by Gina Wilkins
He winked. “Yes, I know. We try not to mention it in front of her, though. Gives her a big head.”
“Hey!” Cassie protested playfully. “I happen to be very modest about my genius.”
Paul groaned and Bonnie laughed, enjoying their affectionate interplay. Seeing them together gave her a wistful feeling, reminding her of her distant relationship with her own father. She would have loved to have been this close with him when she was younger. She’d often wondered if maybe she wouldn’t be so gun-shy about trusting in romantic promises if her dad had lived up to the ones he’d once made to her mom?
“How long have you been designing, Cassie?” she asked to distract herself from those regretful thoughts.
“Since I could hold a crayon. When I was little, I drew clothes for my paper dolls. Dad cut them out for me and made little tabs on them to fold over the dolls. I was too young to manipulate the scissors then.”
Bonnie glanced at Paul, who smiled sheepishly. “I told myself that scissors are tools, and tools are manly.”
“Then when I was a couple of years older,” Cassie went on, “I sketched outfits for my dolls and Grandma Bauer, my stepdad’s mother, helped me sew them. She was a professional seamstress when she was young. She helped me bring my sketches to life, taught me to sew, starting as soon as I was big enough to reach the foot pedal, which she put on a box for me.”
“Good woman,” Paul agreed. “Made the best pecan pie I ever put in my mouth. She passed away last year, sadly.”
“You really did have a supportive extended family, didn’t you?” Bonnie asked Cassie.
Cassie smiled over the rim of her glass. “I don’t remember Dad’s parents, but Larry’s family accepted me as their own and I’ve been able to see Mom’s parents in North Carolina quite often. So, yeah, I hit the family jackpot. What about you? Do you have a large extended family? Are your parents and grandparents still living?”
“No, my grandparents are all gone. I have some aunts, uncles and cousins on my dad’s side, but most of them live in Mississippi and Georgia and we don’t see each other often.” Running a finger through the condensation on the outside of her own glass, Bonnie added softly, “We lost our mother after a very brief illness almost four years ago. She had just turned fifty-eight.”
Even after this much time, it was still hard to believe her mother was gone. And it still hurt every time she had to accept that it was true.
Paul reached across the table to lay a hand over hers. “I’m sorry.”
“So am I,” Cassie said, looking a bit stricken.
Bonnie spoke reassuringly, not wanting Cassie to feel badly about having asked the question. “It’s okay.”
“Never gets easier, does it?” Paul asked quietly.
Remembering he’d told her he’d lost his own parents young, she met his eyes, seeing the understanding there. “No,” she said, “it doesn’t.”
He gave her fingers another little squeeze, then withdrew his hand, leaving her skin tingling in his wake.
“Is your father still living?” Cassie asked quietly.
Bonnie nodded. “My dad is still going strong. He travels all around the world, but he calls every so often and we see him occasionally. He says he thinks there must be Gypsy blood somewhere in the Carmichael background because he just can’t seem to stay in one place for very long. He and my mom were married for ten years, but she simply couldn’t pack up three kids and move every time the whim struck him. They divorced when I was only four. Mom raised us in Tennessee, but we came to visit Uncle Leo and Aunt Helen—and later just Uncle Leo—every summer and most holidays. Mom and Uncle Leo were very close, which was why he left the inn to my brother and sister and me. I, by the way, was his favorite.”
Paul chuckled. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“Why were you his favorite?” Cassie asked, wide-eyed.
“Because I was the one most obsessed with someday reopening and running the inn,” Bonnie explained, rather relieved that neither had focused on her unusual relationship with her father. Maybe they’d been able to tell by the way she’d glossed over the subject so quickly that it wasn’t something she liked to discuss. To be honest, she had nothing else to say about it just then. She didn’t even remember a time when her father had been a permanent part of her life. “You know how you made clothes for your dolls? When I was little, I played innkeeper with all my dolls and stuffed animals. I charged my sister a nickel a night to let her dolls stay in the cardboard hotel rooms I created.”
Cassie laughed. “Really? That’s hilarious. Did she pay?”
“Of course. I convinced her that only the coolest dolls stayed in my hotel. Kinley’s always been a bit competitive.”
Grinning, Paul said, “And I thought Kinley was the salesperson in the family.”
“Oh, she is. Kinley could sell sand in a desert.”
“And you?”
“I can turn that desert into an inviting place to stay,” she quipped.
“Or to have a wedding,” Cassie suggested.
“That, too.”
Cassie glanced at the clock on the yellow wall of her dad’s cheery, stainless-and-slate kitchen. “Oops. I have to cut out. I promised Jenna I’d take her and a couple of her friends to a movie tonight. Jenna used the old ‘spending as much time with my sister as I can’ spiel, but really she just needed a chauffeur who won’t get exasperated with them for acting goofy in the car.”
Bonnie started to rise. “I should go, too.”
“Oh, no, finish your tea. You said you don’t have to leave until five or so, right? You can give Dad some more cooking tips.” Cassie’s grin included both of them. “It would be a shame for him to have gotten all spiffed up for nothing.”
She planted a kiss on her father’s cheek, then whirled out of the room without giving either of them much time to do more than wave goodbye.
“My daughter,” Paul said wryly, “has all the subtlety of a steamroller. If you have to get back to the inn…”
After only a momentary hesitation, she picked up her drinking glass again. “I’m not in that much of a hurry.”
His approving smile was warm enough to make her need a sip of the chilled beverage to clear her head. She felt the icy liquid slide down her throat, but it did little to cool her. The heat Paul’s gaze ignited inside her could not be assuaged with any amount of iced tea.
“It was a nice surprise finding you here today,” he said. “A very nice surprise.”
Okay, flirting again. She still remembered how to do that. Or so she hoped. “I have to admit I hoped you’d show up this afternoon.”
He reached into the cookie jar and drew out a cookie. “Cranberry-oatmeal,” he said, showing it to her. “Cassie made them. Would you like one?”
“No, thank you.” They did look good, though, she mused, making a mental note to prepare some for her guests soon. Always working, she chided herself then, thinking of how often she’d accused her sister of the same thing. She really should focus on this rare break from the inn, especially with such charming company. “So, you played soccer today?”
“Yeah. Couple of guys I kayaked with yesterday asked if I wanted to fill in for someone who couldn’t play today. It’d been a while since I played, but I remembered the basics. Scored a goal.”
She couldn’t help but smile in response to his obvious pride. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. My team still lost, but that was one more point in our favor.”
“How’s the leg?”
“The, uh—?”
“I saw the blood.”
“Oh.” He grimaced ruefully. “It’s fine. Just a scratch. Got tackled by a big, burly guy twice my size.”
Something about the way he said that made her suspect it was completely fabricated—and that he wasn’t really t
rying to convince her otherwise. She smiled. “Is that right?”
“Huge,” he reiterated with a grin around his cookie.
“It’s a wonder you survived,” she said gravely.
“What can I say? I’m a tough guy.”
The sound that escaped her sounded disconcertingly like a giggle. She drained her tea glass.
“Can I get you a refill?” Paul offered.
“No, thank you. I really do have to head back to the inn soon for dinner service. I don’t want to keep the guests waiting.”
She stood to carry her glass to the sink. When she turned, she found that Paul had followed her. He set his glass beside hers, then smiled down at her. “It was a nice surprise to find you here. I thought I’d have to wait until tomorrow to see you.”
“Cassie called yesterday to arrange this. I thought she had mentioned it to you.”
“No. But then I haven’t seen her much the past few days. Her schedule is pretty hectic at the moment, and she just keeps adding things to do.”
“She said staying busy keeps her from obsessing about the wedding.”
Paul shrugged. “She’s happiest when she’s going a thousand miles an hour. Always has been. Holly and I used to say if we could bottle Cassie’s energy and sell it, we could both retire young.”
Bonnie lifted a hand to brush her fingertips lightly over his reddened cheek. “Did you put anything on this?”
“Cassie gave me some kind of moisturizing lotion—along with a lengthy lecture about taking better care of my skin. It isn’t as bad as it looks. I just got careless, I guess.”
She made a face. “I can burn just walking from the car to the house. I have to slather on sunscreen every day.”
Mimicking her gesture, he slid his hand across her cheek, his gaze following the movement. “You have such fair skin. It’s lovely.”
She’d have thought she’d be getting more accustomed to him by now, but every touch, every shared glance still felt so new. So exhilarating.
Considering they had acknowledged their mutual attraction only the day before, and that she still wasn’t sure Paul was interested in anything more than a fling, she wasn’t sure it was at all wise to be falling this hard for him. She would prefer to keep her well-guarded heart unbroken, whatever happened with Paul.
“You look so serious all of a sudden.” The way he studied her face made her wonder just how long she’d been standing there gazing up at him.
She forced a smile. “Sorry. A lot on my mind, I guess.”
His thumb slid slowly across her lower lip. His gaze followed the movement. “I don’t mean to add to your stress level. I’d much rather you see me as someone to relax and have some fun with.”
Tempting words. She had no doubt that she and Paul could have quite a bit of fun together.
“I’d like that,” she said.
His mouth was very close to hers when he murmured, “So would I.”
He seemed to be leaving the next move up to her, and she appreciated that. And because she liked him so very much, she made that move, leaning into him and lifting her face to his.
His mouth closed over hers, eagerly but not hurriedly. He took his time with that first kiss—almost as if relishing every second of anticipation. Her eyelids drifted close, allowing her to savor the feel, the taste, the fresh-showered scent of him. She had noted his strength when he’d lifted her down from the stepladder two days ago. Being pressed full-length against him, she felt again the well-developed muscles that testified to his active lifestyle. Despite their height difference, they fit together quite well, with her tucked snugly into his arms, him wrapped warmly around her.
Standing on tiptoe, she slid her arms around his neck. The kiss deepened as he slipped his tongue between her welcoming lips for a more intimate exploration. Her heart raced and every inch of her body felt tight, tingly. For a first kiss from this sexy schoolteacher, she would grade this one an A plus.
“I’ve wanted to do that since I picked you up off the floor that first day at the inn,” Paul confessed with a slightly unsteady grin.
“You did manage to knock me off my feet the first time we met,” she murmured and pressed another quick kiss to his smiling lips.
Somewhat reluctantly, she allowed her arms to drop from around his neck, automatically smoothing the raised hem of her top over her skirt. “As much as I hate to leave, I really do have to get back to work.”
“I wish you could stay longer, but I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Absolutely. I have some things to do in the morning, but I’m free after noon. I’ve made arrangements for Rhoda and Kinley to take over some of my duties so I can have a day off.”
“So what would you like to do on your day off? Playtime or pampering? Jeans or dress up?”
She didn’t even have to think about her answer. “Play,” she said. “I’ve been busy indoors cooking and cleaning and hosting for the past few weeks. Unless you’ve had enough outdoor fun lately?”
He grinned, and his still-reddened nose crinkled appealingly. “You should know by now that I’m going to head outside any chance I get.”
“I’m getting that idea.”
“Who do you think suggested Cassie have an outdoor wedding?”
“So you get the blame if it rains.”
“Oh, no, we’ll still blame you for that,” he assured her, tongue in cheek.
Feigning indignation, she shook a finger at him. “Oh, thanks so much.”
“Just kidding,” he assured her, laughing. “I have a buddy who owns a trail-ride operation about an hour’s drive from the inn. He offers buggy rides, too. Do either of those things appeal to you?”
“I would love to go on a trail ride,” she said eagerly. “Kinley and I used to take rides with friends in the Smoky Mountains when we lived in Tennessee, but I haven’t been on horseback since we moved to Virginia. I’ve missed it.”
There were so many things she hadn’t taken time to do while she’d been busy with the inn, she thought with a slight shake of her head. It was definitely time to remedy that.
Paul nodded approvingly. “I’ll call Tim, my friend, and let him know we’ll be there tomorrow afternoon. I’ll pick you up at one?”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
He brushed another kiss across her lips and murmured, “So will I.”
Considering the heady emotions she felt when she headed back to the inn, it wouldn’t surprise her at all if tomorrow’s outdoor activities led to eventual—perhaps sooner rather than later—indoor pursuits.
After a satisfactory meeting the next morning with two women who wanted to reserve the inn for an upcoming class reunion, Bonnie and Kinley exchanged their customary high five to celebrate another successful booking. “That will be a fun group,” Kinley predicted.
“I think you’re right.”
“Now, isn’t it time for you to change for your date?” Kinley looked pointedly at her watch.
Bonnie wrinkled her nose at the unnecessary reminder. “Yes, I’m going. You’ll check on the guests later if I’m not back by game time?”
“Of course. Dan and I are having an early dinner at the café tonight, then we’ll come back here for board games in the parlor with the guests. Stay out as long as you want. You’ve earned some time off. You’ve worked half a day, anyway.”
“Okay, then. I’ll have my phone if you need me, of course.”
Kinley rolled her eyes dramatically. “I think we can get by without you for a few hours, Bon. Heck, stay out all night. You deserve that every once in a while, too.”
“I’m not staying out all night,” Bonnie muttered. At least, that wasn’t in her plans at the moment.
“So, just what is going on with you and Paul, hmm?”
“Well, I’m n
ot changing my Facebook status to ‘in a relationship,’” Bonnie retorted, then sighed. “We’re going to spend a few hours together today, okay? A trail-ride date. I like him, he likes me. Maybe it will lead somewhere, maybe it won’t, but it’s no big deal right now, all right?”
“Sorry, little sis, I’m only teasing. I think it’s great that you’re getting out. You spend too much time here at the inn. You need to have a life outside of work. Paul seems like a nice guy, probably fun to hang out with. Though, ah—?”
Bonnie felt her left eyebrow shoot upward. “What?”
“Well, just be careful. I mean, yeah, he seems great, but a good-looking guy his age who’s still single…” Kinley shrugged. “Could be a bit of a player, you know? Just keep that at the back of your mind while you’re having a good time with him.”
Was Kinley seriously turning maternal on her? Only three years separated them, and Kinley wasn’t usually one to take her “big sister” status all that seriously. So why now?
“Like I said,” she repeated slowly. “We’re just having fun, seeing what happens.”
“As long as what happens isn’t you getting hurt by mixed messages or unrealistic expectations,” Kinley said quietly. “Trust me, that’s not fun.”
Bonnie was aware that divorced Kinley spoke from painful experience. Her youthful marriage had ended in disappointment and some humiliation when her husband of only months had abruptly changed his mind about wanting to be married. Holding her head up proudly, Kinley had thrown herself into work, becoming more of a perfectionist than ever, but Bonnie knew how deeply the failed marriage had hurt her sister. After their father’s abandonment and her husband’s betrayal, it had been hard for Kinley to trust her feelings for Dan at first, though it hadn’t taken him long to win her heart.
“I’m not letting my expectations get too high,” she promised. “You don’t need to worry about me—but thanks for caring.”
Her sister laughed with sudden self-consciousness and tucked a strand of hair behind her right ear. “I guess I was channeling Mom there for a minute. Forget what I said. Go have fun with the hunky teacher. The inn will be safely in one piece when you get back.”