Rest Thy Head (8 page)

Annie smiled and gestured out the window. “You can see the pool from here. There’s a really cute guy out there.”

Peyton wandered over to the window. “It’s a long way to the pool. How can you see it from here?”

“I’ve always had good eyes.”

Peyton looked herself. To her surprise, she too could see the pool. “You’re right. Is he gorgeous or what?”

“Look at those shoulders.”

“Uh huh.” Peyton laughed. “I’m practically drooling over here.”

“He has a nice neat little bottom too,” Annie observed with a sly smile.

Peyton stuck her nose against the window, hoping to get a better look. “Yeah, and I like his legs. Do you know who he is?”

“Jake.”

“Jake Douglas?”

Annie giggled. “Of course. How many Jakes do we have around here?”

“Only one.” She sighed. “I bet he was something before he got burned.”

Annie cast a stern look her way. “He still is. Jake has depth that Patrick doesn’t have. Did you know that?”

Peyton shook her head. “Not really. I don’t know either one of them too well yet.”

“Go and take a swim with him,” Annie urged. “Treat him the way a normal, cute guy gets treated. Be his friend, Peyton.”

Peyton hesitated even though she’d like a swim. “It might embarrass him if I saw him without his clothes. Don’t you imagine he swims right before dark so nobody can see him?”

Annie literally wrung her hands. “Please help him. Help him see he can still have a life.”

Peyton fell silent before this passionate entreaty. “Okay, but don’t be surprised if he walks off and leaves me by myself.”

“Then flirt with him. Make him stay.” Annie smiled. “I know you know how to do it.”

Peyton just laughed. “You have a higher opinion of my abilities with the opposite sex than I do. Remember how my fiancé treated me?”

“Oh, forget about him. He’s a loser. Hurry and go swim with Jake.”

What could it hurt? Peyton rushed to put on her bathing suit and slipped out of the inn. It would be nice to have a swim on such a sultry, warm evening.

As she approached the pool, she saw Jake jump up on the diving board. He completed a neat dive and hit the water with barely a ripple. He came up not far from where she had taken a seat on the edge of the pool. “Not bad,” she called.

Jake recoiled. “I didn’t see you over there. How long have you been watching?”

“Only for a moment. I see a net over there. Would you like to play volleyball?”

He turned sideways so that his good side faced her. “Oh, I’d better go in now. You enjoy your swim.”

“I don’t want to swim alone. Don’t you like volleyball?”

“Ah, sure, but…I have some work I need to do before bed.”

Peyton kept her voice nice and casual. “It’ll keep. Now get your butt out of the pool and help me with the net.”

“You don’t…I…”

Peyton jumped into the pool and swam over to him. “I intend to look at your scars, Jake. Then you won’t have any excuse not to play with me.”

Jake retreated across the pool with Peyton right behind him. He reached the steps leading out of the water, but Peyton lunged toward him and grabbed his hand. Caught off guard, Jake stumbled, and Peyton jerked him back into the pool.

The water and the fading light made it difficult to see too much, but Peyton did stare at him. One side of his face was redder than the other. The skin looked almost too smooth to be real, and in places it looked as if the skin itself had melted. His eyes, nose, and mouth seemed to be okay, though. From the top of his shoulder to his fingertips, the skin was rougher. The scars were higher than the rest of his skin and covered his entire arm and hand. Only a small portion of his chest had been burned. It was impossible to see under the water in this light, but she imagined he had some scars on his leg too.

“The side of your face and your arm are the worst. The rest of you isn’t bad. Are you ready to play now?”

Jake turned away yet again, his face dark with suppressed anger. “This isn’t funny. I don’t like people staring at me!”

“This is your last chance,” Peyton warned. “If you say no, I’m not asking you again.” She held her breath. What would he do?

Jake hesitated. He took one step toward the inn, but he finally caved in. “Okay, if you want to play volleyball, we will.”

“About time you saw things my way,” Peyton sassed.

They put up the net and played two games. Peyton only won one game, which surprised her. If she did say so, she could play volleyball with the best of them. “I didn’t expect you to win,” she complained. “How about a rematch tomorrow night?”

“If you insist.”

Peyton almost smiled when she saw the light in his eyes. “You’d better be prepared, Douglas.”

“Oh, I’m quaking in my boots.”

“You aren’t wearing boots, but if you were, you should quake in them. I intend to trounce you tomorrow.”

“Trounce me, huh?” He looked so amused. She’d never seen such a smile on his face before.

“Yep, trounce you. Badly.”

The smile that Peyton liked so much faded from his face. “I thought you were going out with Patrick tomorrow.”

“I am, but we’ll be back in time for a volleyball game.”

His lips tightened. “Only if you promise not to rush coming back home.”

Peyton tossed her hair at him, covering him with droplets. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got things well in hand.”

They both threw their towels around their shoulders and made their way back to the inn. Annie would be pleased. For a moment there, Jake had forgotten all about his scars.

***

Jake stepped into the shower to wash the chlorine from his body. Peyton thought she had seen his scars, but he knew the dimness of the evening had hidden the worst of them. On the way back inside he had deliberately walked beside her so she saw his good side. He had enjoyed playing volleyball with a beautiful woman, but he had to remember his brother had already asked her out. Still, playing volleyball couldn’t hurt anything. He decided he just might show up tomorrow night to find out if she really came back or not.

Chapter Six

Peyton bounced down the stairs the following morning to find Patrick arguing with one of the maids, a sharp, skinny girl whom Peyton didn’t know by name or especially like. “Dorrie, please be reasonable. You’ve worked here for three years now. Has anything bad happened to you during that time?”

“No, but I know what I saw, and my nerves are all torn up. My cousin is always after me to work with her in her hair salon, and I think this is a good time to take her up on it.”

As Dorrie turned away, Patrick put his hand on her arm to detain her, his eyes pleading. “But we pay well. Can you match your salary working with your cousin?”

“Who cares?” She jerked away from Patrick. “At least ghosts won’t be following me around and playing tricks on me!”

Dorrie stalked away, leaving the coast clear for Peyton to join Patrick. “Do you always have such a hard time finding help?” She snickered. “This is the second one since I got here.”

Patrick shook his head, a bemused expression on his face. “No, not usually.”

Peyton couldn’t help laughing. “She’s a little flaky if you ask me. I’m actually living in the haunted room, and I’ve seen neither hide nor hair of a ghost. That story is just an excuse to leave Rest Thy Head and work with her cousin.”

“Could be,” Patrick agreed. “Dorrie was always a little flighty.”

Patrick must not be too perceptive if he hadn’t seen that Dorrie wanted to leave Rest Thy Head, but Peyton wasn’t about to say anything. Dorrie’s leaving pleased her for Ashley’s sake. “Say, Patrick, I know someone who’d love to take her place. My sister lost her job and needs the work badly.”

Patrick brightened, but his face fell. “I’d love to have her, but you took the last open room. It isn’t big enough for two people.”

“Three people. She has a little boy. Couldn’t she stay in the attic room? One of the maids told me there’s a nice room up there.”

“I had forgotten about it,” Patrick admitted, gloom lifting from his face. “Jake and I both like your work. If you recommend your sister, I’d be glad to give her the job.”

“I’ll call her right after breakfast.” Peyton squeezed his hand. “I can’t thank you enough.”

She hurried away to do her part getting breakfast ready. As she opened the kitchen door, she saw Jake frying bacon. “Ready to lose tonight, mister?” she called, enjoying the chance to tease him.

A brief grin passed across his face. “Dream on.”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jason and Sandra exchange a glance. Maybe they thought she shouldn’t socialize with the boss, but she didn’t care what they thought. She enjoyed Jake’s company and didn’t intend to give it up just because a couple of her coworkers might disapprove.

As soon as the breakfast rush subsided, Peyton went to call Ashley and tell her about the maid’s job. To her surprise, Ashley seemed somewhat reluctant.

“Peyton, I don’t know about this.”

“They pay well, hon. You’d be making more money than you’re making right now. Besides, what holds you in Milford? Mother? Your tiny little apartment?”

“I haven’t talked to Mother since the day of your wedding. I’ve tried to call her a few times, but I always get her answering machine. I’ve left messages, but she hasn’t called me back.”

Peyton sighed. “I’m not surprised.”

A brief silence fell as Ashley thought it over. “Okay, we’ll come. You’re right; I don’t have a lot to lose.”

“Way to go!” Peyton smiled from ear to ear. “I can’t wait for you to get here.”

“I always wanted to run an inn anyway, right?”

“Absolutely.”

As soon as they made their arrangements, Peyton went to find Annie. She caught a glimpse of Annie’s gray uniform as she entered one of the rooms on the second floor. “Annie, wait. I want to tell you about my sister.”

Annie must not have heard her because she went into the room without stopping. Peyton dashed up the steps. When she turned the corner, she tapped on the door. Nobody answered so she went inside. “Annie? Where are you?”

Annie came out of the closet. “You wouldn’t believe what a mess these people made.”

“What are you doing in the closet?”

“Folding the extra blankets.”

“Oh. I just wanted to tell you that you were right about Dorrie. She quit this morning, and Patrick agreed to hire my sister. She’s coming to Rest Thy Head tomorrow.”

A complacent smile came to rest on Annie’s face. “I’m not surprised. I knew Dorrie wouldn’t stay here.”

“It sure surprised Patrick.”

Annie ignored the mention of Patrick. “Did you enjoy your swim last night?”

Peyton’s head bobbed. “I sure did. Jake and I are playing volleyball again tonight.”

“He doesn’t look too bad, does he?”

Peyton burst into laughter. “You look like the cat that ate the canary. I can practically see the feathers in your mouth. Jake looks great, and you know it.”

“Thank you for befriending him. He needs someone so much. Can you imagine how horrible it must be for him? Before he got burned, he looked so good he put Patrick in the shade. Women fell all over him, and now…”

“He’s a nice guy,” Peyton declared. “I’m glad he decided to let me in. We did have a good time, but we’re friends. That’s it; just friends.”

The two women parted, and Peyton went upstairs to dress for her evening out with Patrick. Annie was so nice. She truly cared what happened to Jake. Hopefully, Annie’s fiancé, would come home to her soon.

***

The date with Patrick went well. Peyton enjoyed comedies, and, obviously, Patrick did too. They laughed, joked, and teased and generally had a great time. She liked his choice of restaurants too. Good Italian wasn’t easy to find, but the place he picked was great.

But by eight thirty they had ended their evening and returned to Rest Thy Head because Patrick had things to see to. “I had a really good time,” he assured her as they paused on the front porch. “Thanks very much for going with me.”

“Anytime. I had fun too.”

Patrick hugged her and stepped back. “I’m glad you saw that brochure. I like having you at the inn.”

Peyton gave his hand a little squeeze. “I’m glad too. I like this place.”

“People too?”

“Yes, people too. Are you fishing for a compliment, Patrick Douglas?”

“Well…yes.”

Peyton laughed. “Okay, consider yourself complimented.”

“I will,” he answered, eyes twinkling.

Their date officially over, Peyton went upstairs to put on her bathing suit. As she hurried across the yard she glanced over her shoulder. For a moment, she thought she saw someone watching her from the window, but she blinked and saw the shadows had deceived her. She saw no face in the window.

She entered the pool area and saw Jake lying on one of the inn’s big white lounge chairs. “Ready for that trouncing, Jake?”

He laughed. “Who’s going to do the trouncing? You?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Put your money where your mouth is, O’Malley.”

“Oh, he does feel confident,” Peyton teased. “What did you have in mind?”

“If you lose, you have to groom my horse after breakfast tomorrow.”

Peyton pretended to think about it. “I could do that if I lose, but I don’t intend to lose. If I win, you have to wash my car for me.”

Jake jumped out of his chair. “I hate washing cars, but I’m not too worried.”

“You should be,” Peyton snorted. “How many games?”

“Two out of three. Bring it on.”

He dove into the water with Peyton right behind him. Peyton won the first game, but Jake took the second. “Guess we’ll have to go three,” Jake observed as he swiped water from his face. “Are you getting tired?”

“Nope. Serve the ball.”

Peyton fought as hard as she could, but in spite of her best efforts, Jake won the third game. “Be careful when you groom my mare. She’s ticklish.” He dove under the net and came up beside Peyton. “Good game. If you hadn’t missed the last serve you’d have beaten me.”

“There’ll be another time.” She squinted her eyes at him. “You’ll have to wash my car yet.”

Jake laughed as if the prospect didn’t worry him. Maybe it didn’t. Jake wasn’t as tall as Patrick, but he was much more powerfully built. Six pack abs, great shoulders, tight little butt, killer eyes…yeah, the guy was dreamy. Peyton picked up her towel and told him about Ashley and Griffin.