“Okay. But we can’t stay long—”
“Yay!” Samantha cheered.
“Good.” Jason smiled, setting Kara’s heart aflutter. “Let’s go take that tour. I think someone is anxious to begin her work.”
“Uh-huh.” Samantha beamed a cheery smile at them before grabbing a hand of each adult and pulling them onward.
Kara glanced past her daughter to Jason, who seemed truly relaxed and comfortable holding Samantha’s hand. Letting him field the child’s million and one questions about the resort, Kara took in all the recent updates.
The hallway’s robin’s-egg-blue walls were bare, and a faint smell of fresh paint lingered. A lifetime of memories lived and breathed inside this ski lodge. If these walls could talk, they’d spill stories of stolen kisses, tears and shared promises.
Jason pointed out the new restaurants, spa and indoor Olympic-size pool while the past continued to crowd in on Kara. She remembered how things used to be—how things might be again, if only she could make Jason understand the impossible. But her confession wouldn’t fix things between them. It’d only scare him off. She doubted even this business could hold him back if he learned exactly what had happened after he’d dumped her. Not that she’d ever have a reason to tell him. He was her boss, nothing more.
The tour concluded with the game room to the left and a bowling alley to the right. A screech of joy ripped from Samantha’s lungs. “There’s a bowlin’ alley, too.”
Both of them laughed at her comical enthusiasm as she tried to decide what game she wanted to try first.
“Mister, can I really play them all?”
His smile lit up his face, making his blue eyes twinkle. “First, call me Jason.”
“Jason, can we play now? Bubbles wants to bowl. Can we, huh?”
“We have a lot of games to test, so we better get started.” He rolled up his shirtsleeves, then found the power switch. Lights flickered and the lanes lit up.
“Mommy, are you gonna play, too?”
“I don’t think so. I can’t bowl in these boots.”
“Not a problem,” Jason assured her. “We’ve got brand spanking new shoes. What size are you?”
Kara took in the expectant look on her daughter’s face and then turned to meet Jason’s appealing gaze. How could she turn them down? After spending way too many hours being professional, and a responsible adult, she was just as anxious as Samantha to let loose and be included in the fun.
They placed bumpers in the gutters to keep their balls in the lane. Jason and Samantha nearly doubled over in fits of laughter when in her enthusiasm Kara flung the ball too hard and too soon. It bounced over the bumper and into the next lane. Samantha, with the aid of a bumper or two, pulled off a spare, while Jason scored strike after strike.
After he soundly beat Kara, he surprised them with a takeout pepperoni pizza he’d kept warm in the employee kitchen. When he glanced her way, Kara mouthed, “Thank you.”
He had outdone himself this afternoon. The man certainly was full of surprises. Her daughter was thrilled with the fun, and to be honest, Kara was thrilled, too.
When they finally worked their way over to the game room, Jason produced a pocketful of quarters. He handed Samantha a few. “Here you go. You can test the machines in here while your mother and I talk a little business.”
“Aren’t you gonna play, too?”
“In a couple of minutes.” He ran a gentle, reassuring hand over Samantha’s back, making Kara’s heart pinch as she thought of all the father-daughter moments her little girl had missed.
Samantha, seeming satisfied to wait, moved to a claw game where the intent was to pick up one of the colorful plush animals with the shiny metallic prongs and place it in the chute. Before she could utter a complaint about being too short, Jason produced a plastic footstool. This was the thoughtful, generous guy Kara had fallen in love with all those years ago. And if she wasn’t careful, the past just might repeat itself.
“Step up here,” he said, holding out his hand to assist Samantha. “Better?”
“Yeah. Thanks.” She surveyed the mound of colorful stuffed animals. “I want that purple monkey.”
“Put your quarter in and give it a shot.”
Kara swallowed back the emotional lump in her throat. No man had ever taken such an interest in her daughter. Who’d have guessed Jason’s Scrooge-like heart could be thawed out by a little girl? Miracles really did happen.
With Samantha occupied, Jason approached Kara. “She’s having a lot of fun, isn’t she?”
Funny that he’d need her confirmation when the glowing smile and rosy cheeks on her daughter spoke volumes more than Kara could ever vocalize. “Yes, she is. Thank you for this. Since I started working overtime to prepare for the new management, there hasn’t been any time to get out and have fun.”
“Jason, aren’t you going to play, too?” Samantha whined. “I keep droppin’ the monkey.”
“I’ll be right there.” He turned back to Kara. “Do you want to help her?”
“She wants you. But first, what file can’t you find?”
He paused as though he didn’t have a clue what she was referring to, then a light of recognition sparked in his eyes. “The order for the parts for the lift on the double-diamond slope. They were supposed to be here yesterday. Without a functioning lift this grand reopening is going to be a grand disaster.”
He wanted an order form? On a Saturday afternoon? There was nothing he could do about the missing order before Monday morning. What had he been thinking when he’d called her? Of course, he hadn’t been thinking. She’d never seen anyone work harder than Jason. He expected his employees to give their all, which she didn’t mind during the week, but the weekend was for family—something he knew nothing about.
She glanced up to find he’d moved to the claw machine. His hand worked the joystick and his lips pressed into a firm line as he concentrated on grabbing the toy. Her annoyance faded. This was the most enjoyment she and her daughter had had in a long time.
“I’ll be right back,” Kara called out. Neither seemed interested, as the monkey hung precariously from the metal claw.
She moved swiftly to the business offices, located the purchase order and placed it front and center on Jason’s cluttered desk. Her hand hovered as she debated whether to see if the letter from his father was still there. What would it hurt?
It took a little bit of searching, but eventually she located it beneath a mountain of paperwork. Still unopened. She frowned as she placed it conveniently beneath the folder Jason had requested. He would read his father’s words, eventually. Hope burned strong and bright in her heart.
* * *
Jason’s cheeks grew sore from smiling.
He shook his head in disbelief. Samantha hit the left bumper on the vintage pinball machine. How could this pint-size little girl clutching a purple monkey bring him such happiness?
He regretted each and every minute he’d missed of her life, but it would be different from here on out. As soon as he proved to Kara that he could keep the monster side of him at bay, and show her that he wasn’t going anywhere ever again, there’d be a lot more moments like this. He’d make sure of it.
Kara strolled back into the game room. Even though she wasn’t wearing anything stylish, he thought she looked positively radiant. A pastel pink sweater stretched across her chest, snuggling against her feminine curves. His mouth grew dry. And her low-slung jeans clung to her rounded hips. If he were to envision the perfect snow bunny, it’d definitely be her.
“I can see by the new stuffed animal in Samantha’s arms that you two beat the claw machine.”
He swallowed. “It took a few quarters but we got it.”
“Samantha looks happy. Has she tried every game yet?”
“Almost.” As
far as he was concerned, she didn’t have to leave anytime soon.
“By the way, I found the order form and left it on your desk. But the supplier won’t be open until first thing Monday morning.”
“Thanks. I’ll straighten it out then.”
“We should get going,” she said. “I’m sure you’ve got more important things to do.”
“Stay just a little longer.” He reached for her hand. His thumb stroked her soft skin. “You haven’t told me what you think of the remodel.”
He honestly didn’t care what they discussed. In that moment, he was at peace, and dare he say it, happy. Peace and happiness had eluded him for years, and he’d give almost anything for it to last just a little longer.
“You’ve done a marvelous job breathing new life into this place,” Kara said, letting her hand rest in his. “The color scheme is cheerful and relaxing. It’s a very inviting atmosphere. A great escape from the realities of life.”
“Really? That’s the impression you get?”
“Isn’t that the impression you want to give? Don’t people come to resorts to escape the pressures of their everyday lives? Aren’t they here to have fun, unwind, and for some, to recapture their youth?”
Their gazes met and locked. The guarded walls around his heart cracked. The glow of Kara’s smile filtered through the crevices and warmed him. He couldn’t help wondering if she was moved by the host of memories contained within the newly painted walls.
“Do you remember how we used to be?” he asked, his voice husky with reawakened desires.
A flicker of emotion reflected in her eyes. His breathing hitched as he anticipated her next words.
“I remember. How could I ever forget?”
He touched her cheek. His fingers slid down to her neck, where her rapid heartbeat pulsed beneath his fingertips. She wanted him. And he most definitely wanted her. His head lowered.
“Hey, guys,” Samantha called out. “I’m outta quarters.”
Jason snapped to attention. How in the world could he have let himself become so distracted that he’d forgotten their daughter was just across the room? He still had a lot to learn about being a dad.
Not willing to lose ground with Kara, he laced his fingers with hers. It felt so natural. And he noticed she didn’t pull away. The pieces of his life were at last falling into place.
He glanced down at her. “Shall we go see what our daughter wants?”
The smile slipped from Kara’s tempting lips and her hand withdrew from his. In that moment, he realized he’d misspoken. The shocked look on her face dug at him. How long did she intend to keep up this little charade, when they both knew the truth?
“Don’t look at me like I said the unforgivable. I’m sorry I let that comment slip about her being our daughter.” He paused, not exactly comfortable with apologizing. “Actually, I’m not sorry. I know you denied she’s mine because you don’t trust me, but it’s time we were honest with ourselves and her.”
“No!” Kara’s eyes were round with worry. She glanced over at Samantha. He followed her gaze, finding their daughter preoccupied with another pinball machine. Kara lowered her voice. “I wish I could tell you what you want to hear, but...but I can’t. She’s not yours.”
He stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest. “That can’t be. She has my eyes. She’s the right age. And I haven’t seen any signs of another man in your life.”
“He’s not in our life.” Kara’s eyes shimmered. “You don’t know how many times I’ve wished she was yours...but her birthday is in November. You left town in December. It’s simply not possible.”
“You’d say anything to protect her, but I swear I’ll never do anything to hurt her.” He whispered the words past the jagged lump in his throat. “Please tell me she’s mine.”
Kara visibly swallowed. “I can’t lie to you. And I won’t lie to my daughter. You both deserve better. I swear she’s not yours.”
The thought of Samantha being another man’s daughter hit him square in the gut. He didn’t want to believe Kara. But the anguished look on her face drove home the bitter truth.
This wasn’t right. This wasn’t supposed to happen. They were finally reunited and...and he’d allowed himself to care about them. He’d been so close to having something he’d never thought possible—his own family. Now, he didn’t know what to do with the tangled ball of disappointment and longing churning in his gut.
“Guys, you said you’d play with me,” Samantha whined, putting an end to this painful exchange.
“One game,” Kara said, glancing over at him, and he nodded. “Then we have to go home.”
* * *
The next day, Kara’s phone rang. Jason’s deep voice echoed over the line, making her insides quiver with excitement. For a moment she forgot she had just filled her kitchen sink with hot sudsy water to wash up the lunch dishes.
“Kara, are you there?”
The air whooshed from her lungs. “Yes. Sorry. I was distracted.”
“I didn’t mean to bother you. I wanted to check to see if it’d be all right if I stopped by your house this evening?”
Her pulse kicked up a notch. After yesterday, she didn’t think he’d want anything more to do with her. “Um...sure.”
“I found Bubbles this morning and thought Samantha would be lost without him.”
He only wanted to return the bear? Disappointment pulsed through Kara. She tried to assure herself that this distance between them was best for all concerned, but it brought her absolutely no comfort.
She twisted a strand of hair around her finger. “I searched everywhere for him last night.”
“You should have called me. I would have checked around here for you. As it was, I came across him in the lunch room when I was raiding the snack machine.”
“You’re working today, too?” she asked, astonished at his dedication and worried that he might be pushing himself too hard.
“We’re making a staggering number of changes and I want to oversee everything. I need to make sure the alterations are having the effect we anticipated.”
“Do you need help?” She honestly didn’t have time to spare, given the scarves she had to finish knitting for Christmas presents, and more cookies to bake for the nursing home. But she felt a certain responsibility to the business that had kept a roof over her head. Plus she didn’t like the idea of Jason hiding away in the empty resort, wolfing down some unhealthy lunch from a snack machine.
“I’ve got it under control.” His voice was cold and distant.
“Samantha will be thrilled to have Bubbles back. You’ll be her hero. Not that you aren’t already, after that wonderful day we had and you winning her the purple monkey.”
“It’s nothing I wouldn’t have done for any of the other employees and their families.”
Kara’s heart sank. She knew he wouldn’t have gone to those lengths for just anyone. He’d obviously been more hurt by the news that Samantha wasn’t his daughter than he’d let on. Kara felt absolutely awful. She hadn’t intended to upset him. In fact, that was the last thing she’d ever want to do.
“I’ll drop Bubbles off at six.”
Her heart thump-thumped at the thought of seeing him again.
He’d already hung up by the time she realized he’d be there at dinnertime. Samantha would insist he join them. How would Jason act around her daughter now that he’d accepted the truth? He was a man who had trouble forgiving people, but would he really punish an innocent little girl? Kara would like to think not, but she couldn’t dismiss how he refused to make amends with his dying father.
This was her fault. She’d let him into their lives when she knew better. From here on out, she’d have to be more careful when it came to dealing with him. She’d need to keep her emotions at bay—hold him at arm’s leng
th.
CHAPTER TWELVE
HE WAS LATE.
Jason lightened his foot on the SUV’s accelerator. The last thing he needed was to get pulled over for speeding, and waste more time. His delay couldn’t be helped. When the mechanics he was paying double time to work around the clock let him know the double-diamond lift had experienced another significant setback, he’d dropped everything to go investigate.
With the grand reopening only twelve days away, his priority had to be the resort, but tonight was different. He knew how much the bear meant to Samantha, and he couldn’t stand for her to be needlessly upset. It wasn’t so long ago that he’d been a child himself. He could remember what it was like to want something so badly and to have to wait. Each second seemed like a minute. Each minute dragged on for an hour. Too bad he hadn’t found the little guy sooner.
The fact that Samantha wasn’t his—that she belonged to another man—still had him spinning in circles. When he allowed himself to think about it, the realization socked him in the chest, making each breath painful. He should just cut his losses and move on. That was exactly what any sane man would do.
But no one had ever claimed Jason was particularly wise. And he was already in this thing clear up to his neck. The question was, where did he want this thing with Kara to go?
And the trickier question: Could he accept Samantha without any prejudice?
The little girl was a constant reminder of how he’d messed things up with Kara. And evidence of how quickly she’d gotten over him and moved on. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. The thought of Kara in another man’s arms—a man who’d deserted her and their baby—made him furious. Jason was thankful he’d been too shocked the other night to even think of asking for the man’s name. At this particular juncture, with disappointment and frustration pumping through his veins, he didn’t want to do anything stupid.
His actions had already cost him a buddy’s life. Jason didn’t want to make things even worse for Kara and her little girl. The man might be a waste of space, but he was Samantha’s father and somehow Jason had to learn to respect that fact.
Snowbound with the Soldier Page 11