Can't Fight The Moonlight (Whisper Lake Book 3)

by Barbara Freethy

  "He's a guest," Lizzie cut in.

  "Looks like you've been in a fight," Brodie commented.

  "Only with a fence and a steering wheel, thanks to Lizzie here."

  "It was not my fault," she reminded him, adding to Brodie, "A deer ran into the road. I braked suddenly and Justin had to swerve. His car landed in a ditch. I called Tom. He's going to take the car into the shop."

  "Good. You get checked out, Mr. Blackwood?"

  "I did, and I'm fine."

  "Hannah took a look at him," Lizzie added.

  "Does everyone in this town know each other?" Justin asked.

  "Not everyone," Brodie said with a smile. "But if you stay here long enough, you'll get acquainted fast, especially if you hang around Lizzie."

  "Brodie is my almost-brother-in-law," Lizzie put in. "He's engaged to my sister, Chelsea, and he works with my brother Adam, who is a detective. He's basically family already."

  "Speaking of family," Brodie said. "I assume you'll be at Adam's birthday dinner tonight."

  "Absolutely."

  "Great. I'll see you then. Nice to meet you, Mr. Blackwood."

  "You, too."

  As Brodie got into the car, Lizzie turned to him. "I'm sorry about that. It's not usually so chaotic around here."

  "Are you sure? You and chaos seem to go together."

  "Sometimes it does feel that way," she admitted. "But let's get you checked in to your room."

  "I'm more interested in your computer. I don't think I have time to go buy one. I need to get online." He'd completely lost track of his time issues while Lizzie was resolving the standoff between the two senior citizens. Maybe he did have a concussion; he didn't usually let anything distract him from work.

  "You can use my computer and my phone. I'll set you up in my office, and I'll have someone take your bag up to your room."

  "I can handle my bag." He walked back to the truck and retrieved his suitcase. Then he followed her into the inn.

  His first impression of the interior was that it was warm and spacious, with dark paneled walls and slick hardwood floors covered by colorful, thick carpets. While Lizzie checked him in at the reception desk, his gaze swept the entry, which appeared to lead in two directions: one to a large living room with comfortable couches and armchairs, the other to a library with shelves laden with books and a grand piano in one corner.

  Beyond the library, he could see a dining room with square wooden tables for four and a long buffet that appeared to be laden with afternoon cookies and drink options. Noah and Patty were already seated at one of those tables, sipping tea, and sharing conversation.

  "You're on the third floor," Lizzie told him, handing him a large, old-fashioned, and heavy silver key.

  He raised a brow. "Seriously? No key card?"

  "Not here. We do have an elevator. It's around the corner. I have to warn you it can take a while. It's safe; just slow."

  "I'm fine with the stairs."

  "I figured. After you get settled in, come on down. My office is back there," she said, pointing to the door behind her. "I'll make sure my computer is ready to go."

  "Great." He paused. "Your computer isn't as old as this key, is it? I need video options."

  She smiled. "It's less than a year old. It should have all the bells and whistles you'll need. Are you sure you don't want someone to carry your bag?"

  "I've got it. I travel light."

  "I bet you do."

  As he turned to go up the stairs, his stomach rumbled from the delicious smell of cinnamon and vanilla. "Something smells amazing."

  "My cookies. They may not be world famous, but they are Whisper Lake famous. I'll set you up with a plate in my office. Do you want anything more substantial to eat? We don't have dinner service, but I can get you a sandwich or some cheese and crackers to keep you going."

  He should say yes to something more substantial. He rarely ate sugar. He couldn't remember when he'd last had a cookie, but in light of his headache, he found himself thinking that sugar might be exactly what he needed. "Cookies will be fine."

  "If you're sure. There's a list of nearby restaurants in your room, but if you need more personal recommendations based on what you'd like to eat, feel free to ask."

  "I will."

  As he finished speaking, an Asian woman with long black hair came out of the back room.

  "Lizzie, finally!" she said. "Where have you been? I've been texting you for the past hour. I need to talk to you."

  "I didn't have my phone."

  At her words, he was reminded that he still had her phone. He took it out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Sorry about that. I keep forgetting to give this back to you."

  "It's fine," Lizzie replied. "Justin, this is Shay, my manager—Justin Blackwood."

  "Marie and Benjamin's grandson. So happy you're here," Shay said, giving him a friendly smile.

  "Thanks," he said, wondering when he'd last seen so many people smiling at the same time. And it seemed to be contagious. He found his lips curving upward as he went to his room. But then he glanced at his watch, which instantly reminded him of how much work he had to do and how much time he'd lost. He needed to get back to business. Lizzie had already distracted him far too much.

  Lizzie's smile faded as she faced Shay. She could see the wary look in Shay's gaze, which meant there was yet another problem to be handled. Her day seemed to be getting worse by the minute, but at least Justin wouldn't be privy to whatever new challenge was about to be revealed. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing's wrong. Actually, it's good news."

  Relief swept through her. "Well, don't hold back. I could use some good news."

  "Kyle wants me to meet his parents."

  "It's about time." Kyle and Shay had gotten engaged a month ago and had been dating for a year prior to that, but she'd never had a chance to meet his parents, who resided in Australia.

  "I know. But there is a small problem," Shay said.

  Her heart sank. "I thought you said nothing was wrong."

  "Kyle wants me to meet them tomorrow in Denver. They're only going to be there for twenty-four hours. They're basically extending a layover on their way to New York where his father is speaking at some medical conference. It's as close as they'll be to us for the next year, and it saves me from having to make a trip to Melbourne."

  "Wow, that's crazy. They just found out about this trip?"

  "Apparently, they didn't want to say anything until they knew if they could make the Denver layover work. I know it's bad timing, Lizzie. It's a busy week, but I can't say no. It's just the day and one night. I'll be back Thursday morning, by eleven at the latest."

  This was probably the worst possible week to lose Shay for twenty-four hours. But Shay wasn't just her employee; she was also her friend. "You have to go. We can make it a day without you."

  Relief filled Shay's gaze. "You're the best, Lizzie. Thank you. So, what took you so long? I thought you were going to be back an hour ago, and why did Justin Blackwood have your phone?"

  "It's a long story. I have a better question—where were you when Patty Lawrence called the police on Noah Bennett?"

  "What?" Shay asked in surprise. "When did that happen?"

  "Like ten minutes ago. Brodie had Noah handcuffed out front when I arrived."

  "I had no idea. I went to the market to pick up some grocery items for Naomi. I just got back. What happened? And didn't I just see both of them having tea in the dining room?"

  "Patty thought Noah was stalking her, because he was lingering outside her room. I guess she called 911. But she should have not had to do that herself. Someone should have been at the desk when she came down."

  "Victor was supposed to stay at the desk while I was gone, but I did just see him outside smoking a cigarette and looking at his phone. I was hoping that he'd only stepped out a second ago."

  She frowned with annoyance. Victor was a recent college graduate and a local kid who'd told her he was interested in learning
about the hotel business, so she'd given him a part-time job. But he was turning out to be a slacker, and more interested in swiping left or right on his phone than taking care of business.

  "I'll talk to him," she said.

  "Again? How many chances are you going to give him?"

  "Just one more. It's a busy week."

  "I hear you, but I wouldn't expect a miracle." Shay paused. "If Patty called the police on Noah, how are they now friends?"

  "I explained the situation with his lost love, and Patty felt sorry for him. She's a widow, and I think she understands his loneliness. I suggested they talk, and it seems to be going well."

  "They were laughing when I walked through the dining room, so I'd say it's going great."

  "Good."

  "I'll go get Victor."

  "Thanks. I'm going to set Justin up in my office. He needs to use my computer for a video conference. I told him he'd have privacy."

  "No problem."

  As Shay left, Lizzie walked into her office. It was a bit disorganized, but she didn't have time to clean it for Justin. While it was messy, she knew where everything was, and filing was the least of her concerns these days.

  She did, however, take a moment to clear space on her desk. Then she opened her laptop. Seeing three bills pop up on the screen, she quickly closed those windows, not just because she didn't want Justin to see them, but also because she didn't want to be reminded of her increasingly growing financial problems.

  She just needed to get through this week. The inn was full, and her happy guests would hopefully ease some of the pressures for at least the next month.

  She sat down in her worn, creaky chair and let out a breath. She had a lot on her plate, but she still felt happy to be in her office, in her inn, running her dream business. That's what she had to remember. She was doing exactly what she wanted to do, and she would make it work. She didn't just have herself to worry about; she had all her investors, her family members, who had put their trust in her and their money into the inn. She couldn't let them down. She just wished the problems were getting smaller instead of bigger.

  Closing her eyes for a moment, she drew in several deep breaths, trying to remember the yoga mantras that would clear her mind and release her stress. But in the darkness, she couldn't see her normally calm mountain meadow image; she saw Justin Blackwood's very attractive face and his especially penetrating blue eyes that could be both fiery and angry as well as cold and calm.

  She'd seen quite a few emotions run through his gaze over the past few hours, and she wasn't really sure exactly what she thought of him. Except that when he smiled, it felt shockingly amazing and made her want to make him smile again. Although, that would be an uphill battle. He clearly wasn't the kind of person to find joy in the little things in life.

  He was supposed to be in Whisper Lake for his grandparents, but all he seemed concerned about at the moment was his work problem. Hopefully, he would get that resolved, and then he could concentrate on Marie and Benjamin and really be present for them when they arrived. She knew how important it was to them that Justin be at their vow renewal, since apparently their son and daughter-in-law, Justin's parents, couldn't or wouldn't make the big event. She knew there were some tensions in the family, but she wasn't quite sure what they were about. Not that she needed to know. She just needed to make sure everyone had a great time, and that included Justin.

  She would find a way to put a smile on his face.

  And then she would have to find a way to stop that smile from sending unwanted butterflies through her stomach. It had been a while since she'd felt those butterflies, and she didn't need to feel them for a man who was only passing through town on his way to somewhere else. She needed to fall for someone who wanted to stay in Whisper Lake forever. That wasn't going to be Justin Blackwood.

  A knock came at her half-open office door and her eyes flew open as Justin walked into the room. He'd changed into a maroon polo shirt and faded jeans. The casual wear made him even more appealing than his very expensive suit. His face was still bruised, but that only gave him a more rugged, masculine look.

  "Are you ready for me?" he asked.

  She wanted to say no, because her heart was already beating faster, and her palms were starting to sweat. But he was just talking about her computer, and she needed to get a grip. "Yes," she said, forcing out the word.

  She got up from the chair and tried not to brush against him as they each moved around the desk, but the brief touch of their arms sent a rush of warmth through her. She definitely was not ready for him, not in any way, so she moved toward the door.

  "Take as much time as you need," she told him.

  "You don't need to work in here?"

  "No, I'll be somewhere around the inn," she said vaguely. "There's a landline, so I think I'll hang on to my phone."

  "All right. Lizzie?"

  His question forced her gaze to his. "Yes?"

  "Thanks."

  She was surprised. "You're welcome."

  "I realize I've been a little…"

  "Annoyed, irritated, angry, impatient…" she offered when he couldn't seem to come up with a word.

  He smiled. And just like that, the butterflies danced again. "All of the above."

  "Well, it's been a rough day," she said.

  "It has. Didn't I hear something about cookies?" he asked hopefully.

  "I'll get you some. What would you like to drink?"

  "Coffee?"

  "Coming right up."

  "I don't want to put you out."

  "It's what I do. I take care of my guests. Make your call. I'll try not to disturb you when I come back."

  "Somehow, that seems unlikely," he said dryly, and as their gazes met, she thought he might be just as aware of the simmering attraction between them as she was. But he wouldn't be interested in pursuing that attraction, either. They might not have a lot in common, but she had a feeling they'd be in agreement on that.

  She slipped out the door and ran into Shay and Victor. Judging by the worried look on Victor's face, she had a feeling Shay had already given him a heads-up.

  "Victor, we need to talk," she said.

  "I know. I can explain," he said.

  "Hold that thought," she said, turning to Shay. "Would you mind getting Mr. Blackwood a plate of cookies and some coffee and then take it into the office?"

  "Of course," Shay said, leaving the two of them alone.

  "Let's go outside," she told Victor, leading him toward the patio door. When they stepped out onto the bricks, she made sure they were alone and then said, "Why weren't you at the desk while Shay was at the store?"

  "I was there most of the time. I just took a quick smoke break," he said defensively. "And nothing was going on. It was slower than slow." He ran a hand through his long brown hair, his gaze defensive.

  At twenty-eight, she was only six years older than Victor, but right now she felt a million years older than him. And she'd been working in the hospitality business since she was in high school. She knew what was expected. She also knew when someone had it or they didn't, and she didn't think Victor had it.

  "It's slow until it's not," she said. "That's how it works. But you had other tasks you could have worked on while you were at the desk. You could have updated the website, posted on our social media platforms, checked in with the guests to make sure they didn't need anything. There's always something to do."

  "I'm sorry, Lizzie. It was just a few minutes."

  "Do you want to continue working here?" she asked curiously. "Because if this job isn't for you, maybe you should look into getting something else."

  "No. I like it here. I'll do better. I need to stay in Whisper Lake. My girlfriend just found out she's pregnant. I came out here to call her, because she was freaking out about how her parents will react. I was trying to calm her down. I can't afford to lose my job, especially not now. I will do better," he promised.

  "I hope so." She knew she should probably fire
him. But how could she do that now? Her anger diminished as she looked into his worried eyes. "Go see your girlfriend. Tell her you'll be there for her but not during work hours. You'll only be texting her on your breaks unless it is truly an emergency."

  "Got it. Thanks, Lizzie. You're the best."

  She was beginning to think she was only the best because she kept giving in to her employees. She'd always promised herself that when she was a boss, she'd be understanding, reasonable, and kind. Unfortunately, she was beginning to realize that sometimes being all those things was not very efficient or profitable.

  Victor had one more chance, she told herself, knowing deep down that she'd probably already given him one more chance too many times. However, she needed to get through this week, which required his help, especially now that Shay would be gone for the happy hour tomorrow night. Hopefully, Victor would get his act together and be the right hand she desperately needed. Otherwise, she was probably going to have to bring herself to do something she hadn't done before—fire one of her staff, even one with a pregnant girlfriend and a sob story. She really hoped it wouldn't come to that.

  Chapter Four

  Justin spent two hours in Lizzie's office. By the time he ended his meeting with Anthony, it was seven, and his stomach was rumbling. The cookies now seemed like a very distant memory. He needed some real food. Closing Lizzie's laptop, he walked out of the office. Shay was sitting on a high stool at the front desk, working on her computer. She gave him a smile. "Is your work done?"

  "For now. But it's never really done."

  "You sound like Lizzie. I practically had to force her out of here tonight for her brother's birthday party."

  He was wondering where Lizzie had disappeared to. "I've missed more than a few birthdays," he admitted. "I think she said her brother is a police detective?"

  "Yes. Adam is a cop and a great guy. He and Lizzie are nothing alike, though. Adam is serious and quiet, intense at times, a little broody. Whereas Lizzie is an outgoing, friendly, whirlwind of creativity and wild ideas. She rarely stops moving or thinking or even talking, but I've never met anyone who doesn't love her." Shay smiled. "She's just one of the most special people you'll ever meet."