She glanced at Carlie, still envying her ability to be comfortable with children and adults alike; she was probably great with animals, as well. But envy aside, it would be nice to be friends.
“You should visit me in Austin,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. “I have an extra bedroom in my condo and I’d love to show you around the city.”
“For some reason, I never think of Austin as a big city,” Carlie murmured. “I have this image of a picturesque Western town where gorgeous Texas Rangers hang out wearing badges and cowboy boots.”
Nicole laughed. “The Texas Rangers are based in Austin, but you don’t see them on every corner.” She squirmed as she recalled telling Gideon about Austin being the eleventh-largest city area in the US. “I just thought of something... Does Dr. Cartwright have an issue with city people?”
Carlie swirled the tea bag in her cup. “It doesn’t seem likely, since he moved here from the Los Angeles area. But you should know that he’s in the middle of a divorce. While he hasn’t said anything to me, you can’t keep secrets in Glimmer Creek.”
“I’m not interested in the guy,” Nicole protested, her cheeks warming. “I just want to understand why he doesn’t like me. It isn’t as if I insulted him or refused to pay the bill.”
Carlie just smiled.
“Okay, he’s delicious,” Nicole admitted. “But he also makes me nuts with his superior attitude. He even acted that way in front of Beth and Annie when he came to check on Chico.”
“All men are impossible... There’s no way around it.”
“Unfortunate, but true.”
Nicole fingered her cup, thinking about Carlie’s warning that Gideon was getting divorced, with the implication that he might not be in the best frame of mind for romance. Should she suggest caution in return about Luke? Women fell for him right and left, but he wasn’t likely to ever get over Erika.
“Luke mentioned that he may have been too demanding the day he got here,” she said slowly.
“I have to admit, he made it clear Poppy Gold wasn’t what he’d expected.”
Nicole winced. “He’s gotten spoiled when he travels. Erika was rarely stationed near Austin after they were married, so when she could get away, he’d go to the extreme, such as renting a fully staffed Italian villa or a French château to make the most of their time together. Servants took care of their slightest whim so they could simply enjoy themselves. He’d do some work when Erika and the twins were asleep, that’s all. They might attend a party or two, but mostly it was just them and the girls.”
“Sounds idyllic.” Carlie’s eyes had become watchful; she was smart enough to catch the subtle warning Nicole was sending.
“It was. Basically his marriage was a series of perfect interludes.”
“It must have been difficult getting to know your sister-in-law if you didn’t see her often.”
“I didn’t mind. I just wanted my brother to be happy. But as far as his trip to California is concerned, he probably assumed his executive assistant had made a similar arrangement here at Poppy Gold.”
“Uh, this is a bed-and-breakfast facility in a historic Gold Rush community. We provide conference center services, but none of the suites have a business center or private staff.”
Nicole wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, but I doubt he bothered to check it out for himself. Tilly probably decided it would be a good lesson for him.”
“Doesn’t she worry about job security?”
“Not in the least. She’s the first employee that Luke ever hired and it would be like cutting off an arm to lose her. For her part, Tilly is fiercely loyal because he hired her when no one else would—it’s rough for a fortysomething, inexperienced divorcée entering the workforce.”
Wishing she could stay longer, Nicole finished her tea and pulled on the canvas loafers she’d found at a local store. They looked absurd with the rest of her outfit, but were more practical than Louis Vuitton pumps for walking in rough country terrain. Aside from ski clothes, she didn’t have much outdoor gear in her wardrobe.
She should have gone shopping when Luke had first suggested the trip, but a Victorian village wasn’t the sort of place she’d expected to need anything special. Lord knew she had more than enough clothes with all the gift cards her brother kept giving her. He’d tried to set up charge accounts, but that was one thing she’d managed to put both her feet down about and keep down.
“I’ll see you later,” she said to Carlie, who’d also gotten up. “Thanks for the help.”
“Not at all. I’m just glad you cared enough to keep going out to search.”
* * *
WHEN SHE WAS ALONE, Carlie phoned her uncle and explained about the two strays and the possibility of more. He immediately said he’d send someone from Maintenance to set out live traps and to comb the area again.
“I have some canned sardines to use as bait—nice and fragrant. If there are any more cats out there, we’ll find them,” he promised. “I’ll adopt one myself.”
“Thanks, Uncle Liam, but you might have to fight me for it. Or Nicole Forrester. She has a proprietary interest in any cat that’s found.”
He chuckled and got off.
Carlie tidied the library, then went out to Guest Reception. “Any messages for me?” she asked.
“No,” Bill said. “But Mr. Forrester returned your keys. I put them in your left desk drawer.”
“Thanks.” Carlie looked at the time and yelped. “Yikes, I’ve got to go.”
The Madrigal Feast Players were expected to arrive any moment. She raced over to the park and a minute later a shuttle of students from the high school pulled up.
“You look terrific,” Carlie declared as they got out. “New costumes?”
“Aren’t they awesome?” Kerri Laughton, one of Carlie’s younger second cousins, adjusted her crown and struck a regal pose. She was playing the queen and wore a sapphire-blue gown trimmed with gold.
“Yes, but where is everyone else, Kerri? Normally it’s a much larger group.”
“They’re coming. They decided to walk from the parking area and do extra promotion on the way.”
Carlie saw what Kerri was talking about when a merry group of “lords and ladies” came singing down the street, with jugglers, jesters and acrobats cavorting around them. They arrived and scattered across the grass, entertaining the guests who’d followed them like the children of Hamelin following the Pied Piper. Two of the students sat at a table to sell tickets, while others handed out old-style handbills, calling, “Hear ye, hear ye, enjoy the Madrigal Feast Players,” to attract attention.
It was another few minutes before Luke, Nicole and the girls came walking across the green.
She waved, and Annie, followed by Beth, took off running toward her.
“Papa says you’re coming tomorrow to make cookies with us,” Annie said, the words tumbling out quickly. Beth let out an exasperated sigh, possibly because she’d wanted to speak first.
“That’s right. I’m bringing my special stand mixer and extra cookie sheets and stuff, so we can make several different kinds.”
“Yippee!” both girls cried together.
“You need a mixer?” Luke asked, frowning. “It wasn’t on the shopping list.”
Carlie laughed. “You can’t get the one I use in Glimmer Creek. Mine is a professional model. But it isn’t a big deal to bring it. I’ll just load it in my trunk along with everything else and park in the lot nearest the John Muir Cottage.”
Luke nodded, an odd expression in his eyes. “Okay. Let me know when you arrive and I’ll help carry everything for you. To save time,” he added.
“Whatever. If you still need to buy tickets for the madrigal feast, they’re selling them over there.” Carlie gestured and he walked over to the table.
“What kin
d of cookies are we making?” asked Beth.
“All sorts, including gingerbread, chocolate chip and snickerdoodles. Also sugar cookies we can cut in shapes and decorate with frosting and sprinkles.”
“Yummers!”
One of the jugglers came by at that moment, distracting the girls, and Nicole moved closer. “After I got back to the suite I realized you wouldn’t have time to eat lunch. I’m awfully sorry.”
Carlie shrugged. “No biggie. I’ll get something later.” Pizza boxes still crowded the employee refrigerators and it wouldn’t take long to heat up a slice. “You should get seats for the performance. Near the front, so Annie and Beth can see well,” she urged.
“Oh, right.” Nicole collected her nieces and they sat in the first row.
Carlie stood to one side and watched, loving the colorful display and energy from the students. She’d often thought it would be fun for Poppy Gold to host a renaissance fair and they were partway there with the madrigal feast, which mixed both medieval and renaissance music and costuming.
Number 6,537 on my idea list, she thought. The list just kept getting longer. It might not be the same as saving lives, building roads or teaching impressionable children, but it was satisfying to help people relax and enjoy themselves. Everybody needed downtime.
* * *
IT WAS AFTER 7:00 p.m. when Carlie finished a rough plan to host a renaissance fair at Poppy Gold. She knew it was ridiculous to work on it when there were other tasks that needed doing, but she’d had several thoughts and had wanted to get them down. Offering something new was part of what kept Poppy Gold fresh and popular for their regular guests, as well as being a draw for various conferences.
She fished her key ring from the desk drawer, but it didn’t feel right. Frowning, she looked down and saw an unfamiliar key...and a second key ring with a very expensive logo.
Carlie hurried to the employee parking lot. Her car was nowhere to be seen. She pressed a button on the new key and the lights on a shiny white SUV flashed. She marched up and opened the door. A manila envelope was sitting on the driver’s seat—inside were documents from a Stockton dealership with her name on it and two additional keys. Also an envelope with a brief, unsigned note about transferring ownership of her old car. That was all, but she knew the damn thing had to be from Luke Forrester. Who else would do something so high-handed?
She slammed the door and sped across Poppy Gold toward the John Muir Cottage.
* * *
LUKE WAS SITTING in the family room with Chico draped over his leg, watching the opening scene of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer with Nicole and the girls, when he heard a sharp knock on the front door of the suite.
“Don’t stop the show,” he told his sister as he got up and handed her the kitten. Beth and Annie were on the floor, gazes riveted to the television, though they’d seen the classic program a dozen times. He’d borrowed a stack of DVDs and Blu-rays from the Poppy Gold library for them, but Rudolph was the one they’d chosen for the third evening in a row.
Luke threaded his way out to the living room. He opened the door and saw Carlie on the porch. She shook her keys in his face.
“What were you thinking?” she demanded.
He stepped outside and closed the door for privacy. “Your car is old and small and can’t be that reliable. I thought it was time you had something new.”
“New isn’t always better. I like my sedan and it gets great mileage. What’s more, I paid for it myself and I don’t want to spend a fortune on insurance for an oversize SUV I don’t need. You can’t have one rule for yourself and a different rule for everyone else. If you’re so opposed to charity, why don’t you understand that other people might feel the same?”
Luke was appalled. If that was how she’d perceived the gift, he could see why she was upset. “It isn’t charity. I give Nicole a new car every year.”
“I’m not your sister.”
She certainly wasn’t. If Carlie was his sister, he wouldn’t be having so much trouble keeping his hands to himself. The flush of anger and outrage had brought a flush to her skin and a sparkle to her eyes that was nearly irresistible.
“For Pete’s sake, Carlie, it’s just an SUV, not the crown jewels. I wanted to say thanks for everything you’re doing for my kids. And to—”
“I’m not your employee and I don’t take gratuities,” she interrupted sharply. “But that’s the problem, isn’t it? You’re too proud to accept anything from people, even a little extra attention for your daughters. So you want to pay me exorbitantly for the time I’m spending with them, because God knows you can’t be a regular human being. But don’t worry—you aren’t under any obligation. I’m doing it for Annie and Beth, not you.”
“Can’t you accept a gesture of appreciation?” he countered, though Carlie’s accusation was a little too close to the truth for comfort.
She rolled her eyes. “A gesture is a poinsettia, not a ridiculously expensive SUV. Are you really so blindly arrogant that you can’t understand that? And by the way, it isn’t your place to decide my car isn’t safe or reliable. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
Luke’s brain was starting to spin. “I wasn’t implying that you weren’t capable.”
Carlie let out a derisive hoot. “Where did you get my home address, anyway?” she demanded, shuffling the items she carried and holding up the paperwork for the SUV.
“The registration was clipped to your sun visor. Look, it really isn’t a big deal. I give cars away all the time.”
“It’s a big deal to me. I’ll drive the SUV home tonight, but you’d better have my sedan back by tomorrow night if you don’t want me to report it stolen. Here are the extra keys to the SUV. I won’t be needing them.” She slapped them into his hand.
Still visibly outraged, she stepped backward and stumbled on the top step. Luke lunged to grab her and they stood toe to toe for a moment.
Without thinking, he bent and kissed her.
* * *
CARLIE GULPED, HER senses filled with Luke’s clean, masculine scent.
Don’t be an idiot, one part of her mind whispered. Unfortunately, the voice of wisdom was swamped by the sensation of his hard length against hers and angry adrenaline turning swiftly to passion.
He really knew how to kiss and it was like throwing gasoline on a fire. Every cell in Carlie’s body was screaming for more.
Then Luke slid a hand under her jacket and cupped her breast, bringing reality crashing down.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CARLIE PUSHED LUKE away and they stood staring at each other for an awkward moment.
“I have to go,” she muttered.
“I’ll get my shoes and walk with you to the parking lot.”
She nodded, but took off the minute he stepped back inside the suite, furious with her lack of restraint. Even as a teenager, she’d never gotten involved with a Poppy Gold guest. Vacation flirtations rarely worked out, at least for the one being left behind. Even so, over the years, a few of her girlfriends had believed they’d found true love with a visitor, only to get their hearts broken.
Now here she was—old enough to know better—and she was getting her emotions twisted around by a wealthy businessman who couldn’t possibly have any serious interest in her.
She didn’t want him to be interested. Even Luke’s sister had admitted he was controlling—not that Nicole had been so explicit, but that was what it boiled down to. He thought he knew best and steamrollered ahead to do it. And according to Nicole, his behavior had gotten worse since his wife’s death. Carlie wondered if that was possible, or just his sister’s impression. Her original internet research suggested Luke already possessed a master-of-the-universe complex.
Carlie reluctantly got into the white SUV, knowing she’d have to use it until Luke straight
ened everything out. It was a nice vehicle with luxurious features she’d never dreamed of having, but the gas mileage would be appalling compared to her little sedan. The whole thing offended her environmentalist’s soul.
She drove out cautiously, feeling as if she was behind the wheel of a tank. In the rearview mirror she saw Luke appear on the walkway leading to the lot, but didn’t stop. He clearly had no clue how outrageous it had been to replace her car with another.
Too many wealthy people seemed to think money could fix anything. The man who’d hurt her father had acted the same way. He’d been at the hospital after the accident because of a mild concussion. She shouldn’t have confronted him, because he’d just shrugged and taken out his checkbook, asking how much it would take for her family to leave him alone.
The familiar anger rose.
Her father had been in surgery, barely hanging on, and the man who’d put him there had offered her money. The only consolation was when a law-enforcement officer stepped up and told the guy to remember he was under arrest...and to start praying that he didn’t get charged with manslaughter. The implied threat had instantly wiped the patronizing expression from the creep’s face.
Carlie parked across the street from her parents’ house, hoping they wouldn’t see the SUV and wonder about it. The hour was early enough that she went in to say hello.
“Mom, you should have seen the kids doing their show today,” she said, walking into the den. “They have new costumes this year and it was wonderful. I bet they sold eighty tickets to the madrigal feast. Did you know Kerri is playing the queen?”
Leah put her crocheting aside and smiled. “Yes. I remember the year you played the queen. You were lovely.”
“They only made me queen because she doesn’t sing as much,” Carlie retorted. Her singing voice was fine in a choir or for group caroling, but not for solo performances.
She sank onto the couch and saw the worry lines around her mother’s mouth that never seemed to go away these days.
Christmas with Carlie Page 15