Luke (7 Brides for 7 Brothers Book 1)

by Barbara Freethy

  "There's a campfire tonight," she said. "Tom will tell the tale of Last Chance Rock; Tina, my assistant manager, plays a mean guitar and has a beautiful voice to entertain the guests; and there will be marshmallows for the kids and wine for the adults. You should come. It's a little hokey, but it's fun. The guests enjoy it, and you can meet some of the other staffers."

  "I'll consider it."

  "Tomorrow, I can have Tom get you on a horse if you want to try out the trails."

  "I'll think about tomorrow—tomorrow."

  "One of your favorite lines," she said.

  He gave her a small smile. "It's worked for me so far."

  "So I'll see you later."

  "Most likely."

  She hesitated at that cryptic answer. "Just don't leave without saying good-bye, Luke."

  "I never just disappear," he said. "That's you, Lizzie, not me."

  She sighed. "We can't get away from that day, can we? I told you why I didn't show up. And I apologized."

  "It was a half-ass apology ten years ago and only slightly better now, and that's because you need something from me. Hell of a twist, isn't it?"

  "I don't know what you want from me, Luke."

  "That's the problem. I don't know, either, Lizzie, but I think we're both going to find out."

  * * *

  Luke's cryptic words ran around her head as she entered the lodge. She stopped at the front desk to check with Tina, an attractive twenty-three-year-old who was thrilled to work at the lodge since her boyfriend David worked with Tom at the stables.

  "Everything good here?" she asked.

  "Quiet today," Tina replied with a happy smile. "Tomorrow will be a different story with everyone checking in for the holiday weekend."

  Liz nodded, not at all put out by that thought. She'd enjoyed the busy summer, the constant flow of cash and guests. The fall would be quieter, which would have made it a great time to do some of the cabin remodeling that was needed, but now she didn't know what would happen. Even if Luke agreed to keep the resort, would he want to put more money into it?

  "How was your afternoon?" Tina asked, a curious gleam in her eyes. "And who was that gorgeous man you were with?"

  "His name is Luke Brannigan."

  "He's related to Colin?"

  "Yes, he is." She didn't want to discuss Luke or Colin's death just yet. "I do have some news, and I'm sorry if I'm being cryptic, but I want to tell everyone at once. So I'll do it at four o'clock, at our staff meeting."

  "Okay, that sounds a little ominous."

  "Try not to worry," she said, offering a reassuring smile. "I'm going to check in with Shari. Do you need anything from me right now?"

  "Nope, I'm good."

  "Great." While Tina didn't need anything, Liz did—a big cup of coffee and a friend to go along with it. She knew where to find both.

  When she entered the kitchen, Shari Jordan, the thirty-four-year-old chef, was engaged in massive dinner prep, a pile of chopped tomatoes in front of her, and her knife making quick work of the rest.

  "I need coffee," she announced.

  "Lucky for you, I just made a pot," Shari replied.

  Liz poured herself a mug and took a grateful sip as she leaned against the counter. She watched Shari's skilled knife work for a few moments, in awe of how quickly she could dice tomatoes. She, on the other hand, had never had any talent in the kitchen. Fortunately, she didn't even have to try anymore.

  Shari had put her long, dark-red hair into a braid, and she wore an apron over her maternity tank top and stretchy pants. Shari's cheeks were pink from the heated kitchen, or maybe it was from the internal glow that had arrived with her pregnancy eight months earlier.

  Shari was married to Brad Jordan, who headed up their adventure programs. They'd been at the resort for six years and had taught Liz a lot about running the place. Fortunately, neither one had wanted her job. Shari only liked being in the kitchen, and Brad had an aversion to paperwork, so it was all good—even better now that they were expecting a baby. Although, she was reminded of the fact they really needed to get a temporary chef in place before the baby came. They only had four weeks to go.

  Her mood soured as she thought of what could happen in those four weeks. Forget herself; there were a lot of other people depending on the resort for a job and a place to live should Luke decide to sell.

  "So, have you had enough coffee to take the edge off?" Shari asked, looking over at her with a knowing smile. "Because I want to know who Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is and why you felt it necessary to give him a personal tour of the resort when there are a hundred other things to get done before the holiday weekend."

  "Who told you?"

  "Tina mentioned you went off with a very attractive man."

  She took another sip. "Yes. Luke Brannigan. He's one of Colin's sons." While she hadn't wanted to tell the story a dozen times, she needed to talk to her closest friend before she shared the news with the rest of the staff. "I have some bad news, Shari."

  "What's that?" Shari asked worriedly.

  "Colin died last week. He left the resort to Luke. That's why he's here, and why I gave him a tour. He's not sure what he wants to do with his legacy. He's considering selling out."

  Shari set down her knife. "Okay, wait a second, back up. Colin is dead? How?" She wiped her hands on a towel.

  "Cancer. Luke said it was fast, and that Colin didn't want anyone to know. He didn't even tell his kids. He certainly never said anything to me when I spoke to him a few weeks ago. It's sad. He wasn't that old."

  "That is sad," Shari agreed. "And his son now wants to sell this place?"

  She nodded. "Luke told me that was his first thought, but he decided to come and see it first. We have to convince him to let us keep things running, that this could be a good investment for him. I just don’t know how easy that will be. He's a complicated man."

  Shari's gaze narrowed. "What aren't you telling me? How do you know so much about a guy who showed up a few hours ago?"

  "Because he showed up in my life a long time ago. I told you that I had a personal connection to Colin; that's why he gave me the job when I was so clearly lacking in experience. Well, that personal connection was Luke. He was my college boyfriend. We dated for two years. We were madly in love, but we had a bad ending. Luke hasn't forgotten…or forgiven me."

  "Did you cheat on him?"

  "No, of course not. I wouldn't do that."

  "Then what was so unforgiveable?"

  "It's a long story."

  "Give me the short version. I need to know what we're dealing with."

  She let out a sigh. "Okay. Luke hated college. He thought he was just marking time on the way to his real life. After junior year, he decided to quit. He asked me to go with him for the summer. He was going to travel and start shooting film for the documentary series he eventually wanted to produce. At first, I said yes. It sounded romantic and fun to travel the world with him, but as the time grew closer to leaving, I panicked. I was so in love with him, I was afraid the summer wouldn't be enough, that I wouldn't come back, that I wouldn't finish school and have a chance to be the musician I wanted to be. So at the last second, I bailed. I didn't show up at the airport. I didn’t tell him. I didn't answer his texts or his calls. I was a coward, and he was justifiably angry. Eventually, months later, we had a short communication, and I said it was over, and he said he knew that, and that was it. We haven't talked for ten years—until today."

  Shari leaned against the counter. "Well, that's something. You didn't go with him to protect your future, and now he holds your future in his hands."

  "I'm not unaware of the irony. Neither is he. There's a good chance he'll sell this place just to punish me."

  "Is he that vengeful?"

  She thought for a moment, thinking that the word really didn't describe Luke. "He didn't used to be. I don't know him anymore."

  "You're going to need to get to know him again."

  She took another sip of
her coffee. "I don't know if he'll be here that long. I made a good pitch, Shari. I put all my personal feelings aside. I even showed him the tree that his parents carved their initials on. I tried to play on his sentimental side, on his love for his mom. And I told him that Kaitlyn needs this place and so do I. But I don't know if any of that will matter in the end. He's an adventurer, a wanderer. He travels light."

  "What about money? Does he have the money to invest in this place? Does he need the cash? Is selling going to be his only alternative?"

  "I don't know. He didn't say. Colin Brannigan was very wealthy. I assume some money is coming Luke's way. He didn't say that he had to sell it, only that he probably would."

  "If he does have the money, then that gives us some hope. He could keep the resort going if he wants to."

  "I think so. But Luke rarely does anything he doesn't want to do. And he's never wanted roots. I have a feeling this place looks like a huge weight to him."

  "He doesn't have to live here."

  "Exactly. That's the point we need to make—that this is a great place to visit, and we'll keep it running while he's traveling the world. He doesn't ever have to come here if he doesn't want to, but if he does want to, we have fun things for him to do. He loves nature and adventure. I think appealing to that side is probably the best bet."

  "We'll help," Shari said. "Whatever Brad and I can do, and the rest of the staff will put in their best efforts, you know that. But you need to tell everyone what's at stake."

  "I will at the staff meeting this afternoon. Brad mentioned that he's taking a group up to Wolmer Falls tomorrow. Maybe we can get him to stick around for that. He loves to hike. He'd probably want to go past Last Chance Rock because he is the ultimate daredevil."

  A light suddenly entered Shari's eyes. "Wait a second. It's all making sense now. I thought I knew the name. Luke Brannigan—he makes the documentaries on extreme sports."

  "Yes, that's him."

  "I wondered if he was related to Colin. We have three of his DVDs. Brad loves Luke's films and his adventures. He's going to be over the moon when he hears Luke Brannigan might go hiking with him."

  She smiled. "Good. Then he'll be inspired to get Luke to go."

  "Definitely."

  Shari tilted her head, her gaze thoughtful. "Tell me something, Liz. Do you still have feelings for Luke?"

  "No, of course not. It's been a decade."

  "That doesn't mean anything—not when you love someone."

  "Well, I don't love him—not anymore."

  Despite her words, her cheeks burned at the thought of their very recent passionate kiss. But that had just been a moment of insanity. They'd each wanted to know if the sparks were still there. And they were, but that didn't mean anything would happen. In the end, they'd be right back where they were before…Luke wanting to leave and her wanting to stay. She definitely didn't need a rerun of that painful show.

  "It's okay, you know," Shari said, "if you still like him."

  "It's definitely not okay," she replied. "I have too much to lose, and it's not just about me anymore. I have to consider Kaitlyn. She's been through so much, and she still has a long way to go. She's such a mixed-up, angry girl, and I can't blame her, but I can't seem to help her, at least not quickly. I need time. And that time has to be here."

  "I know. I get it. Kaitlyn is a tough nut to crack. I thought we were getting along, but since I've gotten more visibly pregnant, she's pulled back. It's weird. Something about me being a mother bothers her."

  "Maybe it makes her think about her own mom more. I don't know, either," Liz said. "But I hope one day I'll see her smile again, and not in that bored, sneering, sarcastic teenage way she occasionally does now—but the way she used to, when she was happy, when she was whole."

  "It will happen; you just have to be patient. You're doing a good job with her, Liz. Someday she'll see how much you've given up for her."

  "Not just for her, for my sister. Kelly saved me when we were little. She was more of a mom to me than my own mother. I owe her. I have to do right by Kaitlyn." She drew in a breath, then let it out. "But one problem at a time. Luke has now jumped to the top of my list, because if we have to leave here, I'm going to have to start all over again."

  "I don't think that's the only reason he's at the top of your list," Shari said with a small laugh. "Tina said he's gorgeous."

  "Yeah, well…I can't think about that."

  "Good luck."

  "Thanks. It's about time I had some good luck instead of bad."

  Five

  Luke hadn't thought he'd sleep, but somehow the shocks of the past few days combined with the jet lag had propelled him into oblivion. He rolled over onto his side, glancing at the clock on the bedside table. By the dark room, he knew the sun had set, but he was surprised to see it was almost eight o'clock. He'd been out for hours.

  Getting out of bed, he walked over to the window, seeing the glow of a fire and hearing the faint sound of music. The campfire had obviously begun.

  It didn't sound like his scene, but on the other hand, he was hungry, and Lizzie had said something about marshmallows. Maybe he could also beg for some kitchen leftovers. After all, he was the boss.

  He shook his head at that still bewildering thought and knew he had some decisions to make, but not tonight, maybe not even tomorrow.

  He liked speed. He liked to live a fast life, but this was too fast. He didn't want to get swept away on a current of emotion, and he felt more emotions than he liked swirling inside of him. He wasn't just coming off his father's unexpected death and the shocking knowledge that he'd never get to say good-bye, he was also having to deal with seeing Lizzie again.

  Sitting down on the bed, he put on his shoes and then grabbed his phone as it rang. It was Knox.

  "What's up?" he asked.

  "I was going to ask you that question. How's the resort?"

  "Not as big as it seemed when we were last here."

  "I barely remember that trip."

  "I didn't think I remembered it at all until I got here. That old guy still gives riding lessons. I thought he was a hundred back then, but he only appears to be about seventy now." He paused. "But the lodge didn't turn out to be the big surprise."

  "I had a feeling there was more to it than just a random deed. Why did Dad leave you the resort?"

  "Because Lizzie is here."

  "Your Lizzie?" Knox asked in surprise.

  "She hasn't been my Lizzie in a long time."

  "I thought she was a pianist or something."

  "Me, too, but her sister died, and she's now raising her niece. I guess Dad gave her the job managing the resort about six months ago."

  "And he gave you the resort so you'd have to see her again. Interesting."

  "So what did you get? Have you been to the storage unit yet?"

  "Not yet. Too busy."

  "Come on."

  "I'll get there. Whatever it is, it isn't going anywhere."

  "It could be Dad's Porsche or maybe his speedboat."

  Knox laughed. "Yeah, like I'm going to be that lucky. How does Lizzie look?"

  "Too good. I need to get out of here before I do something stupid." He'd actually already done something stupid, but he didn't need to share that with Knox.

  "She's always been under your skin. You used to call her your beautiful trouble."

  "That still fits. I thought I'd gotten her out from under my skin a long time ago. Her presence here complicates things, because she really needs the job, and as much as I know I don't owe her a damn thing, I feel for her situation."

  "You could always keep the place."

  "That's going to take some cash." His gaze drifted to the folder Lizzie had given him at lunch. He really needed to take a look at the accounting at some point. He didn't know if his dad had left him a profitable venture or a money pit.

  "I'm sure there's probably some money set aside for it. Dad wouldn't leave you a burden."

  "I don't know about tha
t. He didn't like to make things easy for us. I need to go. Stay in touch."

  "I will."

  He got up from the bed, slipped his phone into his pocket and headed outside. He was halfway down the road when he heard raised voices along the river that ran behind the cabins. It sounded like kids—teenagers. He would have kept going, but there was something about the female voice that bothered him.

  He walked around the back of the next cabin and saw two boys and a girl sitting on a fallen log that crossed the narrowest part of the river. It wasn't a particularly dangerous place to be. This part of the river was calm and not very deep. The rapids picked up a mile away when this stream connected with another.

  The girl sat in the middle between the two teenage boys, and she was pushing away a bottle of vodka that one of the boys was trying to get her to drink.

  He squinted through the shadows, realizing as he drew closer that the girl was Kaitlyn, and she didn't look very happy.

  "Hey," he said loudly, striding down to the moonlit rocks. "What's going on?"

  The boy grabbed the bottle and tossed it to the other side of the river. Then he and his friend ran across the log, jumped onto the opposite bank and disappeared into the trees.

  Kaitlyn gave him an angry scowl as he drew closer, but he thought he saw a glint of relief in her eyes. Not that she'd admit it. He could see the rebellious fire building in her crossed arms and the stubborn set of her chin.

  "Why did you do that?" she demanded.

  "Do what? Ask a question? Who are your friends?"

  "Nobody."

  "Nobody with some alcohol."

  "Everyone drinks; it's not a big deal."

  "I used to say the same thing," he said, propping up his foot on the branch. "But I was a few years older than you when I got into vodka. And the first time I drank it, I got the meanest hangover. Consider yourself saved from that."

  She didn't look like she cared about being saved.

  "Are you going to tell my aunt?"

  "I think you should do that."

  "Maybe I will. Maybe then we can move away from this shit hole."

  "I've lived in shit holes. This isn't one."