“Are you all right?” He seemed sincere. She guessed she should appreciate his concern, however begrudgingly it might be given.
She sighed but didn’t say anything.
He turned out of the quiet suburb and headed toward downtown. “That wasn’t very bright, you know—what you did.” With a vehemence that made Tessa Jane jump, he pounded a fist on his burled wood dashboard. “Damn! Who am I to talk? That was the most lame-brained thing I’ve ever done!”
She slanted a gaze at him through her lashes. What had been the singularly most important event of her life had been the most lame-brained act of his. She bit back a sob.
His scowling profile was indistinct through her hovering tears. “I thought I … I loved you.” Her whisper was laced with heated emotion. “I don’t.”
He exhaled long and low. “You’re a kid. You don’t know anything about love. Hell. I don’t know that much about it myself.”
Tessa Jane wiped at a tear and turned to stare, unseeing, out the window. The world slid by at a rapid clip. Cord was certainly in a hurry to be rid of her.
They rode the rest of the way in silence. The station was closed and dark. One dingy streetlight illuminated the corner where Cord pulled in. He surprised her by getting out and walking around to her door to assist her. He took her hand, but she yanked it away, pushing past him. “Don’t bother.”
“Dammit!” He took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “Promise me you won’t do anything so foolish again.”
She lifted her chin. Clinging to the remnants of her tattered pride, she assured him, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” Feeling bitterly rejected, Tessa Jane brushed his hands from her shoulders, mumbling harshly, “Please—go away.”
Wanting to comfort her in some small way, he reached toward her, but saw the warning in her eyes. Defeated, he shrugged his hands into his pockets. “Look, Tessa Jane. I’m sorry about what happened tonight….”
She said nothing. She just continued to stare at him. In the dreadful silence, a tear slid down her face. For the first time in his life, Cord was at a complete loss. He felt like a rat deserting a sinking ship, but there was little else he could do now. In a subdued voice, he whispered, “Goodbye, Tessa Jane.”
Dragging his eyes from her distraught face, he walked around his car and slid behind the wheel. As he drove out of the station, he could see her in his rearview mirror. She stood stiffly, her slim body washed in harsh, yellow light while she endured his retreat with a gritty, admirable pride. He ground out a blasphemy, knowing he’d never be able to forget the pain in her glistening, green eyes.
1
Thirteen years later…
Tess was running late. Eight new guests were arriving at four o’clock, and naturally, room twelve’s plumbing had gone on the blink. Hurrying down the Georgian staircase, she dashed through the cozy reception hall to the front desk. Kalvin was sound asleep, snoring, his straggly blond head resting on his forearms.
She heaved a distracted sigh. “Any messages, Kal?” she asked, her voice pitched loud enough to snap him awake.
He bobbed up, rubbing his eyes with bony fists. Blinking, he tried to focus on whoever it was who’d awakened him.
Tess glanced at her watch. It was nearly noon. “Good morning, Kalvin,” she teased. “Up late last night?”
He responded with a gap-toothed grin. “Oh hullo, Ms Mankiller.” He scraped a big paw through his sandy hair and yawned. “Yep. Out watchin’ the water.”
“See anything of Champ?” She was interested, but not very hopeful. Lake Champlain’s monster was legendary, but his presence was yet undocumented. She’d lived in Lost Cove Inn, near Vergennes, Vermont, for nearly twelve years, and hadn’t seen Champ herself. Still, there were enough reported sightings every year to keep her hoping. The legend of Champ was what brought most of their guests to the inn. Therefore, she chose to believe in him.
“Nah.” Kalvin flipped a hand in the air. “Thought I did a couple of times, but the fog was pretty thick. Couldn’t prove nothin’.”
“Well,” she said, smiling at him. “Don’t fret about it. If Champ’s out there, you’ll see him.”
“Heck, Ms Mankiller, I’ve seen him a bunch of times. Just never had no witnesses.”
“You need to keep your camera with you,” she suggested, reaching for the telephone notepad.
“Easy to say,” he groused. “Seems like ol’ Champ always shows his self when I’m weedin’ or dumpin’ trash. He stays good and hid when I’m ready for him.”
Tess laughed, thumbing through the messages. “You know what they say—‘a watched pot never boils.’”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.” Her attention was riveted on a message. Kalvin’s handwriting was not easy to read, so she was sure she was mistaken about the name, but her stomach lurched. It irritated her to think that even a scrawled name that resembled Redigo could affect her so strongly after all these years. Shoving the pad under Kalvin’s nose, she asked, “What does this say?”
He squinted down at it. “Uh, says that group from the university’s made a change in their reservations.”
“What about the reservations?”
Kalvin scratched his ear. “Well, near as I could make out, the other woman zoo teacher—”
“Zoology professor,” Tess interrupted gently.
“Uh, I guess. Anyway, the other lady who was comin’ with Ms Cash can’t make it, so a guy’s comin’ in her place. Since Ms Cash and the other lady doc was sharin’ a room, this guy called to say he’d need a room of his own.”
“This guy?” Tess repeated.
“Yeah—name was Red somethin’.”
“Redigo?” She dragged a strand of her waist-length hair across her shoulder and began to fiddle with it.
“Yeah, somethin’ like that.”
“Did he leave his first name?”
“Nope, can’t say he did. He was a doc, though.”
“Well, never mind.” She swept her hair back, trying to shake off her sudden unease. “Say, Kalvin. Do you have a cigarette?”
He squinted at her. “No, ma’am. You know I don’t smoke them things.”
“Oh, right.” She fumbled in her slacks pocket for change. “Listen, room twelve’s stopped up again. We’re going to need it by four, when they arrive.”
“No chance.”
Tess had started around the desk, heading for the cigarette machine, when his words stopped her. “What do you mean?”
“Already checked it out. Needs a part. Barney’s Plumbing’s gettin’ right on orderin’ it for me.”
“Ordering it?” She grimaced. “Well, how long…?”
“Don’t know. Maybe a week.”
“Fine…” She sighed, fighting frustration. “Okay, when they get here, put Dr. Red-whatever in the overflow room.”
“Yes ma’am. Ms Mankiller?”
“What?” She drummed her fingers on the polished oak, unaccountably nervous.
“I thought you said you was gonna quit smokin’.”
“I am. I’m going to.” She headed toward the cigarettes. “Just not today.”
“Oh,” Kalvin murmured, sounding befuddled. “That’s good, I guess.”
It can’t possibly be Cord Redigo, she told herself as she dropped the coins into the machine. Just last November she’d seen that article in the Smithsonian magazine about him. According to the article, he was doing research in the Indian Ocean and living on some island near Madagascar—the other side of the world. It was ridiculous to think that this male doctor Red-whatever could possibly be her “Big-Mistake-in-the-Hay-Redigo.”
She lit a cigarette and took a puff, inhaling deeply. Besides, the way Kalvin took phone messages, the doctor’s name could be anything from Redbird to Redtape. She took another drag on the cigarette, feeling better. It had just been her need for nicotine that had made her so antsy, she rationalized. She was fine now.
Crushing out the cigarette with yet another vow tha
t this was absolutely her very last one, she headed down the back hall. The inn wouldn’t run itself.
TESS CHECKED her watch again. Five-thirty. Dr. Cash’s party was late. That didn’t bother her. Guests arrived late all the time. The thing that had been wearing on her nerves was the fact that she hadn’t been able to put Cord Redigo from her thoughts. Boy, had she been young and naive when she’d crawled under that blanket. She wished it had never happened, but since it had, she’d spent a lot of years working awfully hard to put it completely behind her.
Her past was another world, another life. All she wanted was to be able to stuff that night into some little corner of her brain and forget it. Until this Red-something person arrived to ease her mind that it really wasn’t Cord Redigo, she was going to have the gnawing feeling that a shotgun was aimed at her chest, cocked and ready to fire.
Her nerves in tatters, she dropped her aunt’s dinner tray on the kitchen countertop with a clatter. Turning to reassure her cook, Sugar Smith, that nothing had broken, she realized she needn’t have bothered. Sugar had on earphones connected to a tiny MP3 player fastened to her belt. Totally oblivious, she was gyrating her ample hips back and forth’ as she stood in front of the cutting board slicing carrots.
Tess tapped her on the shoulder. She knew from experience that when Sugar was absorbed in one of her blaring Elvis, Beach Boys or Cher tapes, any attempt at conversation would be futile.
Sugar turned around and grinned, her plump, middle-age face flushed from the kitchen’s heat. With a wet hand, she gingerly moved one of the earphones forward to rest on her cheek. “Hi, boss. What can I do for you…?”
“Just checking about dinner,” Tess half-shouted. “Looks like the weather’s going to hold. Let’s serve on the terrace in the garden. It’ll be a nice change. Virge’ll need to get the extra tables set up.”
Sugar nodded, answering in a singsong voice, “Check. I’ll wake my sweetie pie.”
“Is that a lyric or is Virge napping?”
Sugar laughed. “Just taking a little break.” She wagged her heavy shoulders to the beat as she replaced the earphone. “Tables’ll be set up, no prob, boss—baby—baby—”
Tess had another thought, but decided against attempting to break through the noise barrier. Sugar was already heading toward the kitchen’s back door, lost in her rock-and-roll paradise.
“Boss, baby—catchy. Maybe I ought to put it on my office door.” She smiled at the absurd idea.
“I know I’d knock,” a deep voice remarked as she turned to go.
She stumbled to a halt when she saw the lanky, blond man in the doorway. He was carrying two suitcases. A slow, slightly crooked smile sauntered across his lips. It took all her strength to keep from gaping in horror. Cord Redigo had stepped quietly back into her life. The shotgun that had been aimed at her chest all afternoon finally exploded, ripping a hole through her.
She stood there, frozen, and all he could do was grin at her and look like the American cowboy incarnate. He exuded wealth, though he was casually dressed in a herringbone Harris tweed western jacket, denim shirt and brushed cotton pants. And he was absolutely gorgeous, damn him! The same charismatic man she remembered, only with the added allure of maturity. His skin was darkly tanned. His blond hair was longer than she remembered. Sun-streaked to a glossy platinum, it fell in waves to kiss the collar of his jacket.
She realized with some irritation that she was unable to pull her gaze away from the twinkle in his eyes. She remembered that twinkle and felt a surge of pain. Her paralysis was stupid, and she hated herself for falling prey to Cord’s physical beauty again.
“Hi, boss baby,” he said, still grinning. “Someone named Kalvin told me I could get to my room by way of the kitchen stairs.” He lifted an apologetic shoulder. “Apparently I’ve caused some trouble by being a man.”
She had a nasty urge to tell him exactly how true that statement was. She had no idea how many other women he’d caused trouble for just by being a man, but seeing him standing there in all his raging masculinity, she could only guess that they were legion.
With great difficulty she managed to put on her innkeeper’s smile. “Not really, it’s just that we’re having a little plumbing problem in the room you were to have occupied. I think you’ll find this other room quite adequate, if you don’t mind being separated from your friends.”
“No problem. They’re all strangers, except my cousin Mary, and there are moments when she doesn’t love me all that much.”
His grin was bold, teasing. She urged herself to ignore it. “Let me get one of these bags for you.”
“I can handle them.”
“But your room’s on the third floor.”
“Thanks for the warning, but I can manage.”
She tried to pretend nonchalance, but she was irked by the amused glint in his eyes. She knew he was laughing at her, thinking that just because she was only five foot four, she couldn’t carry a measly suitcase up three flights of stairs. At least, he hadn’t recognized her. That was a blessing, anyway. “Well, then, if you’ll follow me….”
“Oh, Ms—” Kalvin crashed through the swinging door into Cord’s back. “Oops! Sorry, Doc.” He stepped disjointedly aside and addressed Tess. “Uh, I was wonderin’ if you want me to unpack them cases of soap that come in today?”
“What about the front desk?” Tess asked.
“Penny’s back. Says the doctor told her she’s got a allergy—it ain’t flu.”
“Oh, well, good.” Tess nodded. “Thanks for helping out, Kalvin. Go on and unpack the soap, then have your dinner.”
Kalvin smiled at her and turned to Cord. “Ya want me to help you with them bags, Doc?”
“No, thanks. And call me Cord.”
“That’s mighty nice.” Kalvin beamed, appreciating the doctor’s thoughtfulness.
“And you.” Cord turned back to face Tess. “Do you have a name besides boss baby?”
“My name?” With the weak repetition of his question, Cord’s expression grew slightly quizzical. He seemed to be wondering if her name had slipped her mind. Or perhaps he was trying to recall where he’d seen her before.
She had little time to think, she only knew that he couldn’t help but remember her if he heard the name Mankiller. It was fruitless to believe he could stay at the inn for the whole month of June and never hear her last name, but just now she wasn’t prepared for the look of recognition in his eyes, be it shock, or worse, pity.
Taking the cowardly way out, she said, “Tess—call me Tess, we’re all one big family here, right, Kalvin?”
“Huh?” he asked, staring at her as though she’d just eaten a frog.
“Never mind.” She sighed, wanting to get out of this as quickly as possible. “You get busy with that soap.” Motioning toward the far corner of the kitchen where the stairs were located, she said, “Dr. Redigo, please follow me.”
“How did you know my name was Redigo?”
She grimaced. Luckily, he was behind her and couldn’t see her face. She mumbled, “I check phone messages.”
When they’d reached his door, Tess was desperate to get away. She hadn’t felt this shaken in years. She had no idea what had happened to her knees back on the last landing, but she’d stumbled right in front of him. No doubt he’d dub her a total klutz. She hadn’t dared look at him, but she knew what he must have been thinking. How could she have carried one of his bags if she couldn’t even walk adequately? It was probably a very good point. She didn’t plan to debate it, she just planned to get quickly away.
“Thanks again, Tess.” He put his suitcases down and extended his hand.
She looked at his hand with the same enthusiasm she would have shown a ticking bomb. His fingers were long, tanned a golden brown, with immaculately trimmed nails. She noticed that he wore no rings. She hesitated. Refusing to shake his hand would be very rude, and after a pause that she hoped hadn’t been too obvious, she accepted it.
His fingers were warm, fir
m and surprisingly callused. He may be a rich man, she thought, but he didn’t shrink from physical labor. The word physical raked at her memory and her cheeks grew hot. She was grateful she wasn’t inclined to blush. “You’re welcome, Dr. Redigo. I hope you enjoy your room.”
“Call me Cord,” he corrected. “I thought we were all one big happy family around here.”
His steady gaze held hers. Though his smile was friendly, it had an unnerving quality that continued to fluster her. Forcing herself to think of business, she said, “Maybe I’d better warn you, you’ll be sharing a bath. I hope that isn’t too much of an inconvenience.”
“Sounds a little kinky,” he remarked with an unabashed grin.
She blinked. “No—I meant the room.”
“Oh. My mistake.” His blue eyes sparkled with fun at her expense. “No problem. I’ve shared a bathroom before.”
I’ll just bet, she scoffed inwardly. Determined to remain polite, she asked, “Do you usually shower in the morning or the evening?”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because I prefer to take a bath in the morning. If you do, too, we’ll have to—”
“I’m sharing a bath with you?”
The idea sounded so erotic when he said it that she stifled a small shiver. “I—I hope that won’t be too much of a bother.”
“It’ll be a pleasure,” he assured her. “And I’ll be happy to shower at night if it’ll help.”
He was still holding her hand. Anxious to be free of the disturbing feel of his fingers against hers, she tugged loose and looked at her watch. Assuming he would think she was pressed for time, she murmured, “Fine. Now if you’ll excuse me? Dinner will be served on the terrace in an hour. I hope that the lovely lake view from your balcony will make up for any inconvenience.”
“Do you have a date?” he asked, startling her with the unexpected question.
“What?”
He shrugged his hands into his pockets. “I just wondered if I was making you late for a date.”
Her gaze shifted away from his face. “No, just … just work.”
“Good.”
Her gaze went back to meet his; there was a trace of humor in the blue depths. She wondered what he’d meant by “good”? Was he glad he wasn’t making her late, or that she didn’t have a date?
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