The Christmas Inn (9 page)

“And I was looking for you earlier so you could attend the
meeting. All part of you being my assistant,” he said, hoping she’d explain what
she’d been doing in this room.

“Well, we’re together now.” She closed her cell phone, a hint
of amusement capturing her eyes as she continued to look at him. Was she teasing
him? The idea had its appeal.

What he wouldn’t give to be able to sit down beside her and
talk about anything and everything except work. How long had it been since he’d
had a conversation that wasn’t about the inn, its operation or its guests? And
why did it suddenly matter to him?

That odd, totally unexpected feeling he’d experienced when
she’d agreed to stay and be his assistant had left him perplexed by how easily
she’d slipped into his life, his thoughts—and now she was making him want for
things he hadn’t missed before.

When she’d told him she wasn’t married, that her brother had
made up the story to get her a reservation, he’d been so damned glad he’d wanted
to get up and dance. Marnie had turned his life on its end, and he was thankful
for the distraction.

“This is an awesome room,” she said, her gaze sweeping over the
dazzlingly lit space, and coming to rest on the silver-and-blue tree.

“It is. Someone told me you were checking the windowsills for
dust. Is there a problem? Or did Mary enlist your help?”

“No. I…I thought that while I was waiting I’d come in here and
check it out. When you run a hair-and-aesthetics salon, checking for dust and
dirt, straightening piles of magazines becomes automatic. Sorry if I caused you
concern.”

Her answer made sense and she seemed perfectly sincere. She was
here, and she was trying to be helpful, and he could use her knowledge to
improve the operation. “Forget it.”

“I have a few notes from my visit to the spa. I’ve been
checking email on my cell phone while you finished your meeting.”

“Why don’t we go to my office and you can fill me in on your
spa experience?”

“I’d love that, but I need to make a call first. Do you mind?
I’ll just be a couple of minutes.”

“Not at all,” he said as he got up and started for the door.
“I’ll be in my office.”

As he left the room, he spotted Brad Parker coming down the
hall. Brad wasn’t one of his favorite guests, too much of a bragger, but Luke
appreciated the repeat business. “Hello, I hope your stay is going well.”

“It is. My wife and I are just about to go into Wakesfield for
a little lunch and shopping.”

Brad looked distracted, and wanting to offer assistance, Luke
said, “Can I help you with anything?”

“No, I thought I’d look for a book in the library, something to
read,” he said. Brad Parker didn’t strike Luke as the kind of man who read
anything beyond the sports section of the newspaper.

“You’ve come to the right place. The library has lots of
reading material.”

Brad glanced past him, a preoccupied look on his face.
“Thanks.”

Luke turned and watched him go down the hall toward the
library, Jack’s words playing through his mind. Had Marnie and Brad arranged to
meet in the library? Was Marnie’s excuse about making a phone call simply a
cover while she waited for Brad? Rolling his shoulders to ease the sudden
tension he felt there, he went to his office and closed the door.

* * *

M
ARNIE
COULD
FEEL
THE
HEAT
rising through
her body as she sat glued to the chair in the library, surrounded by the
breathtaking Christmas decorations. Luke suspected her of something, and she’d
nearly been tripped up over the dust business.

He must have spies everywhere because she’d only checked a
couple of surfaces before sitting down near the tree to take in the sheer beauty
of the room. She loved all the decorating and baking that came with the
Christmas season. No wonder her mother was bugging Scott to know where she was.
This time of year she normally spent all her free time at her parents’ house or
out Christmas shopping with her mother.

Last week she’d decorated her salon to look like Santa’s
workshop and all her clients loved it, as did the children coming in for new
haircuts for the many Christmas concerts and recitals taking place around town.
But she had to forget about Christmas for the moment.

Just before Luke arrived, she’d had a text message from Scott
asking her to call him right away. Could it be that Advantage Corporation had
reversed their decision about the sale?

Her brother answered on the first ring. “Marnie, how’s it
going? How many of the questionnaires have you finished?”

She turned away from the door, and moved to stand by the
window. “Three so far. Don’t worry, I’ll send them to you soon.”

“Well, get a move on. Advantage wants to finish up earlier than
planned.”

“Scott, I need more time.”

“I’ve got Mom breathing down my neck about where you are. I’ve
got Advantage looking for results right away—as in yesterday—and you want to
hang out at the inn and do some more navel gazing,” he said, his disbelief on
overdrive.

“I can always quit,” she threatened.

“No, don’t do that! Just get a move on. How’s it looking,
anyway?”

She lowered her voice. “For your information, I’m pretending to
be the manager’s assistant so that I’m not seen as a woman on the make, after
somebody’s husband. Then I had to correct your lie about us being married, and
if I’m not careful, I could still be asked to leave. So now would be a good
time,” she said.

“A good time?”

“To thank me for saving your precious hide where Advantage is
concerned.”

“Oh, yes, thank you.”

Was there a slight hint of condescension in his words? There
better not have been. “And if that’s not enough, the manager doesn’t trust me,
and the staff are reporting to him every time anyone sees me do anything
suspicious.” She peeked behind her to be certain no one had entered the room.
“They’re probably watching me now.”

“Did you tell the manager you were working for me?” Scott
asked, his tone stiff.

“No. But I had to tell him you and I are brother and sister not
husband and wife. And thanks for making him think I’m a complete nutcase.”

“What did he say?”

She chewed away at her new nail polish. “Not much.”

“Why do you care what the manager thinks of you? You’re there
to do a job, and there’s been a…a small problem which you took upon yourself to
fix. But everything is fine, isn’t it?”

“Sure, Scott. Everything is peachy, and I’m doing the survey
work as fast as I can. Which reminds me, I’m expected in the manager’s office.
I’ve got to go.”

“And you’ll call me this evening and give me an update?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Well, you may have lots of time to think because there’s a
blizzard headed your way.”

Great! All she needed was to have Luke discover what she was
doing there, and be unable to make her escape because of a snowstorm. As soon as
she was finished in Luke’s office, she intended to find a gas station. If she
had to leave suddenly, she’d need a full tank of gas. “Thanks for the
warning.”

She slammed her phone closed and stared out the window. “Damn.
What next?”

“Some things never change, Marnie.”

She whirled around at the sound of Brad’s voice. Had he been
standing there all along, hidden so she couldn’t see him? “What are you doing
here?”

“I’m a guest, remember? Was that your brother on the
phone?”

Did he overhear her talking about the questionnaire? He
couldn’t have. She’d been too far from the door, and she’d kept her voice down.
“No.”

“What are you doing here during this week? Are you
married?”

“No, I’m not,” she said. “I’m working for the manager for a
couple of days.”

“What about your salon?”

She didn’t want to have this conversation. “I have to go.”

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Suit
yourself.”

“And it would be a good idea if we made a point of avoiding one
another. I don’t want any trouble with your wife.”

“Agreed.”

She ducked past him, wondering what it was that she’d ever seen
in him, how she could have ever thought she loved him. Marnie felt sorry for
Cindy. Loving Brad was a losing proposition, at least in her experience.

When she reached the door to Luke’s office, she knocked and was
greeted by his welcoming voice telling her to come in. “Thanks for waiting,” she
said.

“As I was leaving the library, I saw one of our guests, Brad
Parker, heading that way. Did you see him?”

Did he suspect that she and Brad had a connection? “Yes, but
only for a moment.” She sat down in the chair next to his desk, close enough to
touch him.

He frowned, but didn’t say anything.

To fill the awkward silence, she grabbed onto the first topic
that came to mind. “My partner, Shane, and I co-owned a spa and salon called
Total Elegance for ten years.”

“And what was your area of expertise?” he asked.

“I was a hairdresser.”

“It won’t be easy to end that relationship, will it?”

She met his gaze and saw the sincerity in his eyes…and
something more. “No, it won’t be easy to leave, and that’s part of why I need a
little time to be sure that selling is right for me. We’ve agreed to everything,
I simply haven’t signed the papers. Shane wants to move on with his new bride.
They’re in love and he wants to make her happy.”

“Do you feel you’re in the way?”

Did she? “Yeah, a little. Selling my half of the salon has left
me feeling a bit lost. It was so much a part of my life all those years.”

“I know how it feels to care about a place, about a business.
That’s how I feel about this inn.” His voice held a hint of melancholy. “The
owners have never spent a day here, but they make all the major decisions on the
financial viability of the inn, while I’ve put my heart and soul into this
place.”

Marnie could see the passion in his eyes, a passion she wished
she felt for her shop. “If only I felt as strongly about my business as you do
about the inn.”

“But you don’t.”

She drew in a deep, cleansing breath. “No, I don’t. Isn’t that
weird? I didn’t sign those papers because I was afraid I might miss the salon,
but hearing you talk about the inn…that’s how I should feel.”

“Then, there’s your answer. You’ve made the right
decision.”

It felt so good to share her feelings with him, to hear him
endorse her decision to sell. He may be a stranger, but she appreciated his
opinion all the same. “Thank you for saying that.”

“I was just telling you how I really feel,” he said, leaning
toward her, his arm resting on the corner of his desk.

He was close enough to kiss her. “Thanks,” she murmured,
hyperaware of his lips, the cleft of his chin and the rise and fall of his chest
beneath his cotton shirt.

He took her hand in his, and interlaced his fingers with hers,
sending a jolt through her. A day ago, she would’ve been happy with flirting and
casual sex, but now she wanted—no, needed—to be with him, to share her feelings
with him. To find the kind of intimacy that didn’t revolve around bedroom
gymnastics.

She’d never felt this way before and it frightened her. How
could she have dated all those other men, nearly married Brad and never felt
this kind of need, this sense that she had finally found the right one?

“I believe we’re going to make a good team,” he said, his
breath hot on her cheek, forcing her heart to beat harder.

“Did you want to hear about my spa experience?” she asked,
fighting to resist his mouth and what it offered.

Leaning closer, he kissed her gently, slowly, deliciously while
his fingers traced the skin of her neck. She had wished for this sort of kiss
all her life. This man—whose heart beat beneath her fingers—could, if he chose,
claim her body and soul.

He eased away from her. “I’ve wanted to do that since you
arrived here. Even when I still thought you were married.” He gave her an
apologetic smile.

His kiss left her wanting more of him, and she scrambled to
regain her composure. This was moving way too fast for her. “Would…would you
like to hear about the spa?”

“If you’d like to tell me, I’m ready to listen,” he said, his
eyes on her.

Her head spinning, her heart thudding from the loss of his
touch, she swallowed hard.

She tried not to fumble her words as she went over her
assessment, all the while fearing that he might be upset when he heard what she
had to say. But he didn’t seem to be bothered by the negative things she said
about the spa. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, tented his fingers over his
lips and studied her. “Is that all?”

She felt lost, discarded, missing his closeness. “What do you
mean?”

“I wondered if there was anything else you had to tell me.”

Was he talking about Brad? He couldn’t be, and there was
nothing to tell there, anyway.

Oh…God…in her eagerness to show him how smart and capable she
was she’d rhymed off the survey points on the questionnaire she’d filled out for
Advantage. Guilt began its slow assault on her mind. How could she be sitting
here kissing this man while she still held her heartless little secret?

What if he’d had a mystery guest before, and then been
confronted with the results? If he’d refused a promotion it might have resulted
in the company sending someone to check up on him. What if he knew she was doing
a survey because he recognized the points she’d listed? Or what if the cleaning
staff had found the notes in her room....

She stared at the desk to keep from looking at him, waiting for
his words of recrimination.

CHAPTER FIVE

L
UKE
FOUGHT
TO
CONTAIN
the rush of desire engulfing him. He should
never have kissed her, especially when, instead of focusing on his work, all he
wanted to do was to kiss her again. It had been so long since he’d felt like
this, long enough to fear that he might be jumping too soon into something he
couldn’t handle.

And Marnie? What was going on with her? One minute she’d
invited him to kiss her, and the next she was acting guilty about something.
Had
she stayed behind in the library to meet
Brad? What if her real reason for being here had to do with Brad Parker? He
didn’t care for the man, but surely he wouldn’t bring his wife to the inn so
that he could meet Marnie on the side.

He took a deep, calming breath.

Had she returned his kiss to keep him from being suspicious of
her? If she was here to meet Brad, he would be disappointed and hurt. Sure, he
was attracted to her, but that was his problem.

But if she was here for some other reason, what could it be? So
far she’d checked out the bar, the spa, and was seen checking out the library.
Added to that, he’d offered her the job of being his assistant while she was
here—the perfect opportunity to see what was going on at the inn.

Did she work for a rival company? Maybe another hotel company
had heard about his success with the Christmas Getaway event and had sent her to
report back to them about it. The Chancellor and other inns along the valley
were always vying for clients, and she had refused to stay at the
Chancellor....

But what if he had it all wrong? He’d been working really hard,
and he had a tendency to be suspicious of people’s motives, thanks to his
parents.

“I think it’s time you came clean about why you’re really
here,” he said. “It can’t be much fun for a single woman.”

Her brow furrowed, her eyes focused on the corner of the desk,
she said. “I told you why I’m here. To enjoy the spa…and to think about my
future.”

Look at me when you say that. I don’t want
to doubt you.

“So why agree to pose as my assistant when you could stay at
any other resort and have all the free time you need?”

For one long heartbeat he waited, hoping she’d deny his
insinuation that she was there under false pretenses.

Her gaze flitted past him to the other corner of the desk. “I’m
a good multitasker. I can do the job for you with time to spare.”

She wasn’t much of a liar, yet he really didn’t have any proof
that she wasn’t telling the truth—just his gut. He rubbed his face to hide his
frustration. She hadn’t answered his question directly—a response that would’ve
allayed his fears—and it made him angry. What was he going to do now? As long as
he was suspicious of her, he couldn’t allow her access to his office.

He lowered his hands, the enthusiasm of an hour ago long gone.
“I have an important phone call to make, and a few hours of work that you really
can’t be of much help with. Why don’t you take a break and go downtown, visit
the shops, think about your…future.”

She blinked, and smoothed her hair. “I’ve never been to
Wakesfield.”

“Our guests love the shops, and I can give you the names of a
couple of restaurants you might enjoy if you decide to stay for lunch.”

“Thank you,” she said, standing up, her shoulders back and her
head held high. Luke kept his eyes on the wall above his desk, at the painting
his parents had given him as a graduation present, trying not to remember that
his parents were off in Australia now, and that he’d still not received so much
as a card from them.

What he wouldn’t give right now for a brother or sister or some
other family member to whom he could confide his feelings about Marnie. He badly
wanted to believe her—to have a funny, sexy woman to spend the next few days
with, someone he could share his plans for the inn with, and who would
understand his enthusiasm for the place.

Working with her would have been the perfect cover for getting
to know her.

He took a deep breath and refocused his thoughts with grim
determination. He needed to concentrate on the job at hand, to make this the
best Christmas in the history of The Mirabel Inn.

* * *

F
IGHTING
BACK
TEARS
, Marnie managed to make her way up the stairs
to her room. Scott had warned her that a storm was headed this way, but she
didn’t care. Let it snow. In the meantime, she needed to talk to Julie, to gain
a little perspective on her life and to hear how things were going back at Total
Elegance. But most of all she needed to get some distance from Luke and how
mixed up he made her feel. Julie was the woman to help her with that.

She dialed her friend’s number, her spirits lifting.

“Hello, and how is inn life treating you?” Julie asked.

“It’s great.” She swallowed. “Fantastic…really.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Marnie, it’s me, remember?”

Suddenly, she couldn’t talk about Luke without crying. And
Julie would want all the details. But she couldn’t explain everything that had
gone on to Julie or she’d be on the phone all day. “How’s life at the shop?” she
inquired, squeezing her eyes shut to keep the tears at bay.

“You mean, how is life with Gina?”

“That, too.”

“Well, let me count the ways I dislike the woman. She’s told
all the staff that if they have staff or work issues, they are not to bother
Shane with them. She’ll handle them. Oh, and she sent one of your best clients
screaming out into the street when she botched her color.”

“You’re kidding! Who?”

“Ellen Parsons, you know the ex Mrs. Martin Jones who had come
into the salon for a new look in celebration of her newfound freedom. She got a
new look, all right.” Julie’s tone was wry.

“Well, you can pull her card. She won’t be back.”

“Ellen’s not the only one not coming back. The two shampoo
girls gave their notice. It seems the word’s out that you’re leaving, and people
are beginning to take stock of what life will be like under the new regime.”

“What can I do?”

“You can come back, but as your friend, I know that’s probably
not possible, and I respect that. But I have to tell you Total Elegance is no
longer elegant. I assumed things would get a little weird around here, but I
hadn’t expected it to go strange so soon. And Shane…his life is about to be
totally ruined.”

She heard the catch in Julie’s voice. “I’m here for you if you
need me.”

“Why did he have to ruin his life? If only Shane would wake up
and see what he’s doing!”

“We both know that’s not going to happen.”

“Which means you’d better sign that agreement pronto. Given
Gina’s behavior, Total Elegance is about to go down the tubes.”

“And you? What will you do?”

“I’m not giving up on Shane. I know you think I should, but I
love him, and it hurts to see what’s happening. I managed to track him down in
his office the other day, and he and I had a chat away from dragon ears, and
maybe it’s my imagination, but he doesn’t seem quite so infatuated with the
woman as he was.”

“Don’t read something into his behavior that isn’t there,
please, Julie. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“Too late. I’m already hurt. But I’ve made up my mind. I’m
sticking around. I’m not going to give up if there’s any hope that Shane might
come to his senses.”

“Would it help if I didn’t sign until you had a little more
time to get used to the idea that Shane and Gina are running things?” She had no
idea what this would accomplish, but she needed to offer her friend any support
she could.

“No, I believe that if you sign now, it might make Shane see
that his old life is over, that he has to face the reality of Gina screwing up
everything. Until now, he’s had you and me to keep the show on the road. You
signing the papers may act as a wake-up call.”

“You’re serious?”

“Never more. Have you got the agreement with you?”

“Yeah, I wanted to read it through one last time.”

“Well, read it and sign is my advice,” Julia offered to a
chorus of shocked words in the background. “Gotta go and break up the wolf pack
snarling at the throat of our esteemed lady of perpetual bossiness.”

“Go get her, girl. And tell Shane I’m going to fax over the
signed agreement, will you?”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. I can’t buy Shane out and it doesn’t make sense to delay
it any longer. If you’re right about Shane, you may still be able to save him
from Gina.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. Go back to work.”

“Will you call me later and let me know how things are going?”
Julie asked.

“I will.” She closed her phone and climbed up onto the window
seat with its fabulous view of the grounds and the mountains in the
distance.

Chatting with Julie had made her feel a little better, but she
worried about Julie. Her friend was still in love with Shane, which meant that
she would be very unhappy the day Shane married Gina. But Marnie had done her
best to convince Julie to forget Shane and find someone else, to no avail.

And she wasn’t doing much better on the love front. Even though
Luke was suspicious of her, and had made her feel guilty, she’d never been more
attracted to a man in her entire life.

For now, she’d put him out of her mind, sign her agreement and
fax it to Shane. After that she’d reward herself with a trip into Wakesfield.
Scribbling her signature on the document, she gathered her bag, her coat and
scarf and headed downstairs to see if she could send a fax.

In the office, she discovered Mary working on a laptop, a
distracted frown on her face. “Excuse me, but would you mind if I sent a fax?”
she asked.

Mary rose and came toward her. “No, by all means, and it’s so
nice to see you. Are you enjoying your stay so far?”

“Very much.” What else could she say? It wasn’t Mary’s fault
that she was completely confused by her relationship with Luke, if it could be
called a relationship.

She fed the pages into the machine and dialed the fax number at
the salon, and then waited for the document to feed through.

“You’ve made a big impression on Ethan,” Mary said, shuffling
some papers on Luke’s desk.

“He’s so sweet.”
And so like his father in
many ways.

“Luke loves him tremendously, and he is such a good dad,” Mary
replied softly.

“Yes, it’s so obvious.”

“And what about Luke?”

Marnie felt her cheeks warm. “He’s been really kind to me.”

“I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but Luke doesn’t often
show his feelings where people are concerned.”

“What do you mean?” Marnie asked, downplaying her curiosity by
pretending to be absorbed in the form generated by the fax machine.

“Well, he’s been alone for three years now and I’ve often
wondered if he’ll ever smile again—a real smile, I mean. Sure, he’s always kind
and solicitous with everyone, but I can tell he’s still so sad.”

Why was Mary telling her this? “I’m sorry to hear that. It must
be very difficult to care for a toddler while trying to get over losing your
wife.”

“It certainly is. And a day doesn’t go by that I don’t wish
he’d meet someone.”

“I can understand that. After all, you’re friends and you care
what happens to him,” she said, feeling suddenly very sorry for the man who,
only a short while ago, had been driving her crazy.

“You could help while you’re here.” Mary focused her clear gaze
on Marnie.

“How?” she asked, the catch in her voice betraying her.

“Be his friend. He needs someone like you. I see how much
happier he seems just in the past day with you around. He likes you, and he told
me himself that he admires the fact that you ran your own business.”

Basking in the compliment, she smiled. “That’s very kind of
him.”

“He wasn’t being kind. Believe me, Luke takes business
seriously, and he meant what he said.” Mary heaved a big sigh. “Which leads me
to what I really want to say. I see the way you look at him, the way he looks at
you. Don’t let it be wasted. We get so few second chances in life.”

“But…I don’t—”

“I’ve said enough, and I’m sorry if I offended you. But I’m the
one who made the booking for your stay here at the inn. The man pretending to be
your husband wouldn’t take no for an answer. Luke told me it was your brother
and that you’d apologized for the misrepresentation. I have no idea why you’re
here, and it’s really none of my business—unless your being here could hurt
Luke.” Her tone was direct. “He’s a little too old to be my son, but that
doesn’t stop me from wanting what’s best for him.”

Did it matter to anyone that she might
also have a few concerns, that her feelings could also be hurt?

“I hope that Luke and I can be friends. I’d like that a
lot.”

Mary nodded. “Thank you. And for what it’s worth, I hope you
enjoy being his assistant.”

Once she’d escaped from the office, Marnie bolted for the
parking lot, snow smacking her face as the wind careened around the corner of
the inn. Brushing off the melting flakes, she kept going. She had more on her
mind than a little of the white stuff. Besides, it was the time of year for snow
on the ground. Who wanted a green Christmas?

Reaching her car, she tossed her purse onto the passenger seat
and started the engine. She climbed back out, swept the snow from the windows,
and got behind the wheel again. She gunned the engine as she swerved out of the
driveway and down the hill toward town. When she reached the outskirts of
Wakesfield she was forced to pull over as her pent-up emotions got the best of
her. A car drove past her and she saw Jack at the wheel.

“Jack of the great martini,” she mumbled as huge dollops of
tears spilled down her face and onto her chin.