A Baby for the Boss(21)

The older man’s bushy gray brows shot high on his forehead as he gave a wide smile. “My son will think I’m a god.”

Mike laughed. “Anything I can do.”

Eager now, Jacob pointed to the sketch of the pool area. “You can see this wall behind the pool will be a series of ledges, each of them planted with flowering plants that will trail down to the edge of the pool itself.”

Mike listened as he looked at the ink drawings, bringing it all to life in his mind. He had a good imagination and used it to mentally change the plain, kidney-shaped pool into the fantasy spot he wanted.

He could almost see it. A waterfall would cascade at one end of the pool and behind that waterfall would be a swim-up bar where guests could be served as they hid behind a froth of water. There would be lounge chairs in deep forest green and tables that looked like the twisted limbs of ancient trees. The flowering vines Jacob described would be a curtain of green in the desert heat. It was a very good representation of the kind of scenery found in the “River Haunt” game.

Hell, Mike thought he could practically hear the groaning zombies approaching. He’d like to show the sketches to Jenny, get her opinion. After all, she was here to work, he reminded himself. But she was inside, scouting out the right places for the murals she would design and paint.

“I’ve expanded the dock,” the contractor said, getting Mike’s attention again, “so you’ll have room for both of the boats you’re planning for.”

“That’s good. We want to offer late-night cruises as part of the experience.”

“It’s pretty out here at night,” the contractor said with a nod as he lifted his gaze to look around. “Far enough away from hotel row, you can see the stars like you never would in the city.”

“Yeah?” It had been a long time since Mike had even taken the time to look up at a night sky. But it was part of the whole experience his guests would have. “What did you think of the idea for the animatronics?”

Jacob chuckled and tugged his hat back into place. “I think it’s gonna scare the hell out of your guests,” he said. “But I suppose that’s why they’re coming here, isn’t it?”

“It is.” Mike nodded to himself and glanced toward the riverbank that stretched along the front of their property. Plenty of thick, high bushes and trees to hide the mechanics of the banshees and river specters who would be made to move in and out of the shadows as the gamers drifted by on the water. He could practically see how it would play out and he was anxious to get it all going.

“We’re working with the engineers to make the housings for the creatures to move on as well as the shells they’ll retreat to so they’re protected from the elements,” Jacob said.

“You can hide the housings well enough they won’t be seen?”

“Absolutely.”

It all sounded good. Hell, perfect. With any luck at all, the hotel would be finished and ready to welcome guests by summer. Hot desert nights, dark skies, perfect for scaring the hell out of people.

“I’ve got the best crew in Nevada,” Jacob assured him. “We’ll get it all done just the way you want it.”

Nodding, Mike said, “I’ll be making trips out to check on things, but Ms. Graves, the new manager, will be the point person on this. You go to her with any issues if you can’t get hold of me. She’ll make sure I’m kept up to date.”

“I’ll do that, and don’t worry, it’s going to be something special when it’s done.”

“Agreed,” Mike told him, then turned back to the hotel. “Let’s go through the kitchen work that needs doing. I want to hear about any potential problems.”

“Well,” Jacob said as he fell into step beside him, “we’ve got a few of those, too. But nothing to be worried about.”

Mike only half listened as they headed inside. He had researched every aspect of this rehab. He knew Jacob Schmitt would deliver good work done at a fair price. He knew Teresa Graves could be trusted to keep on top of the day-to-day issues that were bound to crop up. And he was sure that the security company he’d hired would protect his property.

Of course, the only thing he wasn’t sure of in all this was Jenny. He hadn’t seen her since the conversation on the dock hours ago. Probably best to keep a distance between them, but damned if he didn’t want to go find her. Talk to her. Look at her.

And more.

Yeah, not going there.

“Right, Jacob. Let’s get back to work.”





Five

Jenny’s imagination was in overdrive. She’d brought her ideas for murals with her and she’d spent the past two hours walking the halls and the big rooms on the main floor, plotting just where she’d put them.