Love Between the Pages: 8 Romances for Booklovers

by Bird, Peggy

  “So what brings you … ”

  “How long have you …”

  “ … to Lakehaven?”

  “ … been working here?” The exchange was followed by awkward laughter. Smooth. Matt recovered first.

  “Actually, I’m here to write.”

  “Really? My mother was a writer. A poet, actually.”

  “Do you write?”

  Jade laughed. “No, that talent did not get passed down to me. I—” She was almost going to say something about the jewelry designing but stopped. She could feel heat creep up her face. He was watching her intently and that only made the blush worse.

  He smiled. “Come on, tell me. You what?”

  She waved the question off. “So, what do you write?” She meant to be reticent. Instead, it came out enthused.

  “Fiction. Novels.”

  “I love fiction. So, what? Mysteries, horror, spy novels?” Again with the enthusiasm. For some reason she couldn’t help herself.

  “Something like that. Action thrillers to be exact.”

  “Oh, I get it, spooky wooded area. Good setting.”

  “Yeah, that’s the idea. Research.”

  “You’re here for a week.”

  “Yeah. How long do most people stay?”

  “Usually about that—a week or two. Some of the regulars stay much longer, but not usually in the winter. Summer is our busy season. It’s beautiful then. Lush, green, alive. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful now with the leaves turning, but pretty soon everything will get quiet, stark. That’s beautiful too, but in a different way.”

  “You love it here.”

  “Mmmm. Yeah, I grew up here.”

  “Good, then I already know something about you.” Matt smiled a smile that reached to his eyes.

  Jade had been so engaged in the simple conversation that she had forgotten her prime directive: be professional, but keep your distance. Matt was just another relationship disaster waiting to happen. Luckily, the second he turned on a bit of charm, Jade’s inner cynic kicked in. Nick had been charming like that, and look how that turned out. “Wow, that is such a line.”

  Matt shrugged, but if her chilly tone bothered him, he didn’t let it show. “Yeah, it was, wasn’t it? I wouldn’t even let one of my characters get away with that one.” Jade gave him a begrudging smile for his honesty. “But it’s still true. You’re interesting.”

  Jade deflected his interest. “Nah, not so much.” Other guests were starting to enter the dining room. The Andersens, the Jordan family, the Kent sisters. Perfect, a getaway strategy! “Well, it’s getting busy in here, and I’ve got work to do. Is there anything else I can do for you?” Jade said as she stood.

  “I’ll most certainly let you know.” Matt grinned.

  Despite her determination to feel nothing for him, Jade’s heart rate elevated as her face flushed yet again. “Great.” Exit stage left.

  Three hours later, Jade sat on the porch swing, glass of Merlot in hand, looking out at the lake’s silvered surface. Dinner had gone well, and all of the guests had raved about Meg’s chicken parmigiana. She and Jeff, Lakehaven’s grounds and maintenance man, had stacked wood by each cabin. Everyone was tucked in for the night, and Ben, the assistant manager, was on duty for the evening. Jade leaned her head back and closed her eyes, listening to the crickets and the breeze through the pines. She sighed deeply and gently rocked in the swing. It was an absolutely perfect end to the day.

  • • •

  After dinner, Matt took his time unpacking his things and soaking up his surroundings. The cabin was small and cozy. The front door opened onto the living room with a bedroom and bathroom at the back of the cabin and a kitchen to the right. The living room featured an ancient stone fireplace, already stoked with wood and crumpled newspaper, two couches in an L-shape, a coffee table, and a large oak desk against the wall. The desk was perfect for writing; there were no windows on that side of the room, no pictures either. No distractions. Matt set up his laptop and some research materials there. Some related to his current novel, others to the legend of the Cartwright treasure. A letter, allegedly penned by Adam Cartwright, sat on the top of the pile.

  Hudson River Valley Outpost 54

  September 9, 1615

  Dear Mother,

  I have arrived on the new continent. I am sorry it has taken me so long to write. It has been an incredible journey thus far and I have you to thank for providing the wherewithal to embark on such an adventure. I know it can’t have been easy to let me go, releasing me from my familial duties and obligations and to an unknown fate. You have my undying gratitude.

  This new land is staggering in its vastness. Spending so much of my time growing up at our country home, one would think I would be quite at ease in this wilderness, but in fact, it is as foreign as if I were a city dweller. It is both daunting and exhilarating to be so far out of my element. There are areas so remote that one must rely solely on the land and one’s own wits. Still, it is worth any risk to be able to explore such pristine environs. There is a sense of timelessness. The land here whispers of events prior even to man’s recorded history and watches our gentle footsteps with tolerant composure. It is a fanciful sentiment, to be sure, yet I can find no other way to describe my experience of this strange and alien land.

  Clearly, there are many ways that I am an outsider here; however, the people that I have met are generous and welcoming. I have great hopes for a successful future. I will share more news soon.

  Your loving son, Adam

  Matt smiled. The wilderness of Adam Cartwright’s time had been perhaps a bit more unspoiled, but Matt could relate to Adam’s fish-out-of-water experience. That wasn’t the only thing that made Matt smile. The letter seemed to imply that it was the first missive of many, which meant Matt might find more clues to the story behind the Cartwright treasure.

  Matt stowed the rest of his stuff hastily in the bedroom, pausing long enough to note the queen-sized bed and see the possibilities there. He shook his head. God, get a grip, McLaughlin. He left the bedroom and sat down at the computer to get started on some notes, distraction free.

  Three hours later, Matt picked his way along the path from his cabin back toward the main house. It was dark now, and the rugged terrain required careful navigation. The writing hadn’t gone well. His thoughts kept getting tangled up in her: the jet hair, those bangs always in her eyes, the slender figure perpetually in motion, the energy and intensity that she radiated. It was only through sheer will and discipline that he had gotten any work done at all. It seemed like a good idea to take a walk and explore a little of Lakehaven.

  He took in the cool air, scented with pine, and the faint lapping of lake water on the damp shore. He heard the sound of his own footsteps crunching through dead leaves and branches. Crickets chirping and a sliver of moon completed the scene. It all got filed away in his memory for writing. The breeze in the treetops made an ancient rhythmic sound like the ebb and flow of ocean waves.

  Matt was jarred out of his reverie by the ring of his cell phone. It was Samantha.

  “Yeah?”

  “Could you, for once, answer your phone with the manners your dear mother taught you?”

  Matt smiled. It was Samantha’s life’s mission to reform him, and his life’s mission to thwart her. “Is that really what you called about?”

  Matt could hear Samantha’s sigh over the phone, even with the mountain reception. “No, of course not. Would it kill you to call me and let me know you made it there safely?”

  “Kill me? No, but it would definitely cramp my carefree, spontaneous artist’s spirit.

  “Spontaneous?! Fuck you, McLaughlin.”

  Matt laughed. “Hey, that reminds me, thank you for booking me under the alias.”

  “I’ll expect some sort of favor in return for that and for keeping your whereabouts secret.”

  “I don’t doubt it. Do you really think anyone will be following my whereabouts that closely?”


  “Maybe, maybe not. Never hurts to be a little paranoid.”

  Matt grinned into the phone. “Spoken like a true New Yorker.”

  “Born and bred, baby, and don’t you forget it.”

  “As if you’d let me. Can you call Allison and have her e-mail me the maps and research on my desk? I’m actually going to see if I can match the map to any landmarks around here.”

  “Please, you don’t actually believe that treasure exists?”

  He knew Sam couldn’t see him, but shrugged out of habit. “Most legends have some basis in fact. I’m intrigued to see how closely the topography matches the maps. Besides, who can resist treasure hunting? It’ll be an adventure.”

  “Someone once told me that if anyone says, ‘It’ll be an adventure,’ you should get out of the car immediately and by any means necessary.”

  “Probably good advice.”

  “Which you won’t follow,” Sam said, laughing.

  “Of course not.” And with that, Matt flipped the phone shut.

  • • •

  Matthew stood at the door to Jade’s screened porch, watching her. The wiser part of him thought to leave her alone here. He should go back to his cabin and get some sleep. It had been a long drive from the city, and he wanted to get a good chunk of work done tomorrow. She looked so peaceful there alone. The wiser part of him lost.

  “Mind some company?”

  Jade shivered the slightest bit, and Matt wondered if she was cold. He waited for her invitation before he sat down.

  She opened her eyes just barely and nodded her assent. “Be my guest.”

  “I already am.” There were two Adirondack chairs on the porch placed opposite the swing where Jade sat. She stopped the swing, and Matt took it as a sign. He sat with her.

  She sighed and opened her eyes to look at him. “Good point. Get any writing done?”

  In the low porch light, her eyes looked mostly grey, but he was close enough that he could see a hint of the green he had noticed earlier. “Not much yet.”

  Jade’s forehead wrinkled. “Oh? Writer’s block?”

  “Mmm, not exactly.” He didn’t bother to tell her what exactly had stopped him from getting work done.

  She sat up straighter in her seat, causing the swing to rock forward. “Is there anything wrong with your cabin?”

  “No, no, it’s nothing like that. The cabin is great, really. It’s just the … scenery is distracting.”

  She relaxed again, sinking into the swing. “Yeah, it’s spectacular, isn’t it?” They sat together, soaking in the hushed night.

  He leaned back in the swing, tipping her back with him. His arm was already stretched across the back and rested behind her neck. She either didn’t notice or didn’t object, so he left it there. Silken strands of black hair brushed against his forearm. God, it felt good. He angled his head just close enough to smell her mint-scented hair. Close enough to kiss her. “Breathtaking is the word I would use.”

  She shrugged. “You’re the writer.”

  Matthew laughed. In the city, whenever any woman found out who he was, he ended up dodging advances and none-too-subtle phone calls for weeks. Now he was the one with the obvious come-ons, and she didn’t even notice. Payback was a bitch. Of course, Jade only knew him as Matt Connor. He wondered if it would make a difference to her if she knew who he really was. Screw that. He wanted her to want him for himself, not for his celebrity or his bank account. It was great to just be Matt, but beyond the solitude and anonymity, Lakehaven was turning out to have an allure all its own.

  Matt spoke into the silence. “I’m wondering if you can act as a guide. I want to hike the lake trail, get familiar with the terrain. Part of my research.”

  Jade frowned. “I thought you’d be tied up at your computer the whole time.”

  Matt grinned. The phrase “tied up” opened up a whole new avenue of daydreaming. He shifted in the seat to see her face better. Big mistake. Her face was only a breath away from his, and her eyes glittered silvery green in the moonlight. He drank in her face for a long moment. Her eyes locked in on his and held.

  “Nope.”

  “Oh.”

  “So …?” When Jade didn’t answer he repeated himself. “A hike?”

  “Yes, I mean, no, I mean we’ve got some great guides who could take you. On a hike.”

  “What about you?” Matt’s voice was solemn, but his eyes twinkled with mischief. She seemed flustered, and it pleased him to catch her off balance.

  “Oh, I’ve been on hundreds of hikes. Maybe thousands,” Jade responded obtusely.

  “Great, tomorrow morning then?”

  “What? Wait, I don’t think … ”

  Jade looked panicked, and Matt pushed his advantage. “You can come by my cabin around ten.”

  “Oh, uh, I’ve got a really full day tomorrow. Lots to do. I’m very busy.” Matt raised an eyebrow and nailed her with a stare. “Really, I’m sure you’d much rather hike with … um … ” Jade made a twirly motion with her hand as if to conjure up the perfect hiking guide for Matt. Matt just continued to stare at her. She had a sudden look of triumph in her eyes a second before she blurted out “Jeff!” She beamed a smile in Matt’s direction.

  Matt felt a pang of … something, surely not jealousy, and wondered who Jeff was. “Jeff?” He shifted toward the end of the swing.

  Jade was nodding enthusiastically. “He’s a great guide. He works on the grounds mostly, but he’d probably rather hike with you than clear brush around the cabins. He’s usually trying to get out of doing it anyway! And he knows the lake as well as anyone.”

  Matt nodded. “Sooo … he’s an employee, then?”

  Jade tilted her head side to side. “Yeah, sort of.”

  Matt lifted an eyebrow. “Sort of?”

  “Let’s just say we pay him, and sometimes he works. He’s a bit … flaky.”

  “That doesn’t exactly sound like a great way to run a business.”

  Jade sighed. “Probably true, but Lakehaven is more than just a business. It’s a family. He’s been here since he was a kid. We grew up together. The guests know him and like him. He’s a bit like a scruffy stray that you get attached to.”

  Matt’s eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms across his chest. “This doesn’t exactly inspire my trust in him as a guide. I’ll be asking questions for research and—”

  Jade cut him off. “No! I swear he’s the best. You’ll be in good hands.” The look in her eyes was almost pleading.

  Matt wanted to laugh. Usually he had women throwing themselves at him, but here she was, this pixie of a woman, practically begging him to hike with scruffy Jeff. It was not exactly what he had in mind, but he could tell she was reluctant to go with him. It was an odd feeling not to be pursued. He was used to drawing flocks of women, not for who he really was, but because of his public persona. He had forgotten what it was like to get to be just himself and maybe have to woo someone. It had been a long time. Still, he was pretty sure he remembered how.

  Okay then, hiking with scruffy Jeff. He moved closer to her on the bench, their faces just inches apart. Her eyes were wide, waiting for his answer. He let his gaze wander. He lingered at her lush lips, then traveled up to her high cheekbones, cute nose, and finally met her stare. Then Matt smiled. He knew by now that he had a killer smile and how to use it. It was a disarming weapon whether used on the press, on a date, or sometimes even on Sam when he wanted his way. In this case, he set it to stun, then whispered, “Okay.” Without another word, he left.

  He walked back to his cabin under the sharp silver glow of moonlight and focused on listening to the crunch of rocks and twigs under his feet. He had wanted to kiss her. It had been a close thing there at the end. God, those lips, that hair, those eyes. He ran his hand through his hair, leaving it sticking up in places. He forced himself to take in the crisp mountain air in slow, even breaths. Shit. He smiled to himself. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to smell pine and mint again without getting a
hard-on.

  • • •

  Jade held her breath until she heard the screen door bang against the doorframe, then she let it out with a whoosh. For a moment, she had thought he was going to kiss her. Which would have been bad. He was hard enough to resist when he was just being nice, but if he tried to actually pursue her, she would be in big trouble.

  God, this was crazy. Despite all of her good intentions and judgment, she had wanted to take him hiking more than anything. It was pure survival training that had saved her.

  She frowned. What was it about him that she couldn’t resist? A part of her, that elemental female energy, was aware of him on a very primal level. Jade chalked it up to hormones—just some chemical thing. Yeah, it was that and a few bad dates. And a few celibate … oh well, never mind. Not a problem. She went over the interaction, trying to figure it out.

  Something in her had known he was there before he walked through the door. He had entered the porch silently, but she had sensed him there, even with her eyes closed. Maybe it was his body heat or a trace of his soap scent. Jeez, he even smelled sexy.

  It was strange. She hadn’t wanted him to sit next to her on the porch swing, but she had stopped swinging as he entered, hoping he would choose one of the Adirondack chairs across from her and hoping he wouldn’t. He hadn’t. She had liked the hardness of his thigh as it brushed against hers.

  Thank God he had agreed to the hike with Jeff. Jade sighed. Of course, now she had to call Jeff to let him know that he was going hiking with Matt. Jade sighed again. Just when life seemed easy, something, or someone, came along to complicate things.

  • • •

  Jade was having a fabulously uneventful night of sleep until Jeff called at five-thirty in the morning to say he wouldn’t be in that day. “Patsy” wouldn’t start, and he couldn’t get the right part to fix her until later that morning. Patsy was his truck; she was more rust than steel and always breaking down. Jade rolled over, looked at the clock, and groaned. There was really no one else to take Matt on a hike, and it was too early to call his cabin and cancel. She thought about rescheduling and decided it wouldn’t look good. Lakehaven didn’t really need bad reviews. They did a steady business, and if she had anything to say about it, it would stay that way. She pulled the covers over her head and tried to fall asleep again but couldn’t.