Song of Life

by C. L. McCullough

  She sighed and tried not to care, instead opening a drawer and rummaging through the papers inside. She finally found what she was looking for and raised her head.

  “If we come to an agreement, we can provide you with two meals a day, breakfast and lunch. Part of the package.” She nervously toyed with the paper, smoothing the creases and the curled corners. “I need you to fill this out for my records.”

  He half-rose from his chair, leaning over the desk as she held out the form. A fine link gold chain with a small Celtic cross swung loose from his top, dangling almost in front of her nose. Automatically she reached out to cup the cross in her hand. Cas’s lips tightened, and he grasped her wrist.

  “How beautiful.” She raised her gaze to his. “I can see it means something to you. I’m sorry if I overstepped boundaries.”

  “It was my mother’s.” His tone was curt, indicating he would discuss it no further.

  “She had good taste. I’d like my hand back now, please.”

  Flushing slightly, he released her. Still on his feet, he studied the paper she’d given him.

  “I can’t fill this out,” he said. “I asked you yesterday if we could keep this unofficial. I’m asking you again.”

  “Why?” she asked flatly. “Why should I risk my business and possible trouble with the IRS to accommodate a stranger who’ll give me no valid reason?”

  His expression hardened. He stood close enough that she could see the green in his eyes. Green that threatened to take over the brown as his emotion rose.

  “You’re right, you shouldn’t. You know of any other jobs going around here? I won’t take up anymore of your time.”

  “Sit down, Cas.”

  He stared at her arrogantly, then slowly took his seat.

  “I’m not asking for your life history here. I just need to know what you have against paying your taxes. Jim usually did the hiring, I’m new at it. There’s not much turnover at the Inn. People come, they get hired and they tend to stay. I need to know I’m not hiring an axe murderer.”

  Slowly his body relaxed. “Jim?” he asked.

  “My husband.”

  He fingered the cross, frowning, before finally tucking it under his shirt again.

  “Well, you tell Jim it’s like I said. I’m not wanted, not in any state. The law has no interest in me. It’s personal. I don’t want family to find me. I stay under the radar because they can. It would be no problem for them, no problem at all.” His chin rose. He was almost glaring at her. “I’m honest, I give a good days’ work for a good day’s pay and I’m not in any trouble except for what’s personal to me alone.”

  “Your family must be very powerful.”

  “He is.”

  She sat thinking, tapping the now rolled up paper against one hand. Her gaze wandered over him, taking in the stubbled chin, the way his hair curled on his forehead, the strength and thickness of his neck and the breadth of his shoulders. He was a beautiful man, not that it should matter in her decision making, but she was inclined to trust him.

  “We’ll give it a try,” she said abruptly. “I can offer minimum wage and the two meals a day. Plus a small cottage near the river. It’s not much, but it’s got running water.” She smiled. “Sometimes it’s even hot.”

  “I’ll take it,” Cas said promptly and held out his hand. “And I thank you. I thought I’d cut my own throat there, getting on my high horse like I did. A broke man has no room for pride.”

  Hoping she’d made the right decision, Sunny laid her hand in his. Cas’s strong fingers closed around hers, their darkness a vivid contrast against her pale skin. Finally she gathered her wits and gently took back her hand. She became brisk, trying to hide the effect he’d had on her.

  “Let me show you some of the things that need doing, get you familiar with the layout here.”

  She circled her desk and led the way down the hall to the reception area. Martha looked up as they approached.

  “Martha, Cas will be starting here today. I was going to make a list, but I got all caught up in those damn quarterly reports. Would you…”

  “Sure, honey, don’t sweat it. I’ll keep him busy.” She gave Cas a wicked smile and he gave her one right back. “So he’ll be working here? Lordy, lordy, we’ll have all the local ladies buzzing around here, like flies to honey. Maybe we could use him for our next ad campaign, what you think, Sunny? I declare, don’t know when I’ve seen a prettier man!”

  Cas’s dark skin made it difficult to know if he was flushing, but Sunny sensed it anyway.

  “I believe you’re embarrassing him, Martha. Enough of the Hee Haw impersonation.”

  Martha grinned unrepentantly. “If you insist, boss. I’ll get right on that list. Where you taking him first?”

  “I think he needs to meet Reese. He says he’s hungry.”

  Martha’s grin widened. “Oh, by all means. Honey, you can leave that pack here if you like. Better than dragging it all over creation. I promise it’ll be safe.”

  “Thanks, Martha, appreciate it.”

  He shrugged out of the backpack and bent over to slide it in an out of the way corner behind the bar-like desk.

  “Oh, that butt,” Martha muttered.

  “Martha. For God’s sake.” Sunny repressed a smile and tried to sound stern. “We don’t objectify the employees.”

  “Damn shame, if you ask me,” Martha replied.

  “Lust silently,” Sunny ordered, and escorted an embarrassed Cas from the room.

  Chapter 4

  The kitchen was separate from the main square of buildings, attached to the wing housing the dining room by a short passage and a pair of swinging doors. The dining room itself, almost empty now the breakfast rush was over, was a triumph of rustic splendor, an ode to wood and stone. Cas, pausing to look around, whistled silently. Sunny noticed his interest.

  “This was built long before walnut became so precious. Lucky for us, it’s quite a drawing point. That and Reese’s cooking.”

  “Reese?”

  “He was a friend of Jim’s father. They grew up together hereabouts. Papa Douglas went into inn keeping and Reese went into the army. They made a cook out of him.” She laughed. “He was lost track of for awhile, then he turned up again, complete with cordon bleu training, and asked Papa Douglas for a job. He’s been here ever since. I don’t think you could pry him away and plenty have tried.”

  “This reminds me of home. We had a lodge in the Sierras. Wood and stone, rustic. That fireplace is almost an exact duplicate.” He looked up. “The chandeliers there were more Spanish looking, but I like these too.” He studied the branching iron arms topped with waxed parchment shades, while Sunny remained quiet, hoping he’d reveal more of himself.

  He finished his inspection and smiled down at her. His smile tugged at something deep. It was such an attractive smile, attractive and sincere. Despite his wandering life, his teeth were almost perfect, white and even. He seemed to be fastidious in his grooming; she had noticed his efforts this morning. Those expressive lips, now curved in a friendly smile, contradicted the arrogant curve of his nose, but the nose hinted at a temper. It would be good to remember that.

  His smile was reflected in his eyes, warm and mostly brown now. His black hair was escaping its tie, being too short for what he’d intended. Without thinking, she reached up and pulled the piece of rawhide away.

  “You were about to lose this,” she said, feeling flustered at her action. His fingers touched hers as he took the tie from her, shocking her with their warmth. Her reaction shocked her even more.

  “This way.” She knew she sounded brusque. She tried to clamp down on these inappropriate feelings as she preceded him to the swinging doors, nodding to several guests as she passed. Her intent was not helped by the warmth of his hand on the small of her back as he held the door open, guiding her past him and into the corridor.

  Sunny was upset with herself. She had no business thinking the thoughts she was thinking, feeling the things s
he was feeling. He was just a baby! God only knew how much older than him she was–sometimes she felt like Methuselah’s mother. She was afraid to ask his age, she only hoped he was legal. She would not be one of those pathetic women trying to recapture her youth by taking a young lover.

  What on earth had she been thinking? She’d taken a smile and a hand at her back and projected them into a full blown affair! Maybe she did need to get laid. But it wouldn’t be by this youngster, no matter how mature he seemed. She had more sense than that.

  * * * *

  Cas felt Sunny’s back stiffen under his hand and wondered what he’d done to upset her now. He found Sunny attractive, almost too attractive, in a completely natural way. She didn’t wear makeup. He’d noticed that right off. Her lowered lashes fanning her cheeks as she kept her head turned from him, were long but so light they might appear invisible in strong light. Not quite blond, but not far from it, as were her brows. She had a scattering of freckles over a short, well shaped nose. Her upper lip was thin, the cupid’s bow deeply indented. In comparison her bottom lip looked full. Her mouth reflected her character, he thought. Practical with the promise of secrets to be discovered.

  It was obvious Sunny was older, for what that was worth. He wasn’t looking for a mother figure. He had one of those somewhere in the world, and he tried not to hate her for deserting him. But it was hard, very hard, and had been even harder while he was still helpless in his father’s grasp. He couldn’t reconcile the memories of his mother with the woman who’d left him behind without even a goodbye. Like he was some toy that had caught her fancy until she got bored and discarded him for something with more bells and whistles. He’d loved her unconditionally; now he wavered between love and hate.

  “Reese will find something for you to eat, even if he has to cook it himself.” Sunny’s voice brought him out of his dark thoughts.

  “Isn’t Reese the cook?” he asked, confused.

  “He’s the head cook, an honest to God chef. That means he throws out a lot of orders and criticizes everything his assistants produce. And he doesn’t prepare meals for employees unless he really takes a liking to them.”

  They were in a bright, busy kitchen. Dishwashers hummed, somewhere a radio played country music. A cook’s helper in a huge white apron slammed a refrigerator door shut with a hip, his hands full of lettuce .

  A short, broad figure, dressed in blue jeans and a plaid shirt, a white cowboy hat perched on his head, turned and glared at the offender.

  “Is that him?” Cas whispered.

  “That’s him. Reese!” Sunny called.

  “What the fuck? Who’s that with you, boss?”

  “New employee, Reese. Needs his breakfast so I can work him to death.”

  “Yeah, you’re quite the slave driver, all right. From the size of him, looks like he’ll eat up all the profits.”

  “This is Reese,” Sunny told Cas. “He gets paid all the profits so we can keep him here.”

  Cas held out his hand, but it was ignored.

  Reese scowled. “That’s a damn lie, Sunny, I only get paid half the profits, and I’d stay anyway. Where the hell else would I go?”

  “New York? Los Angeles? London, Rome, Paris?”

  Cas tried to imagine this southern cowboy in those cosmopolitan cities, in charge of world famous kitchens. His imagination failed him.

  Reese’s scowl deepened. “Those assholes got no appreciation for individuality. Why would I go there and be stuffed into their rules and regulations when I can be king of the whole damn place here?”

  “Why indeed?” Sunny laughed. “Reese, this is Cas, he’ll be…our maintenance engineer.”

  This time Cas didn’t bother to hold out his hand. He stood, resigned, as Reese erupted again.

  “What the fuck is that?” Reese demanded. “Hell, you’re having me on, aren’t you? Fancy words for nothing but a damn handyman! Get outta my way, Sunny, I got to whip up a sauce for the Bermans’ fiftieth. You’d think they could give more warning than two damn days! Y’all get outta here, you’re in my way. I’ll check you out later, handyman.”

  Cas nodded. “Fine, I’ll be here,” he said and received a sharp look.

  “You’d better be,” Reese muttered.

  “Check him out if you must,” Sunny said, exasperated. “But he’s staying no matter what your opinion is. There’s too much needs doing around here and I haven’t exactly been overrun with volunteers. So I decided to take some of those profits I’ve been wasting on you and splurge on a facelift for all my old buildings. Maybe he can do some work on you,” she added slyly.

  “Such sass from such a pretty face. Get your ass outta here, boss lady. I ain’t got time for all this nonsense right now. It’s peak hours here. Go on–git.”

  “The food, Reese,” Sunny reminded him.

  “Oh hell, sit down over there then, and I’ll bring something directly. Don’t you know we got breakfast hours for a reason? I got lunches to think about now.”

  Cas had worked a lot of jobs, but he couldn’t think of one where an employee was so rude and abrupt to the boss. Even the owners of the smallest companies demanded respect and at least a semblance of politeness.

  “Don’t mind him,” Sunny said softly, as they sat in the employee’s booth. She had detoured to get them both coffee, after questioning him with raised brows. “He’s more bark than bite, and he thinks he’s taking Papa Douglas’s place. And Jim’s, for that matter.”

  Cas thought he might cry with his first sip of coffee. His supply had run out days ago. He closed his eyes and inhaled the aroma. Jim–ah yes, her husband. Somewhere deep inside he felt regret. Of course she would be married, of course she would. In the long run, that would be best. He couldn’t take the chance of any kind of relationship. A small voice asked ‘why?’ Was he to live his whole life without any kind of love?

  “Jim?” he asked, his eyes still closed. “He away for awhile?”

  “For quite awhile. He died five years ago.”

  His eyes snapped open. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, stretching an arm across the table to cover her hand with his. He snatched it back quickly as a plate was thumped down where his arm had been. He looked up into Reese’s defiant stare.

  “Eat, and don’t touch the merchandise,” Reese growled.

  “Reese! I’m right here and I can handle myself.” Sunny’s annoyance was plain in her voice. At the same time Cas said, “Exactly who’s the boss here?”

  “I’m the boss,” Sunny said sharply. “Sometimes Reese forgets that.” She glared at her cook, who glared back at her.

  “Somebody’s got to watch out for you and Jim ain’t here to do it no more.”

  “I’m a grown woman, Reese, more than grown. I don’t need babysitting like some wet behind the ears teenager. You said you had work to do. Why don’t you get at it?”

  “Sunny…”

  Her face relaxed. “I’m okay, Reese, it’ll be okay. I’m going to take Cas on the tour and show him his digs. Get him started on that back garden. Then I’ll be in my office, if you need to keep tabs on me.” She glanced at her new employee. “Eat up, Cas. I’m going to work you hard between now and lunch.”

  He fought back a double entendre and shoveled up a forkful of eggs. Reese reluctantly went back to his sauce.

  Sunny leaned back, cradling her coffee cup in her hands.

  “Reese tends to be overprotective. He’s got cause,” she admitted. “An inn keeper has to be careful. This is a small town, doesn’t take much to set the gossip mill to grinding. A good looking boy like you, well, the pump will already be primed. They’ll be looking for something, and no matter how innocent it might be, they’ll run with it. Before you know it, you find out you’re having a torrid affair with someone you met in passing.”

  Cas frowned. She was putting distance between them for no good reason, as far as he could tell. He didn’t like being called a boy either.

  “You know, it’s not like I made a pass at you.” He
took a bite of sausage and watched her as he chewed. Interesting that she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I appreciate your problem. I think it’s fair to say if there’s any talk about our working relationship, it won’t be gossip. It’s not gossip if it’s true. That’s a fact.”

  Her face was beet red. He’d give anything to know what she was thinking. He stuffed the rest of the sausage in his mouth before giving her a questioning look.

  She took a deep breath. “Finish your meal. Time’s a-wasting.”

  “The work isn’t going anywhere,” he said mildly, “but I take your point.”

  He popped another sausage in his mouth and rose from his chair. “After you,” he said affably, swinging an arm wide, giving her a slight bow.

  She scowled and pushed her chair back. “Remember who’s boss here,” she said as she stalked toward the door.

  “Yes ma’am.” Amazing how light his heart felt. Had he been flirting? If that were so, he wanted more.

  Chapter 5

  Cas looked out over the neglected garden, and his heart sank. This alone could take most of his time. It was overgrown with weeds and brambles. Pine and oak saplings had rooted everywhere and if there had ever been a plan, it was hard to see what it had been.

  Sunny had given him a short tour of the inn along with a running commentary, including her pride and joy, the Washington room. According to her, for decades the Crossroads had been the premier inn in the area. Presidents and even minor royalty had slept under its roof; the Washington room and the Comte Richelieu room were not wishful thinking but based on fact. It mattered not at all that the most important men of their time had slept in the original small public house that existed during the Revolution. The rooms they had used had been incorporated into the new inn and were shamelessly touted in the intermittent advertising campaigns.

  His only thought was how small it was, almost claustrophobic. He could stand flat footed and touch the ceiling without straightening his elbow. The dark wood walls made it seem gloomy, although an effort had been made to brighten things up with a red and blue patchwork quilt that served as a bedcover. The room had definitely not been built with people his size in mind. He could only be glad he would never have to sleep there.