like I am to lobster. I’m more of a functioning addict when it comes to chocolate.”

Rym stood up and took her hand, tucking it in the crook of his arm. “I may be mistaken, but I thought I saw chocolate truffles, brownie bites, and some layered thing that smelled like coffee.”

“Honey, you had me at truffles.”

Rym smiled in response, but as she turned her attention to the dessert section, his smile melted. She joked that he had her at truffles, but in reality he didn’t have her any more than Jeremy did when they were married. Sure, they had a contract, but in ten months that contract would expire and they’d be signing divorce papers.

The thought left a sour taste in his mouth. He was letting Amber too far into his heart to let her go easily. It would be impossible to root her out at this point, but he could stop her from getting deeper. He had to, or he’d else he’d never recover when she left.

Chapter 2
4
5

March was historically a huge month for Iron Mountain. All over the country, schools emptied for spring break, parents took off a week of work, and the hotel and ski school filled to capacity. They had to call in every instructor, liftie, maid, reservation specialist, and daycare worker on payroll just to keep their heads above water.

Small emergencies popped up all day long that kept Rym and Amber rushing. They ended up driving separately most days so that they could run errands as needed, and their evenings were once again full of hosting responsibilities. They had little time alone and Rym felt the strain. He’d come to realize that Amber was an asset at the resort. More than once he’d considered offering to hire her on after their divorce. The trouble was, even though Rym could afford Amber’s monthly salary, Iron Mountain couldn’t.

By the end of March, Rym was worn out. Another month had slipped by, and the resort would shut her doors mid-April. Rym looked up from his computer and gazed longingly at the giant flakes floating gently past his window. He groaned. Outside, powder accumulated quickly because of a cold front that had blown down from Alaska. It was a POW day like he hadn’t seen since January; although in January, the flakes were smaller. Because it was later in the season, these flakes were huge—and Rym was stuck inside.

His gaze came back from the snow to his computer screen. Diving back into the income report for last month, he worked to wrap his mind around the numbers and what they meant for the business.

When Amber walked in carrying two hot chocolate mugs half an hour later, he felt like his brain had been put through the steam machine the barista used downstairs. She walked around to his side of the desk to hand him the cocoa instead of passing it across the desk and over his laptop. “I thought I’d find you with your forehead pressed against the window, drooling over the powder.”

He smiled. “Nope. I’m all business, all the time.”

Leaning back against his desk, she took a sip from her mug. “How are things going?”

“Great.” He turned away from her so she wouldn’t see the disappointment he knew he couldn’t completely hide.

“I brought you something.”

Tapping the down arrow, Rym pretended he was engrossed in the numbers. “Oh, sorry, thank you for the cocoa.”

Amber laughed. “Not that.” He looked up. “This.” Dangling from her hand was a blue lanyard and a season pass to the resort, the kind that meant you could head straight out to the hill and not have to stop at the marketing desk for a day pass. “Aren’t your skis still in the locker room at the lodge?”

He gulped. “Are you serious?”

Amber nodded.

“But what about all this?” He pointed to the computer.

Amber shook her head. “You’ve worked so hard this past month, and I know it hasn’t been easy. Part of me getting you settled is helping you find a schedule you can enjoy. You have responsibilities here, but on a day like today, you need to feed your soul.”

Rym stood up and took the pass. He was standing so close he could smell the deep floral scent of her perfume. Enveloping her in his arms, he picked her up off the floor. “You’re the best wife ever.”

Amber hugged him back and laughed. “You’re welcome.”

He set her down, but didn’t let her go. Holding Amber like this was one of the small pleasures he found in the day. She laid her hands on his chest, and he traced the outline of her lips with his eyes. Amber’s cheeks flushed and she stepped closer, tipping up her chin. Rym savored the moment, kissing her slowly, exploring her lips and wrapping his hands around her back. Amber returned his kiss, sighing softly as it came to an end.

“I’ll meet you back here when the lifts close down,” said Rym. “We should go out to dinner to celebrate.”

Shaking her head, Amber giggled. “Only in Utah do they celebrate snow days.”

Rym let her go and wrapped the lanyard around his neck. When he hesitated, wondering if he should shut the door to his office and spend the afternoon kissing Amber, she gave him a gentle push toward the door. “Go! I’ll cover for you.”

Rym walked passed his secretary’s desk and out the door like he had an important meeting to get to. Within minutes he was in the locker room, changing into his base layers and slipping on his snow pants. He opened the tall locker on the next aisle and grabbed his skis and boots.

As he climbed the stairs that lead to the lifts, Amber crept into his thoughts as she often did when they weren’t together. He could hardly believe he’d been married for three months. They worked together as if they’d been married fifty years and still liked each other. It was a good thing, since they were constantly together. At work, at home, in the car, they were rarely apart for longer than a couple of hours. Rym thought he would feel stifled after being alone for so long, but there was nothing stifling about Amber. Instead of weighing him down or making him feel like he had to make conversation, she allowed him to just be. They could sit in the same room and not say a word for hours on end.

That’s not to say he wasn’t aware that she was there. It was quite the opposite. When it came to Amber, he had a built-in radar. The moment he walked into a meeting, his eyes found hers. If they were at home and she entered the room, his head snapped up. Even when he’d spend a few minutes at the end of the day greeting parents as they picked their kids up at the ski school, he’d know the minute she stepped on the snow.

Instead of distracting him, his radar gave him the anchor he desperately needed to make it through taking control of the company.

As he took his seat on the lift that would take him to the upper mountain and the tougher trails, his thoughts stayed with Amber. What would she have done if he’d given in to his impulse and kissed her again? He honestly didn’t know. At times, he sensed she cared for him. He guessed she was attracted to him. At least, he caught her looking at him with an awareness he’d seen in other women. There
was
something between them. It wasn’t one-sided. Amber had snuggled into him on more than one occasion; she’d instigated hugs and leaned in for kisses.

Kissing, or any form of a physical relationship, wasn’t part of their marriage contract, and Rym couldn’t help but wonder if Amber had kissed her other husbands. It was a low-down, dirty thought, but he couldn’t shake it off, and it trailed behind him like a bad dream. He wanted to believe he was Amber’s someone special, that what they’d had was different than what she’d shared with her other husbands; but after meeting Jeremy and seeing the familiarity between him and Amber, Rym wasn’t sure that he was more than just Amber’s job.

The lift slowed at the top of the hill to allow Rym to stand up and skate to the side. He decided to start at his favorite run. He knocked his poles together twice and took off. A month since he’d skied and fresh powder on the hill did wonders to lighten his mood.

By the time he reached the bottom of the hill, he’d been recharged. Grinning, he made his way back to the lift line. Amber had been right—he needed to feed his soul.

Chapter 2
6
5

Amber was leaving her desk for lunch when she was stopped by a man in a black business suit. “Are you Mrs. Hoagland?” he asked.

“I am.” Amber smiled at the small thrill that shot through her stomach to answer in the affirmative. Being Rym’s wife was a new experience. She had taken her other husband’s names, but never before did it give her such a sense of pride and a feeling of being cherished. The idea that Rym would share something as personal as his name with her left her head in the clouds. Still, it wasn’t quite as wonderful as the feeling that came when Rym kissed her. That feeling was more like a slow burn that started in her belly and climbed through her veins.

“Here.” The man thrust an envelope into her hands. “You’ve been served.”

“What?” Amber stared blankly at the envelope.

“Have a nice day.” The man turned on his heel and left as quickly as he’d come.

Amber ripped open the envelope and scoured its contents. Reversing her course and forgetting all about lunch, Amber hurried back to Rym’s office, where she dialed Mr. McGraw.

After explain the situation, McGraw advised her not to discuss the matter with anyone until he set up a meeting. “Where’s Rym?” he asked.

“He’s on the mountain.” Amber bit her thumbnail.

“See if you can track him down. I’ll set a meeting with Mr. Pederson. Hopefully, we can have this wrapped up this afternoon.”

Amber nodded as she reached for her phone. She and Rym hadn’t talked about the cliff incident since that day, and now the girl’s parents were threatening a lawsuit. She dropped her phone and logged into the employee system. Robyn had a class today. Rym hadn’t fired her. Clutching her hands to her chest, Amber said a quick prayer. She dialed Rym and groaned when her call went voicemail.

McGraw stuck his head in the office, his phone at his ear. “He can be here in thirty minutes.”

“I can’t reach Rym.”

“We need this meeting.”

Amber nodded her understanding. She spent the next twenty minutes reviewing Robyn’s employee file and dialing Rym every two minutes.

Except for the cliff incident, Robyn had a spotless record. She noted the dependents on Robyn’s list and cringed.

Mr. McGraw escorted Mr. Jarrett into his office. The lawyer had attractive salt-and-pepper hair cut short, a prominent chin, and an air of confidence. He was pleasant in his greeting and offered a smile to Amber as they shook hands.

After introductions were finished, Amber asked the question that had burned in the back of her mind since she read the papers. The sums listed were extravagant, and Iron Mountain, Rym, and Amber were all listed as defendants. “What exactly is it your client wants?”

“My client is more concerned about the safety of children than they are about the money.”

“Then why ask for so much?”

Mr. Jarrett smiled easily. “Because they think they can get it.”

Amber blanched. How dare they? She exchanged a look with McGraw. “How would paying one family keep children safe?”

“Well,” began Mr. Jarrett, “they would be willing to drop the charges if you could assure them that the instructor responsible was unable to take responsibility for another class.”

Amber’s stomach tightened. “If you’ll excuse us for a moment.” Amber signaled for McGraw to join her outside Rym’s office.

“What do you think?” Amber asked.

McGraw tugged at his tie. His eyes fell to the floor. “It’s policy to fire the instructor. If they will drop the suit, it’s worth it.”

“Financially,” said Amber. But what about in principle? If she fired Robyn after knowing how Rym felt about it, Rym would be furious. And he’d have a good reason to be. “What’s the likelihood that we’d win the case?”

McGraw stroked his chin. “Historically, we’ve done well in cases like this. However, one of the reasons we win is our policy to fire the instructor. Also, with Rym having been there, they might win the case against him personally.”

“He’d lose everything,” Amber whispered.

“Worst case scenario. Best case scenario is he loses half of everything to pay the legal fees and a settlement. The case could suck years out of his life.”

Amber checked her phone. Still no word from Rym. Did she protect Rym at the expense of his trust? Trust she’d worked hard to earn. Trust that was still fragile. When Rym held her close, she could see his affection, maybe even love, in his eyes. She also saw that flicker of uncertainty. In time, and with consistency, she’d hoped it would fade away. Firing Robyn would cause it to explode.

“From a business standpoint, it makes the most sense,” encouraged McGraw.

Iron Mountain was the center of Rym’s soul. If he lost this place, it would kill him. Almost as much as it would kill Amber to lose Rym. But Amber couldn’t sacrifice Rym’s happiness to ensure her own. Amber nodded before leading the way back into Rym’s office, where Mr. Jarrett waited patiently.

She pasted on her professional smile. “Would a copy of the instructor’s release packet be enough to satisfy your clients?”

Mr. Jarrett smiled easily. “I believe so.”

“I’ll have it emailed to your office before the end of the day.”

“Wonderful.” Mr. Jarrett stood and adjusted his suit coat. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Hoagland.”

“I’ll be in touch,” said McGraw as he followed Mr. Jarrett out the door.

Amber sank into her chair. What had she done?