THE WOMAN WHO TAUGHT HIM TO STAY

hford, she flat-out told him his million-dolla

oom f

nsultants, two investors fresh off a plane that morning. Every set of eyes zeroed in on Isabelle, who stood a

niel Ashford slowl

care to r

nd Seaside Hotel dominated the slide-white stone, sweeping balconies, postcard o

one can say it isn't stunning. And it's not the money, either. The problem is, y

hink you might want to reconsider your wording. Mr. Ashford

ore thoughtful about how

ghed to sti

ly unreadable-Isabelle honestly wondered if he was even capable of feeling anything he co

vent consulta

. Independent e

l better than the folks who've been rew

tter than anyone who's spent eight

jaw

a laundry list of guest complaints. Feedback straight fro

oastline for another pricey building. Families want things to do, couples want something memorab

itched

hampagne thing, a fancy dinner, and fireworks. Sure, it costs a

ed in. "So, what, we shou

a reason to remember it a

ared at her

ically, would yo

t real question-less a

set down

and independent shops. Make it interactive-let your guests do more than stand around and watch the elite to

oked uneasy. "That's

agreed to wasn

iss Rowan, you were hired to

project. If you'd wanted someone to just decorate the

ack. "Are you alwa

ople pay me t

n-it wasn't quite a smile, but close

him. "Your proposal is ambitious, expensiv

n't appr

ut before she co

ed like she might faint. N

use

the road. She'd learned that letting people disrespect you, just because they could affo

off on it," she said. "But don't expect me to tie

oom changed. He was tall, broad-shouldered, comma

ne can

ed gathering

apped her l

Rowan.

nced up

"Because I'm not fin

t apparently, we

he glass, Atlantic waves glittered to the horizon. The hotel really was s

hotel," Nathaniel sa

wa

the place lost its shine. I bought everyone out, finished

turned

ne tear that apart because

hat pride and stubbornness-pressure, maybe, or just old-fashioned grief.

" she finally said, her voice softer. "I'm trying

And you think your

stop acting like every idea is

t down again

xactly wh

laptop and slid

for the consultation

eemed caught off gua

ining to

even been h

r was p

ed for t

s Ro

ped, did

ple walking out in the

treating discussions like

or. "Have a pleasant a

that, she

tile investors, stubborn politicians, aggressive rivals. N

hone

, Da

s finished, sir. The hotel director wants to kn

esentation remote Isa

t y

k for another

le, holding her ground, voice ste

other commitments in

an? The consultant

es

you s

eyes on the door. "

, s

n do

hun

picked up her propo

, Isabelle Rowan had managed to upend every decision h

mself reading throug

rangers in the back of a taxi when her phon

dlo

ce, then answered.

aren't forgetting abou

gotten. I'll p

t you said

nt's delayed payment, but I'

d sil

Miss Rowan. I ca

derst

e don't make m

The Ashford contract had been her ace in the hole-enough to cat

ed her f

e whispered.

another message. C

ford meeting went well

screen, fingers linge

sulted the riches

t, it was like she'd be

did y

his plan wa

s. Pause.

bel

t help grin

e ag

me he didn

e. I

one away before C

er grateful for scraps. Tired of pretending independence meant she never needed anyone. But if h

ng again. Un

ut ignoring it,

el

s Ro

Calm, deep,

her eyes. "

niel Price, will

r w

bout a new

thought I'd ma

u d

are we eve

sidered you

phone as if she m

n. "I want you to ha

't you say I was tearing

proposal wa

few other

g to let th

gener

at p

ne honest enough to t

le-take. That wasn'

dmitting I

this more

d hersel

calle

s Ro

istant send the contra

oo

nt terms

urse y

as, my name on the work. No interferenc

ed, con

hing

r what's done. I won't eat the cos

before you've even

d to take ca

her

r terms t

ou, Mr.

et. I haven't agr

ally agree o

before he

ally laughed for th

lue what she

zing the woman who just stormed out of his boardroom

't even hir