Two years later... The penthouse office of Ramsey Group was alive with conversation and cheer. The executive members of the real estate conglomerate had gathered to discuss final matters concerning their largest project to date. Holtz Enterprises of Vancouver, Canada, had commissioned the group to construct a state-of-theart, yet old-world style ski resort. The organization had purchased property in the mountainous regions just outside Banff, in the neighboring province of Alberta. They wanted a mammoth-sized, impressive, unequalled castlelike resort to sit high atop one of those mountains. The organization wanted no expense spared -- nothing but the best. And Ramsey Group was the perfect choice. It was well equipped to oversee all aspects of the project including contracting and construction. The development division began working diligently two years prior and now the project was nearing completion. Another six to eight months would produce a destination like no other.
While the actual completion of the resort was going smoothly, there was one aspect that still needed to be addressed: transportation. Holtz wanted a nonstop service to shuttle passengers from Calgary to the resort by train. The rail would travel up the foreboding mountainside to its peak. Ramsey didn't build trains, so the question before them now was who could they entrust with such a gargantuan task.
Quest, who was assigned with finding the rail design company for the project, believed he'd found his choice.
"I'm leaning toward a design company out of Colorado," he said, standing at the head of the long rectangular conference table. "They're very well known in the rail community in spite of the fact they've only been incorporated for five years. I want you guys to look over their portfolio," he said, passing a stack of packets around the table. "I'd like your decisions by Wednesday's meeting."
Everyone at the table nodded their agreement. Some were already tearing into the packets and reviewing the enclosed material.
"If there are no other questions...?" Quest prompted, his sleek brows rising as he paused for reactions. "In that case, meeting adjourned," he said when no one spoke up. "Quay? Wait up, man," he asked, before his brother headed out with the rest of the group.
Quay shook hands with Russ Anderson, one of Ramsey's chief architects. They made plans for drinks later that week. Then Russ left, closing the door behind him.
"What's up?"
Quest watched his twin perch on the corner of the long table. Then, bowing his head, he cleared his throat softly. "I'm leaning toward Tyke Designs to build the rail," he announced.
"Tykira?" Quay breathed, his black eyes narrowing as he spoke. Sure, he was well aware that she was in the business. Aside from Quest and perhaps Mick, no one knew how closely he'd kept tabs on the woman since seeing her two years ago at his brother's wedding. "Why?" he asked, watching Quest shrug.
"Her company is impressive as hell. Innovative and fresh," Quest raved, taking his place on the opposite corner of the table. "They're a highly sought after group and I don't think we'd be disappointed."
"Cut it. You know that's not what I meant."
"Well that's what I meant," Quest countered, his gray stare sharpening as he stared down his mirror image.
Quay uttered a quick, humorless chuckle. "You, better than anyone, know what the situation is here. Why would you suggest this?" he whispered. "Quay, no one's seen or heard from Wake Robinson in almost three years."
"Is that supposed to reassure me?" Quay threw back with cocky sarcasm. "Because it doesn't."
"Get over it," Quest suggested while shaking his head and reaching for the chocolate-brown suit coat on the chair behind him. "Once I hear from the rest of the team on Wednesday, I'll be putting in a call to Ty."
"And you're so sure they'll go for this?"
"I'm positive."
Quay gnawed the inside of his jaw, his dark eyes following his brother's every move. "And you think the family is going to support this?"
Quest's knowing smile triggered his left dimple. "They all love Tykira, you know that."
Quay waved his hand. "It's not about that," he said, moving off the table.
Quest studied the invisible pattern his index finger traced on the cherrywood finish. "Well maybe it's about the fact that you've lived like a virtual hermit for over two years now?"
"Dammit, Quest, does it matter that her life is at stake if this fool ever discovers how I feel about her?"
"Ah Quay," Quest sighed, not wanting to tell his brother that he was overreacting. That he felt his worries were unfounded. After all, it had been fifteen years since he and Ty had had any semblance of a relationship. Fifteen years since Quay had pushed Tykira away believing that he was saving her life.
For that reason, he had no sympathy for his brother. He knew how deeply Quay felt for Tykira. "Have you ever thought of protecting the woman you love by keeping her close instead of shutting her out?"
Quay's hearty, contagious laughter filled the room. "Damn, you're one to talk. Hell, Q, I said almost those same words to you back when you were about to lose Mick for good."
Quest smiled. Stepping close to his twin, he patted his shoulder. "Then I guess you already know what you have to do, right?" he challenged, and then left his brother alone to think.
Quay sank into one of the hunter-green armchairs in the boardroom living area and pondered this new upset. Tykira could not come there. While he had no doubts concerning his ability to say enough of the wrong things to keep her at arm's length, he was full of doubts about his ability to actually go through with saying those things.
He smiled, smoothing a hand across the front of the black banded collar shirt he wore. He thought about how incredible she'd looked two years ago at Quest's wedding -- especially when she angrily shoved her hands against his chest. He recalled her storming out of the ballroom. Men's eyes followed her until she was out of view and then sometimes, further still. Tykira was viewed by Quay and, he suspected, most every man she met, as the epitome of Amazon. Tall, strong, exotic and erotically proportioned -- she was a woman who could take care of herself, while still being feminine enough to elicit a need to protect in any man she met. At five foot ten, her height advantage added to her seductive, intimidating persona. Aside from her mahogany-brown doe eyes and glossy mane, her voice was low -- shockingly husky and womanly.
Quay closed his eyes. He'd almost kissed her when he took her out on that balcony during the reception. And when he'd pulled her into the dance, every part of him ached to drag her off somewhere and make love to her until she was too weak to leave the bed. She couldn't accept Quest's job offer, he thought. No one would buy that Quay only regarded her as a quick lay, a brief dalliance. Fifteen years ago, she'd been a girl who had been kind enough to take the hint and steer clear of him. It had made it possible to stay away from her. Now, she was a full-grown woman. Boy was she, he thought. She would be coming here with a job to do, a job that would include working with him, and he couldn't pretend he'd have strength enough to hide his feelings for her.
Quay shook his head. He couldn't allow Ty to stay there. She'd left Seattle once because of him. Surely he could make her leave again.
Denver, Colorado
"I mean it, lil' lady. I'm gonna git you out here if it's the last thing I do! You ain't lived till you take a ride on a private train 'round the grandest ranch in Texas!"
Tykira wiped a tear from the corner of her eye as she listened to the ravings of Henry Rose. The gregarious petroleum tycoon had commissioned her company to create his specialized rail earlier that year. It went without saying that he was more than pleased with the finished product.
"Henry, are you forgetting I've already taken a trip around your ranch?" Ty said, shaking her head as she envisioned the man chugging around his massive El Paso estate/ranch/oil field. The christening of the train car had been a grand society event and now the rail was hard at work traveling from one end of Henry's empire to the other.
"Bah! That was for work. I'm talkin' sheer relaxation."
"Mmm-hmm," Ty remarked, smiling at the man's charm. He'd made no secret how "interested" he was throughout the time she'd spent in Texas designing the rail. "I promise to try and get away for a visit soon," she said, chuckling when Henry uttered a "hot dang" and boasted about how fine a time he'd show her.
Used to such offers, Tykira had perfected the art of accepting them with a cool head. Her light, inviting responses never placed her in a position of being obligated to accept proposals from her adoring clients. While she had no intentions of providing them with anything but the finest in rail design, they were each left feeling that they were unique in her eyes.
Once the call with Henry had ended, Ty closed her eyes, pulled a hand through her hair and swiveled her chair around to take in the view of downtown Denver. Simultaneously calmed and energized by the environment, she thought about her life there, which began the year after she'd graduated Northwestern with a master's in engineering. Denver had been her home ever since.
Ty's vibrant brown gaze clouded over momentarily as thoughts surfaced about the reception two years ago. Lord, why am I thinking of that?! Because, she admitted with a sigh, that involved Quay-sar Ramsey. And Quaysar Ramsey came to mind whenever she thought of her life in Denver. It was a great life, but it would never include the man she loved.
Ooooh! He'd been so arrogant at the reception. Apparently, age had had no effect on his tact or reason. Perhaps hitting him and storming out in the middle of the celebration had been a tad over the top, but Quay could incite such a reaction by doing little more than stepping on her toe.
He'd actually thought she'd come there to see him. What nerve! She continued ...
