I made it to the kitchen, hands clutching at the box in my arms so tightly my fingers were cramping by the time I set it on the counter. Petunia seemed to notice my anxiety, her squish face turned up toward me, black triangle ears perked. I bent and scratched her ruff for a moment, catching my breath that had nothing to do with the easy walk from the front door to the large, stainless steel countered space while Mom spoke.
“This will do fine, Dan,” she said, all brusque and businesslike. I stood again, forced myself to look around, admiring the log motif paired with the uber modern feel of metal and white tile. “We’ll get started right away. What time are the guests arriving?”
He leaned against the counter, hands in his pockets while I helped Mom sort out the contents of her boxes. “Any time now,” he said. “Eddie was giving them a tour of Reading for the morning.”
If that was Ryan’s friend, I’d be having a talk with him about almost running over pedestrians and the proper use of stop signs.
“And how many total?” Mom paused, head tilted just a bit, shining red hair perfectly bobbed. My own matching locks never looked that good, and I had to think for a second to remember if I’d actually brushed it after my shower this morning before shoving it into a messy bun at the base of my neck.
“Eddie, Caleb,” Dan said, “me, of course, the two of you. Bill is coming with Moose.” I guess wishes turned into reality after all. Why was I relieved to know the soft-spoken ex-con was going to be around? “And three guests, don’t know them, sorry.”
Mom seemed to be planning things out in her head. “Perfect,” she said. “I’d best get on dinner then, if you could show Fee around?”
I left my mother to her work, knowing she had things well in hand, and followed Dan out of the kitchen, though a different door and into a long, low dining hall that felt more like the traditional hunting lodge than the previous room had. Complete with a huge moose’s stuffed head mounted over the fireplace at the far end of the space, the rustic charm of the place felt oddly staged.
“The renos are just finished,” Dan said, tromping his way through the dining room and to the far double doors, leading me into the towering foyer. It gave the White Valley Lodge a run for its money, though the pale pristine iciness of that place was about as far from the deep stained wood and looming pillars of what looked like ancient trees climbing toward the vaulted ceiling. I stared up a moment at the wagon wheel chandelier tiered with iron rings and more lights than necessary before moving on, the polished wood floor turning to stone near the front desk. I let myself examine the sitting area with another giant fireplace, this one outlined in rock matching the flooring, with a critical business eye as Dan went on. “They did a great job, keeping the original feel of the place.”
“Shame another of Reading’s properties was bought out by a foreigner.” Did I really say that out loud? No, I didn’t mean it, not totally. Okay, maybe a little. Since my return the wellbeing of my home was more important to me than it had ever been. But progress was a good thing, as long as it served the cutest town in America.
Right?
No, my comment was more of a test for Dan. He shrugged, though the frown that deepened the heavy lines on his forehead and around his wide mouth told me he agreed with the sentiment at least partially. “As long as they treat our home with respect, I’m all for it.”
Had to agree there. “You and Bill friends, too?” I was actually looking forward to seeing the big galoot. I’d been so busy I’d lost track of him a little, though it never seemed to bother him or that hulk of a black bear he called a dog. Petunia was going to be so excited to see Moose.
“Good answer, Dan.” I spun in surprise to find a tall, handsome man, dark hair clipped short, tight scruff of a beard cleanly trimmed, brown eyes smiling at me approaching from behind the desk. I’d missed seeing him there, I guess, though the gaping doorway behind it told me he’d likely been in the office space, so fair enough I hadn’t known someone else was around. He offered his hand before he even came to a halt, shaking mine, his denim shirt embroidered over the heart with Black Forest Hunting and Fishing stitched across the bear logo matching the one outside. I shook back, smiling in answer. “Caleb Wells, Miss Fleming,” he said.
“Fee, please,” I said. “Mom’s in the kitchen, have you met?”
He shook his head, letting my hand drop. “Your mother’s cooking prowess is legendary.” He rubbed his flat stomach with a big grin. “I was super excited when she agreed to this.”
“I manage the property,” Dan said, clapping Caleb on the shoulder with a smile. It was clear the two liked working together. “The kid here organizes everything else.”
So maybe this wasn’t going to be a crappy two days after all. They both seemed nice enough. “Are you local, Caleb?” I didn’t recognize him and he seemed about my age, maybe a bit younger, but I’d been gone a long time before coming home again. Could be he’d done the same or moved here after I left.
But he shook his head with a little smile. “I wish,” he said. “Grew up in Montpelier. I love it here, though. Hoping to make Reading my home, if I can. If this flies.”
Was that doubt? If he knew anything at all about the rapidly spiraling political climate, maybe he was getting nervous?
“I’m sure it’ll work out,” I said. “Welcome to Reading.”
He was about to answer when the sound of tires on gravel outside caught our attention. I winced inwardly, wondering suddenly if I’d given him some kind of flirtatious impression by accident being friendly like that. I had a boyfriend, thanks, (at least, as far as I was concerned) one I loved and wished was here right now instead of Caleb. Then again, I was likely just imagining the sparkle in his eyes and how he leaned a little closer before spinning on his boots and striding for the front door. I followed, Petunia on my heels, Dan at my side, as Caleb opened wide both large wooden doors, the giant portals swinging silently on new hinges. Impressive, I had to admit, though the sight of the overdone SUV limo made me wrinkle my nose.
Hopefully the guests this weekend would be as nice and polite as the two men I’d just met. And, as the back door opened and the first of them stepped out, I allowed a moment of optimism. Two quiet nights, two quiet days and Crew Turner’s spaghetti dinner was all mine. With the sheriff himself for dessert.
Silly Fiona. Surely I knew better than to believe anything could go so smoothly when I had so much previous experience to the contrary. What was I thinking?
Because as soon as he exited the vehicle, his familiar face clear in the sunlight, that tall, narrow body exactly as I remembered even after two years apart, I felt darkness close in around my vision while my heart stopped with a single, heavy thud before dropping to my feet in dread. Cold, bitter, angry dread filling me with the level of icy hate that stole my breath and my soul and left the shards of who I’d become behind in the ashes of the woman I’d been.
No. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t. Not here. Not now. Not like this when my life was finally the way I wanted it to be.
But it was.
Just my luck. Ryan Richards had come to Reading, and I had been hired to serve him.
***