“Dude, you put a ring on it already. You don’t have to be so lovey dovely all the time. It’s nauseating,” Russell complained.
The entire table erupted with laughter.
“Lindsay, I know Luke took you into town today, but I’m sure you didn’t have any fun. If you’re free, I’d love to show you around if you have some time. We could go dancing at the Outpost. Kick up your heels a little bit.”
“That sounds like fun. I’ll let you know.” Lindsay smiled at Russell.
Luke felt a tightness in his gut as irritation choked him.
“I looked at your website. Awesome shots. You’ve been to some cool places. I’d love to hear about them,” Russell continued complimenting Lindsay.
Luke was gripping his glass so tightly he was afraid he was going to break it.
“Dinner is wonderful, Sara, as usual.”
“Thanks, Cheryl. I made banana pudding for desert. Something different.”
Her brothers made to stand. “Sit down. I’ll bring it out. You aren’t going to eat out of the dish.”
“Aww, so they do it too?” Cheryl teased Dan.
Little Jacob started fussing. “I’ll bet he needs to be changed.” Cheryl picked him up and stood. “Would you mind holding him, Lindsay, while I get his diaper bag?” She handed the child to her and Lindsay’s eyes went wide with shock.
She’d rarely had any interaction with a child.
“He’s not breakable. Just talk to him. Bounce him a little,” Luke whispered in her ear.
She cuddled the child, automatically slipping into a childlike voice without realizing she had. “Aren’t you just the most adorable little guy? Are you wet? You don’t like that, do you? No, you don’t.”
Jacob smiled up at her, showing his little teeth. He gurgled, saying “Mama.”
“Isn’t he just adorable?” Lindsay said to Luke.
“That he is.” He watched the wonderment fill Lindsay’s eyes as she cooed to the baby.
“Okay, little one. Let’s get you changed.” Cheryl took the boy and went into Sara’s room to change him.
“I have a surprise for you, Sara,” Lindsay announced.
“You do? What’s that?” she asked excitedly.
“I had prints made of the photos I’ve taken. We can look at them tonight if you want to.”
Sara squealed. “If I want to? Are you kidding? Of course, I want to. The guys can go into the sitting room and have a drink while we look at them. I can’t wait to see them.”
“Hey, what if we want to see them too?” Russell pouted.
Luke knew he just wanted a chance to get closer to Lindsay.
“Because I want to enjoy these without an audience. You can see them later. Now eat your desert and get out.”
“You see, Nate. I told you she isn’t all roses and buttercups.” Michael nodded.
“She’s my buttercup.” Nate couldn’t resist rubbing it in.
Sara leaned over and kissed her husband. “That never gets old.” She grinned. “Now eat up and get out.”
Laughter again filtered around the table.
* * * * *
Dishes were cleared. The men had been sent into the sitting room. Little Jacob had fallen asleep. Sara and Cheryl sat on the couch with a glass of wine, feet tucked up under them, anxiously awaiting the viewing of Lindsay’s photos. She handed Sara the envelope, holding her breath. The anxiety waiting for the first response to her work was always present. Even after all this time, she still experienced it.
She picked up her own glass of wine and sank into the couch as Sara opened the envelope. Her gasp and smile that spread across her face was the first indication that she liked what she saw.
She shuffled through the first three or four photos before she looked at Lindsay. Tears were gathering in her eyes.
“Lindsay, you’ve brought the inn to life. People will feel like they’ve stepped inside the inn without even being here. My God. You’re amazing. Look at these, Cheryl.”
They were quiet as they looked through them. Each room and cabin were pictured, the unique décor highlighted in each shot. The outdoor photos were Lindsay’s favorite, especially the pond and barn. Seeing the photos of the barn made her think of Luke, warmth flooding her with the memory of their time spent in the barn.
“Um, did you mean to include these in the packet, Linds? I’m not sure Luke would appreciate that. I don’t think he wants to be part of the brochure.” Sara brought Lindsay back from her sexy thoughts.
“What?” Lindsay looked over to Sara holding the photos of Luke walking back down the path with the ax in his hand, the morning fog surrounding him.
“Oh, no. I... he…I was out taking pictures that morning, and he just appeared.”
“I see that - in all fifteen photos you took of him,” Sara teased her friend.
“He’s…I…oh, hell. He makes my insides melt, Sara. He’s my mountain man.” Lindsay drained the wine in her glass, sitting on the table. She began pacing in front of the sofa.
“He’s obnoxious and opinionated. He judged me the minute we met. He’s gruff and sarcastic. Then I get here, and he’s a wizard with his hands. The woodworking he does is amazing. He’s loyal. He checks on his mother weekly. He chops wood and kisses boo-boos. He’s hard on the outside and squishy on the inside.” She sank to the sofa cushions, her head buried in her hands. “My chest hurts. What is wrong with me?”
Cheryl and Sara shared a knowing look.
“It’s called emotions, Lindsay. You have feelings for Luke.” Sara watched the fear fill Lindsay’s eyes.
“Feelings as in I lust for him, then okay. Yes. It’s nothing more than that. I don’t do commitment, Sara. You know that.”
“I do, so I guess it doesn’t matter then. We will just get rid of these photos. You don’t want them, right? They don’t mean anything, so I’ll just…”
Lindsay snatched them from Sara’s hands. “No, don’t. I want to keep them.”
Nodding her head, Sara grasped Lindsay’s hands. “That’s what I thought. Listen, Linds, I know you have always shied away from relationships, but maybe this time is different. Luke is different. He’s not a one-night stand kind of guy. If that’s all you’re after, its best to leave it alone. If he’s showing interest, then he’s vested. I don’t want to see either of you get hurt, but don’t let fear kill a chance you might have at finding your true love.”
Lindsay jumped up from the couch, holding the photos of Luke.
“I know what my true love is. It’s my work. I don’t have room for anything else. I don’t need anything else.” She took her photos of Luke and went out the back door to her cabin. She needed some time alone to think. She was tired.
“She has no clue, does she?” Cheryl asked Sara.
“I think maybe she does. That’s what has her so scared. I’m worried about Luke too. I don’t see this ending well.”
* * * * *
“Did you guys see who Justin Lakeland is dating? Carrie Summers. Can you believe it? She and Brad broke up.” Michael took a sip of his beer.
“No, way. Everybody thought Carrie and Brad were going to get married. That’s crazy. Just another example of how most relationships don’t make it, huh Nate?”
“Are you trying to make me leave your sister?”
“No, I’m just trying to win the $100 we bet at your wedding.”
“You bet on your sister’s marriage being a failure? What kind of brother are you?” Nate asked him and Russell.
“Realistic ones,” they chimed in together.
“You sound like a bunch of women, for Christ’s sake.” Luke couldn’t stand it. He downed his whiskey and poured another one.
“Speaking of women, how about Lindsay McKay. She is one hot mama. I think I’ve got her hooked. Now I just need to reel her in,” Russell bragged.
Nate looked to Luke, not knowing what he might do.
Luke’s shoulders tightened. He slowly lowered his glass and set it down on the bar.
“The onl
y hook you’re going to receive is my left one if you go anywhere near Lindsay.” Luke stared Russell down.
“It’s that way, is it? Don’t tell me you’ve gone and been hooked yourself. Say it ain’t so.”
“You and Lindsay got a thing going on? That’s cool. I don’t blame you for going after that. I wouldn’t mind tapping that myself.”
Dan smacked Russell on the back of the head before Luke jumped out of the bar stool and came after him. The stool hit the floor. Luke had Russell pinned to the wall, his shirt fisted in his hand.
The heavy wood doors slid open. Cheryl and Sara stood in the opening.
“Are we interrupting something?” Sara glanced over at Luke. “I don’t feel like cleaning up blood tonight, Luke. How about you put Russell down and take a walk to cool off. Lindsay has gone to her cabin, in case you’re wondering.”
“Next time, I put a fist in it if I ever hear you say something like that again.” Luke poked his fist in Russell’s chest to emphasize his point.
“Okay. Okay. Don’t’ be so sensitive. I’m sorry.”
“Time to go home, Dan. You too, boys. Sara left you to-go boxes on the counter.”
“Thanks for dinner, Runt.” Dan hugged her. Russell and Michael ruffled her hair. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Russell looked to Nate. “Hey, we good, man?”
Nate nodded and waved him off.
Sara looked to Nate, her eyebrows raised.
“You know your brothers. Always up to something.”
“Wait until you see the photos Lindsay took. They are more than I ever could have hoped for.”
“Oh, now I get to see them?”
“I had to have someone babysit the boys. By the way, you did an abysmal job from the scene I walked into.”
“Russell made a comment about Lindsay.”
“That’s what I figured. I’m afraid we have an emotional storm brewing. There is a cold front headed for a warm front. I think it’s going to get pretty dicey.”
“I’ll protect you.”
“Yeah, but who will protect them?” Sara cuddled up to her husband as they went to bed.
Luke was pacing on the back deck when he saw a light come on in Lindsay’s cabin. He waited, but the light stayed on. He argued with himself back and forth. No, you shouldn’t go knock on her door. Yes, you should. His brain acted of its own accord, leading his feet to her doorstep.
He could hear the television playing. He took a deep breath and rapped his knuckles on the door three times.
A few minutes later, the door cracked open, slivers of light beaming through to the front porch.
“I saw your light come on. I just wanted to check on you. Everything alright?”
“I’m fine. I just couldn’t sleep.”
“Me either.”
“You want to come in? We could watch a movie.”
He hesitated, thinking of a thousand reasons why he shouldn’t but one why he should. He wanted to.
“Sure. Why not?”
She stepped back and opened the door. A blanket was draped across the sofa where she had been sitting. A bowl of popcorn was freshly popped.
“I’m watching the Hallmark channel. Don’t judge me.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t. I love this movie.” His lips quirked upward.
She chuckled. “Deal.”
They sat down on the couch together. She shared her blanket with him. He kicked off his shoes and stretched out his legs. They shared the bowl of popcorn in comfortable silence.
Birds chirped. Luke slowly opened his eyes. His blankets were heavy on his chest. He moved his arm and encountered another body. Instantly,,,,, his eyes popped open, now wide awake. He took in the cabin. He looked down and found Sara wrapped around his body, at some point they had stretched out on the couch together and fallen asleep. He’d been here all night. His stiff back was proof of that.
Lindsay lifted her head and looked at him sleepily. “We fell asleep.”
“Excellent deduction, Holmes.”
“It’s too early for your snide humor.” Her head thumped back down on his chest.
His chest shook with his laughter. “I have to get up, Lindsay. I don’t know what time it is, but it won’t be long before Sara’s downstairs, and the day will get started.”
“No. I don’t want you to do. You’re nice and warm and comfy.” She pouted. She was adorable when she pouted.
He slid out from under her and picked her up in his arms, carrying her to her bedroom. He laid her in her bed and covered her up. “Go back to sleep. I’ll see you later.” He kissed the top of her head as she mumbled something incoherently and turned over to go back to sleep.
“Not a morning person. Check.” Luke was smiling to himself as he silently let himself in. He was tiptoeing through the great room trying not to wake anyone.
“Late night?” Nate asked from the kitchen.
“Jesus, Mary,
and Joseph! You scared the shit out of me.”
Luke walked over to the counter. “What are you doing up at…what time is it anyway?”
“It’s 4:30 in the morning.”
“What are you doing up?” he asked Nate.
“I haven’t been to bed. I was on a roll. I finished the song I was working on. What about you? Why are you sneaking in at 4:30 in the morning?”
“None of your damned business, but if it was, it wouldn’t be what you’re thinking. Nothing happened. We watched a movie and fell asleep. That’s all.”
“I’m sorry?” Nate questioned him.
“Cute. I’m too tired to verbally spar with you right now. Go to bed to your wife. I’m going to my cold empty one alone.”
“There is that.” Nate grinned, turning to go to his wife.
“You’re still an ass hat.”
“I know. Night, Luke.”
Chapter 7
Snow had fallen just as expected. The bright white covering was a brilliant contrast against the red wings of the cardinals frolicking in the snow, pecking at what was beneath. Lindsay snapped rapidly, following the birds from ground to tree, enjoying their animated play with each other.
The crisp, frozen ground crunched under her boots with each of her steps. A squirrel scurried across the yard, its bushy tail swishing side to side. The animal stopped, looked directly at Lindsay and stood perfectly still as if posing for the camera. She captured several shots before it scurried away.
Childlike enchantment filled her as she wandered the grounds, taking random photos. She had no purpose, no assignment except to enjoy herself in the moment. It reminded her of the early days when she went out on walking expeditions just for the pleasure of taking pictures.
As she rounded the path coming back to her cabin, a projectile object slammed into her front left vest, causing her to step backward. Shocked, she realized a snowball had been launched at her. Eyes wide, she looked up to see Luke standing near the back deck, a devious grin on his face.
“That’s how you want to play it, Davis? I’m from New York, remember?” She jumped on the porch of her cabin, opened the door, and laid her camera inside. She hurdled the railing, dropped to the ground, compacted her own missile and launched it before Luke had time to react. Direct hit.
His hearty laughter filled her with excitement. She loved a good challenge. She didn’t cower behind the cabin. She gave as good as he did, snowball for snowball. For a good 20 minutes solid they volleyed back and forth, until Luke bent, hung his head, and charged just like a bull would have. Lindsay shrieked, turning and running down the pathway. She didn’t make it far before Luke tackled her. She would have landed face first if Luke hadn’t flipped her so that he landed on his back and she fell on top of him.
“That’s dirty, Davis.” She gasped for air, trying to catch her breath.
“It’s not dirty. It’s called strategy. I went on the offensive, otherwise we would still be throwing snowballs. You’ve got one hell of an arm, Hot Shot.” Snow covered his beard and mustache. His eyes gl
inted with laughter. Her mountain man was adorable.
She couldn’t resist reaching down and brushing the snow away. They stilled. She lowered her head as he lifted his, their lips pressing together, the warmth from their mouths contrasting against their cold skin.
Raising up, she smiled down at him. “If we keep that up, we might melt the snow.”
His arms tightened around her. “I’m game if you are.”
“You what else would be fun?”
“I could think of a few things, but we’d have to take it inside.”
She contemplated his offer but rolled over onto her back beside him.
“Snow angels. I want to make a snow angel. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve made a snow angel?”
She spread her legs open and closed while flapping her arms up and down like a bird, laughing gleefully. Laying perfectly still, she looked over to Luke who had mimicked her actions.
“Now the hard part. How do we get up without wrecking them?”
Luke surprised her when he shoved himself upward, vaulting to his feet with extreme force. Holy cow! The man had lower body strength. She looked upon him in awe.
“I cannot do that.” She laughed. “I am not that strong.”
He stood at her feet, looking down on her. ‘Prettiest snow angel I’ve ever seen.”
A blush creeped into her cheeks, deepening her reddened skin even more.
“You haven’t even seen my angel yet.”
He stretched out his arms, extending his hands for her to grab onto. She reached up, and he pulled her to her feet. Once standing, he lifted her and twirled her around.
“Nothing as pretty as you bundled up and covered in snow.” He set her on her feet. “Join me for coffee?”
“I’d love to, but I’ve got to finish organizing the photos I took yesterday. Rain check?”
“I’ll hold you to it.” He turned to leave, but looked back. “By the way, I was charged with informing you we are going bowling tonight after dinner.” His knowing stare told her he was aware she wasn’t a person who usually frequented bowling alleys.
“Bowling, Sara? Really?” She hung her head in defeat. “The things I do for friends.”
The cold was infiltrating her bones. She shivered as she stomped her boots on the porch and entered the warm cabin. Hanging her jacket and scarf, she stripped right there in the open living room. The blinds were closed, so she wasn’t in danger of anyone seeing her. Her clothes were soaked through from romping in the snow.
Romancing the Holidays: Twelve Christmas Romances - Benefits Breast Cancer Research Page 65