Stella may think she wanted to be here and manage Mirage, but until she was out from her father’s thumb, would she truly be happy?
She was brilliant, she had a drive not many people had. Stella would go on to do greater things, on her own, without her father.
Ready to get this night going, Dane tapped his knuckles on the door and waited. He didn’t have to wait long. The double doors swung open and Stella stood before him looking just as stunning as she’d been this morning. Even working herself ragged, somehow she managed to come across as in control and put together.
If it hadn’t been for that brief moment in her office when she’d looked so hurt while on the phone with her father, Stella would have convinced him not a thing was wrong in her world. He knew better.
The nugget of guilt grew, taking root.
“Perfect timing,” she stated with a smile as she gestured him in. “I just got everything set up and sent the cook away.”
Dane stepped in and instantly fell back into his past. Nostalgia hit him hard as he scanned his eyes over the open space. He’d been a preteen when his mother had opened Mirage. This had been her on-site room and Dane and Ethan would take turns getting the fire going on cold, snowy nights...just like tonight.
He swept his gaze back across the spacious room, taking in all the familiarity and noting each change since he’d been here last. Little touches made the room all Stella. The pictures across the mantel, the bright red throw over the leather chair, a pair of worn boots next to the sofa.
But so much was still the same. That stone around the fireplace he’d helped choose with his mother, the dark kitchen cabinets and raw-edged countertops... The leather sofas were the same, the lamps were the same, the chocolate fur rug in front of the fire was the same.
So much reminded him of his mother, which only added to his steely structure and mental drive to finish the job he’d started.
Lara had loved her boys with her entire being. She’d done all of this for them, for their future. She’d taken the inheritance from her grandfather and invested every single penny first into this resort and then, just as soon as it started showing a profit, she’d opened her second Mirage location.
Nearly twenty years had gone by since Dane had seen her or even heard her voice, but she was still here. This room, this resort, they were all pieces of her and he wasn’t going to stop until he got them all back...no matter who he had to use to serve his purpose.
“You didn’t have to send up wine and flowers this afternoon.”
Stella’s sweet voice pulled him from the tunnel of thoughts. He turned to face her just as she closed the door and leaned back against it.
“And the basket of spa and bath items was too much,” she added. “But that robe and those slippers feel like heaven, so thank you.”
Dane nodded. “I figured you don’t take the time to pamper yourself, so I thought you might need a reminder.”
Stella pushed off the door and closed the distance between them. “I don’t even know how you managed to get everything delivered to my penthouse because I know you didn’t purchase the flowers from the gift shop and those lotions in the basket are from France.”
“And how do you know that?” he asked.
“Because that is my favorite brand, right down to the scent.” Stella crossed her arms and tipped her head. “Apparently you have some incredible resources if you could manage all of this in a short amount of time.”
She didn’t need to know that it took only one phone call to make all of this happen. He’d spared no expense on the items themselves and had paid another hefty sum to get everything delivered without Stella sensing a thing.
And yet he got the oddest sense that it was the fact that he’d made an effort, that he’d tried to treat her, to spoil her a little, that pleased her the most. Did she ever have anyone do something just for her? Or was she too busy worrying how to please everyone else and still reach her goals?
Ignoring her statement, because she didn’t need to know just how far his reaches were, Dane took a step back and glanced toward the fireplace where a table had been set up.
“Did you order all of this or did you have them send up some leftovers?” he asked, turning his focus back to her.
Stella’s dark eyes narrowed as she swatted at him. “Leftovers? You think I invited you to my room for leftovers?”
Dane reached for her hand and had her tumbling against his chest, earning him a small squeak from her lips. She tipped her head back and met his gaze.
“What did you invite me here for?” he murmured, mesmerized by the thick black lashes framing her expressive eyes.
Damn it. If he wasn’t careful he’d find himself lost in Stella and ignoring all the things he actually should be doing.
Like getting her to open up and trust him...
“I wanted to see you,” she whispered. “To...talk.”
Dane couldn’t stop the twitch of his lips. “Talk? When I kissed you earlier you didn’t seem so eager to talk.”