Read Online The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online Page A

earth are you doing back in town?" Mariah asked.

"Visiting family," she said. "How've you been?"

"Same as always. Just a few more years on me."

Abby nodded toward Mr. Riley's office. "Is he in?" she asked. "I
need to speak to him."

"What's it about?" Mariah asked, already picking up the phone.

"Jess's loans on the inn."

Mariah frowned and hung up. "Then you'll need to speak to Trace."

Abby felt her heart lurch at the mention of Trace Riley. It had been years
since they'd seen each other, and it was ridiculous that hearing his name was
enough to make her falter. But in that instant, she realized exactly what Jess
had been keeping from her. Jess had known that Trace was involved in this
situation and that Abby would have to deal with him and not his father.

Trying to recover her equilibrium before Mariah could see how thrown she'd
been, she said, "Trace is working here? I'm surprised." He'd always
sworn that hell would freeze over before he'd work in a bank, much less for his
father.

Mariah grinned. "Hell's sure enough frozen over, huh? He just started last
week and he says it's just temporary. His father's hoping that'll change. In
the meantime, though, he's in charge of the loan department."

Damn, Abby thought. Maybe that could work in her favor, but she doubted it. The
last time they'd seen each other, she'd slept with him, told him she was in
love with him and then she'd taken off for New York without another word.

Over the months and years that followed, she'd convinced herself that she'd had
no choice, that Trace was a distraction she couldn't afford. In fact, she'd had
a whole litany of reasons that had made perfect sense to her at the time. She'd
even told herself she was cutting things off for him as much as for herself.

Of course, she should have had the guts to tell him that in person, though.
Instead, she'd taken the coward's way out, because he tempted her in ways she'd
found all but impossible to resist. Had she seen him one more time there was no
telling what might have happened to her resolve to go to New York and start a
career on Wall Street. She might even have been persuaded to stay with him
right here. He'd obviously caved in to parental pressure, just as she'd always
feared he might. That fear had made it impossible to trust all the pretty words
he'd said, all the promises he'd made about their future.

Mariah gave her a knowing look. "His office is down the hall on the left.
Want me to call and tell him you're on your way in?"

"I think I'd better surprise him," Abby replied, then stiffened her
spine and headed for his office. She'd had enough uncomfortable meetings to
steel her resolve for this one. She tapped on the door, then walked in without
waiting for a reply.

Trace was on the phone, his gaze directed out the window. Distractedly, he
waved her toward a seat without even turning around. She breathed a sigh of
relief at the reprieve. It gave her time to study him.

He looked good. Really good. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing
tanned forearms. The laugh lines that fanned out from his eyes were carved a
little deeper now. His hair, thick and dark brown with golden highlights from
the sun, was a little long and windblown. She grinned. She'd bet anything he'd
ridden to work on his Harley. That bike had been his first major rebellion way
back in high school, and the possibility that he'd never given it up gave her
an unexpected sense of hope. That was the Trace she remembered, not a man who'd
turned into a by-the-book banker like his dad. She could deal with that man,
challenge him to bend the rules.

When he finished the call, he swiveled around and caught sight of her for the
first time. Something dark and dangerous flashed in his eyes, but he kept his
expression neutral. "Well, look who the cat dragged in."

"Hello, Trace."

"I'll bet you didn't expect to find me here," he said.

"It was a pleasant surprise, all right."

"Pleasant?" he inquired doubtfully.

"For me, yes.