by Sara Robbins
The Braverman’s then Joan and Suzy wandered upstairs to get ready for their planned activities.
Wyatt received a phone call that demanded his presence at the station.
The Inn seemed bereft to Lacey as he hurried out to the cruiser.
Charlotte clucked her tongue, her sister had it bad, and so quickly too.
Lacey realized that once again, he was gone, and she had not asked him all the questions she wanted to about his wife and even his life. Damn all this death and murder stuff. It dominated everything and there seemed to be no time for normal conversations.
Chapter 15
Charlotte and Lacey were silent as they cleaned up the remains of the morning meal.
Finally, Charlotte spoke, “You’re falling for him aren’t you?”
Lacey looked at her sister and there was helplessness in her eyes. She had not expected or intended to feel this way.
She shrugged and said, “You know, I think I am. I can’t seem to help it.”
Charlotte gave her a sympathetic look and changed the subject. She asked for an update on the investigation.
Lacey told her about the latest findings.
“But how can that be?” Charlotte wondered, “If Adam Mason died so many years ago how is it possible for him to die here?”
They discussed the case for several minutes, both of them feeling awful that Heather Mason was also dead.
Handy Man Dan came in and interrupted their conversation.
“I need something to do,” he said, “I’m worried about both of you. Do you want me to just stay here in case something else happens?”
Lacey groaned and said evenly, “That’s so nice of you Dan, but Sheriff Graves will be staying here at the Inn for the time being.”
Dan narrowed his eyes, he had thought he was the only “big strong man” available to help Lacey.
Lacey asked him if he could check into the cost involved in some sort of security system for the Inn. She hadn’t thought this was a necessary precaution. However, that was before she had been very close to two deaths.
Dan seemed grateful to have a mission and headed into Colorado Springs to get some ideas and prices. He felt badly that “his” Lacey was feeling threatened, and he would do everything he could to protect her and her guests. Besides this renovation had been the only steady work he had lined up in over a year. He wanted to stay in her good graces because there was a lot more renovating to be done.
As Dan took his leave, the sisters talked about what they could do to make this experience better for their guests. They could not take away the fact that death had been touched them all. They decided that they would put together a barbeque in the walled in sanctuary.
Lacey wanted to make sure that Wyatt and his deputies were invited. Not surprisingly, Charlotte wanted to make sure Cody Westerfield was invited.
Lacey laughed aloud and said, “Well, let’s invite the entire neighborhood. We don’t want this to look like a romantic rendezvous for ourselves.”
“Why not?” laughed Charlotte.
The shuttle had picked up the Braverman’s for their day in Manitou and they would not be here for dinner. Instead, they would be enjoying a romantic fondue dinner to mark their honeymoon.
Joan and Suzy would be hiking all day and would not only be back for dinner but would also most likely be starving.
Charlotte offered to drive into the Springs to get the fresh food items they needed and to stop at the neighbors and a couple of businesses in Elkville to invite them to join the festivities tonight.
Chapter 16
For the next few hours, Lacey busied herself with daily chores. She cleaned and straightened the occupied guest rooms, started some laundry and checked the computer for any inquiries from the Inn’s webpage.
Mid afternoon, Dan returned with the specifications of several alarm system options for her to look over. She was on a tight budget but this purchase seemed important, for both herself and her guest’s peace of mind.
She chose a mid priced system then negotiated with Dan for an installation fee. He left looking pleased with her instructions to get started.
She went out into the walled privacy of the sanctuary. This private patio area always made her feel serene and happy. She checked the chemicals in the spa, just in case anyone wanted to take advantage of the therapeutic hot bubbling water. Then she strung some white twinkling lights on the top of the wall and around the two trees enclosed in the area. She set some candles and dinnerware on each of the wrought iron tables on the stone-floored dining area.
Next, she uncovered the grill, which sat in a bricked in alcove. She looked around; satisfied that the area would look magical once the sun went down.
As she opened the side kitchen door, she was startled to see Tricia Moore standing there.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” Tricia said, “I just came by to see if I could help. Charlotte stopped by the café and invited us to come over tonight. My shift is over and I thought you could use some help. You know, I’ve been cooking for people for almost thirty years,” she finished.
Lacey was happy to take her up on that offer and led her over to the work island in the kitchen.
With Tricia busily peeling potatoes for a large batch of potato salad, Lacey got to work putting together a dessert to finish off their dinner of grilled teriyaki salmon and chicken breast.
They would also have fresh vegetables brushed with olive oil and grilled with fresh garlic and herbs.
She baked a pan of fudgy brownies. Then layered brownie pieces in a trifle dish with alternating layers of chocolate pudding and whipped cream. She added a few shavings of chocolate to the top of the elaborate looking dish and set the concoction in the large refrigerator to chill.
She really enjoyed making people happy with food, and had the waistline to prove it.
Tricia had finished mixing up the potato salad with a tangy dressing of mustard, fresh thyme and mayonnaise. Lacey took this bowl and carried it over to the refrigerator.
Lacey suggested they pull up a couple of stools at the large work island and have a glass of iced tea.
Tricia seemed happy to take a break and drank thirstily from her glass. She was a pretty woman even though she appeared a bit life worn. She had many questions about the murder and the undetermined death of one of her guests.
Apparently, the local gossip mill had spread the news of the discovery of Heather Mason’s body earlier today up on the mountain slope. Lacey was not about to share whatever inside knowledge Wyatt had given her.
Instead, she asked Tricia if she had always lived in Elkville.
“Oh no,” answered Tricia, “Very few people are actually from here. I’ve lived a lot of places but I moved here from Denver just a few months ago.”
According to her story, she had tired of big city life and big city crime and a friend had told her about Elkville. She liked the small town atmosphere but still being close to a big city if she wanted.
Lacey couldn’t help it, she asked her about Wyatt. Maybe she could find out more about the man who had grabbed her interest. Trying not to be too obvious, she asked if the town was happy with their choice of sheriff.
Tricia replied, “Well, Sheriff Graves has only been here a year, but people seemed happy that they got someone with “big city” experience right here in Elkville.”
Tricia was interesting to visit with and before she knew it, an hour had passed.
Charlotte came in lugging several cloth grocery bags. Lacey rushed to take a couple from her as Tricia did the same.
Lacey unpacked the wild caught salmon fillets and free range chicken breasts from the bags that Charlotte brought in. She felt very strongly that she should provide the best least processed food to her guests that she could afford. Someday she hoped to have a fruitful garden that also supplied some home grown organics to her table.
Of course, that was very iffy considering the altitude of th
e Inn location.
As she whisked together a pungent teriyaki sauce to marinate the fish and chicken she enjoyed listening to Charlotte and Tricia get to know each other.
Lacey announced that since everything was done except grilling the meat they should enjoy a happy hour drink before the first guests arrived.
Charlotte and Tricia cheered their endorsement of this suggestion and Lacey proceeded to make a pitcher of margaritas.
As the sun quickly slipped behind the still snow dusted peak the women laughed and compared lives around the granite topped island in the spacious kitchen.
Charlotte was delighted that the first guest to ring the old-fashioned dinner bell located on the front deck of the Inn was Cody Westerfield. Charlotte ran to let him in.
Charlotte was very petite, which was even more noticeable as she stood next to the six foot two height of Cody. She was a beautiful woman, definitely the prettiest of the three sisters. She was so tiny and delicate that men automatically wanted to protect her. They would be making a huge mistake to underestimate Charlotte’s strength. She was the strongest soul Lacey knew. Wide blue eyes, heart shaped face, and she had not fought the auburn highlights that all three sisters had in their hair. She had embraced this tendency to go red and had kept her hair a lovely shade of strawberry blonde for the last five years.
Cody’s look appraised her at the doorway but true to Charlotte’s independent spirit, she quickly led him out to the sanctuary and put him to work getting the grill ready. His eyes looked after her speculatively as she went back into the kitchen. Charlotte sensed his look but he was wasting his time; Charlotte’s heart was still much too broken to consider the idea of even a casual relationship. That didn’t mean that she couldn’t appreciate his rugged outdoorsy good looks.
Chapter 17
Several neighbors arrived including Lucy Wright and Mandy Grainger. Mandy was very excited that she had managed to get away from her children for the evening. She loved being an at home mother but she sometimes longed for an adult conversation.
Handyman Dan came in with a few construction friends of his and finally the person Lacey had been holding her breath for came out into the sanctuary. Wyatt.
As she looked across the stone patio, she could swear the cacophony of voices grew muffled and his arrival drew her complete attention. Their eyes met and as they did, a radiant smile appeared across both of their faces. Wyatt hurried over to her. While the two of them thought they were the only ones who noticed their fascination with each other, it was obvious to everyone that there was something electric between them.
When he reached her side, he fought an almost physical ache to pull her into his arms but made placing his arm lightly around her shoulders suffice for now.
Joan and Suzy joined the group on the patio, flushed from both their exertions hiking all day and the young handsome construction workers that were sending appreciative glances their way.
Lacey looked around at the faces that were reflected in the twinkling fairy lights and thought, this is what I wanted, creating a special evening for a group of people. She felt blessed by the added bonus of the warm companionship of the man standing so closely beside her.
She tried to erase from her mind the violence that had marred her grand opening and instead revel in this normal gathering. Creating and sharing a gathering with good food and pleasant atmosphere was one of the reasons she had wanted to open an Inn to begin with.
Pitchers of margaritas and bottles of wine stood readily accessible for the guests.
Aromatic smoke rose from the grill, just as convivial conversation rose from the group of guests. Lacey felt content, this is how it would have been if murder had not intruded.
Wyatt touched her on the arm as if to say he knew what she was thinking and understood.
Everyone prepared their plates and began sitting in cordial groups at the wrought iron tables scattered across the faux ancient stonework. As they were finishing the delicious al fresco dinner, Miranda and John Braverman came thru the old and weathered reclaimed barn wood gate.
Lacey was surprised to see them this early and rushed over to them.
“Was everything okay at your dinner? Did you enjoy it?” she asked anxiously.
They thanked her and assured her the gift of a romantic dinner for two had been wonderful. They looked around at the crowd and then sat down at a table that included Lucinda Wright and some other townspeople.
Lacey brought them each a brimming margarita glass and then did her best to circulate around to each table making small talk.
She was very aware of Wyatt’s eyes following her movements.
She brought out the brownie trifle to enthusiastic applause. Just as she had always told herself, her guests seemed to agree, dessert makes everything better. She scooped up the trifle making sure to include some of each decadent layer in each serving.
As Charlotte helped her serve each table, she felt happy. For this evening, she was able to forget the ugliness that had touched all of them in the last couple of days.
The impromptu party wound down and one by one, each guest expressed their enjoyment and made their exits.
The Inn guests headed to their rooms and the townsfolk headed back to Elkville.
Soon, only Charlotte, Wyatt and herself remained clearing tables, and turning off both spa and fairy lights in the outdoor area.
It felt so natural that the three of them didn’t really need to talk as they loaded the dishwasher and put away leftovers.
Charlotte hugged her sister and quickly left the Inn to drive the short distance to her rental house.
As Lacey moved through the kitchen wiping down counters, Wyatt grabbed her hand and pulled her in to nestle against his broad chest.
“I’ve wanted to do this for hours,” he whispered against her hair.
She raised her head and met his lips with her own.
Immediately the kiss turned fiery. His hands tightened around her back trying to pull her even closer. She tried her best to melt her body into his. Her hand rested on his chest and she could feel his heart beating fast and strong under her fingers. She kissed him hard and passionately. His tongue begged for entrance and she opened her mouth wider to allow him to explore.
Just when she thought, she would literally burst into flames he tried to pull away. She held on tighter to his body and he sighed against her lips and then pulled his body a few inches away from her. She felt cold and abandoned and tried to move closer to him. He held her at arms length and rested his forehead against hers. Both were breathing hard.
Finally, when he was able to speak in an almost normal voice, he said, “Oh Lacey, believe me I want you more than you know. But it’s too soon. You are special, this is special; I want to make sure we don’t rush. We both deserve that.”
He was right. As she tried to control her ragged breathing, she tore her body from his and put as much distance between them as the room would allow.
She appreciated his ability to get control because she did not think she would have been able to stop herself from going much much further in her exploration of him.
“I’m going to make us some coffee and we can sit in the library and talk. How does that sound?” she asked regaining her composure.
He looked at her with that penetrating blue gaze. The sparkle in his look told her he had wanted more too. They would eventually arrive where they were destined to go she had no doubts about that.
He nodded and pulled his phone out and began checking messages while she prepared a tray with coffee and napkins along with a plate of homemade cookies that Tricia had brought with her from the Elkville Café.
As they entered the library, they consciously tried not to touch each other. She set the tray on the table in front of the comfortable couch. They both sat, maybe a little too close, but they had tamped down the sexual tension that had almost overwhelmed them a few minutes ago.
Anxious to have this convers
ation finally, Lacey said, “Tell me about your wife.”
He seemed relieved that they were going to talk about his marriage. He knew the subject would not be easy; but it was a topic he needed and wanted to tell her about.
He told her with sorrow in his face and pain in his voice about his “sweet” Annie. They had dated all through college. After graduation, they had finally had the beach wedding she had always dreamed of having. Then less than six months afterwards she had been stricken with breast cancer. She was young and her chances were good. The doctors said she had a ninety percent chance for a cure. She did everything they recommended, chemo, radiation, even surgery. They had both wholeheartedly believed she would be fine. She fought a good battle but four months later, she was gone. He held his emotions in check, the effort making his face tight with strain. He told her that even the day before she died she was talking about having children with him. They would never have that chance; he came home from work and found her already gone.
Lacey held his hand tightly as sympathetic tears filled her luminous green eyes.
He looked at her and said very quietly, “I made up my mind that I would never love again. I couldn’t stand the thought of feeling that kind of pain and loss again. The only way I saw to avoid it was never to let myself care that much about another person. I met you and all of that went out the window. I can’t help it. I think I’m falling for you Lacey.”
He started to tug at the gold band still on his left hand.
She grabbed his hand and said, “No, don’t. Don’t take it off yet, not right now. I want to honor your Annie too.”
He was speechless. Instead of feeling jealous about the deep love he had felt for Annie, she felt that it only proved how much love he was capable of feeling.
They held each other tightly in comfort, not passion.
She rose quietly and led him upstairs to the remaining guest room. They kissed chastely in the doorway and then she climbed the last flight of stairs to her own third floor domain.
Chapter 18
Lacey slept deeply and dreamlessly. She had thought she would have trouble drifting off knowing that Wyatt was sleeping just below but apparently, murder and mayhem wore a person out.