Stormy Passion (30 page)

“
Nope.” The mechanic shook
his head. “The closest place I could find an alternator was in
Atlanta.”

Taylor pulled out his American Express card.
“Look, Mac, money is no object. Just have it flown up here.”

“
Yer from the city, ain't
ya?”

Taylor folded his arms across his chest and
leaned against the gray metal desk. He was used to dealing with
problems--he did so every day. This man should be a cinch. “What
does that have to do with anything?”

“
In the city ya ken flash
them fangdangled things--” The mechanic nodded toward Taylor's
platinum card. “--and get something done, but yer in Hollow Ridge,
son. There ain't nobody here owns one of these here foreign cars.
And if ya didn't notice, the nearest airport is seventy-five miles
away in Asheville.” He stuffed the greasy, red rag in his back
pocket then walked around to his chair and sat down. Looking up at
Taylor, he gave him an I-don't-believe-you're-asking look. “It's
the weekend, and there ain't any parts to be had.”

“
But we have reservations
in Asheville,” Carol protested. “We were going to the Big Sky Ski
Festival.”

“
I'm sorry, miss.” He
tipped his red ball cap. “But unless ya got a team of dogs and a
sled, I'm afraid you're stuck right here in town.”

“
I'll pay you double labor
and parts,” Taylor tried again.

“
Ya deaf, boy?”

“
All right, Mac.” Taylor
threw both hands up. “You've made your point.” Taylor knew when
he'd been bested. “Is there somewhere we can stay until you fix the
car?”

“
The name ain't, Mac. It's
Joe.” He grinned, then spit tobacco juice in a cup and wiped his
mouth with the back of his hand. “We have a jim-dandy bed and
breakfast just two blocks that way.” Joe pointed. “It's called The
Sleepy Hollow Inn. Why don't ya folks go ahead and check in just to
make sure ya have someplace to sleep. I'll have yer bags brought
over later.”

“
Are you sure you're not in
cahoots with the owner of this place?” Taylor asked jokingly.
Surprisingly, he found he liked the old-timer's straight-spoken
ways. It was refreshing after dealing with so many business
professionals who said one thing but meant another.

Joe laughed, then slapped Taylor on the back
as he helped Carol on with her coat. “Friend, you've been in the
city too long. Folks don't do things like that 'round here.”

Taylor and Carol walked the two blocks,
listening to the sound of the ice crunching under their feet and
the children laughing and playing in the snow. It almost felt as
though they stepped back into time to a quaint little village
forgotten by the rest of the world.

“
Have you ever been here
before?” Carol asked.

“
No. As a matter of fact, I
have always taken Hwy 40 to Black Mountain and stayed at a Bed and
Breakfast Inn there, but I decided to try some different scenery
through the back roads. You know, get out of the proverbial rut,”
Taylor said. But what he didn’t tell Carol was he didn’t want to be
reminded of his past. Of all the hopes and dreams he’d planned with
Brenna.

“
Well I’m not going to
complain. The ride has indeed been beautiful.”

In the distance, they could see the Sleepy
Hollow Inn. The proud Victorian house stood regal, complete with a
wraparound porch. Snow clung to the steeple-like roof, giving it
the appearance of a picture-perfect postcard.

Taylor took a deep breath. Even the air
seemed fresher up here. Maybe this whole weekend wouldn't turn out
as bad as he'd first thought. He definitely needed a break because
his temper had grown much too short lately.

Just as they reached the picket fence's front
gate, Taylor's cell phone rang. He pulled the cell phone out of his
coat pocket as he and Carol turned up the front walkway of the
inn.

Carol frowned. “I thought you turned that
off.”

He shrugged and flipped the phone open. “What
is it?” Taylor asked in a frosty voice. He thought he was getting
away from work.

“
Mr. Matheson came in to
sign the papers you left,” his secretary explained.

“
So?”

“
He said he needs some
additional money.”

“
How much does he want to
borrow?” Taylor attempted to be patient.

Carol stared at him and he shrugged. “This
isn't a good time. Carol and I have had a change in plans. I'll
call you in fifteen minutes.” He'd taken the phone away from his
ear when he heard his secretary's voice. “What? Tell my mother I'll
call her later.”

“
Remember the break from
work? No more phones,” Carol said as they climbed the
stairs.

Placing the phone back in his pocket, he
draped his arm around her shoulder. “I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll
tell them to quit calling after we get checked in.”

“
Good. Just turn off the
phone and don't give out the inn's number.”

Upon entering a set of double oak doors, they
were greeted by the sight of a winding staircase and antique
furniture that smelled of fresh lemon oil. To the left, there was a
dining room and another room on the right, and straight ahead a
large hallway full of green plants ran through the center of the
house. As they took off their coats, a young woman with bright red
hair stepped out from behind the stairs. “May I help you?”

“
We would like a room until
Tuesday.”

“
You're in luck, there's
only one left.” She smiled. “It's called the Granny Room. If you
will follow me, I'll have you register.” The woman moved to a desk
behind the stairs and pointed to the book where Taylor had to sign
in. “I'm sorry the owner can't be here to greet you, but she had a
few errands to run. So I'm kinda filling in.”

Taylor's pen stopped in mid-stroke as he
prepared to sign his and Bren--. What was wrong with him? It was
Carol. That’s where his future lay. He glanced down and saw how
tightly he clutched the pen. Would that name always affect him this
way? Shaking his head and attributing his tension to being
overworked, he finished writing his name and address.

“
This place is beautiful.”
Carol grabbed Taylor's arm in her excitement as they climbed the
stairs. “Maybe this will turn out better than we expected, and we
will be thanking that faulty alternator. You have to admit it is
beautiful here.”

“
I doubt that,” Taylor
said. “I had big plans for us in Ashville, so maybe if we’re lucky
old Joe will get the lead out and we can still make Ashville.” He
took her arm as they were escorted to the Granny Room. Turning to
the hostess, he asked, “What's your name?”

“
Nell.”

“
It's nice to meet you,
Nell. Can you suggest any good places to eat?”

“
We have the best cook in
town right here,” she boasted.

“
Good. How about making a
reservation for two at 7:30.”

Brenna had been gone much longer than she'd
expected. She sighed as she put a bag of groceries on the counter.
She'd had better days.

“
What happened to the car?”
Lisa demanded as she shut the back door with her foot, because her
arms were full of groceries.

“
Some city fool slid into
my Jeep!” Brenna waved the tea box she'd been about to put on the
shelf, in the air. “I couldn't believe it. I had come to a full
stop, and the idiot still hit me. I don't know when people will
learn if there's lots of snow you need chains or snow tires!” She
slammed the tea box on the counter and then folded the grocery bag.
“Thank God, the damage was only a bent fender. The idiot was
driving uninsured. And I don't have the money for any major car
repairs,” Brenna complained. She released a big sigh; she felt much
better now that she'd vented her frustrations.

“
Won't the other man pay
for it?”

“
Let's just say, I'll
believe it when I see the check. You know how my luck runs.” Brenna
opened the cabinet and pulled out a roasting pan. “Turn the oven on
to bake and set it for three hundred twenty-five degrees,” she
instructed her ten-year-old sister.

“
Boy, that roast looks
good.” Lisa licked her lips.

“
I hope it is.” Brenna
placed the huge roast in the pan and sprinkled spices on the meat.
“I'm going to get this started, and Geraldine can finish when she
gets here. Did we fill the rest of the vacancies?”

“
Nell said she booked the
last one an hour ago.”

“
Great.” Brenna nodded,
then picked up the roasting pan and slid it into the oven before
straightening. “There's a big snow storm coming in tomorrow night.
I imagine some of the roads will be blocked, so it's good we've got
all of our guests now.”

“
Brenna?” Lisa walked over
and picked up a bright red apple. “Can I spend the night with
Joyce? She's having a sleep over and all our friends will be
there.”

Brenna took a deep breath and smiled at her
sister, thinking about the delightful, bubbly child she'd become.
The first two years after their parents' deaths, Lisa had had
terrible nightmares. They had both cried and clung to each other
until finally the sharp pain had lessened and became dull. And
somehow Lisa had managed to block out the tragedy. Thank goodness,
that awful time was behind them. “Did you do everything I asked you
to do?”

“
Yes. And I folded the
clothes, too.”

“
In that case, I guess you
can. Providing you come home bright and early,” Brenna added. “I
think I'm going to need some help this weekend.”

Just then the back door rattled, and
Geraldine stepped inside, stomping the snow from her boots. “Who
hit ya car?”

“
Don't ask.” Brenna waited
for Geraldine to get to the sink before handing her the dishtowel.
“The kitchen is all yours. I'm going to check the
tables.”

Brenna wandered around the dining room. She
arranged fresh flowers for each table and made sure everything was
ready for tonight.

She was about to go upstairs and take a much
deserved bath when Geraldine came out of the kitchen. “Paula
called. She said she has the flu. Afraid it'll be just you and Nell
tonight.”

“
That's all I needed to
make this a rotten day. At least it can't get any worse.” Brenna
massaged her temples, wishing she hadn't told Lisa she could spend
the night with Joyce. “Well, there's nothing we can do. We'll just
handle it and take turns seating the guests.” Brenna turned and
started up the stairs. “I'm going to drown myself in the
tub.”

“
Where's that spunk?”
Geraldine called from the bottom of the stairs.

“
I don't know. Maybe I'll
find it up here.”

***

Taylor and Carol sat at a corner table that
overlooked the snow-covered lawn. Lights flickered across the white
expanse, making it shimmer like diamonds.

“
This candlelight is the
perfect touch,” Carol commented as she glanced around the room.
“And you have to admit it's better than having a phone stuck to
your ear,” she said, then pointed. “What a fireplace. Can you
believe it has a real fire? At home we'd just have rain and gas
logs.”

“
I'm beginning to like this
place myself,” Taylor agreed before taking a sip of wine. He
decided now was a perfect opportunity. He had planned on giving
Carol the ring tomorrow night in Asheville, but all his plans had
fallen through. Maybe Carol was right; something had drawn them to
this quaint town.

He reached into his pocket for the velvet
ring box. After all, it was about time he settled down with a wife
and had children. He'd dated a variety of women since Brenna had
left town, but they all made him feel empty. He wanted to
experience the magic he'd felt every time Brenna looked his way. He
wanted to laugh and cry and dream. Last week he'd realized that
perhaps what he searched for wasn't out there, so he decided to
quit looking. He knew he'd become a corporate machine, but it had
been the only thing that had gotten him through the last three
years.

It was time to think of a future. Carol was
pretty, good company, and everything he wanted in a wife. Wasn't
she? If only he could chase away these nagging doubts. It was
common for everyone to have uncertainties, he finally convinced
himself.

“
Carol.” Taylor took her
hand in his, noting her long, slim fingers and perfectly polished
nails. “We've only known each other for a few months,” he cleared
his throat. “But I've come to realize that you're just the person I
need in my life.” He smiled. “Will you consider being my
wife?”

Her eyes grew wide in surprise. “I--I don't
know ... Yes ... yes ... yes!” She squeezed his hand.

“
In that case ...” Taylor
grinned. “I think you'll be needing this.” He handed her a gray
velvet ring box. Casanova he wasn't, but at least the deed was done
and he felt relieved. Leaning over, he slid the ring on her finger,
then placed a tender kiss on her lips.

Brenna raced around in high gear. She'd
decided to wear dress slacks and tennis shoes for comfort since
they were booked solid for dinner. However, it would be nicer if
she could multiply herself, then she could be everywhere she needed
to be.

She swung by the kitchen to pick up one of
the orders that Nell had taken. Leaning against the bar, she
propped her chin on her hand, as she watched Geraldine fill her
order.