by Mona Ingram
Dale raised her eyebrows. “You’ve always thought she was a bit of a wimp. But you couldn’t have been farther from the truth.” She turned off her Kindle and closed the cover.
“When we were young, you were a solid sleeper. You’d fall asleep and not wake up until Mom called us to get ready for school. But I wasn’t so lucky, and as a result, I overheard a lot of conversations.” She downed the last of her coffee, then continued. “That’s the nice way of putting it. Actually, I eavesdropped. I’d sit in the hallway by the stairs and listen to what Mom and Dad were talking about.” Her attention drifted for a moment, then she reeled herself back in.
“Your mother fought like crazy to have me live with you. Boomer was dead set against it. He was afraid I’d be a bad influence. I can understand that; I was full of anger back then. But she was adamant. As far as she was concerned, I was going to stay and...let’s see, what was her favourite expression? ‘No two ways about it’.” She shot a quick sideways glance at Morgan. “That’s why I refused to be adopted. For a long time I thought he didn’t want me. Foolish, I realize that now. It wasn’t that he didn’t want me, it was just that he was trying to protect you.” She was silent for a moment. “So you see, your mother is a tough cookie, and she’s smart, too.”
Morgan held out the bag of peanuts to Dale, then tipped what was left into her mouth. “While we were growing up, she never said much,” she said around the peanuts. “But all that time she was observing us, figuring out what makes us tick.”
She looked at her watch. “Speaking of ticking, we’ll be there soon. Do you think Chance will be there to pick us up?”
Dale beamed. “Quite sure. Unless he gets hung up at the store.”
* * *
They spotted Chance’s tall, lanky form as soon as they walked into the baggage claim area. Morgan looked around, half hoping that Adrian would have come as well; even though she knew that the hotel was short-staffed during her absence.
Dale’s bag appeared on the carousel first. She grabbed it eagerly and went to meet Chance.
“Here, let me take that.” He reached for the suitcase and their hands touched.
“Oh, hell!” he said, releasing the suitcase and gathering her into his arms. “I missed you,” he said simply, pulling back and looking into her eyes.
“Me, too,” she said, lifting her lips for a kiss.
Chance turned to Morgan. “How is she this morning?” He still had an arm around Dale. “When I talked to Dale last night, she was doing really well.”
“Better every day.” Morgan looked around.
Chance followed her gaze. “He couldn’t come.”
Morgan shrugged, but she was having a hard time hiding her disappointment. “I understand.” She smiled brightly. “So, how’s business?” They walked out toward the short term parking lot.
“Busy. The hotel, too. Mr. Zimmerman has been stirring things up a bit”
“Anything I should know about?”
“I don’t think anything has been decided yet, but I heard he’ll probably get the lease on the restaurant.”
Morgan nodded. “How’s Adrian?”
Chance didn’t answer for a moment. “He’s fine,” he said eventually. Morgan wished she’d been able to see his eyes. “Busy, of course.”
Prickles of apprehension crept down Morgan’s spine. Something was wrong here. She hadn’t been able to reach Adrian last night, but she’d thought he said he was working and staff members were required to turn off their personal phones while working at the front desk. She wanted to ask more questions, but Chance and Dale were chatting happily about his progress in purchasing the business, and she didn’t want to appear too needy.
Stop it! she told herself as they drew closer to Whistler. Her imagination was running away with her, and she hated that. They’d be there soon enough.
Dale turned around. “We’ll go straight to the hotel and check on our schedules for tomorrow, okay?”
“Sure.” Morgan was tired, and her clothes were wrinkled, but she wanted to see Adrian.
Chance looked at her in the rear view mirror. “I’ll check in at the store and maybe we could all have dinner together at the restaurant.” His eyes gave nothing away. “It’ll be busy, but it’s better than trying to cook.”
Morgan could only nod.
He pulled into his assigned parking spot and headed for the store. Morgan and Dale walked up the front steps of the hotel and the lobby doors opened silently.
* * *
“No, not there.” An elegant woman laid a possessive hand on Adrian’s arm and smiled up at him. They were standing in front of a tall Christmas tree and she brushed up against him as she reached forward and removed a sparkling decoration. “Over here.” She re-positioned the bauble.
Morgan hated her on sight. After her experiences working at hotels in Banff, she recognized a spoiled rich girl when she saw one. The woman laughed and touched the side of Adrian’s face. “Now, don’t pout. Besides, this is work for a woman.” She followed her touch with a kiss and he raised a hand to his cheek.
Dale strode across the lobby toward the elevator. The housekeeping office was located on top floor. Adrian spotted her and his eyes widened. Then he turned.
“Morgan!” he said, the colour draining from his face. He looked trapped; his gaze skittering from the blonde to Morgan and then back.
“Ah, so this is Morgan.” The woman came forward, walking as though she was on a fashion runway. She extended her hand. “I’m Claudia. Claudia Klauser.”
As she came closer, Morgan’s dislike intensified, if that was possible. The woman had perfect skin and brilliant blue eyes. The hair colour was probably from a bottle, but it was skillfully done. Long blonde hair was twisted in a French braid at the nape of her neck and fine wisps curled around her face. In her travel-rumpled clothes, Morgan felt like someone’s kid brother.
Her good manners came to the fore and she accepted the proffered hand.
“So you’re Morgan,” the woman said. Her faint accent only made her more exotic. “We’re all so grateful to you for curing Adrian of his fear of heights.”
Morgan withdrew her hand. “He did that himself.” She tore her eyes away from the woman and looked at Adrian. He looked miserable.
“Be that as it may,” she waved a hand airily, “We’re still grateful, aren’t we darling?” She returned to Adrian’s side and slipped her arm into his.
“Claudia...”
She wrinkled her perfect nose. “He’s always been modest, but we’re used to it.” She cuddled up against him. “Just think, when we get back home we can go skiing again.”
He gave her an odd look and disentangled his arm. The woman made a moue of displeasure, but he didn’t seem to notice. He gave his head a quick shake and walked across the lobby.
“Morgan, I’m sorry...”
She hoped he couldn’t hear her heart breaking. “I understand, Adrian. You said it was complicated.” She looked past him to where Claudia was hanging more ornaments. “I must say, she’s beautiful.”
“Who?” He looked puzzled.
“Your girlfriend. Claudia.”
“Morgan.” He reached for her, and then seemed to remember where he was. “Claudia’s...”
“Morgan!” Bernard Zimmerman came into the lobby from the direction of the restaurant. “You’re back! How is your mother?”
Morgan could see how this man was so successful. Every eye in the lobby turned when he walked in. Adrian was developing the same charisma; it was a pity she wouldn’t be around to see it.
“My mother is fine, thank you. She asked me to thank you for getting us there so quickly.”
“My pleasure.” He looked across the lobby at Claudia, then turned to Adrian, a small frown on his face. “I thought you were going to arrange for the tree to be decorated on the late shift?”
Adrian sighed. “You know Claudia. She found the boxes stacked over there and hauled them out while I was dealing with a customer.” He lo
wered his voice. “It was either let her go ahead or have an altercation right here in the lobby.”
Mr. Zimmerman’s lips narrowed. “You made the right decision, of course, but I really would have preferred it to be done later.”
Adrian looked at Morgan. “I was going to ask Morgan to come back late one night and do it with me.”
Why was he talking about this now? It was all too confusing.
“If you’ll excuse me,” she said, “I need to check on my shift for tomorrow.” She held her hand out, European-style. “Thanks again, Mr. Zimmerman.”
Adrian watched her go.
Bernard read Adrian’s expression. “What’s going on here, son?” He glanced at Claudia. “Is Claudia playing games again?”
Adrian winced. “She made it sound like we were together. I was trying to explain when you came in, but from the look on Morgan’s face, she wasn’t going to be very receptive.”
Bernard took him by the arm and led him away. “Listen to me, son. You have to make it clear once and for all that you’re not taking your brother’s place in her life.” He gave a short laugh. “Even Bernie was getting ready to break it off with her, but she was clinging to him like a limpet.” He bent his knees and looked into Adrian’s eyes. “You’re being too nice. Are you willing to risk losing Morgan because some spoiled girl won’t take no for an answer?”
“No, I’m not.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Adrian waited at the front desk until an arriving couple had finished their check-in. “Where’s Morgan?” he asked.
Kent looked up from the computer. “Sorry, man. She left when you were talking to your father.” He glanced toward the front door. “Looked like she couldn’t wait to get out of here.”
“Dammit!” he checked his watch. Another hour and a half to go on his shift. He’d worked alone at the concierge desk the past couple of days and had enjoyed the freedom, but now he wished that Klaus Drescher would appear. No such luck. “Okay, thanks, Kent.”
He eyed the Christmas tree. Claudia had only hung about half a dozen ornaments.
“Put those back in the box, please. My father wants this done when there are no guests around.’
“But Adrian...”
He looked at her wearily. This woman thought of nothing but her own desires. It was no wonder his brother had tired of her. “Just do it, Claudia. And I don’t appreciate that little charade with Morgan right now. There’s nothing between you and I, and there never will be.”
“But Adrian...”
“Stop saying that.” His hands clenched at his sides and he forced himself to relax. “Go back home, Claudia. There are lots of rich, eligible men there at this time of year.”
She opened her mouth to reply, then shut it, turned on her heel and headed for the elevator. Adrian removed the ornaments, tidied up the mess she had made and put the boxes back behind the concierge desk.
“So?” He looked up to see his father. “Where is Morgan?”
“Gone back to the Lodge, I guess.”
“What are you waiting for?”
“I have another hour and a half before I can leave.”
His father motioned for him to get up. “I’ll cover for you.” His eyes sparkled. “It’s not as if I haven’t done this before. This is a slow time of day, isn’t it?”
Adrian admitted that it was.
“Then go. I can manage. It will be fun.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Adrian ran to the elevator, and waited impatiently to be taken to the parking garage. He hadn’t noticed that it was getting dark out. He hoped he could spot Morgan if she hadn’t already caught a bus on Village Gate Boulevard.
It was snowing when Adrian pulled out, Had it really only been a few days ago that they’d gone for brunch at the Chateau? He turned left onto Village Gate and searched for her among the crowd waiting for the bus. There she was! He pulled up at the bus stop and rolled down the passenger window. ‘Morgan!” he called.
She looked at him and tears pooled in her eyes.
“Get in,” he urged. She looked like a waif. She had no gloves, and there was snow melting in her hair.
The SUV filled with light as a bus pulled up behind.
“Come on,” he said.
She hesitated for a moment, then got in.
He pulled out and she remained silent. He glanced at her from time to time, but she kept her face averted.
“Thanks,” she said, as they pulled into the parking lot at the Lodge. She jumped out and headed for the door. When he caught up to her, she was digging frantically through her purse, trying to find her key card. Tears were streaming down her face.
“Here, let me.” He opened the door.
They went to the elevator and rode up together in silence.
She stood outside her door, key card in hand.
“You don’t have to explain,” she said. “I understand.”
She turned and opened the door.
“No, you don’t.” He followed her inside and went directly to the bathroom, where he grabbed a towel.
“Come here.”
She frowned, but took a few steps closer. He tossed the towel over her head and started to dry her hair. “You don’t understand at all.”
He whipped the towel away and pushed her hair out of her eyes. “Morgan, Claudia is Bernie’s girlfriend. Or should I say she was his girlfriend.” He smiled faintly. “When Bernie died, she focused on me.” He touched her cheek with the tips of his fingers. “I don’t want her, Morgan. I want you. I always have.”
“Why?” Hope dawned in her eyes.
“Why?” He stepped back and looked at her. “Because you’re real, Morgan Dempsey. Even with your wet hair and red eyes, you’re more beautiful than Claudia will ever be.”
He opened his arms and she stepped into his embrace. “This is where you belong. Don’t run away from me again, okay? I’ll just come and find you.” He kissed the top of her head. “I missed you, Morgan. Promise me you’ll give us a chance.”
His voice rumbled in his chest and Morgan raised her lips. “My mother told me to listen to my heart. And right now, my heart would like nothing better.”
His kiss was everything she’d dreamed about for the last three days. When their hearts finally returned to normal he cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “I hate to share you tonight, but Dad would like us to join him for dinner, if that’s all right with you.”
“That reminds me. I sort of promised to have dinner with Chance and Dale. Is it all right if we all eat together?” She grabbed her phone.
“Dad would love that.” He gave her another quick kiss and felt for his own phone.
Epilogue
Six months later.
“I see what you mean. That’s a lot of testosterone.” Adrian whispered in Morgan’s ear as they approached the restaurant her mother and Dale had chosen for the rehearsal dinner. Her brothers and her father were standing outside, enjoying the warm spring air. Morgan and Adrian had only been apart for a week, but they held hands as though they’d been separated for months. Adrian had arrived that afternoon from Whistler, around the same time the Zimco jet had delivered his parents and grandmother from Switzerland.
“We’ll be next.” Morgan fingered the antique emerald-cut engagement ring Adrian had given her this afternoon. “Does that make you nervous?”
“Absolutely not. I can hardly wait to make the announcement.” They had agreed to tell their families tomorrow, after Dale and Chance left for their honeymoon.
“How’s your grandmother?”
“She’s a bit tired from the trip, but they’re all looking forward to tomorrow.”
Morgan smiled up at him and he gave her a quick kiss. “Okay, let’s do this.”
They entered to a chorus of greetings. Inseparable as usual, Dale and Chance greeted them together.
“You look beautiful.” Morgan admired her sister. “But most of all, you look happy.”
“I am.” Dale had every reason t
o be happy. Chance’s new store was a major success and Dale was now head housekeeper at Zimmerli Whistler.
Cynthia Dempsey called her family together. “Let’s get our pictures taken before we eat.”
Adrian hung back, but she motioned him forward. “Come on, Adrian. This is a family picture.”
“How did you know?” he said, unable to hide a grin.
“I know my daughters,” she said, smiling at him fondly. “All right now everyone. Say cheese!”
* * *
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Here’s an excerpt from
Then Came Love:
Chapter One
The fawn leaped onto the road and stood frozen, huge eyes watching her approach. Maybe if Amanda hadn’t been looking for the sign to Loon Lake Resort she would have seen it sooner, but it was too late now. She yanked the steering wheel and her SUV slid over the gravel shoulder, down the slight incline and came to rest with the passenger side against a tree.
Sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating patches of forest. It was an odd time to think of it, but she loved this part of British Columbia and had been thrilled when Vince told her he owned a cottage on Sandy Lake. Unfortunately, that first flush of excitement hadn’t lasted.
Don’t think about that now, she told herself. Think about how you’re going to get out of here.
Surprisingly, she was unhurt. Vince would be angry when he found out about the Land Rover but she didn’t care; the deer was safe and that was what mattered. He’d told her more than once that it was better to “hit the damned things” than swerve to avoid them. Last summer he’d hit a doe not far from here and unceremoniously dragged the still twitching body to the side of the road, muttering about “vermin”. She’d held back an angry retort, afraid of him even then. It was a chilling realization.
The car was still running; that was a good sign. She turned off the ignition. Birdsong filled the air and she recognized the distinctive warble of a Vireo. And then the sound of flowing water filtered through. There was a stream nearby; no doubt one that emptied into Loon Lake. Many of the lakes in this area were connected by channels large enough to accommodate a canoe or a shallow-draft boat. That, coupled with the excellent fishing was responsible for the increase of fishing resorts over the past twenty years.