Gold Fire Read Free Page B

meet the owner.”
    “Oh, let’s not be coy. We both know why you were there. So how good are you at high-level negotiations? Did he go for your lowball price?”
    She felt her whole body tighten, and told herself he’d find out soon, anyway, being her supervisor. “No.”
    “That’s too bad.” He clicked his tongue in mock disappointment. “It would have looked good if you could have brought this deal in under budget. But I suppose Ruth Ann and Matt won’t be too disappointed with three.”
    They wouldn’t have had she managed it. She clenched her teeth and made herself say it. “He didn’t go for three, either.”
    “Really?” He savored it, a smile playing at the side of his mouth as he tried to look concerned. “How disappointing for you. How much does he want?”
    “He says he won’t sell at any price.” David nearly lit up, and she rushed to squash his hopes. “I haven’t given up. I’ll get to him, I just haven’t found his weak spot yet.”
    David’s smile was serene. “Maybe he doesn’t have one. It would be awful to disappoint the Flemmings, though. I heard Ruth Ann put Matt in charge of the whole expansion project, and you know how she is about her baby boy. He’s not the person you want to piss off.” He looked positively thrilled that she might.
    “He won’t be disappointed.”
    He punched the air like a cheerleader. “That’s the spirit.”
    She looked around, wondering if there was anything she could accidentally bash his teeth in with. Her gaze fell on a large box in the corner. Beneath packing labels and tape, the box bore the distinctive double-E logo of Everton Equipment.
    She frowned. As far as she knew, Everton didn’t make ski equipment. But they did make an exclusive line of clothing and equipment for golf. She gave David a puzzled look. “Are we already ordering for a golf line? They don’t even know if the project is a go.”
    “More pressure on you, huh?” He enjoyed it for a moment before nodding at the box. “Those are sample shirts direct from the factory. Naturally, if the Alpine Sky builds the golf course, we’ll carry only the bestbrand in our pro shop. I imagine Everton heard rumors and decided to do some early lobbying for their brand.”
    Really early; she was surprised they even knew about it. That meant Ruth Ann and Matt must be operating on the assumption that buying the Rusty Wire was a done deal. Zoe had to convince Jase Garrett to sell—and fast.
    David went to the box and lifted the flaps. “Here, take one.” He pulled out a dark blue polo shirt and tossed it to her. “Wear it to the Rusty Wire; maybe it’ll help.” For some reason that made him grin.
    She’d had enough of David’s encouragement. Clutching the shirt, she stood. “I’m not giving up, you know. I’ll find a way to convince him to sell.”
    He smirked. “Good luck.”
    She wasn’t stupid enough to count on luck. This required research. She had several hours before her shift started to find out everything she could about Jase Garrett.
    •  •  •
    It didn’t take long. Not many people lit up a Google search like Jase did.
    At first she thought she had the wrong Jase Garrett as she scanned all sorts of hits on downhill skiing events and websites. Then she saw the photos. A younger version, but unmistakably the chiseled face of the man she’d talked to at the Rusty Wire.
    And the accolades. She lost count of the titles and trophies.
    And, oh my God, the medals . She’d hit on them right away and nearly fell off her chair. Olympic medals, flashing in the winter sunlight—three gold and onesilver. Jase grinned in the picture like the winner he was, holding them up for the camera.
    On the cover of Time magazine.
    Zoe stared at the picture for a long time. The red, white, and blue parka, the confidence in his squared shoulders and raised chin, the glint of victory in his eyes. And the words beside the picture: “Jase Garrett Shines for America.”
    He’d been