Blush Duo - Marriage Under the Mistletoe & The Christmas Inn (25 page)

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.