Alec lifted his head and searched Becca’s stunned expression.
She said nothing, tugging her knit cap over her ears, her cheeks suddenly redder than before. She whispered, “You play plenty dirty yourself.”
“I can give as good as I get.” He smiled, avoiding all mention of the kiss even though that was what they were really talking about. Maybe he should apologize, but he wasn’t sorry. Now, though, he should switch to problem-solver mode and keep his promise to her brother.
He retrieved his shovel and brushed accumulated snow from the handle, his gut tight. He’d acted no better than the cheater ex-boyfriend who’d trampled her confidence.
“I didn’t guard my flank, and you were lucky.”
“Yeah, I was.” Very. Especially with the kiss. “I’ll take care of neatening up our mess if you want to forge ahead.” He retreated another foot, and a curtain of falling snow swirled between them.
The dogs barked inside the house. He checked the time. “They’ve been cooped up since lunch. Why don’t I let them outside for a while?”
“Good idea.” She squared her shoulders. “But we need to be careful not to lose them. It’s going to be dark soon.”
He let their pooches outside, and then devoted himself to clearing the sidewalk and dusting off the cars as quickly as possible. The last of the daylight faded. Becca and the canines had already gone inside. He braced the shovels against the wall on the rear porch right as the door flew open.
“The electricity’s gone off.” Becca wrung her hands. “I tried flipping the wall switch but got nothing.”
He steered her back into the kitchen. “I’ve got a flashlight. Is the fuse box in the same place as when I lived here?”
“The breaker box? I don’t know.” She turned her back when Brandy shook off her coat.
“Why don’t you wipe the dogs while I take a look?”
He discovered the box in a closet on the porch, but all the breakers looked fine. A bad feeling gnawed his gut. The heating system ran on electricity, and the house would soon get cold.
Becca looked up from putting down kibble for the pups. “There’s a backup generator in the shed, but it should have kicked on by now.”
“I remember seeing something like that.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Does it have fuel?”
“I didn’t check, but the manager should have had it ready to go. I don’t know if she did, though.”
He went outside again. In the lantern’s beam, he could barely make out the shed’s roofline through the falling snow, and the yard through which he’d have to wade looked treacherous.
She came up beside him. “Are you going to investigate?”
He stifled a laugh. “Personally, I wasn’t going to try. The snow must be three feet now. If the generator was never fueled up, we have no way to make it run. Unless you have a can of gasoline stored in the house?”
“Get serious.” Her shoulders slumped. “You think we should give up?”
“Yes, but it’s not a defeat. It’s being smart.” He followed her inside, closing the door and shucking his vest and ski hat. “If we freeze to death, what’s the point in discovering the problem?”
She draped the wet jacket she’d been wearing over the back of the stool. “How am I going to take care of my guests?”
The VIPs. He rubbed his chin. “You really think they’re going to get over the pass in this?”
“I’ll check,” she said but stopped halfway to the office. “I can’t. The only way to access the system is on the computer and that won’t work without power.”
She plucked at her damp jeans, shivering. He moved toward her, stopping short of touching her, but she leaned against his chest, anyway. “I wish there were a way to find out for sure whether or not they’re still coming.”
He automatically put his arm around her—loosely. They needed to conserve body heat, and that was all he was doing here. “Why don’t you go change into dry clothes, and I’ll get on my satellite phone and try to find out what’s going on?”
“I forgot you had that. That would be great. It’s going to be impossible to relax, otherwise.” She left in the direction of the stairway upstairs. Trixie lifted her head and dashed out after her.
His first call went to Clyde, who kept up with the road conditions. These were very bad, the highway plows working hard but not making a dent. Next, he punched in Rob MacDonald’s number. After fifteen rings, Alec was about to hang up when his friend answered.
Christmas music came over the connection. “Merry Christmas, my dear friend. Are you going to have a white one?”
“Definitely. We’re really getting socked in, and Rebecca wants an update on the guests who are supposed to arrive today.”
“Why doesn’t she look on the reservations system?” Rob asked.
“The power’s out.” Alec braced his elbows on the counter.
Silence. “Is she getting upset?”
“She’s concerned, wants to know, for gosh sake.”
“Okay, let me look…I know all the rooms were booked a few days ago…” The background music changed to “Jingle Bells.” “I’m checking cancellations…There it is.”
“What?” Alec straightened.
“That party cancelled. Are you at the inn?”
“I was helping Becca shovel the walks.” Alec cocked an ear for footsteps announcing her return. He heard nothing, but he still turned his back. “I want to ask you something.”
Melted snow dripped down his forehead. Alec shoved his hair back. He doubted there’d ever be a good time to discuss the hands-off-Rebecca policy. His long-ago promise had never mattered before, but with things heating up with her, he wanted this situation resolved now.
“Sure, what is it?” Rob’s brisk voice returned.
“She told me about her recent troubles, and I know you only want to protect her—”
More commotion came from Rob’s end. “What’s your point?”
“Your sister is all grown up and can make her own decisions, and—” Movement caught Alec’s eye.
“Is that my brother?” Becca came toward him, her hand out for the phone. “Let me speak to him.”
* * *
“They cancelled.” Becca gave Trixie a pat on the head and rose from the floor after wiping down her pet.
“Rob told me.” Alec strode across the kitchen, buttoning a clean flannel shirt over a T-shirt. “Hey! This is good. The best possible outcome.”
She clutched her arms, feeling as deflated as a popped balloon. Even though she wore two sweaters and Alec’s jacket, the chill in the house already penetrated her bones. “What’s good about it?”
“For one thing, you won’t have to cancel on them because of no power.” He tugged a forest green crewneck sweater over his head. “Or ask them to rough it like our pioneer ancestors.”
“I’m disappointed.” She pulled an elastic band from her wrist and caught her hair into a ponytail. All their hard work had been for nothing. “According to the marketing department, they wanted snow.”
“Angels Glen came through for you on that.” He grinned and held out his hands like a magician showing off a successful trick.
She laughed, but the sound came closer to a sob. “I wanted to prove to Dad I could do something right.”
“He should be damned glad you came down here to keep the place running. If we hadn’t caught the leak from the frozen pipes, the crawl space might have flooded come spring.” Alec dramatically shook his head, but she knew he was only trying to cheer her up.
“Not to mention paying a huge water bill. You’re doing lots of things right. That embezzlement was the first incident in your department.”
“How do you know? I never mentioned that.” She pushed to her feet.
“Rob did, more or less. Earlier in the year after it happened. But it’s not the end of the world.”
Alec’s beautiful brown eyes searched her face with concern that wrapped around her like a warm blanket. She’d almost quit when she’d discovered her assistant’s schemes. An overreaction, she’d realized later once she’d dug in and helped make everything right. “I know it’s not,” she said. “The cancellation’s actually a relief.”
“There you go.” He brushed a fingertip across her cheek. “We can stop worrying about them and eat supper. The world always looks better on a full stomach.”
“We’re restricted foodwise without electricity, but I’ve got all kinds of specialty foods I bought for a wine reception.” She went into the pantry and plucked jars and cans from the shelf. “Stuffed grape leaves, different kinds of cheeses, Spanish olives, Italian sausage, crackers.”
“We can roast marshmallows in the fireplace and make s’mores.” He pointed to his purchases sitting on the counter near the gingerbread house.
His deep voice sent shivers fast as a bobsled down her spine. “I’ll bet you had s’mores in mind all along.”
“I thought we should take advantage of being marooned, if that’s what happened. Making s’mores is more fun with a friend.”
A friend or something more? She had no idea where their kisses would take them, or even if he’d ever kiss her again. But the more time she spent with Alec, the more she liked him. Only a guy truly in touch with his feelings would admit to romantic disasters. If he’d wanted to impress her, he would have invented a history for himself as some big hotshot executive. She spread her hands to indicate the gourmet food. “Does any of this look appetizing?”
“All of it.” He grinned. “While you get that ready, I’ll bring in more logs and start the fire.”
Adrenaline ricocheted through her. “Don’t forget to open the damper!”
“Are you kidding? There is no way I’m going to forget that.”
Less than an hour later, she had trays of food arrayed on the coffee table along with an open box of water biscuits in a breadbasket and a bottle of white wine.
Alec had already let the dogs out briefly after their meal. Both flopped on the floor in front of the fire. He added another log, set the screen in place, and sat cross-legged on the floor with his back to the fire. “This is heaven.”
“Especially since the smoke is going up the chimney,” she said, catching herself before she got lost in the warmth of his smile.
He took a plate and napkin. “Your dad has done a terrific job renovating this old house—except—ahem—the plumbing. But at first, I didn’t like what he was doing with my old home.”
“Do you resent your dad selling off?”
“I would have liked to move back in, but I realize now this place is too big for one person.” Alec sliced a piece of cheddar and took a cracker. “Actually, it’s a good thing your dad was willing to buy the house. My father didn’t maintain the property.”
“I already told Rob he needs to replace the plumbing.”
“Or at least insulate the pipes better.” Alec nibbled an olive. “This is so good.”
“Oops, forgot the brie.” She went to the kitchen and returned with an unwrapped wheel. As soon as she sat on the sofa, she put a big wedge on her own plate.
They lingered over the delicacies and eventually demolished most of them. For the first time since she’d returned to Angels Glen, she let her guard down. Who would have thought that possible a few days ago, especially with Alec Stewart?
He rose and collected their plates. “I brought the camp stove I take on guide trips in case clients want something hot to drink after standing in cold mountain streams.”
“I’m sure they appreciate that no matter whether or not they catch any fish.” She followed him into the kitchen with the remaining food.
“Oh, they do. And they usually do catch something. I’m a good guide.”
“If you say so.” She smirked.
“My sister would vouch for me.” He slid his own tray onto the dishwasher counter.
“She’s biased.”
“Probably.” He laughed. “So? You want coffee?”
“No.” She couldn’t see his face, but he probably wore a shocked expression. “I know I went on and on about stocking up, but I’m going to pass. Now, tomorrow is another story. I’ll definitely require a cup.” She stored the leftover cheese in the fridge. “What are we going to use to roast the marshmallows?”
When he didn’t answer, she glanced up, feeling his direct gaze. “Alec?”
“The marshmallows?” He sounded lost.
What had he been thinking about? She opened a counter drawer. “What about a barbeque fork?”
“That might get too hot. We can use these.” He grabbed whittled sticks she realized he must have brought in with his carryall and stove. “Made these this morning. I like to be prepared.”
“You sure you didn’t know we’d be snowed in?” she teased.
“If you don’t want the s’mores, you don’t have to eat any.” He tucked the graham crackers and marshmallows into a plastic grocery bag.
“Of course I want some! I never realized what a planner you are.”
“Most people think that’s a commendable talent.” He braced his hips against the counter.
“It is, but I like to ask questions.” She grabbed the chocolate and led the way back to the fireplace. “I always have, but lots of people find that annoying. I’m guessing you do, too?”
“I’m glad you feel confident enough to badger me again.” A smile looked ready to sneak across his mouth.
“When haven’t I been confident?” Oh, yeah. Only a little while ago. “I’ve finished feeling like a failure.”
Thanks to you.
“Good.” His gaze glinted with humor.
She appreciated that Alec was going to a lot of trouble to keep her cheerful—because it was working!
He stoked the fire and added another log. The dogs settled around them on the rug, the fire cocooning them all in its warmth. She speared a marshmallow and stretched her stick toward the blaze. As the confection scorched a lovely honey brown, she inhaled the heavenly sugary scent.
“Here.” He had already broken apart a graham cracker and layered on a few squares of chocolate. She used a fork to push the melted confection off the stick. While Alec made his own sandwich, she bit in and chewed. The chocolate had melted into a sweet, gooey mess, and the whole combination tasted perfect. “This is heaven.”
“A good substitute, anyway.” Alec sat cross-legged beside her, the soft firelight outlining his long, tapered fingers holding his stick.
“I haven’t done this since high school.” She licked her fingers. “What about you?”
“The last time I had s’mores must have been when you and Rob and all our high school friends met on the river bank the night before graduation.” Alec captured his molten marshmallow on a graham cracker. “Speaking of high school, I’ll never forget when we papered the principal’s house.” He chuckled.
“My mom grounded me, and I missed the movie I’d been waiting months to see.” She licked her gooey fingers and popped another marshmallow from the bag in her mouth.
“We all paid. I had to devote all my after-school time to working in my father’s office. That time, I deserved to be punished, but I could never do anything right as far as he was concerned. I would have been a basket case if I hadn’t had a friend like your brother.” Alec squeezed her shoulder and threw her an effortless smile. “I hope I’ve risen above my upbringing.”
“And your dastardly ancestors?” She bit into her gooey treat.
“Right, let’s not forget them. You want another?”
“Not right now, thanks.” She still had most of the last one to eat.
He stood and collected everything. “I better put this someplace out of reach of certain canines.”
“Especially the chocolate. That supposedly makes dogs sick. Trixie would definitely find it, and I’m afraid I’m not up to nursing her tonight.”
He disappeared, followed by the sound of a cabinets closing. When he came back, he sat beside her and draped a blanket around their shoulders. “I found this in the hall closet. Hope you don’t mind.”
“I should have thought of this.” Becca snuggled closer. “I’m going to fall asleep any minute.”
“Sleep away.” He tugged her closer.
They sat in companionable silence for a long time. Dreamland was beckoning when something soft brushed the top of her head. A deep baritone murmured soft words that sounded like “I love you.”
But she was probably way too sleepy to have heard that right.