Hunting Lust (Orion the Hunter Part Three) Read Online Free Page B

here.  The landscaped gardens were a work of art.  New life was visible everywhere, from the buds on the trees to the brightly colored spring flowering bulbs.  Movement caught my eye and I was thrilled to see two white doves landing on the branch of a tree.  The other diners didn’t know what they were missing out here, I mused.
     
    Within seconds, I had a glass of white wine in my hand.  It was both honeyed and lightly spicy and, without intending to, I had drained the glass far too quickly.  Lucas raised an eyebrow but I saw his mouth twitch.
     
    “Thirsty, Miss Prince?”
     
    “Um, apparently so.  This is delicious,” I enthused as he topped up my glass.
     
    “It isn’t it.  I had it the last time I was here.  It’s a Burgundy - Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières.”
     
    I grinned.  “I’ll take your word for it.  So, assuming that you got your hands on this place one day, what would you do with it?”
     
    He looked thoughtful for a second.  “I don’t know – I haven’t even been in the hotel.  I just saw it and wanted to own it.  An impulse purchase, if you will.”
     
    “Just like that?  I wouldn’t have had you down as an impulsive person.”
     
    “I’m not really.  Even it if had been for sale, I wouldn’t have purchased it without thorough investigation and contemplation.  That’s what happened with Mini Dakota.  I saw it, wanted it and then evaluated it as a business venture.”
     
    “Oh.” I couldn’t think why but I felt a little deflated upon hearing that Mini Dakota was purchased simply as a business venture.  I recalled how animated and passionate he was when he first showed it to me and I’d assumed that he had some kind of emotional investment in it.  Apparently not.
     
    I became aware of him studying me closely.  “You seem disappointed,” he said.
     
    “Oh, it’s nothing.  I get way to emotional about beautiful buildings and perhaps I expect others to feel the same way.  Stupid really.”  He’s going to think I am mad.
     
    “I’m not saying that I have your romantic viewpoint but I do care.  I would prefer all beautiful old buildings like Mini Dakota to be well maintained or restored but-“
     
    “But if there is no profit in it, then you walk away,” I finished for him.
     
    He looked at me quizzically.  “Issy, if I didn’t, I would be bankrupt in no time.  Of course I have to look for profit; how do you think I built up my property and construction empire?”
     
    I felt foolish – of course he had to take on profitable ventures.  “I know.  I guess we just look at properties differently.  I see their beauty and imagine their past and their future and you-“
     
    “I see that too but I have to walk away if it is not a sound business proposition.  I’m sure you would too, if you were in my position.”
     
    “I think I will stick to making their interiors look beautiful again.”
     
    He smiled.  “I can’t wait to see what you do with Mini Dakota.”
     
    “Well, that kind of depends on what you want me to do.  It is more difficult when you have no specific person’s tastes to cater for.  Mind you, your bedroom is divine Lucas.  You obviously have good taste when you decide to use it.  Perhaps you should tell me what you would have if you were going to live there.”
     
    He thought for a second.  “Perhaps.  But I would like you to design the largest of the apartments first as if you were going to live there.”
     
    My eyes were like saucers as I absorbed his words.  “But my taste may not be what anyone else would want.”
     
    He shrugged.  “I think you have impeccable taste.”  Then he sat back and sipped his wine.
     
    I was prevented from asking what he knew of my tastes by the arrival of our food.  Lucas must have ordered for both of us.  I wasn’t sure I liked his presumptuousness but once I tasted the poached salmon, I couldn’t imagine choosing anything better.
     
    “Lucas, this is to