We'll Be Home for Christmas (4 page)

She froze with the key halfway to the lock. “I refuse to look and see, but tell me this much, are all the cabins still standing behind me?”

He glanced over her shoulder again. This time his eyes narrowed. “Define standing.”

“That’s what I thought.” She bit back the groan rumbling up her throat and fighting to get out. “Then my only other choice is to fix up the place and try to catch part of ski season and be at full speed in time for the hikers and climbers to arrive in the spring.”

“Are you handy?”

She was lucky if she got through the day without dropping anything. Some might use the word
clumsy
. She preferred
distracted
. “I can recognize a hammer in a tool line-up.”

“That doesn’t really inspire confidence.”

She’d forgotten how laughter danced in his eyes, about how much she wanted to trace her finger over that strong jawline when they stood this close. She cleared her throat. “My life is currently spinning out of control, and you are part of that, in case you’re wondering, so my only goal is to hang on and not throw up.”

“I say we do everything to make sure you keep that goal.” He took the cabin key from her.

At the touch of his hand against hers, heat flushed through her skin and made her head spin. Whatever energy arced between them at the hotel still had some life left in it. She vowed right then to keep her clothes on and her hands to herself whenever he was around.

The lock clicked and he pushed the door open. They both stood at the threshold and peeked inside. The silence ticked on as she shut her eyes and opened them again. Nope, still a dump. Actually, that was disrespectful to dumps. This place hoped to one day be nice enough to be considered a dump.

A steady plopping sound vibrated through her. “What is that noise?”

“Probably a leaky sink.”

“At least it has running water. Score one for me.”

“Stopping the leak is an easy fix.” He put his shoe against the doorjamb and it splintered under his foot.

She thought about ducking just in case the roof caved in. “Uh, let’s not do—”

“As opposed to the rest of the place, and keep in mind this is the cabin that’s in good condition.”

He wasn’t wrong. The threadbare red and blue rug in the middle of the floor looked older than her. She hoped the dark stains on the couch pressed up against the right wall were something other than blood. Since Uncle Ned always had a mug with him, she decided to pretend all dark puddles were spilled coffee.

The kitchenette at the far end consisted of a dorm-size mini-fridge, a sink with cabinets underneath and a hot plate. Good thing her idea of cooking was limited to warming things up.

Panic snuck up and slapped her. “Wait, where is the microwave?”

He slowly turned his head and stared at her. “That’s really your only question here?”

“I heat things. Without a microwave I’ll have to eat cereal for every meal.”

“Then there’s the part where you’ll be out here, on your own, as buildings fall down around you.”

“Aren’t you just Mr. Sunshine?”

He pressed his hand against the wall and it seemed to cave under his palm. “Maybe you should tackle the foundation problem before you do an appliance checklist.”

The man had a point but she chose to ignore it. Running was not her style. It was also useless when you didn’t have anywhere else to go, and she sure didn’t.

Following his lead, she moved carefully, toe first before putting down her full weight and ignoring the way the wood crunched underneath her. A few steps more and she stood in the middle of the family room, which also happened to be part of the bedroom and only few steps away from the door to the left of the kitchen. Part of her hoped that was the bathroom. A bigger part of her hoped it wasn’t. She dreaded peeking inside.

She mentally revisited the idea of sleeping in the car. It couldn’t be that much colder than being inside this place.

He suddenly stood next to her with his hands shoved in his back jeans pockets and exhaled in that way men did when they thought the womenfolk had screwed up big. “Do you have tools? Supplies? Labor?”

More than likely he wanted to ask if she’d lost her mind but he was smart enough to keep that one inside. “I have that car and a bag full of whatever Uncle Ned ordered from your store.”

“I’m not sure how a house plant is going to help you here.”

Which brought up a new problem. “Me either since I’ve never had a plant without killing it. Tried talking to them and my voice apparently scared them to death.”

He was openly gawking at her now. “That is strangely fascinating.”

“I swear one of those mini-rosebush things actually shook when I sang to it. Then I ran out and bought some more. I tried ignoring the plants, thinking they wanted quiet time or something, and they shriveled in horror at my neglect.”

“Please tell me you never had a cat or anything with paws and a heartbeat.”

As if she’d endanger an innocent kitten. “No, but I got a cactus because I read no one could kill one. Apparently no one told my cactus that. It committed suicide by jumping off the table to its death.”

He put his hand over his mouth and cleared his throat. “Not exactly the Suzy The Homemaker type, are you?”

Hard to deny that one, even if he was on the verge of laughing at her. “I have other skills.”

“No way am I commenting on those after your earlier death-by-rock threat.”

She shot him a narrow-eyed warning. “Smart man.”

“But, with your admittedly limited carpenter skillset in mind.” He stopped and took a deep breath. “What, and don’t go nuts on me here, qualifies you to fix up and run this place?”

Desperation
. “My last name is Payne.”

She touched the mattress and when it sank under her palm and not in a normal way, she pulled her hand back fast. The move had him staring at the bed, which is exactly where she didn’t want his mind wandering. Not that she planned on rolling around on that thing, alone or with a partner, any time soon. But, man, one look at his face and she remembered every other sinfully delicious part of him.

“That’s it? Your qualification is some biological connection?” he asked.

She decided he was much more handsome when he wasn’t rapid-firing questions at her. “Yes. I have biology on my side and the bag in the car that may or may not contain a house plant. I didn’t check, so I’ll believe you there’s one in there unless I already killed it just by transporting it.”

He walked around the open room, which took all of ten seconds but showed off how well he filled out those jeans. He stopped again in front of her. “You have some problems here.”

“Aren’t you the king of understatement?”

“Does the electricity even work? Is the wiring safe?” He dipped his head low and glanced out the dirty window. “The sun is about to go down soon and these woods get awfully dark unless you get that fire you were wanting.”

Two more minutes of this happy talk and she’d walk back to Philadelphia. Screw the income and reputation problems there. “You are a joy to have around.”

“Not the first time I’ve heard that.” He clapped his hands but his mind appeared to be off and running. He scanned every inch of the walls, floor and ceiling, as if mentally compiling a list and making plans. “Okay, so I’ll have some supplies dropped off tomorrow and—”

“Why?”

He focused on her again. That the-man-is-thinking-here serious look disappeared as his eyebrows snapped together. “Excuse me?”

Time to jump in and set the ground rules since she’d skipped that part and went right to the striptease last time they stood like this in a quiet room. “We’re not sleeping together again.”

A smile broke across his lips. “Did I mention sex?”

“As if you’re not thinking it.” Good grief, why could
she
not stop thinking about it all of a sudden?

“To the extent I was, and I’m not admitting that’s the case, seeing this room killed it.” He leaned in until his breath brushed against her cheek. “Mostly.”

She wanted to ignore the last word because there was nothing but danger there, but... “You can deny all you want but this is not my first day on the farm.”

“I think we’ve established it kind of is.”

She waved off his joke and his charm. Also tried to picture him with a bag over his head so she didn’t have to see those sexy eyes and the perfect face, but that image wasn’t working so well. “My point is that I’m thinking you’ll want to be paid for your services.”

Both of his hands went into the air, palms up and all amusement gone. “Whoa.”

“I’m just—”

“Stop that thought. I never suggested a mattress quid pro quo.”

Since she needed to banish all mattress thoughts and references, she reached out to lower his hands. Then she remembered how good it felt to run her palms over him and stopped right before they touched.

Her arms dropped to her sides. “I need you to understand that despite our earlier meeting and my lack of clothing at the time—”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth again. “Meeting? That’s how we’re referring to those days?”

“I’m trying to forget them.” Even though that was so not happening.

“Good luck with that. So you know, my memory is working just fine.” His fingertips brushed against her chin. “In fact, I seem to remember doing some inventive things with a bathrobe belt.”

The alphabet scrambled in her brain at his touch. She breathed in deep and counted to ten before she could form a sentence. “I need you to know I normally do not jump into bed with strange men.”

“I’m not that strange.”

“What?”

“Lila, is that what I should call you?” His thumb traced her bottom lip as she nodded, unable to do anything else. “I was in that hotel room with you. The bed, the shower, the—”

This time she put her hand over his and gently pushed it back into his personal space and as far out of hers as she could get when they were standing almost on top of each other. “Get to the point.”

“I’m not judging what we did or how we did it, and I sure as hell don’t regret a minute of it.”

Her brain fizzled. “Oh.”

“For the record, I’m offering to bring supplies and labor and work out any permitting details to get you started without expecting anything in return because that’s what we do around here.” He reached over and opened the bathroom door and slammed it shut just as fast.

She didn’t want to know what was inside, so she didn’t ask. She could barely concentrate on the conversation as it was. “You mean in the Thomas family?”

“In Holloway.” He glanced into the sink. “This town has issues, just like any other place. Some people are nosy and annoying and there is a crowd that spends hours a day gossiping and making up crazy names for shit, but at its soul the people here are good. They’ll help out.”

That all sounded nice but she didn’t live in Holloway and she was an outsider. “I can’t ask you to do that for me.”

“I offered.”

“Why?”

“Other than the reason I just explained, I also owe Ned.”

“But you shouldn’t—”

“Lila.” His hands landed on her shoulders. “Stop fighting me. Take the help and say thank you.”

It was so tempting to be lured by his voice, to fall into the reassuring feel of his strong hands. “This kind of assistance usually comes at a price.”

“Have you always been this skeptical?”

“I learned to be.”

“We’ll work on that while we work on the cabins.” He squeezed her then let go. “Let’s head out.”

Just when she’d caught up to the conversation he jumped again. “What?”

“You can’t stay here. Not until it’s safe. We’ll get you some dinner and put you at the Crossley Inn.”

When this guy took control, he really took it. “I’m not going to waste money on a hotel.”

“Don’t get too excited. It’s a family-owned inn. Clean but not fancy.”

“No.”

“You’d prefer to freeze to death outside tonight.”

“There has to be another option other than death or poverty.”

His eyebrow lifted. “You could stay at my house.”

She didn’t even let that thought fester. “Definitely not.”

“You fell back on that answer kind of fast. Feel free to take a second and think my proposal over.”

She ignored his home reference because there was no way to address it without putting the bed possibility in both of their heads more than it already was, if that was even possible for her. “You know what it’s like to have a small business. You can’t afford extra costs, which means whatever inn you’re talking about is out.”

“I offered my—”

She waved a finger in his face. “The answer is still no on your house.”

This time he backed up. “We’ll go have dinner and discuss this.”

“Man, you don’t give up.” She had to respect that tenacity. It probably pointed to his success both in business and in getting her panties off so fast last time they met.

“Austin will be there, so you’ll have a chaperone while we share a burger, or whatever you want.”

As if on cue her stomach rumbled. “I could eat something.”

Spence hitched his head in the direction of the bathroom. “Unless you want to stay and fight with whatever is living in there.”

That fast her hunger evaporated. “Please be kidding.”

“’Fraid not.”

“Let’s go.”

Chapter Four

Austin lounged in his usual seat in the corner booth, the one that provided a full view of Schmidt’s Diner. When the bell jingled over the door, he looked up. The smile hit his lips a second later.

Spence almost groaned at the reaction. They were in for it now.

He knew his brother would be on the phone to Carrie and Mitch, gossiping like old women the second after the dessert plates cleared the table. Spence put his hand against the small of Lila’s back to bring her inside next to him. The conversation had stopped at more than one table and a few of the less subtle turned around. A few old-timers sitting at the counter waved and one of the ladies who worked at the grocery store took out her cell phone and started typing.

Fucking fabulous
.

“This town is big on staring.” Lila leaned in as she whispered the thought.

The smell of almonds hit him a second later. Whatever she’d used to wash her hair made him want to rub his face in it. He tried to focus on the collective gaping around the room and forget about her scent, her legs, the thing she did with her mouth...

He cleared his throat. “Yeah, no kidding.”

Austin slid across the red vinyl and stood as they approached. Their father would be proud to know all those lessons he drummed into them as kids had actually produced some manners.

Austin nodded to Lila. “Good evening, Ms. Payne.”

The smile she shot him could light up the campground. “Please call me Lila.”

Spence pointed at the side opposite from where Austin had been sitting. “Slide in.”

She didn’t fight him, which was new. She’d spent the entire ride over outlining her reasons for staying at the campground tonight. By the end it sounded as if she’d almost convinced herself the garbage she spouted made sense. But she was a smart woman and Austin would side with him, so Spence doubted he’d have to hear much more about sleeping in her car. At least he hoped that was true.

While she moved across the cheap red seat, Austin blocked Spence’s path. “I’m not sure if I won the bet or not. What do you think?”

“That you should shut up.”

Austin laughed as he finally took his seat across the table. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“You remember Austin. He frequently tells me he’s unforgettable to women or was until Carrie shoved that wedding band on his finger.” Spence sat down and immediately picked up the menu and pretended to read.

He’d been coming to the diner since he learned to walk and ordering his own food since he could talk. He’d memorized the offerings long ago and they never changed. The one time the a new chef switched out the menu and added fancy specials the townsfolk acted like he was strangling puppies in the middle of the elementary school playground. The old menu reappeared within a week.

“I’m the real Austin.”

Spence lowered the menu to shoot Austin a warning glare. “If we could not mention that incident while we eat, I’d be grateful.”

Lila rolled her eyes as she shimmied out of her coat. “Incident? That’s the word you went with?”

Reaching over, he helped her free her arms from her bulky winter coat then shrugged his own off. “You know what I mean.”

“I think your apologizing skills need work.”

No way was he going back to that conversation, not with Austin as a witness. “Noted.”

“You’d never know from the way he handles women, but Spence here is a pretty intelligent guy. Or so the tests say. I’ve always been skeptical of those results,” Austin said.

She looked between both men. “He is?”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence on my intelligence.”

Austin laughed. “See, that’s what I’m saying. It’s totally undiscoverable on the surface. Very well hidden.”

Spence thought the surprise in her voice was a bit much and he seriously considered shoving his brother out of the booth. “You two are hysterical. Can we find another topic now?”

She ignored Spence and smiled at Austin. “I’m sorry to worm my way into your dinner.”

“I’m happy you’re here. I’m guessing you’re better company than Spence.”

“Again, shut up.” Spence snatched Austin’s water and drank most of it.

When conversations restarted at the surrounding tables, Lila leaned back in the booth with her shoulder touching Spence’s. “Where is your wife, Austin?”

“Washington, D.C.”

“Visiting someone?”

“Working.” Without missing a beat in the discussion, Austin slipped another menu out of the stand that held the ketchup and mustard and handed it to Lila. “She’s at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She works a week from home here and then three there, so I match my schedule to hers so we can be together, with a few extra days here per month on local jobs.”

It always stunned Spence to hear Austin talk about his living arrangements as if they had been the easiest thing to accomplish. In reality, Carrie’s job and Austin’s boneheadedness over it had nearly ripped them apart. Dating since high school hadn’t guaranteed them a lifetime together. They’d broken up many times and spent months living apart until Austin chased Carrie down and refused to give up. The relationship only settled down last Christmas and Austin had rushed her to the altar as soon as possible after that.

Rather than share the sordid story, Spence hit the highlight for Lila’s benefit. “He’s pathetic when Carrie is gone.”

Lila’s smile grew even bigger. “That’s sweet.”

Women
. “Not really,” Spence said, not trying to hide the grumbling in his tone.

“Carrie’s brother, Mitch, is our business manager. He’s visiting Carrie with his girlfriend, Cassidy,” Austin said, falling into his usual easy banter and charm. “We’ll all go to this big party at Carrie’s work, sell some Christmas trees at a lot we have set up in the city near our place there and then Carrie and I will head back here for a cozy family Christmas after we tuck Spence in for the night so he doesn’t scare Santa.”

“What about Mitch and Cassidy and their Christmas?” Lila asked.

“I’m impressed you followed all of that.” Spence needed a scorecard to keep up with all the moving around lately.

“They’re spending some time in the city but will be home right before Christmas, which is almost mandatory around here.” Austin glanced at Spence before turning back to Lila. “Speaking of which, where will you be for the holidays?”

Spence’s finger curled around the edge of the menu as he waited for an answer. Every muscle inside him pulled tight with tension. The reaction, his loss of control, ticked him off. He shouldn’t care about her answer. He should want her to pack up and get out. He didn’t need a complication, and she promised to be one of those before she’d ever opened her mouth and agreed to join him in that hotel room.

And that mouth...damn, there was a memory he couldn’t kick.

“I’ll be here.” She opened the menu then closed it again without looking inside. “Well, not Holloway but nearby in Parry Springs where the campground is. I live there now.”

“What?” Austin shot Spence a help-me-out-here look. “She’s kidding, right?”

Spence recognized Austin’s stunned expression because Spence had felt that mix of confusion and futility ever since he opened Mitch’s office door and saw Lila standing there
.

Spence used the opening to try to get a clearer answer from her. “What about spending the holidays with your family?”

“There’s no one but Uncle Ned and flying to see him is an extravagance I can’t really afford right now.” Her voice stayed strong and sure, like the words meant nothing, but sadness moved through her eyes.

Spence would bet anger was mirrored in his. The idea she thought being alone at the holidays was even a possibility sent his rage level soaring. “That’s not going to happen.”

“I hate to agree with Spence, but I have to on this,” Austin said. “You can’t stay alone. Not there.”

Spence appreciated the brotherly assist. “Listen to Austin. Even ignoring the holiday piece for a second, the campground is a mess. It’s not a secret Ned let it go and stopped making money years ago. He only stayed as long as he did out of some sort of loyalty to his dead wife.”

Austin’s foot slammed against Spence’s. “Well, that’s understandable since they did build the place together. I mean, of course Ned was mourning and wanted to keep the attachment as long as possible.”

As far as Spence was concerned, Ned stayed too long. “Whatever.”

“I can fix the cabins up and make it profitable. The location is perfect for skiers and hikers.” Lila’s eyes lit up and her voice got all wistful in that dreamy way women did when they talked about chocolate and shoes. “With a little love and a bit of sweat equity, it will be great again.”

Time for a wake-up call. “You can’t even keep a cactus alive.”

Austin tapped his fingers against the table as his gaze switched from Lila to Spence. “Is that code for something?”

“She needs some help with the renovations.”

Austin nodded. “We can help with that. We both owe Ned. He saved us from trouble more than once when we were kids.”

“Agreed. We need to get the permits and supplies.” Spence stopped talking when Lila began her head-shaking thing. “What now?”

He fought the urge to talk over her. Yelling might feel good right about now, too. He’d do it if that’s what it took to jumpstart her common sense...and if they didn’t have an audience that even now leaned in.

“Smooth,” Austin mumbled as he spun his empty water glass around in his palm.

“It’s not your responsibility. I’m not. It’s not your job to step in,” she said.

It was a lovely little speech. One Spence might have listened to if he thought she could do any of the necessary repairs without having a cabin fall on her head. The idea of her being out there, alone and injured, made the muscles in his neck snap.

“But I’m going to.” That seemed to be his new mantra with her. She insisted and he reacted with an automatic no. Some might say that made him an ass. He’d wear the tag with comfort if it meant she was safe and warm and not in a ditch somewhere.

“Catch me up, Lila. Why not take the help?” Austin asked.

“She’s the go-it-alone type.” Spence did his best to make that sound like a despicable thing.

Austin nodded. “That’s impressive and all. I like strong women, trust me, but you need help. We all need help sometimes. Even my would-make-a-dictator-look-reasonable wife lets the men in the family step in now and then.”

When Lila smiled and looked ready to thank Austin for being sweet or some other nonsense, Spence pulled his last reality card. “You’ll be eaten by a bear.”

Austin’s mouth opened and closed without any sound coming out. The shoulders of the guy in the booth closest to Austin shook with what Spence assumed was laughter.

All conversation stopped at the table. Silence pretty much whipped through the entire room. If Austin let out whatever comment he was holding in there, it would be the only noise around them except for the occasional clank of silverware.

“You’re saying there are bears at the campground?” Lila whispered the question.

Spence was saved from the job of explaining how the animal kingdom worked when Darla, the waitress and a Holloway mainstay, popped up at the end of the table and dropped two more glasses of water in front of them. She’d graduated high school a year before Spence and held onto her wavy blond hair and cheerleader figure despite working hard and marrying a man who was rarely around to help with the kids or anything else.

“If it isn’t the Thomas boys and a new female friend. How interesting.” Darla nodded in the direction of the counter. “I would have been here sooner but Mary over there wanted to tell me about a rumor she heard about a fight at the nursery with you three.”

Spence let his head fall back as he stared at the ceiling. “I hate this town sometimes.”

Austin pushed the water glasses around, grabbing the full one meant for Spence and sticking him with the empty one instead. “Darla Kingston, the woman who single-handedly keeps this joint running, this is Spence’s new female
friend
, Lila.”

Spence’s head snapped forward. “Did you have to say it that way?”

Whatever spell had grabbed hold of Lila during the bear conversation finally let go. “What’s wrong with saying I’m a friend?”

“Yeah, Spence.” Austin put his elbows on the table. “What’s wrong with that?”

Rather than kick his brother, and that was tempting, Spence got the subject back on track. “Darla, tell Lila it’s okay to accept our help.”

“Are they always so bossy, Darla?” Lila asked.

Darla balanced a knee on the seat next to Austin as she wiped her hands on her stained apron. “Yes, but honey it is just easier to agree to whatever the Thomas boys say. They tend to get their way eventually.”

“Not this time.”

Spence shook his head. That was tough talk from a woman who considered the lack of a microwave a criminal offense. “She’s Ned Payne’s niece and plans to stay at the campground while she fixes it up.”

Darla’s mouth twisted in a look that suggested she ate something rotten. “Do you have a death wish or something, honey?”

“I hope you three aren’t the county’s welcoming committee because you really don’t do a great job of selling the area.” Lila didn’t roll her eyes but she sure looked like she wanted to.

“You let these boys help you.” Darla sat down next to Austin, clearly enjoying her part in the conversation. “Hey, you should send Travis out there. He’s single and has those big biceps.”

The words burned a hole in Spence’s gut. He hated the idea. “You’re married.”

Darla snorted. “I’m not blind.”

“Excuse me.” Lila waved her hand in the air as if trying to get everyone’s attention.

Spence ignored her. “Travis has enough to do. I’ll take care of the campground work.”

“What?” Lila’s question sounded more horrified than surprised.

“Weren’t you just whining about having to work nonstop just so you can take Christmas Day off?” Austin did nothing to hide the amusement in his voice. Or that stupid grin.

Spence was tempted to put his brother in a car to D.C. tonight. “Don’t help me.”

Darla waved off a guy at a table across the room who was trying to get her attention by making a big check sign in the air. “I already heard about The Explosion.”