Blush Duo - Marriage Under the Mistletoe & The Christmas Inn (26 page)

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

If I had any sense at all, I’d turn around
and drive back to Boston.

Luke had been kind and wanted to help her, and what had she
done? She’d lied to him. And she’d done it while fully aware of how much she
hated the men she’d dated who had lied to her. She was a complete hypocrite.
She’d behaved terribly and all because of what?

Why had she put the one relationship with even the tiniest bit
of potential at risk? To please her brother? She balled her fists on the
steering wheel. Even if she still had a chance with Luke—which she highly
doubted when he learned that she’d spied on his inn to get information for the
owners, information that could cause him problems—he would never believe another
word she said about anything.

She had experienced firsthand the agony of discovering that
she’d been lied to by Brad. It had destroyed all her hopes and dreams, and her
ability to trust.

She stared out at the dark clouds heavy with snow and wondered
what she should do. If she went back and told Luke about the questionnaire, he’d
be angry with her, which would mean the end for them. And when her brother
learned that she had told Luke he would be furious. She was trapped.

“I’m tired of all this!” she yelled at the windshield. She
wiped her face and leaned back, her head on the headrest, completely at a loss
as to what to do.

What if the attraction was all in her mind? Luke had been sweet
and kind, but that didn’t mean his feelings for her ran deeper. What proof did
she have that Luke cared about her? So far, all he’d done was look dark and
suspicious at her. The kiss they shared could have been just two lonely people
easing their loneliness. Had her longing for a meaningful relationship driven
her to believe that a single kiss meant something? After all, he’d tried to get
her to leave. When that hadn’t worked, he’d been determined to keep her away
from his married guests.

What sort of man asks you to leave? A man
who doesn’t want you there, you ninny! What more does the man have to do to
convince you that his heart isn’t in the same place as yours?

Her mind made up, she cranked the key and her car sputtered to
life. She’d do a little Christmas shopping, search for a couple of new sweaters
to replace the ones she’d lost in the basement flood and have a quiet lunch
before doing what she should have done first thing this morning.

Pack her bags and go where somebody gave a damn about her.

Forcing her worries to the back of her mind, Marnie parked her
car by a meter on the busy main street running through Wakesfield, and shopped
for her nieces and nephews and four sisters-in-law. She didn’t shop for her
brothers—a gift certificate at their favorite men’s clothing store in Boston was
what was expected of her each year. She spent the rest of the time picking out a
few new sweaters for herself.

When she reached a quaint little diner on the corner across the
square from the post office, Marnie spotted the perfect window seat with a
panoramic view of the street. Feeling ready for a break, she settled in with a
glass of red wine and a hamburger while she listened to the Christmas carolers
strolling in the square.

She wondered if Luke ever came here. Maybe he’d sat right where
she was sitting now, and watched the same scene she’d been enjoying. A pang of
yearning clutched her heart, tightening her throat. Taking a deep breath, she
focused her attention on the throng of people outside the window when out of the
corner of her eye she spotted Francine scurrying along the street and waved to
her.

Francine smiled, bobbed her head and pointed at her glass of
wine.

Marnie nodded and then waited for Francine to come in and join
her. “How are you?” she asked as Francine took off her jacket and sat in the
chair across from her.

“I’m great! Can’t wait for Christmas. What about you?”

“The same, really excited about all of it,” Marnie said.

After ordering her wine, Francine leaned her elbows on the
table. “Wow! Did you hear the latest weather report?” she asked.

“No, I didn’t.” Marnie put her glass down, glad to have someone
to chat with and take her mind off things.

“Luke asked as many of us as possible to stay at the inn
overnight in case the roads are closed tomorrow. I came here to pick up a few
things before I head back over there. Do you need a lift?”

“I have my car, but thanks. That’s really kind of you.”

“Well, to tell you the truth, it’s a little more than
kindness.” Francine toyed with the cocktail napkin under her wineglass. “You’re
the hot topic around the inn.”

Luke would love that, she thought ruefully. “Why?”

“We’ve haven’t seen Luke look happier than he has in the past
twenty-four hours, and we’re convinced it’s because of you.”

If his scowling and paranoia were seen as a happier version of
Luke, she’d hate to see what he looked like when he was sad. “Luke looking
happier makes me a hot topic?”

“I have to tell you. Luke has never allowed a woman in his
office, except for Mary Cunningham, that is. Not since Anna died.”

“And that’s the basis for your conclusion? That he let me into
his office?” she asked, skeptical, but with just a hint of hope rising to the
fore.

“You have to know Luke. For the past three years the guy has
spent his days grieving his wife, and believe me it’s not a pretty sight. He’s
moped around for far too long, and we all want him to find someone new.”

“Am I the first suitable candidate who’s come along?” She
frowned in disbelief. “You’re telling me there are no available women his age in
all of Wakesfield?”

“Oh, yeah, there are. And lots of them are interested in Luke.
It’s just that he’s not interested in them.”

Well, maybe she could hope that there was at least a granule of
truth in what Francine was saying, which reopened the issue of whether she
should go back home, or whether she should stay and find out if there was any
chance that there was something between them. The coward in her wanted to hit
the highway. She pushed up her sleeve to check her watch. Three-thirty. Her
hamburger forgotten, she looked outside and realized that she could hardly see
across the square to the post office. “If I’m going to leave, I’d better get a
move on.”

“Leave for where? The inn?”

“Yeah, the inn,” she decided. “At least for now.”

“Do I detect a hint of indecision in your voice?”

She shrugged and took one more sip from her wineglass. “I can’t
see any reason for me to stay.”

“You mean that business over your brother?”

“How did you know about that?”

“You haven’t lived in a small town, have you? Or worked at an
inn before, right?”

“No, I haven’t,” Marnie admitted.

“Trust me. Everyone knows everything.” Francine smiled. “I’m
glad your brother isn’t your husband, and I’m even happier that you decided to
stay after you told Luke the truth.”

There really were no secrets in this town. “Why?”

“Because, like I told you. I want the guy to be happy. Anna was
my friend, but she’s not here, and she wouldn’t want Luke to be so lonesome for
so long.”

* * *

O
N
 
THE
 
WAY
 
BACK
 
TO
T
HE
Mirabel Inn, Marnie
replayed Francine’s words. Everyone wanted Luke to be happy and seemed to
believe that she was the woman for the job. The question was, did Luke?

With “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” blaring on the radio, and
her ancient snow tires spinning and catching on the ruts created by the snow,
she turned up the driveway toward the inn. What she saw when she took her eyes
off the road took her breath away. The falling snow softened the edges of the
imposing old structure while the floodlights gave a gauzy glow to the elegant
windows draped with cedar wreaths. The front door held the largest wreath Marnie
had ever seen, and beyond it, a tall Christmas tree glittered in the lobby.

Marnie brought her car to a halt, enchanted by the sight. With
the snow swirling around the driveway and wrapping the lovely old building in
magical light, The Mirabel Inn was the most beautiful Christmas scene she’d ever
witnessed.

What a romantic spot for a Christmas getaway! Who wouldn’t love
to be wined and dined in a place with this much grace and style? What a
brilliant plan on Luke’s part. And she’d thrown a monkey wrench into it all by
showing up at the door.

Suddenly it all came together for her.

She was spying on this wonderful place for her brother, who was
taking orders from people who didn’t work here, who had no personal involvement
and whose actions stood to hurt someone she had come to care about. Meanwhile,
she was living a fantasy life as she gathered the information that could damage
someone’s career. It wasn’t right, and she was sorry for her part in it.

She was packing her bags and heading back to Boston. Whether
she and Luke stood a chance with each other she didn’t know, but she didn’t
intend to go on lying to him. She’d tell him the truth, explain that she needed
to go home, and she’d give him her home number in the unlikely event he did want
to see her again. Then she’d call Julie and let her know to expect her late this
evening. It would mean driving for long hours in the snow, but she didn’t care.
All she wanted was to escape with as little personal embarrassment as
possible.

She pressed on the gas, and the car fishtailed in response,
nearly going off the narrow driveway. She turned the wheel to correct the
swerve, and gently moved her car forward to park near the entrance. Thank
heavens she’d be out of there soon, and safely on her way back to Boston and
away from this storm.

As she turned off the ignition, she noticed a man stood framed
in the open door, the light blazing around him. She looked up at him, realizing
too late that it was Luke.

Here’s your chance.

Mesmerized by the sight of him, she was unable to look away as
he came around to her side of the car. As he opened her door a blast of snow
covered Marnie, making her gasp. “Isn’t this beautiful?” she commented, getting
out of the car, forgetting all about her parcels and barely remembering to grab
her purse.

“It is. Certainly not a night to travel,” he said, his words
whipped away by the blowing wind.

She gazed up into his face to see a look in his eyes she’d only
ever seen on her brothers’ faces before, when she’d first come home after her
accident. A look that made her feel protected and warm, despite the icy air. “Is
the weather report that bad?” she asked, following him to the front door.

“Worse, actually. It looks like we’re in for a bad storm. I’ll
get someone to park your car. We’ve already had several cancellations for
tomorrow, and we’re getting organized in case there’s a power outage.”

What? She’d finally made up her mind, and she was about to be
stopped by a storm? Not likely. “Guess I’d better hurry, then, before they close
down the roads,” she yelled at his back.

“Hurry to do what?” he demanded, stopping so abruptly she
bumped into him.

He turned and grabbed her shoulders. “What are you talking
about?”

“I…I think it would be best for everyone if I left.”

He scowled at her as the snow created a mantle of white across
his broad shoulders. “You are not leaving here tonight under any circumstances,”
he ordered. She saw the raw fear in his eyes. Was he remembering a storm three
years ago? A storm that took his wife from him?

He put his arm around her shoulder and drew her close as they
walked in step up to the door. “I was looking for you to tell you that there’s
no reason for you to leave—storm or no storm.”

“Really?” Her heart jumped in her chest.

She was afraid to leave and afraid to stay, but a storm that
threatened to close the roads meant she had no choice but to remain here. “I
guess I’ll just hunker down and wait for the snowplow tomorrow morning,” she
said, happy to know that he wanted her to stay.

“The plows may not be here in the morning, more likely the
afternoon, but we’ll see how much snow we get.” He held the door for her as they
walked together inside the inn.

Walking beside him, visions of spending a romantic night in
front of a roaring fire while snow swirled outside the window sent her
imagination into overdrive. But Luke clearly had something on his mind, if the
set of his jaw was any indication.

She peered up at him to discover that he was frowning at
something down the hall.

So much for romance.

She was nursing her bruised fantasy when he suddenly stopped by
the tree. “Marnie.”

He said her name as if he wanted to say more, so she
waited.

Go ahead, set yourself up for a fall.
You’re an expert in that department.

The grandfather clock broke the silence as it struck five
o’clock. “Did you need to talk to me about something?” she asked, still clinging
to the hope that she might have a chance with him.

He brushed the smattering of snow off his shoulders. “No, it
can wait until tomorrow.”

Damn! She was losing patience with him. Couldn’t he see that
she was interested in him? Didn’t he want a life outside of working long hours?
Or maybe Francine and Mary didn’t know everything there was to know about Luke
Harrison.

Two could play this game. He didn’t trust her. He’d said as
much, and there was no obligation on her part to trust him. “Sure, fine.
Tomorrow.” She pushed her purse strap farther up her shoulder, spun on her heel
and marched up the stairs to her room.