Sweet Christmas Kisses (12 page)

“I hope you don’t mind,” Velma said with a little pout. “Our flight to Chicago was cancelled.”

“Chicago?” Paul asked with surprise.

“That’s where Zach’s from.” She leaned forward, then spoke in a whisper. “Isn’t he the cat’s pajamas?” Velma stepped past him and into the foyer as Zach lumbered in the door.

“Hey, man, nice to meet you,” Zach said, rearranging his bags and extending a hand.

Paul shook it as another figure appeared through the driving snow. It was a stunning blonde dressed in a white coat and hat. As she drew closer, recognition alighted in her pale blue eyes. “Paul Love, is that really you?”

“Beth?” Paul asked, scarcely able to believe it. He hadn’t seen his old high school sweetheart in years. The last he’d heard, she’d married and moved to Vermont.

“We ran into her at the airport,” Velma explained. “Seems she was waylaid on the same flight.” She batted her eyes at her son as she closed the door behind them. “Isn’t it a small world?”

“Very.” Paul swallowed hard, caught off guard by this turn of events. He hadn’t thought of Beth in a long time. So long, he’d nearly forgotten how attractive she was, and her looks had withstood the test of time. Despite the fine lines that crinkled around her eyes when she smiled, hers was still a youthful face. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear some magician had turned back the clock and deposited his first love—just as she’d been—before him.

“I hope it’s not too much of an imposition?” Beth said, color lightly dusting her cheeks. “My parents already left on their cruise, but I suppose I could go back to the old homestead.”

“And have you spend Christmas alone? We wouldn’t hear of it, would we Pauly?”

 For a second, Paul seemed to have lost his ability to speak. But he quickly called himself up short, realizing he was being impolite. “Not at all,” he said, spewing out the words and then instantly hoping he hadn’t sounded too desperate. But he was desperate. Desperate to know what his long-lost love was doing here after all this time. He cast a wary eye at his mother, wondering how much of the airport story was actually true. His mom was very dear but had a conniving side too. But surely he couldn’t pin that kind of nature on Beth? “We have plenty of room here,” he said, addressing Beth and then the group. “Room enough for all of you.”

Beth removed her hat, revealing shoulder-length tresses. She glanced around the cheery room. “Oh, Paul, it’s charming. I’d heard you ran your own place, but I had no idea that it was so quaint.”

Paul stared at her, still broadsided. “Are you still in Vermont?”

She gingerly removed her gloves. Paul noted a wedding band was missing. “Chicago now. In advertising.” Paul caught Velma beaming at him like a cat full of canary.

“So, how’s old Jack holding up?” he asked. They’d all been friends in high school, but shortly into everyone’s freshman college year, Beth had thrown Paul over for Jack. Paul later reasoned it had been for the best. She’d married Jack four years later, and after a while, Paul had met and fallen in love with Nancy.

Beth removed her coat, unveiling her trim, athletic figure, and hung it on the rack by the door. “Wouldn’t know. We split.”

“I’m sorry,” Paul offered kindly.

“Don’t be,” she said. “It wasn’t a bad breakup or anything. We just drifted.”

This smelled more and more like a setup to Paul. Perhaps Beth really was innocent to it. Then again, maybe not. She had to know he’d been alone since Nancy died. And if she hadn’t, Velma had surely filled her in on the details on the way in from the airport. Paul chided himself for being overly suspicious. Where was his holiday spirit, anyway?

Zach removed his snowshoes, looking around. “Nice place, man. Thanks for taking us in.

“What is it you do, Zach?”

“Zach’s a junk-metal artist!” Velma proclaimed with pride. She nuzzled up against his broad chest, then spoke in low tones. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Right baby?”

Zach drew her into his arms. “That’s right, Mama Bear.”

Paul cringed, shooting Beth an embarrassed look.

Daniel entered the foyer and took in the busy scene.

“Grandma!”

“Oh now, honey,” she said with a wave of her hand. “We’re all a little grown-up here for that
granny
business.” She wrapped her arms around her grandson and pulled him close, whispering in his ear. “Don’t you worry one bit, baby. Your daddy’s not moving anywhere.”

Daniel flushed, noticing the nice-looking blonde who’d appeared. She looked to be about his dad’s age but had kept herself very well. So well, in fact, had Daniel been older, he might even have considered her hot.

“My handle’s Velma now,” his grandma continued just a little too loudly. “You down with that?”

Daniel scanned the room, figuring his grandma was up to something. She typically was. “Yeah, sure. Cool.”

“Zach,” Velma said by way of introduction, “I’d like you to meet my grandson, Daniel.” Daniel shook hands with the laid-back-looking guy, then turned his gaze on the blonde, thinking she must be his partner.

“And this is Beth Moore,” Velma said, casting the woman an appreciative eye. “An
old friend
of your father’s.”

Daniel blinked hard. It was all sinking in. Hey, whoa. This Beth wasn’t here with the hippie dude. Hippie dude was here with his grandmother! And Beth was here for what…? He eyed his matchmaking grandmother, who’d been bent on his dad getting remarried for some time now. With Paul’s plans to close the inn, maybe she figured things were in a state of emergency. She didn’t want her Pauly leaving Maine any more than Daniel did. Daniel hoped he hadn’t done the wrong thing in advising his grandma of his dad’s plans. He’d expected her to be upset, try to talk his dad out of it, maybe. He never guessed she’d show up here with some hot babe in tow!

Suddenly, a huge commotion erupted outside. There was a screeching sound, the squealing of brakes, and then the horrific noise made by metal crunching.

“What was
that
?” Beth cried with alarm.

Paul grabbed his coat off the rack. “I’d better go and see.”

Paul trudged through the snow toward the large SUV turned sideways in a parking space. Twisted metal protruded from beneath its front bumper.

A pretty brunette lowered her window with a worried look. “What did I hit?” she asked with a grimace. Despite her downcast expression, Paul couldn’t help but be struck by her beauty. She had large dark eyes and long dark lashes to match.

“Only my dog sled,” he said in an effort to reassure her. Rather than relieved, she appeared horrified, her lightly flushed cheeks taking on a brighter hue.

“Oh my God, I killed your dog!” she cried with a gasp. She gaped at him in horror. “I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t see—”

“Not my dog, lady. I just had a couple of—”

“Two? I hit
two
?” She hunkered forward over the wheel. “I think I’m going to vomit.”

Beyond her, Paul spied two kids in the SUV. The boy beside her seemed to be in his early teenage years; the girl in the back was a bit younger. “Whoa, now, just calm down. It’s not nearly as bad as you think!”

The kids exchanged glances, then sprang from the vehicle to survey the scene, while the woman tried to stop them. The boy stood, arms akimbo, goggling at the mutilated mess. His sister was beside him. “Wow, what was it?”

 “Kids! Don’t look!” the woman cried, also leaping from the SUV.

“Was it a moose?” the girl asked Paul with alarm. She looked identical to her mother, only pint-size, with two neatly braided pigtails poking out of her cap. Her panicked gaze locked on his. “She killed our Christmas moose!”

Paul heaved a breath and took in their expectant faces. “You must be the Baker family.”

They stared at him numbly as the SUV’s “door ajar” alarm sounded. The snow drove down harder, quickly coating the family’s winter clothing.

“I’m glad you all made it here safely,” he said. “But I don’t want you to worry one bit. Why, you didn’t hit any dogs of mine at all!” He gave what he hoped was an affable laugh, then addressed the woman, who still seemed out of sorts. “You only plowed into my beat-up old dog sled. Heck, I’d already put it out in the trash.”

Relief flooded her face. “Honestly? Oh, thank”—she cast her son a sideways glance—“G!”

That was a new one to him, but he supposed she was being cautious because of the kids. He found this charming somehow. Paul extended his hand. “Paul Love, nice to meet you.”

“Carol Baker.”

She took his grip and froze a beat. For the first time in the midst of all the commotion, Carol noticed what an incredibly handsome man he was. He was older than she was, but not by much. Probably late thirties, with a rugged face and a smile that could melt the snow in all of Maine. Warm brown eyes danced, apparently amused—and entranced—by her.

Carol felt her face flush, and she rushed to put the conversation on safer ground. She hadn’t been looked at like that by a man in a while. Or perhaps he hadn’t been looking at all, and she’d simply imagined it. “And these are my kids, Will and Ashley.”

“Welcome aboard, all of you,” he said through the whistling winds and snow that swirled around them. “I think we’d best get inside!”

Paul sent Daniel to help the others settle in upstairs while he checked Carol in at the front desk. Her kids had been all too happy to make their way to their separate quarters. From the looks of their mom, it had been a long trip. Her finely drawn features were etched with the worries of a hard day. It was no wonder too. Driving through the North Woods in a snowstorm could tax anyone. More so, someone from a southern state with less winter weather experience than a New Englander.

Carol had just signed her credit card receipt when Ashley bounded down the stairs.

“Mom! There are bears in my room!”

Carol sighed apologetically. “She’s got a wild imagination.”

“No! I mean it,” the child persisted.

Just then, Will appeared, bounding down the steps behind his sister. “And there are foxes in mine! Seriously, Mom. It’s way cool.”

She turned toward Paul with a puzzled look, as he suppressed a grin. “Perhaps we should go and see?”

Ashley darted into her room as Carol trailed her, then stopped in her tracks. For once, her daughter hadn’t been exaggerating. This was the most spectacular display Carol had ever seen. The room’s décor was all
Black Bear
, complete with a wildlife painting over the fireplace and a huge four-poster bed with each of its posts carved into enormous claws and a bear’s head sculpted into the headboard.

“Wow, this is something,” Carol said, agape. She ran a hand down the exquisitely tapered frame of the bed. “Who’s the artist?” she asked, turning to Paul.

He folded his arms across his chest and grinned. “Local guy. Did every room in the place.”

“You mean they’re all animal themed?” Carol asked, intrigued. This part hadn’t been included in the brochure, which had shown just a photo of the inn from outdoors along with a shot of its large, inviting living room.

Paul nodded, then motioned for her to follow. They popped into Will’s room next, which was equally grand, only in a foxy, hunt-country style.

“Let’s go see Mom’s!” Will said, excited.

“Is it all moose?” Ashley asked with hopeful eyes.

“Uh-uh,” Paul replied with a smile. “Only
one
room in the inn sports a moose theme, and none of the guests get to see it.”

Carol felt herself flush at envisioning the very handsome innkeeper’s lair. She bet it was as rugged as he was, yet built for comfort like his big, sturdy arms. She blinked, wondering where that last thought had come from. A man his age was certainly married. Besides, she’d had the impression that his older teenage assistant might be his son. They had the same coloring and seemed to carry themselves in the same way, much as a father and son might do. Her kids scurried off, eager to unpack in their separate spaces. “I’ve got to hand it to you, Mr.—”

“Please, call me Paul.”

“Paul,” Carol repeated, catching her breath on the word. She couldn’t tell him that her very first crush had been on the Beatle Paul McCartney, and that name always had a special effect on her.

A gorgeous blonde appeared in the doorway, holding a large bath towel. “Going to shower before dinner,” she told him with a sweet look. He nodded; then his gaze trailed after her with what Carol assumed to be admiring affection. Suddenly consumed by heat, she unzipped her parka.
Naturally, the name Paul has an effect! It clearly has an effect on his wife too,
Carol thought, feeling a fool. She focused hard on the décor, hoping to give the impression that was all she’d been studying. Fantasies involving the innkeeper weren’t included in the Holiday Hills package. She’d do well to get a grip and remember that. This was what she got for ignoring the teacher-workroom chatter that told her she should get back out on the dating scene just like her ex had. Truth was, she hadn’t been able to imagine a way. Not with looking after little Ashley and Will and managing her job and the household besides. And anyhow, her heart hadn’t been ready. It still hadn’t recovered from the beating Jim had handed down, and felt the need to remind her of that time and time again. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” she said, removing her scarf. “You and your wife must have had a great time decorating.”

“Oh, my wife didn’t…” he said with a start. “What I mean is, I did all decorating.”

Carol caught herself massaging her empty ring finger and stopped, shoving her hands in her parka pockets. “So, what’s in my room?” she asked looking up. The White Album began playing through her mind. “Some
Rocky Rac-coo-hoons
?”she sang before snorting a laugh. She’d tried to mimic the lines from the song but instantly realized how idiotic she’d sounded. If these polished wooden floorboards could open up and swallow her whole, now would be a good time. She folded her face in her hands, then dared to peek between splayed fingers.

Paul leaned toward her with a whisper as she inched back. He was devilishly handsome with those deep dark eyes, especially when he stood so close. “I’m afraid that room’s already been taken.” He twisted his lips in a wry smile. “By a die-hard Beatle’s fan.”