Caught in the Frame (2 page)

“Mom and I stayed there a number of times before. Castle Ligean is simply amazing—more a resort than a hotel—and they do a
lot
of weddings, so most of the planning part will amount to us reigning in Mother’s over-the-top ideas.” Sitting on her favorite section of EV’s kitchen island, waiting for the jaunty red teapot to whistle, Chloe watched while EV perused the castle’s website. From her perch, Chloe looked over EV’s shoulder at the laptop on the coffee table, currently displaying an extensive slideshow of rolling Irish hillsides, sprawling grounds, and gleaming waterfront vistas.

“She’s always had a penchant for the dramatic, that’s for sure. Of course she’d pick a castle in the middle of Ireland; wouldn’t want to do anything halfway, that one.” EV snorted from across the room. Once upon a time, Lila and EV had been inseparable—the best of friends. But when Lila had fled from the Pines as soon as Chloe was old enough to handle extensive travel, their bond had become somewhat strained. EV felt closer to Chloe, despite their age difference, than she ever had to Lila.

EV, who still lived in the house her parents had built, held a place of honor in their small community, having been instrumental in turning the once-hippie-commune into a legitimate town. Lila spent the last twenty years searching for something
more,
while EV chose to put down roots in Ponderosa Pines. Neither woman understood or fully respected the other’s choices, which led to a give-and-take of subtle jabs that kept their relationship from ever returning to its unconditional beginnings. Two weeks spent in close proximity was either going to eliminate or solidify the emotional disconnect between them. Chloe hoped for the former, since these were the two most important women in her life.

“So we’ll leave on Saturday. That gives us two weeks before the wedding. Seems doable.”

Chloe leaned over to look at the website alongside EV.

“Ooh, look at the spa services. They’ve expanded the selection. You would love a mud bath. And we’re definitely getting hot stone massages. And facials. Oh, this is going to be fun!”

“Have you lost your ever-loving mind? Look who you’re talking to here. All I can picture is the Wash-Em Brush-Em team from Oz, scrubbing and buffing me ‘til I’m shiny and new. Not happening. Maybe Nate will join you for that one.” EV tried for a tone that suggested the topic wasn’t up for debate, but softened at the mention of Nate’s name. She was thrilled about Chloe and Nate’s newfound happiness, and only approximately 10% of her joy was related to smugness at the fact that she had helped make it happen. Well, maybe 15%, but who was counting?

“I already have plans for us: jacuzzi suite, couples massages…” Chloe’s expression took on a dreamlike quality, her voice trailing off as her thoughts flew to the inevitable conclusion of those activities.

EV plucked a throw pillow off the couch and flung it at Chloe’s head. “If you are imagining Nathaniel Harper naked, just stop it right now!”

Chloe recovered quickly: the startled look on her face replaced with mock-vengeance, she bounced down from the counter and lobbed the pillow back across the living room, where EV quickly snatched it out of the air.

“What about 'Babble & Spin'? Have you talked to Wesley about that yet?” EV was referring to Chloe’s gossip column in the small Ponderosa Pines weekly newsletter,
The Pine Cone
. She couldn’t exactly keep up with the goings-on at the Pines from halfway across the globe, and readers would certainly notice if the most popular article was missing for several weeks.

There was a good reason Chloe couldn’t allow anyone in town to make a correlation between the column’s absence and her travel plans: she was the latest in a series of anonymous authors of 'Babble & Spin'. The quirky, beloved tradition was just one of the little things that made the Pines special; people enjoyed speculating about the mystery as much as they enjoyed the gossip itself.

Nobody, save for EV—with her borderline-magical deductive skills—knew that Chloe was the columnist, not even Nate. The last thing Chloe wanted was to become the first author in the history of the paper to be outed.

A contingent of townspeople had EV pegged for the role, since nothing happened in the Pines without her knowing something about it. Given that, it wasn’t a long leap to assume she had something to do with the column, but EV preferred to tend the gossip vines on her own. Though she enjoyed feeding information to Chloe, EV had no desire to take up the post herself.

“I’m toying with some ideas on how to sidestep suspicion, and I’m meeting him at his office later to discuss options.” Wesley’s office consisted of an artfully re-purposed storage pod occupying a corner of his backyard. Chloe didn’t frequent the space, keeping her distance, since she had no official affiliation with the
Pine Cone
besides the occasional editorial piece submitted under her real name.

EV continued browsing through the wedding section of the castle’s website, noting the myriad of expensive-looking options for the discerning bride. Full service was an understatement: of course their five-star restaurant would provide catering, and a spectacular cake; the salon would cover hair, makeup, nails, etc. Above and beyond, the resort employed a full-time photographer, florist, seamstress—even an ice sculpture artist—not to mention, a staff of professional event planners who could make even the biggest Bridezilla’s dreams come true. EV guessed that if Lila had wanted acrobats to fly across the banquet hall pouring champagne, the Castle Ligean staff would find a way to accommodate the request.

Letting a low whistle escape her lips, EV promised herself that if she did ever get hitched, she’d make it easy on everyone and skip the diamond-encrusted path through wedding hell.
Vegas all the way,
she vowed.

* * *

Sugar and Spice, the names much too mild for the antics of Chloe’s pair of Siamese kittens, wreaked pandemonium every time Nate walked into the house. They’d taken an instant liking to the man, who gave them warm snuggles and unending chin scratches. Now, the sound of something crashing to the floor—most likely something from a shelf the kittens knew was off limits—let Chloe know he had just stepped through the front door. Shaking her head over the possible loss of another tchotchke, Chloe didn’t move to greet him. Instead, she lounged on her bed, clad in a hot pink babydoll nightgown that threatened the line between sexy and slutty. Chloe had spent a solid hour wrapping her long, flowing blond hair in curlers to achieve a soft, windblown look. Her bright, almond-colored eyes were sheathed by long, thick lashes; her full lips coated in a shiny, but not sticky, gloss.

“In here!” She called, as Nate searched the front rooms to no avail. When he wandered into the bedroom doorway and almost dropped a purring Sugar in surprise, Chloe knew how squarely she had hit her mark. As her eyes raked over his adorably-messy chestnut hair, to his strong, scruffy jaw, and down his sculpted, muscular body, she couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest woman on earth. She knew, after the ordeal they had endured in order to be with one another, that he felt the same.

No words were necessary, but a strangled
wow
sighed from him before Nate sprang onto the bed and began kissing her breathless. Her hands tangled in his hair as she pulled him close, all other thoughts forgotten as she focused solely on the perfect man she couldn’t stop touching. An hour and a half later, when they emerged from the bedroom in search of sustenance, Chloe remembered she had news of great importance to impart.

“There was a late night…well, technically an early morning development, and I’ve got news.” Chloe figured Nate would be willing to attend Lila’s wedding, but wasn’t sure if, with his work schedule, it was realistic for him to take an extended vacation. It hurt to think of him anywhere but by her side; they had wasted too much time being stubborn, and she didn’t relish the idea of being separated from him now. Not to mention that, even though they had been friends for years, it might be too early in their relationship to broach the subject of a lengthy vacation that included her mother.

Having lived practically in each other’s pockets as children, Chloe and Nate’s relationship as friends meant he and Lila were familiar with each other on those terms. It was one thing, though, to be Nate—the kid who does stuff with your daughter, and quite another to be Nate—the man who
does stuff
with your daughter. That he might not be ready for that particular scenario was just hitting her now.

Nate looked concerned as a flash of uncertainty scrolled across Chloe’s face. “What news?” he asked with trepidation.

While Chloe explained everything, from Lila’s phone call down to the worry that inviting him to tag along was premature, Nate’s expression morphed through surprise to excitement, and finally amusement. “Love, I have been waiting for and wanting this for a very long time. It doesn’t feel too soon to me; of course I’ll go! Give up a chance to spend two weeks in an Irish castle with you, just because we haven’t technically been together for very long? Not gonna happen; I’m in.”

Relieved, Chloe threw her arms around Nate’s neck and gave him another lingering kiss. “What about work, though?”

“Dalton can handle things around here, and I’ll put the Gilmore department on alert; it’ll be fine. Nothing bad ever happens in Ponderosa Pines, right?”

Chloe snorted at that. The recent murder of Evan Plunkett had taken the shine right off the town’s unofficial motto.

“Good. Because boy, do I have plans for us! Massages, Jacuzzi suite, hiking, a couple of day trips. We’re going to have an amazing time!”

“I imagine we’d have an amazing time if we never left the room.” Nate flashed a mischievous grin and cocked an eyebrow; the implication, and the fact that he looked dead sexy doing it, caused a ripple of desire to run from the top of Chloe’s head to the tips of her pink-painted toenails.

“Of that, I’m sure. Which is why I booked us an extra week at a private cottage in Galway after this is all done.” Chloe’s satisfied grin was answered with a gaping one from Nate, who did a little dance, picked Chloe up, and spun her around in a circle.

“I freaking love you!” He practically shouted, then threw her over his shoulder, Chloe’s laughter trailing behind as he headed back to the bedroom.

Chapter 2

If she had her way, EV Torrence would send Murphy
and
his stupid law straight down the intention-paved road to hell where they belonged. Why was it when Dalton Burnsoll was the last person on earth she wanted to see, he seemed to be lurking around every corner, but when she actually needed to talk to him he pulled a disappearing act worthy of Houdini?

Even considering her lack of experience at relationships—and their present status as a quasi-couple—EV knew full well there was a rule against not telling him in person she had just made plans to fly halfway around the world.Tracking him down before someone else clued him in that she’d be spending the next two weeks in Ireland had launched her into what felt like a game of Whackamole.

There was no doubt Chloe had already spoken to Mindy and Veronica, which meant the information was well on its way though the town grapevine. Growling in frustration, EV hit speed dial for the second time. When his phone went to voicemail again, she debated whether she was annoyed enough to just text him and be done with it, or to go out looking for him.

Technically, she was a free agent, since they’d agreed to put their relationship on hold while they dealt with the nasty situation involving Remy Vincent. Technically, she didn’t have to report to Dalton Burnsoll—or anyone else—if she wanted to go out of town. Technically didn’t mean squat, though, because the man mattered to her.

Knitting bag slung over one broad shoulder, EV directed her long legs down the path toward town. Chilled November air turned each breath into a cloud of vapor as she picked up her pace from a frost-crunching walk to a slow jog. Delicate shards of frozen dew lay like powdered fairy dust over every blade of grass, every tree branch. When the sun broke through the scud of high clouds, it turned the world into a white, glittering glory that both dazzled the eye and made her thankful she had decided to walk.

Her town, Ponderosa Pines, was a place of beauty in every season. Well, maybe not mud season—the two or three weeks when spring thaw turned rich soil wet and sloppy. Right now, on the cusp of winter, these days where the town lay under a coating of sparkling ice crystals always touched something in her. She’d traveled plenty, but had yet to find any view comparable to watching the seasons dress this small town in colors from spring greens so tender they made her jaw ache, to today’s diamond-dressed white.

Honestly, the timing for this trip couldn’t have been worse. After two months of relative chaos, her life still wasn’t completely back to normal—and wouldn’t be until the investigation into Remy Vincent’s activities was finally concluded. What he had hoped to gain with his blackmail scheme, she couldn’t understand. Most crimes, according to every good mystery book, were committed for one of three reasons; love, money, or revenge. On that point, EV fully concurred.

Of the three, love was the wild card, often intertwined with the other two. Given Remy’s extended absence, money had seemed the most likely motivator until a thorough investigation proved none of the three parties involved—Gilmore, Ponderosa Pines, or Remy—stood to gain anything in a monetary sense.