Spellbound Falls (36 page)

Only he caught her finger before it connected, and refolded his arms—taking her hand with him. “If you must know, we heard something stalking us on our walk last night and I fell behind to see what it was,” he told her. “Only Henry pulled away from Carolina when they reached the cabin, and disappeared into the woods before she could catch him.” Up went that imperial brow. “Do you expect me to ignore that he could have been mauled by a bear or that he gave his aunt a terrible fright?”

Okay, he had a point. “But don’t you think three days is a bit extreme?”

“With only bread and water,” Carolina added from the safety of the island.

Mac looked past Olivia at his sister. “
You
will get only water, which might do you some good, considering how winded you became last night trying to catch Henry.”

“Ohmigod, my eggs!” Olivia cried, jerking free before he could realize what she was doing and running to the stove. She turned off the burner and flipped on the range fan, then turned to Mac and Carolina. “Oh, come on, you two, hug and make up.” She walked back over to Mac. “Carolina’s just being an aunt trying to save her nephew from an
unreasonably
punitive ogre.” She turned to Carolina. “And Mac, now that he’s slept on it,” she told the wide-eyed woman, who apparently had never heard anyone call her brother an ogre to his face, “is going to sit down with Henry and explain how dangerous the woods can be at night, and tell the child he needs to spend the
morning
in his room thinking about what a scare he gave everyone.” She turned back to Mac. “Right?”

His arms still folded over his big broad chest and his eyes no longer gleaming, Mac shook his head. “Three days, with only bread and water. And one week of making up to his aunt by catering to her every need.” He reached out and closed Olivia’s gaping mouth. “And if you two ladies don’t wish to join Henry in his room, you will leave my son’s discipline to me and put your energies into finding something to feed the albatrosses.”

He then walked over and grabbed the loaf of bread, and strode out the door.

“You’re not going to let him get away with that, are you?” Carolina asked into the silence, gripping the counter as she stared at Olivia. She suddenly sighed. “Damn; I was so sure you had what it takes to stand up to my brother.”

“I do.” Olivia gestured toward the door. “But not today. He’s scared, Carolina. Can’t you see Mac’s so frightened something bad could have happened to Henry last night that he’s directing his anger at us because he knows we can handle it?” She walked over and touched Carolina’s hand. “Trust
me, the next three days are going to be a lot harder on Mac than on Henry. My guess is, he caves before Henry does.”

“But Henry is so disheartened that his father is mad at him,” Carolina whispered. “The child is devastated.”

“He’ll survive, Carolina. And you need to understand that Henry is discovering something very important about his dad.” Olivia gave her an encouraging smile. “I’m guessing this is the first time Henry’s made Mac truly angry, and the child needs to learn that even though his father might go overboard with his punishment, Mac won’t ever stop loving him.” She nodded at Carolina’s look of surprise. “Personally, I think they’ve both been tiptoeing around each other since the moment they met, dreading this day. And now that it’s finally here and they each realize they’ll actually survive it, their relationship will be solid granite from here on out.”

Carolina suddenly threw herself at Olivia, giving her a fierce hug. “Oh please, please fall in love with my brother. Mackie so desperately needs someone like you to keep him grounded.”

Olivia felt her cheeks prickle with heat as she gave up trying to pull away, and hugged Carolina back with a sigh. “I think you and Henry are the ones who need to keep your feet on the ground. All I want is to have just one passionate affair with a sexy man before I die,” she muttered, trying but again failing to pull free.

“Is this some sort of Inglenook ritual for the employees to start off each day?” Peg asked. “Because I got to tell you, I’m not really into group hugs.”

Carolina let Olivia go with a gasp.

“Peg, you’re early,” Olivia said with a laugh.

“I told you I’d be here bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first thing this morning.” She took off her jacket and set it and her purse on one of the chairs at the table. “And look,” she said, lifting her arms and letting them drop. “I’m totally childless for the entire day.”

“Where’s Peter and Jacob?” Olivia asked, leading Carolina over to meet Peg.

“Billy’s mom was so excited I got this job, she offered to watch them until Inglenook’s back up and running so I can spend the next two weeks making myself indispensible to you.” Peg’s cheeks darkened. “She was afraid I’d get fired my first day if you didn’t have any activities to keep Pete and Repeat out of everyone’s hair.”

“Peg, this is Mac’s sister, Carolina,” Olivia said. “And Carolina, this is Peg Thompson, my new counselor-slash-mother-in-residence. Peg’s an expert on staying calm through all sorts of chaos, since she has four children of her own.”

Peg shook Carolina’s hand with a laugh. “My specific expertise is runny noses and crowd control.”

“And Pete and Repeat are?” Carolina asked.

“My four-year-old twin boys.” Peg looked at Olivia. “I’m ready to be put to work.”

“And not a moment too soon,” Olivia said, taking off her apron and handing it to her. “Only I’m afraid I’m abandoning you. So after you cook breakfast for everyone you can spend the day making yourself familiar with Inglenook.” She grabbed her jacket and purse off the peg and turned back to the women. “I need to drive to Bangor today to… um, do stuff. So Peg, you check out all the cabins and outbuildings and everything here at the main lodge. Oh, and start a list of anything you might think needs to be addressed.” She shook her head. “There’s nothing like a new set of eyes to see something I’ve been overlooking for years. And you’ll have to make lunch, but the freezer and the pantry are full, so help yourself to what you need.”

She looked at Carolina, giving her a crooked smile. “And if I can be so bold as to suggest it, you might want to stay away from Mac today.” She looked at her watch, then back at Peg. “If I leave now I should make it home by the time the school bus gets here. But if not, could you throw a stew in the slow cooker for supper?”

“Wow,” Peg said, slipping on the apron. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk that much all at once,” she said with a cheeky smile. “And you’re so… bossy. Who knew duck-out-the-back-door-Baldwin had it in her?” Peg picked
up the spatula and used it to salute her. “I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone, boss.”

Olivia groaned as she opened the door. “I’m docking you a day’s pay every time you call me
boss
,” she warned, stepping onto the porch only to run into
Sam’s
chest.

“Oh, sorry,” he said, quickly stepping back.

“Good morning, Sam.”

“Olivia,” he said with a nod. “You have anything in particular you want me to do today? The horses are all settled in, so I’m free.”

“You could check out the tack and make a list of anything you need. And if that doesn’t keep you busy enough, you could— Wait, Caleb said you were in the military. You know anything about obstacle courses?”

That got a hesitant smile from him. “A little bit.”

Olivia gestured over her shoulder. “In the main room of the lodge there’s a map of Inglenook on the wall, and you’ll see where we’ve got an obstacle course laid out on a mile-and-a-half-long path.” The smile she gave him was sheepish. “Well, it’s our version of a family-friendly obstacle course. I was going to have Mac check out the stations to make sure there wasn’t any winter damage we need to repair, but maybe I should have you go with him. I think Mac’s expertise is more corporate than military.”

Just for a fleeting second, Olivia would swear Sam looked a little incredulous before he went back to smiling. “Sure, I’d love to check out the course with him,” he said tightly.

“You can carry any tools or materials you’ll need on the older one of the golf carts parked in the machine shed. That way you… you won’t have to walk the entire course,” she finished weakly, feeling her damn cheeks heat up again.

“It’s okay, Olivia. It’s not exactly like I can hide my limp. And I’m supposed to walk to rebuild my back muscles. I guess you could say Inglenook’s like therapy to me.”

“Okay,” she said, going down the steps but turning back when he said her name.

“You won’t be here today?” he asked, gesturing at her purse and jacket.

“No, I’m driving to Bangor. You need me to pick up anything for you?”

“No. I’m good. But I could go with you to help handle whatever supplies you’re going after, if you want. It would give us a chance to get to know each other better before the campers arrive.”

“I’m afraid you’d get to know me better than you care to, Sam,” she drawled. “I’m going clothes shopping.”

The man actually took a step back before he caught himself. “Maybe another time, then,” he said with a wave, heading inside before she changed her mind.

Olivia headed for the van parked in front of the lodge garage, feeling confident Sam was going to work out after all. She’d always figured kids had a way of reading grown-ups far better than most adults, and Sophie had done nothing but sing Sam’s praises last night after everyone had left the campfire. Olivia tossed her purse and jacket on the opposite seat of the van and climbed in, but when she reached to close her door while checking to make sure the key was in the ignition, her hand touched a big broad chest instead of the door handle.

“Oh! You scared me!”

“Going somewhere?” Mac asked.

She collapsed against her seat with a laugh. “Gee, I haven’t had so many people asking me to account for my whereabouts since I was sixteen. If you
must
know, I’m driving to Bangor. To… um, do stuff,” she tacked on when he merely arched a brow.

“Maybe I’ll come with you.”

“Maybe you won’t. I’m doing girl stuff.”

He stepped closer. “What sort of
girl
stuff?”

Olivia stared at the top button on his shirt. Should she or shouldn’t she tell him?

“Olivia.”

Well, she supposed he’d have to know eventually, wouldn’t he?

“Olivia.”

But he didn’t have to know right now, because… well,
because he might not be the one she was doing it for anymore.

She gasped when he leaned in and kissed her.

Oh yeah, she
needed
him to be the one, she thought, sighing into his very talented mouth. And if she didn’t start the van and get out of here, she really might take him with her. They had hotel rooms in Bangor, didn’t they?

He pulled slightly away. “What sort of girl stuff?”

“I’m going to have an IUD put in.”

He straightened away, and Olivia actually leaned back from the look in his eyes. “No,” he growled.

She smoothed down her blouse. “I don’t believe that’s your decision to make.”

He took hold of her chin to make her look at him. “Let me deal with that concern.”

“No,” she said, pulling free. “That’s very noble of you, but I’m the one who has to live with the consequences if… if we happen to get caught up in the throes of wild, passionate abandon and forget.” There, she could talk poetry, too. She touched his arm. “I’ve had one before, Mac, and found I liked it. It’s simple and… idiotproof.”

“I don’t like the idea of you having something foreign inside you.”

“But
my
liking the idea is all that really matters. And I’m not really asking your permission; I’m just giving you a heads-up.” She shrugged, just to bug him. “Besides, you’re a bit presumptuous assuming this has anything to do with you, considering not five minutes ago you threatened to lock me in a room.”

He caught her chin and leaned in close. “Did I fail to mention that I would be in that room with you?” he asked—just before he kissed her again.

Oh yeah, he definitely was the reason she was going to Bangor today.

God, the guy could kiss.

“Take my truck,” he said when he pulled away.

She laughed at that. “Your truck doesn’t like me, remember?” She slipped the seat belt around her and snapped it
shut, then unsnapped it to make sure it released before sliding it back into place. “See, that’s how seat belts are
supposed
to work.”

He merely smiled.

“Um, Mac,” she said when he started to close her door. “I’m really not one to stick my nose in other people’s business, but your little rebellion against your father appears to indirectly be involving me. So I think you should know that I’ve already been one man’s means of getting a meddling parent off his back, and I consider myself smart enough not to repeat my mistakes.”