The Christmas Inn (14 page)

“I’m sorry for their loss.”

“But what a nice way to remember James,” Luke said.

“So, what happens now? I mean until the storm stops.”

“We’ve set up a temporary nursery in one of the empty suites,
and Mary found Ethan’s bassinet up in the attic. I’d forgotten it was up there.”
He pressed his face into Ethan’s neck to hide the tears stinging his eyes.

Stop this! You have an inn to run, a major
snowstorm to deal with and so many people depending on you.

She reached for Ethan. “Let me take him. It will be dark soon,
and I’m sure he’s hungry. I’ll get his dinner ready.”

She was being so kind and yet she hardly knew him. Looking into
Marnie’s eyes as she stood waiting, he wished he didn’t have so much to worry
about. Marnie’s kindness, her warmth and his growing feelings for her had made
him see the emptiness in his life.

He felt so tired, so drained. All he wanted was to spend time
with son. “Marnie, I’ll take Ethan into dinner and get him ready for bed. I
haven’t seen him all day, but thank you for everything.”

She lifted her hand from his arm, her smile focused on Ethan.
“You’re welcome.”

“I know this is asking a lot, but could you possibly help me
with something else?”

“Sure, anything,” she said.

“I need someone to work the reception desk. Some of the staff
who couldn’t stay last night weren’t able to get back to do their shifts. Would
you mind?”

“No, of course not. I’ll change and go over there right now.”
She opened the door and went inside, Henry on her heels, the snow blowing
through the door behind her.

* * *

M
ARNIE
SHOOK
THE
SNOW
off her boots and yanked them
off her feet, carrying them up the stairs with her. She avoided making eye
contact with anyone as she made her way to her room. Tears blurring her vision,
she pulled off her clothes and changed into dry ones, as a stark realization
formed in her mind.

More than any other time in her life, she wanted someone to
love, and she wanted a marriage like her parents had, one based on mutual love
and respect. And she wanted a relationship with Luke, a man she hadn’t been
honest with, and knew beyond a doubt that should he learn the truth, he’d reject
her.

She had to make a decision soon. If Scott was right, Angus
McAndrew would announce the sale of the inn, possibly leaving Luke without a
job. And if the survey she was working on cast his managerial skills in a bad
light…

She should tell him what she knew about Advantage’s intention
to sell the inn. But if she did, and it impacted Scott’s business relationship
with Advantage…

She felt she had to support Scott, after all, he was her
brother and he had always been good to her. But with Luke now in her life…

She knew what her decision had to be. Luke had to be told the
truth. He needed to know what Advantage’s plans were for The Mirabel Inn, not
just to ease her conscience, but also to give him an opportunity to prepare for
his future. If Advantage dropped this news on Luke without any warning, how
would he feel?

Luke had alluded to the possibility of the inn being sold, but
hadn’t given any indication that he had a plan should it be true.

But what if she finished the survey purely for Luke’s benefit,
to alert him to any problems she found, wouldn’t that make the dreaded job of
telling him easier? He might be able to correct any deficiencies immediately,
and she wouldn’t have to report them.

While she figured out how to tell Luke, she headed to the
reception desk. She arrived to find a weary Amanda waiting for her.

“I haven’t had a wink of sleep in almost twenty-four hours.
I’ll show you the basics, including how to do a reservation, and then I’m off to
bed somewhere....”

Amanda showed Marnie what she needed to do, and it looked
relatively easy. The computer booking system was very much like the one she had
installed at Total Elegance, so that part would be easy. The switchboard also
seemed straightforward, and all she had to do was read up on the various
packages the inn offered should someone want to make a reservation. As she
settled into the job and began to feel comfortable, she pulled the questionnaire
out of her bag and looked it over. She’d given the inn top ratings for each
category listed except when it came to the visibility of the staff name tag, a
minor problem she’d spotted on her first day here.

She sighed in relief. There was nothing in the survey that
could hurt Luke. The damage to the wiring in her old room had been fixed right
away. The issues with the manicurist’s technique were mostly a matter of
retraining that could be done very easily.

The evening settled into a routine, broken only by the wind
howling outside the massive front door. She wondered if Luke was getting some
rest after putting Ethan to bed. She hoped he was.

She had one call for a reservation, and other than that, the
evening was quiet. The generators kept the lights on, but Kevin came by the desk
to say that unless the storm eased by tomorrow morning, they could face a total
blackout as the fuel tanks feeding the generator were running low on fuel.

At ten o’clock, Marnie passed the keys over to the night
watchman. Despite the blizzard outside, and the sense of isolation, Marnie felt
at home in this place. There was something so solid and enduring about it. When
she reached her room, she fell into bed, at peace for the first time in a very
long time.

CHAPTER TEN

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
THE
STORM
had fizzled to
a dusting of snow drifting through the morning air. The plows were out in force,
clearing the roads leading to the interstate. Marnie was on the reception desk
once again, fielding calls from staff trying to get into work and people wanting
to speak to Luke. She’d taken several reservations for the ski packages in
January, and she was really enjoying the work, and loved feeling useful. She
could get to like the hospitality business. Several of the guests came by to
chat about the weather, when the roads might be cleared and how cozy the inn
felt with all the snow packed around it. Everyone was in generally good spirits,
and talking about this evening’s Christmas Eve dinner that was part of the
Christmas Getaway event.

Meanwhile, the questionnaires on the reception desk and the
booking system were finished. She was about to put the material in her bag when
Luke appeared with two coffees. She hurriedly put her notes away.

“Thought you might need a caffeine hit,” he said, holding out a
mug of coffee to her.

She took a sip, delighted to find that Luke had added just the
right amount of cream and sugar. A man with devastating appeal who remembered
what she took in her coffee. “There are lots of similarities between working
here and working in a salon. There are the bookings, the phones to answer
and…”

“Does the salon include babysitting and bartender duties?” he
asked, chuckling.

“Not yet, but we keep evolving,” she offered, wishing he would
make a move, to demonstrate that he was still attracted to her. That he still
wanted her to have dinner or lunch with him, go to the moon, to the movies, she
really didn’t care.

A Christmas Eve kiss would be perfect, especially if he was
going to be as busy today as he had been all of yesterday.

She waited, sipping her coffee, meeting Luke’s gaze, and…and
nothing.

Her feelings for him ran deep, but wasn’t it time for a little
show of response on his end? He’d left her waiting for him in the bar, but he’d
had the perfect excuse. He’d gotten her to babysit Ethan because his friends had
needed him. As much as she wanted him, he’d been too preoccupied with his own
life to make room for her. When they were together, most of the conversation had
revolved around his issues, and she was more than willing to be helpful—her best
role actually—but needing her help was a long way from demonstrating that he
cared.

Luke leaned on the desk, his muscled arms a tempting display.
“I need to talk to you about something.”

No words about missing me. No stolen
kisses like the night at the bar. Not even a word about this being Christmas
Eve. Just the same old words he always used when he thought she was hiding
something.

He was acting as if they were simply friends, and maybe that’s
all they were. Maybe she’d read more into his behavior than was there. But they
were together for a few moments on one of her favorite days of the year, the day
when all the final Christmas preparations were completed. She could be generous
and hope he was about to offer her some other role than being supportive. “Sure,
what is it?”

“Would you be willing to help out with the changes you
identified as being needed at the spa?”

Disappointment curled its cold tentacles around her chest,
squeezing any hope from her. Had she been fooled into thinking he cared because
she cared so much? Or had he simply taken advantage of her generosity?

Whatever the case, she needed to decide what she should do.
There was always her life back in Boston, her Mrs. Claus suit and all the uproar
her brothers would create over the sale of her business.

If only Luke had given her a reason to be helpful. Wasn’t he
taking her role as his assistant a little far? After all, it was Christmas Eve.
“Today?”

“If possible. I’d like to go over how the changes should be
implemented.”

She forced back the hurt, the longing, dredging up her pride to
rescue her. “I have…had some of the same services in my salon, I’m well aware of
the key components in a professionally run spa. Mostly, the issues relate to
product type and use, and I can easily make a few notes for Francine and provide
a copy for you.”

“That would work, thank you. Would you like to see the new
baby?”

Had she misread the situation that badly?
Was she that desperate to fall in love?
She could feel her cheeks
growing hot with embarrassment. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Lindsay is bringing him down to lunch. The staff
wants to see him, and of course you’re invited. By the way, thank you for
looking after Ethan. I didn’t really get a chance to thank you enough for what
you did yesterday, but I really do appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.” Those few hours were some of the best she’d
had in months, and she’d felt so much a part of Luke’s life, but he clearly
didn’t feel what she was feeling.

He stood before her, a faint smile on his face, and humor in
his eyes. “Would you like to have lunch with me? Ethan’s been asking for you. It
seems he’s quite impressed with your snowplowing capabilities.”

Was the only way to this man’s heart through his son? “You mean
my ability to bury myself under a snowdrift.”

He laughed and the sound drew her into his space, lifted her
spirits and made her wish that they were a couple. All these years while she’d
been working to build up her business, other people had been making a life with
someone they loved, having children and connecting in a way that really
mattered. Meanwhile, she’d been working in a business she loved, but a business
that left her feeling unfulfilled at the end of the day. The only living things
that needed her back at her house in Boston were a fern and her overweight
tabby, Prince. “What time is lunch?”

He checked his watch. “In about fifteen minutes. I’m going to
find someone to replace you on the desk so you can meet me in the dining
room.”

Seeing the baby, getting to spend time with Luke was great, but
so far it wasn’t leading anywhere. “Fine.” She smiled up at him, searching for
some genuine affection in his eyes and coming up empty.

* * *

D
ESPITE
L
UKE
’
S
EXHAUSTION
, he was suddenly
energized at the prospect of lunch with Marnie. It was amazing how easily she
fit into his life, how much he had begun to rely on her, and he’d only known her
for a couple of days. Could life really change that much, that easily?

He checked his cell phone for messages, and for the first time
in over twenty-four hours there weren’t any. He was settling into a table in the
dining room, relieved that the power had come back on an hour ago, and the
emergency generator could be shut down for repairs. It had taken all of Kevin’s
skills to keep it running and he owed the man a bonus.

But if the owners decided to sell the inn, everything he’d
worked for would be relegated to the past. Anger, deep and primal, boiled up
inside him at the thought that people who lived somewhere else, who cared
nothing about the inn and its employees, were in a position to threaten
everyone’s livelihood and happiness with one indifferent signature.

He was still angry when Marnie showed up with Ethan trailing
along behind her. As they approached the table, his anger evaporated. His heart
rose in his throat, his breathing ceased and he was filled with the sense that
he belonged with Marnie. The three of them together enriched his life, and gave
it meaning. He held the chair for Marnie.

“I found someone who says he’s hungry,” Marnie announced as she
helped Ethan into the chair next to him before sitting down.

“Dad, I want macaroni,” Ethan said, wiggling forward in his
chair and tilting his cheek up to his father for a kiss.

Luke kissed his son’s smooth skin, offering him a moment to
calm his expectations. As much as he liked Marnie, and as much as he enjoyed her
company, he didn’t know her very well. And a woman like Marnie almost certainly
had a life she was eager to return to in Boston…possibly someone special who had
to be wondering when she’d return for Christmas Eve.

And as of today, she was free to leave the inn with only a
goodbye.

“So, where’s the man of the hour?” Marnie asked, her eyes
bright with enthusiasm.

“He must be having his lunch, but I’m sure he’ll be here
soon.”

“Babies are so sweet.” Marnie spread her napkin on her lap.
“Unfortunately, there are no babies in my family right now, just a rowdy bunch
of teenagers.”

He remembered those first days after Ethan was born, his scent,
his cry, the way he took over their lives by simply being there. Luke beckoned
the server over to hide his discomfort around a topic that evoked a sense of
emptiness in him.

They placed their orders with special attention to Ethan’s
request for extra cheese on his macaroni, and lots of ketchup. She had just left
when Jack and Lindsay arrived with James, accompanied by the curious glances of
the guests at other tables.

They sat at the table reserved for them next to Luke’s, as Jack
helped Lindsay and James into the chair closest to Marnie.

* * *

M
ARNIE
COULDN
’
T
BELIEVE
how relaxed Lindsay looked as she sat
there, holding her son after what had to have been an exhausting twenty-four
hours. “He’s beautiful,” Marnie whispered, reaching out to touch the tiny
fingers peeking out of the blue blanket wrapped around his tiny form.

“Thank you,” Lindsay murmured, her full attention on her baby
as she tucked the blanket around James’s face, his lips pursed in sleep.

Marnie had to confess she wasn’t very good when it came to
discussing the birthing experience, but she was sincerely pleased that Lindsay
seemed to have come through it very well. “I’m so glad everything went
okay.”

“Me, too.” Lindsay gave her a grateful smile. “We’re very
lucky, Jack and I. And James is…everything we could have hoped for.”

She cradled the baby close to her body, her fingers gently
stroking his cheek. “And what about you? I hear from Luke that you took over
with Ethan like a pro.”

“I’ve had lots of practice with my nieces and nephews, and
Ethan is so much fun.”

“Yes, he is.” She rested James on her shoulder, steadying him
as she patted his back. “You’ve been really kind to Luke, and we want you to
know how much we appreciate you. He needs someone like you in his life.” She
spoke quietly, her expression conveying her sincerity.

She glanced over at him, but he was engrossed in conversation
with Jack. “Thank you for saying that.”

“You’re welcome, and I mean it,” Lindsay said.

“Daddy, where did Lindsay get the baby?” Ethan asked, his voice
rising well above everyone else’s.

“Can’t wait to hear how you get out of that one, Harrison,”
Jack teased.

“Why don’t you give it a try? It’s your baby,” Luke
countered.

“Ethan, James is a Christmas baby,” Marnie blurted, and
exchanged quick glances with Luke and Jack. They both gave her a nod.

“Like Baby Jesus?” Ethan asked, excitedly rubbing his hands
together as he peeked around Marnie at the baby in Lindsay’s arms.

Marnie looked to Luke for support. “Yes, a little like that, I
guess.”

“And a bit of a Christmas miracle,” Lindsay added, smiling.

“Will you put him under the tree?” Ethan asked.

“No, I don’t think so.” Lindsay grinned at Jack.

“Will you be here when Santa arrives?”

“We’ll be here on Christmas Day to see what Santa brought you,
Ethan.” Jack took James from Lindsay’s arms and held him upright against his
shoulder, nuzzling his cheek.

“Will Santa bring James’s presents here?” Ethan asked, his
expression now one of concern.

“Santa will find James at his house,” Jack said.

Ethan slumped back in his chair, a look of satisfaction on his
face. “I want Santa to come. How much longer, Dad?”

“Just one more sleep until you get to open your presents,” he
said.

Ethan turned to Marnie. “Will you be here with me when I open
my presents?”

The question took her completely by surprise, which she quickly
did her best to hide. Until she had a better indication from Luke that she was
more than a reliable assistant, the question of Christmas was pointless.

“I’m not sure, Ethan. Besides you’ll have lots of other people
here to play with at Christmas.”

“But, Daddy! I want her to play with me when Santa brings my
train,” Ethan howled.

“Is Santa bringing you a train?” Marnie asked.

“Yes! Daddy promised me.”

“Marnie has to be home for Christmas at her house.” Faced with
the fact that she could leave whenever she wanted, he was more aware than ever
of how much he would miss her. How much he needed her in his life.

“We wrote a letter to Santa, and asked for Thomas the Tank
Engine train,” Luke said to Marnie, meeting her questioning look.

“Yeah! Thomas!” Ethan squealed as he got off the chair and ran
to the window. “Is Santa coming in the sky? Can I see him?”

“Not yet, buddy. But soon.” This would be Ethan’s fifth
Christmas, and although Luke loved seeing his son’s happiness over the season,
Christmas still held a sense of loss for him. Would having Marnie here change
that? he wondered.

Yet he did have family here at the inn. And he was now the
godfather of a beautiful, much-anticipated little boy.

“Christmas here must be so special,” Marnie said, her voice
trailing off as her eyes met his.

Physical desire engulfed him, and a deeper, more immediate need
held him captive. In that instant he realized that if she was willing to stay,
he wanted her there with him. For better or worse, no matter what life held for
him over the next few months, he wanted Marnie here with him.