A Touch of Passion (boxed set romance bundle)

by Uvi Poznansky

  “Sure, Kelly. I’d like that.” Murphy grinned. “And feel free to bug me as much as you want. Even though I’d never admit it to them – I’m gonna miss my brothers. I’ve already told your mom that I’d help out whenever you guys needed me to.” Murphy’s eyes met Jeff’s. “It might be easier if everyone just calls me Murphy, too. All my friends do. Plus, it’ll be less confusing since I’ve got the same name as your dad.”

  “You were named after my dad,” Kelly informed him, solemnly.

  “And I’m awfully proud of that,” Murphy responded, agreeably.

  Both Dan and Cal laughed.

  After jumping up from his seat on the couch, Jeff had been busy admiring the size of Murphy’s arms. “Whoa, Murphy. How’d ya get to be so ripped? You gotta be as big as anyone in the pros.”

  Realizing that no one in the Callahan family appeared to be particularly shy, Murphy observed, somewhat drolly, “Oh. I’m not so sure about that. But we actually do have a trainer for our team. He puts us each on a special diet and he expects us to stick to a strict workout – even over the summer.” He turned back to Cal. “I’m sorry that I’ll have to return to Chicago in early August, for football practice.”

  “That’s not a problem, Murph. At least you’ll be able to get your eight weeks of work in. That’s all that’s required for your internship, anyway.”

  “That reminds me,” Dan said. “We’ve got passes for the new gym at Dragonfly Pointe. I knew it was important for you, to stick to your workouts.” Pulling out his wallet and digging out a laminated card, he handed it over to Murphy. “But we’ll need to work out either before seven a.m. or after eight p.m., though – to avoid all the guests. The inn’s booked solid through September,” he added ruefully.

  Cal raised a brow. “Since both of you need to be on sight at seven in the morning, anyway...that shouldn’t be a problem. Right?”

  “I’m never been much of an early riser,” Dan grumbled, wryly.

  Agreeably, Murphy slapped him on the back. “Well, as it just so happens, you’re in luck, man – because I am.”

  Cal checked his watch. “Now - if your lovely mother would just hurry herself up – I’d like to get to the restaurant early. I thought we’d sit outside tonight while we have a few beers. The Riverbend Lodge has a great view, and Murphy might appreciate it.”

  Murphy nodded agreeably.

  Wearing a denim skirt and blazer, Jenny suddenly swept into the room with a sweater draped over her arm. “I’m ready. Kelly – Jeff – have you got your jackets?”

  “Mom,” Jeff groaned. “It’s warm out.”

  Deliberately, Jenny turned to her son with a mulish stare.

  Silently, Jeff led the way outside through the mud room. He grabbed his zippered sweatshirt from a hook before he headed out the door.

  Complete with patio furniture and a huge gas grill, the large courtyard paved the way into the detached garage.

  Dan grabbed Murphy’s arm. “I thought we’d take my truck. I’d like to show you around town after supper.”

  “I don’t know.” Murphy sighed. “I’m kind of beat from driving all day. It took me a little longer to get here than I’d planned.”

  “Hey – it’s Saturday night. Besides, it’d be easier if you knew your way around town since we won’t be working together.”

  Somewhat reluctantly, Murphy agreed.

  As Jenny, Kelly and Jeff prepared to go along with Cal in the family’s SUV, Dan glanced over at his younger brother, who was staring longingly towards his beat-up pickup. As he hopped into the driver’s seat, Dan called out, “Come on squirt – you can come along with us.” Cupping a hand over his mouth, Dan muttered to Murphy, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually missed the kid after I went away to school.”

  Murphy smiled. “Didn’t I hear that Jeff gets to go along on all the road trips this year?”

  “Yeah. Believe it or not, Jeff’s even more into sports than I was at his age. And just like you, football’s his game. I’m worried about his size, though, since, looks-wise, Jeff and Kelly take after my older sister, Lucy. And she’s only five-feet tall.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. Supposedly, Lucy looks just like my grandma.”

  “Genetics are still in the twins’ favor, though – considering your parents.”

  “Yeah. Plus, my sister Kate’s pretty tall, too.”

  Once Jeff had scrambled into Dan’s pickup and hooked up his seatbelt, Murphy squeezed into the seat beside him. “We could take my truck, you know. At least I’ve got a back seat.”

  “Next time you can be the designated driver.” After backing out from the driveway, Dan followed behind his parents’ SUV.

  The town of Crystal Rock was surrounded by an extensive chain of lakes. After heading north through town, they were on the road for another fifteen minutes. Crossing over a pictorial bridge separating Crystal Rock Lake from Stone Lake, they traveled over another more modern bridge before arriving in the parking lot of the Riverbend Lodge.

  Enthusiastically, Murphy hopped out from the truck as he took in the scenery. “This is really great, Dan.” Densely shaded, the parking lot was situated near a rest area and hiking trail. Amidst a stand of towering, white pines, the lodge stood nestled near the junction of the lake and river.

  Scrambling out from his seat, Jeff stared expectantly at Dan as he stood with Murphy in the parking lot.

  “You can go on ahead, Jeff. Tell Mom and Dad that we’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Okay, Dan.” Jeff began running to catch up with his parents.

  “This area of the country is sure scenic, Dan. Everywhere I look, there seems to be water. I bet you guys spend a lot of time out on the lake.”

  “The river, too.” With a jerk of his head, Dan motioned at the bridge they’d just crossed. “My sister Lucy used to work here at the lodge giving canoeing lessons. Occasionally, she still books trips as a guide down the river.”

  “Canoeing? Sounds like something I’d like to do while I’m here.”

  “I’m pretty sure that a canoeing trip can be arranged.” Dan hesitated. “Wanna go take a closer look at the river?”

  “Sure.”

  Murphy followed Dan as he began to hike down a shaded scenic pathway lined with ferns and foliage. The earthy fragrances of moss and pine scented the air as they traveled deeper into the woods. The roaring of the falls grew thunderous as they approached the river.

  When they reached a platform overlooking the river, Murphy was awestruck. Actively raging for at least a quarter of a mile, the falls dropped down treacherously from beyond the bridge. “Wow, Dan. This is beautiful. Dangerous, too, I’ll bet,” he added, studying the current warily.

  “Yeah. But Lucy’s an expert on handling the current on this river. She knows all the safe spots for canoeing, too. We’ll have to make a day out of it while you’re here. It’s been a couple of years for me, too.”

  Still staring at the falls, Murphy muttered, “What in the hell am I getting myself into?”

  Dan barked out a laugh, slapping Murphy on the back. “It’ll be great.” After stepping down from the steep steps of the overlook, Dan steered Murphy away from the river. Soon, they were traveling along another pathway. “C’mon. Let’s go have a beer.”

  This time following the path south, they quickly came upon the lakefront entrance leading up to the restaurant. The long extended pier was packed with boats of all shapes and sizes.

  “Wow,” Murphy said, staring out at the traffic on the water. “This lodge is in a great location, isn’t it?”

  “Sure is,” Dan answered. “The lodge does a booming business year-round – especially with fishermen – since there’s access to both the lake and the river.”

  Towering pines framed the picturesque Riverbend Lodge. According to Dan, when it had been built in the fifties, river rock had actually been dredged from the Crystal Rock River and used to construct the framework for the lodge as well as the massive fir
eplace vaulted through the ceiling inside.

  Dan led Murphy up the steps to a huge wooden deck which was packed with customers. After a quick wave of acknowledgement at his parents, who were seated in the back corner, Dan steered Murphy over to the bar. Once they were served their beers, they strolled along the edge of the deck to a vacant corner and leaned alongside the railing.

  Contentedly, Murphy gazed out across the lake. “I can see why you love it here, Dan.”

  Dan hesitated, and Murphy noticed him grimace. “What?”

  “I’m pretty certain that I’m not gonna come back here once I graduate. And I’m not exactly sure how to tell my parents.” Dan’s eyes met Murphy’s. “Or even Jeff.”

  Murphy was thoughtful as he answered, “I don’t know, Dan. I think your Dad already suspects it. You’re not exactly enthusiastic about the family business.”

  “Yeah. But I’m not so worried about that, since he’s already got Kate.”

  “Kate?”

  Dan laughed. “Yeah. Crazy, huh? She and Dad are so much alike. There’s nothing she can’t do. But don’t ever let her know that I actually admitted it to you. If she had to, she’d be able to take over Callahan Construction today.” Dan’s smile vanished. “It’s actually my mom that I’m worried about. She didn’t even want me going away for college.”

  “Because of what happened to Lucy?”

  “I don’t know – maybe.”

  “The sooner you tell your family, the sooner they’ll begin to accept it.”

  “Yeah. That’s what I’ve decided, too. But every time I start to talk seriously to mom, she changes the subject.”

  “Then she probably suspects it anyway.”

  Dan sighed. “Yeah – probably.”

  “So it’s investigative journalism, for sure, then – huh?”

  Dan nodded. “Yeah. I want to see things, Murph – other places, other countries, even. It’s not that I don’t love Crystal Rock, and my family, too. But there’s nothing for me here. I have a feeling that if I don’t follow my dreams now, I may never get the chance to.”

  “Then that’s what you need to do, Dan.” Murphy nodded. “Go with that feeling in your gut.”

  When Dan began waving at a trio cruising by in a speedboat, Murphy turned his attention back to the lake. Noticing the attractive woman seated inside the boat, his eyes suddenly widened. Glossy, strawberry-blonde hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, accentuating the delicate features of her lovely, sun-kissed face. With her long, tanned legs stretched out over the seat before her, her navy-blue bikini exposed hints of a slim but shapely figure.

  Following Dan’s example, Murphy smiled, lifting his hand to wave.

  And the woman pulled off her sunglasses. Staring up toward the deck, her expression was abruptly arrested when her eyes met his.

  Involuntarily, Murphy caught his breath. “Damn. Who’s the sexy blonde?”

  Sipping on his beer, Dan was suddenly overcome by a paroxysm of coughing.

  Turning his attention back to Dan, Murphy slapped him firmly on the back. “Are you alright, man?”

  “Sexy?” Dan sputtered, finally able to speak. “Yeah. I guess that’s gotta be what draws each of those suckers in. Kate’s broken the heart of just about every guy she’s gone out with.”

  “Kate?” Murphy blinked. “That’s your sister?”

  “Yeah.” Dan snorted. “But now I’m afraid to introduce you.”

  Murphy shook his head dazedly. But after a minute, he laughed. “Don’t worry – I’m only gonna be here for a couple of months. Besides, Sara would claw the eyes out of any other woman I looked at twice.”

  Dan was suddenly sheepish. “Oh, yeah – about Sara,” he mumbled. “I forgot to tell you. She called a couple of times this morning – looking for you.”

  “Already?” Murphy groaned. “Damn. That’s right – I turned off my cell phone this morning. I forgot to check for messages after I arrived here in town.” Shaking his head resignedly, he continued, “But I told her I’d call her. I gave her your parents’ number. I thought she’d have the sense not to use it – unless she hadn’t heard from me after a couple of days.”

  “Maybe she couldn’t get through? The cell phone reception we get here in town isn’t too great.”

  “Yeah. But still...back home, she seemed to be calling me all the time. I never really noticed it before—but it’s like she needs to know where I am every minute of the day.” Murphy sighed. “I probably should’ve broken it off with her before I left Chicago.”

  “So, why, didn’t you?” Dan stared hard at Murphy. “If she’s such a pain in the ass?”

  Murphy waggled his brows.

  Dan chuckled. “That good, huh? But is it really worth it?”

  “Yeah. I’ve been asking myself that same question a lot, lately,” Murphy admitted dryly.

  The hostess stepped out onto the deck and announced to the Callahans that their table was ready. As Jenny and the twins prepared to enter the restaurant, Cal held up his hand and waved. “Ready to go on in and eat, guys?”

  Dan slugged down the rest of his beer. After reaching over and grabbing Murphy’s bottle from his hand, he handed the empties over to the bartender. Murphy and Dan made their way through the crowd and met up with the Callahan family near the entrance of the restaurant.

  Dan peeked slyly at Murphy before turning to his father with a grin. “Yeah, I’d say that we’re ready to eat – that is, if Murphy’s done with admiring my sexy sister.”

  Murphy snorted. “Hey, Callahan – if you’d have just told me right away that she was your sister, I never would’ve said anything in the first place.” Moving through the doorway, inside to the restaurant, he followed Dan, Jenny, and the twins to a circular table set up in the corner of the room, near the fireplace.

  Once they were seated, Cal lifted his brow as he stared at Dan. “What’s this?”

  “Didn’t you guys see Kate?” Dan asked. “She and Lancaster just went cruising by on the lake, on Julie’s inboard.”

  Cal looked taken aback. “Kate?” Glancing at Murphy, he began to chuckle. “Sexy, huh? I guess, as her father, I’m supposed to hand out a warning.” Cal turned to his wife and smiled. “But Kate’s always been pretty self-sufficient.”

  Jenny deliberately turned to Murphy and gave him long hard stare. But then she eventually winked and grinned.

  And Murphy was taken aback. That’s who Kate Callahan reminded him of. He’d always thought of Jenny as an exceptionally lovely woman – he’d even had a little bit of a crush on her as a kid. And suddenly paying an unusual amount of attention to his menu, Murphy squirmed uncomfortably in his seat as he avoided Jenny’s eyes.

  Chapter Three

  Rubbing her eyes, Kate eased back into her chair at the kitchen table. Although she’d transformed the smallest of the three bedrooms into an office, she preferred to work in the kitchen of the cabin because of the lighting. Plus, she loved her view to the lake.

  After listing additional improvements and budget requirements needed to complete the Ivers’ home, she was finally getting closer to her final number. Factoring in the higher-end materials her father had requested for finishing the bathrooms, even estimating conservatively, the budget would have to be increased by nearly Thirty-thousand dollars.

  Kate whipped through the binder listing sources and costs for replacement doors and windows. And grimaced. If she used the premium manufacturer her father had requested, even with their wholesale discount, she’d end up having to up their budget yet again. Maybe she’d be able to work out a deal if she spoke with a representative personally? It wouldn’t hurt to try, she decided, shuffling through her paperwork. She’d always been good at finagling.

  It was time for a break, she realized, eyeing the kitchen clock. Rising up from her chair, she stretched, before moving over to the coffee pot. After pouring herself a fresh cup of coffee, she contentedly leaned back against the kitchen counter surveying the interior of her cozy hideaway.

>   Even her mother had been impressed by all the improvements Kate had made to the cabin this past spring. Her family had acquired this unencumbered annex of property on the lake three years before when Jake Loughlin, the owner of the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, had purchased the Crystal Rock Campgrounds with the intention of transforming into a special education facility.

  At one time the caretaker’s retreat, the cabin had been neglected and unlived in for at least the past ten years. Although there were two propane wall heaters installed inside, as well as a functioning fireplace, most obviously, this cabin had only been intended for seasonal use. Recognizing the futility of attempting to make too many structural improvements, Kate had merely done what was necessary to make the place her own. One day the cabin would probably have to be gutted or even demolished.

  Repairing plumbing and replacing the sink and toilet in the bathroom, Kate had ripped out the vanity and swapped it with a more updated version she’d appropriated from a recently refurbished worksite. Invading the company warehouse, Kate had searched through extra materials leftover from previous jobs. Once she’d mounted ceramic tiles onto the walls in a diamond pattern in the bathroom, she’d used the same jade green tiles in the kitchen, after replacing the rusted metal cabinets with white prefab cabinets she’d discovered in the warehouse. Kate had even been able to add a kitchen island, constructed with leftover butcher block, into the small space.

  Dark, outdated paneling had sheathed the walls. Instead of ripping out the paneling and putting in drywall, she’d decided to save time by cleaning and whitewashing the paneling. It was actually rather attractive with the shadows of knotty pine peeking through. Luckily, the wooden flooring had still been in decent shape structurally. After sanding the floor throughout the entire cabin, she’d whitewashed and sealed all the floors as well.