Organically Yours: Sanctuary, Book Five, Abbie Zanders [cheapest way to read ebooks .TXT] 📗

brothers are considering several offers,” Tina said carefully. “I could talk to them.”

Aidan shook his head. “We’re not interested in dealing with your brothers. Only you. In fact, I’d prefer if they didn’t know of our interest at all.”

“Then, you’re really out of luck because I’ve only got a twenty-five percent say in the business. They control the other seventy-five percent of what happens next.”

Aidan’s lips quirked. “I don’t believe in luck, Tina. The question is, are you interested?”

“Yes, I’m interested. I just don’t see how it’s possible.”

“Leave that to me. In the meantime, please, enjoy your stay at the Goddess. It was a pleasure meeting you.”

He rose to go, as did his wife and Lexi and Ian.

After saying their good nights, Tina turned to Doc. “We’re staying here tonight?”

He grinned. “That’s part of the surprise. We’ve got a private suite for the night.”

* * *

“Are you angry with me?” Doc asked as they walked through the lit gardens, away from the restaurant and toward the posh resort.

It was so beautiful, yet Tina’s thoughts were churning too furiously to properly appreciate it.

“I haven’t decided yet,” she answered honestly. Several moments passed in silence before she exhaled and said, “I love that you’re doing this, but I kind of hate you for giving me false hope.”

“If anyone can make it happen, they can.”

Tina shook her head. Maggie had a big heart and good intentions. Lexi was a chef, which meant she might have some pull in the Goddess kitchen, but they were talking about more than just shifting suppliers. And Aidan, well, she didn’t know what exactly Aidan did, though he did seem like an important man.

She said as much to Doc. He laughed softly.

“What’s so funny?”

Doc wrapped his hand around Tina’s, lifted it to his lips, and kissed it. “Lexi isn’t just a cook. She’s the master chef as well as one of the owners. Aidan is the other.”

Tina felt the blood drain from her face. “We just had dinner with the owners of the Celtic Goddess?”

“We did. Lexi is Maggie’s sister-in-law.”

“Holy ...” A tiny tendril of hope broke through layers of doubt. “But I still don’t see how it can work.” There was so much to consider, not the least of which was her brothers’ combined controlling interests in Obermacher Farms and the shady corners they’d backed themselves into.

Perhaps she should have mentioned some of that to Aidan and Lexi.

Chapter Forty-One

Doc

“How do you know them anyway?” Tina asked. “Lexi and Aidan, I mean.”

“Friends of friends through Sanctuary. Ian Callaghan and his brothers served in the military themselves and have been supporting the project from day one,” Doc said, hoping Tina didn’t ask for details on exactly how they’d been helping. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about that family, it’s that they have a way of making things happen.”

“I’m afraid to hope.” Tina was quiet for a few minutes, then asked, “Aidan—I can’t believe I’m on a first-name basis with the owner of the Celtic Goddess—seemed pretty firm about not dealing with Rick, Gunther, or Kiefer or even letting them know about it for that matter. Do you know why?”

It was yet another question Doc had to answer carefully.

“Aidan Harrison didn’t get to be a billionaire by chance. He’s a very astute businessman. I imagine he did his research.”

Tina laughed softly. “If Gunther and Giselle knew where I was right now—or more specifically, who we had dinner with—they’d be green with envy.”

“You can’t tell them,” he said quietly.

She sighed. “I know. It is fun though, imagining the look on her face.”

“No more thinking about that tonight. I’ve got other plans for you.”

“Based on what you’ve managed so far, I can’t wait to see what’s next,” she said softly.

“You really look beautiful tonight,” Doc told her. “I mean, you always look beautiful, but ...”

“I clean up nice?” she finished with a mischievous grin.

He laughed. “Yes.”

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you. You cut quite a dashing figure in that suit, Mr. Watson. In fact, there’s only one thing I think you look better in.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“Nothing.”

Doc groaned and led her to the private suite. Seeing Tina in that dress and scenting that subtle hint of cocoa and coconut that clung to her skin, had been driving him crazy all night. And when she said things like that ... he’d be lucky if he could control himself long enough to let her enjoy the amenities awaiting them inside.

The sexy smirk playing across her lips only intensified his sense of urgency. He pulled the key card the bellman had slipped him earlier out of his inner pocket and held it to the keypad. The door unlocked with a snick.

“Did I mention I picked up more than just this dress for our date tonight?” she said as he ushered her inside.

“Such as?”

“When we get inside, you can take my dress off and find out for yourself.”

“Fucking hell, Tina.”

She laughed and then squealed as he swept her off her feet, swung her over his shoulder, and carried her caveman-style to the raised dais containing the massive bed. There was a momentary snafu in getting up the wide steps without tripping, mainly because she slipped her hands down his pants and was squeezing and fondling his ass, but he pushed through it.

It was a full hour later when he noticed how nice the suite actually was. Besides the raised king-size bed and the mirrored panels above it—which he was particularly fond of—the suite boasted three fireplaces, a living area, two Jacuzzis (one inside and one out) as well as a steam room and an in-room massage table.

Needless to say, they made use of all of it.

Chapter Forty-Two

Tina

“Miss Obermacher? This is Gretchen Meyer, Aidan Harrison’s personal assistant. He’d like to schedule a meeting with you. Are you free this afternoon?”

Tina sat up abruptly. It had been less than forty-eight hours since their dinner, less than twenty-four since she and Doc had left the heaven that was the Celtic Goddess resort and returned to