Stoically, he watched her without expression.
“I have a leasing agreement with Windsor Heights State College for their annual cotillion. It’s scheduled for next November. In that case, we’ll be using the grand ballroom, which will be decorated by the student committee and supervised by the dean of students.”
“Whose idea was that?”
“Actually, it was the Windsor’s. The social committee chairperson contacted me and I signed the agreement. We need the money and they are paying a hefty sum. Apparently, having a house that’s been continually occupied since the Civil War is a draw for the college. In addition, some of the students are helping out with the much needed improvements. They will be on sight come September and receive a credit for their work. I would appreciate it if you would be the project leader on that if you’re still here by then.”
“You think I’m leaving?” The smile on his face could be a smirk. Kelly ignored it. She had to persuade him and she believed in laying her cards on the table. As a marketing executive, she always told her clients the truth. They appreciated it.
“I believe that you will do what’s right for Ari. And for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if my changes for this place become so abhorrent to you because you can’t get it out of your head that the Kendall no longer belongs to the Kendalls, then you’ll have to consider whether or not staying here is the right thing for you both, or you’ll just disappear like you did five years ago.”
She saw it in his eyes, knew it would happen. “You’re a runner, Jace,” she continued. “Whenever things don’t go your way, you get on a horse and you run. When the horse can’t take you far enough, you use a car or a plane, or an engineering job. So no, I can’t be sure you’ll be here in September or even if you’ll be here in the morning.”
No one liked to hear a character assessment of themselves that was anything other than glowing. Kelly had told him nothing he could grab hold of that was good about himself. But she wasn’t sorry she’d said it. “I’ll let you know if I’m planning to leave,” he told her. “So go on. I can’t wait to hear what else is coming.”
Kelly glared at him. “When we begin generating enough income, I’m going to build a racetrack on the ten acres behind the horse barn. There we’ll hold races and charge fees. There’ll be a club house, stables and viewing stands. It’s a long-term project. I don’t expect to begin it for several years.”
Jace listened attentively without any expression. Kelly finished and let her words sink in. His gaze swept around the room. He’d already commented on the alterations she’d made to it.
When his eyes settled on her again, he said, “I’ll meet you partway.”
“I don’t get it.”
“I’ll act as project leader in September with the students. I’ll work on anything you want, but when it comes to tourists traipsing through the house, I draw the line.”
“You don’t—”
He stopped her with his hands, palms out. “I won’t prevent. I won’t undermine. But I won’t participate.”
“Fair enough,” Kelly said. They weren’t at war, but she felt as if she’d won the first battle.
“One more thing,” Jace said. “I’m not a runner. I had a good reason for leaving five years ago and an even better reason for returning now.”
“I know you left because of Laura,” Kelly stated. Windsor Heights was a small town and gossip about people at the Kendall was its stock in trade. He stared at her with eyes so hard they could have lasered her in two. “You don’t know the half of it.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
KELLY HAD JUST left her office for her daily trek to the mailbox when she heard the phone in her office ring. Rushing back, she answered it before the machine kicked in.
“Kendall Farms,” she said. “How may I help you?”
“Kelly.” The voice on the phone was upbeat and chuckling. Kelly’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. Immediately, she tensed. Perry Streeter’s was the last voice she ever expected to hear. Perry—her ex and former colleague—gave the impression that he was in your corner, when he was anything but.
“Perry,” she said. “This is a surprise.”
“How’s it going out there with the nature and sunshine?”
“It’s wonderful, Perry. How could clean air, growing grass and the good earth be anything else?” She couldn’t begin to guess what he wanted. She hadn’t talked to Perry since their scene at her New York apartment two years ago.