by Carson, Mia
“Morning.” She paused when Danny, wearing a tight t-shirt and snug jeans, flashed her a smile. He was barefoot and looked right at home in her kitchen. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and she shoved her hair behind her ears as she forced her gaze away quickly and went to the pantry to get the dogs’ food.
“Morning,” he replied. “Coffee?”
“Sure.” She poured food into three bowls as the dogs sat and waited patiently.
“I was thinking last night,” he said, “that I might take off a day early. Think I might have overstayed my welcome.”
Mel nodded in agreement, but after she’d set the bowls down, she pointed to the window. “I appreciate you wanting to save me from hurling something at you later, but you’re not going anywhere, not for at least a day or two, and maybe longer if this snow keeps up.”
“Won’t they clear the roads?” he asked, and she caught a flicker of worry in his eyes.
“Not for a few days. We’re a small town,” she shrugged and shoved her hands deep into the pockets of the sweater. “I’m afraid you’re stuck.”
Danny held out a cup of coffee to her, and the warmth in his eyes grew from the night before. “It’ll give me more time to do repairs for you, I guess,” he reflected. “I’ll just have to… uh, check in with my boss and let him know I’ll be taking a few more days of vacation.”
“Look, I know I’m not the easiest person to get along with,” she admitted without meeting his gaze. “I appreciate the work you’re doing around the inn, but considering the circumstances, if you have to stay, you don’t have to work while you’re supposed to be on vacation.”
“I don’t mind,” he told her, leaning against the counter.
“From handyman to sales,” she mused. “How did that happen?”
“That’s a long story,” he said with a far-away look on his face. “I wasn’t born in New York.”
“I knew it,” she announced, and as the dogs finished eating, she opened the back door in the kitchen to let them out into the snow. They barked and growled as they tore through the thick, white powder, wrestling each other and sending flakes flying. Mel laughed, watching the sight through the open doorway, and sensed Danny move up beside her. “You don’t have the air of a city man about you.”
“You’re the only one to say that.” The casualness she was used to was gone, and a bit of the aggravation she’d heard last night laced his voice.
“You want to be known as a city man?” she asked, confused. “What’s wrong with where you came from?”
He walked back into the kitchen and to the stove. “Like I said, long story.”
Mel smirked, watching the dogs play, and sipped her coffee. “Seems I’m not the only one with secrets.”
“What was that?” he called out.
“Nothing.” She closed the door, letting the dogs have their fun. At least with no one at the inn, she didn’t have to bother drying them off when they eventually came back inside, covered in snow. “I have to go into town this morning if you want to come with me.”
His brow drew together. “Thought you said the roads were impassable?”
“Do your legs still work?”
His lips thinned. “I didn’t exactly pack for snow.”
“How do you travel in northern New York, in the winter, and not pack for winter?” she questioned, and he glowered at her. She set her mug down and walked away with an exaggerated sigh. “Come on, then.” She put her hands in her pockets as she waited for him to follow.
“Where are we going?”
“Will you just shut up and follow me?” she replied with a laugh she didn’t expect.
“As long as you’re not going to throw anything at me,” he muttered.
She sighed as they climbed the steps. “I didn’t know you were there, and for the record, it didn’t even hit you.” He muttered under his breath, but she didn’t catch it and didn’t ask. They reached her rooms, and she went to the closet, digging around for the last box of Robert’s things. When she dragged it out into the small living room, she opened the flaps and pointed inside. “Take what you need from there. The boots should fit you, and I think there are gloves at the bottom.”
Danny reached for the box, curiosity in his eyes as he lifted out a heavy, leather jacket and a pair of black boots. The curiosity turned to hesitation before he grinned and laughed. “Should I be worried you have a random box of men’s clothes in your closet and you’re a little too good at wielding a sledgehammer?”
Anger flared in her at his coarse tone until she told herself he didn’t know about her late husband. “No, you shouldn’t. Just something left behind. You can have the whole box, whatever will fit.”
“Right,” he said, but his brow furrowed and he set the clothes back in the box, staring at it as if it might reach up and bite him. “You sure you want me to have these?”
Mel’s hands burrowed into her pockets so he wouldn’t see their twitching. “Yeah, sure, why not?”
Slowly, he nodded and picked up the box. “Guess I’ll get changed. Don’t forget to eat breakfast before it gets cold since you neglected your dinner.”
“I wasn’t hungry,” she shot back.
His lips thinned as his eyes narrowed. “Do you do this often? Forget to eat?”
She shrugged. “I have whiskey. It’s good enough,” she replied and waited for whatever comeback he would throw at her. He grunted another quiet thanks and left the room with a stiff set to his shoulders.
Her feet moved her forward as if to follow him, but she stopped at the door, unable to take another step. What was she thinking? Her hands shook, and she ran them over her hair and battled her insane array of emotions. She couldn’t deal with a relationship, not with her heart hardened and her anger barely held in check most days. She moved slowly about the room, hearing Robert’s deep booming laughter as he tackled her to the couch before making intense love that left her breathless. She felt his hands on her hips before his arms wrapped around her and drew her close against his hard, muscled chest.
His hands on her belly before he’d been taken away from her again to never return.
Furious tears filled her eyes, and she let them slide down her cheeks, unable to stop them. Her shoulders heaved as pain enveloped her. She’d lost too much all at once, and no matter how many attractive and charming men might walk into her life, none of them would be able to save her from the pit of despair she’d dug for herself.
The floorboards outside her door creaked, and she whipped around, wiping quickly at her eyes. Just as she stepped forward, Bobby barked and raced into the room, leaping up onto her and licking her face. Lucy was right behind him, and they tackled her to the floor. Laughter erupted from her as she scratched their thick fur, snuggling with the only beasts who still loved her.
“You want to go to town with Mama?” Bobby licked her face again as Lucy barked. “Good, let’s get ready, then, and find your other sister.”
***
Danny waited by the front door of the inn for Mel to finish in the kitchen so they could head into town. The snow was still falling, the flakes growing larger by the hour and piling up outside the door. He’d shovel the walk when he got back—anything to keep him away from Mel for a few hours until he figured out what was going on inside his head.
He’d gone back to return the leather jacket after finding a handwritten letter inside it addressed to her. He hadn’t read it, and from the stiff feel of the paper, she might not have yet either. He knew it had to belong to her late husband, and the idea of wearing his jacket with that letter in the pocket unnerved him, made him feel like he was trampling on his grave. He’d been ready to go back into her room when he heard crying and peered around the doorway. Her shoulders were hunched, and she was holding her face in her hands. When he quickly stepped back, the floor creaked, but the dogs had let themselves back in and charged into her room, giving him a chance to slip away.
But not before Xena stopped to nuzzle his hand.
Before this woman makes you forget who you’re supposed to be, he added and his feet stilled.
“Ready?” Mel called out.
He shook his head to clear the muddled thoughts. “Yeah, ready to brave the blizzard,” he grumbled as she opened the front door. “You sure we can make our way to town?”
She checked all three dogs had collars but didn’t bother with leashes. “They know where they’re going,” she answered before he could ask. “Don’t worry, we won’t lose you. Not for long, anyway,” she added with a wink but no smile.
Danny and Xena followed them outside, and he waited for her to lock the front door. She strode down the drive, Bobby and Lucy walking easily by her side without locking it. Xena did the same, staying in step with him. Her tongue lolled out of her mouth as she trudged through the snow.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” he muttered to the dog and pulled the leather coat tighter around him. It fit almost perfectly but didn’t keep out the chill, and by the time they reached the bottom of the hill and walked onto Main Street, his teeth chattered and his face was numb. When Mel turned to enter the diner, he breathed a sigh of relief and followed her in, dogs and all.
“Ah, there she is,” a woman called out happily. “I was hoping you wouldn’t take this as an excuse to stay cooped up in that damn hideaway of yours.”
“It’s not a hideaway,” Mel argued. “It’s an inn that I happen to run.”
“Yes, all alone and closed during the most special time of the year,” the woman chided as she stepped out from behind the counter and wrapped her arms around Mel. “I really wish you’d have someone stay with you these few weeks. It'd make me less of a worry wart.”
“She has someone,” Danny chimed in, and Mel shot him a glare over her shoulder. He grinned and removed his glove to hold out his hand to the woman. “Danny.”
“Donna,” the older woman replied as she took his hand. “My, my, please tell me you haven’t been hiding this hunk of handsome up in that place for weeks?”
Danny smiled wider as he chuckled, but Mel shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her coat—a habit, he noticed, to hide her twitching hands or to keep herself from strangling him. He hadn’t decided which yet.
“No, I only came to town yesterday.”
“He made an accidental reservation at the inn, and I was being nice by letting him stay. He volunteered to do some repairs. That’s all,” Mel said firmly. “Donna, I have to get a few things before lunch. Mind if the dogs stay here, keep you company? All the dogs.” She nudged Danny with her elbow.
They stared each other down as Donna laughed beside them. “Your dogs are always welcome, and it’ll give me a chance to get to know your Danny.”
“He’s not mine,” she mumbled. “I’ll be back soon enough.”
“Take your time, dear,” Donna said and sat Danny down at the counter. “Take your time.”
Mel drew her hood up over her head, and with one last warning glare to Danny, set back off into the blizzard outside the diner.
Chapter 4
Danny settled in at the counter, Xena laying behind him as Bobby and Lucy took up residence near the front windows, watching the few brave people out walking in the storm. “Nice to see snow doesn’t shut this place down,” he commented, remembering his small town.
“Nah, snow’s a part of life here,” Donna told him, tucking her graying curls behind her ears. “You either deal with it or move out. Coffee or tea?”
Danny leaned forward and whispered, “Got any chocolate milk?”
Donna patted his arm with a wrinkled hand bearing a rather large diamond wedding ring. “I think I might just have some.”
“Don’t tell anyone.” Danny winked.
Donna’s cheeks flushed red as she filled a glass from a carton and slid it over to him. “I'll trade you a secret for a secret,” she whispered as if they were about to discuss battle plans. Her face grew serious. “What are you really doing up at that inn?”
“I came up here for the holiday, to take a little vacation,” he said lightly. “I somehow managed to make reservations at her inn. That’s it, I’m afraid.”
“Uh huh, and what do you think of our dear Mel?”
Danny drank his glass of chocolate milk. “I’ll take that coffee now,” he requested, buying time to figure out the safe response. Telling this woman, who appeared to care for Mel, that the woman in question had a great body and a horrible attitude ninety percent of the time was probably not the best approach.
Donna reached behind her for the pot of coffee as the bell above the door chimed and a blustery draft of snow and icy air rushed inside. The three dogs barked and yipped in excitement as a large, burly man in a heavy wool coat stomped the snow from his feet on the front rug. The dogs jumped up and licked at his face.
“Marty, what did I tell you about coming out in this weather?” Donna scolded, slamming the coffee pot down on the burner. “You’re going to catch your death, old man.”
The man pulled a wide-brimmed wool hat from his head to reveal a perfectly shaved head, bright green eyes, and a chubby face bearing a mischievous smile. “I’m perfectly capable of walking through my own town any time I want,” he argued. “Mel here?”
“No, she went to run some errands, left the dogs and a new friend,” Donna said, finally pouring Danny that cup of coffee. “This is Danny. He’s staying at the inn.”
Marty’s hands stilled in the middle of hanging up his coat on the rack. “You’re staying at the Fairbanks Inn?”
“Yes, sir,” Danny said.
“Right now? You’re staying there right now when it’s closed and she locks herself away for three weeks?” he asked, sounding even more astounded than before.
“That’s right.” He stood, holding out his hand. “Danny Stone… pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Marty, Mayor of Westbend,” he said slowly and took Danny’s hand. “Mighty fine grip you have there, young man.” He tugged and Danny moved forward as the mayor whispered, “What’s going on at that inn?”
“I’m sorry?”
“I was just getting to that, Marty, if you’d sit down and listen.” Donna pulled out a second coffee mug and set it on the counter. Marty frowned but plopped his large and slightly overweight frame onto the stool next to Danny. “Does your wife know you left the house?”
Marty ducked his head, sheepish, and Danny laughed quietly. “Don’t you call her. I couldn’t stand being cooped up during the festival.”
“Can you even have it still with a storm like this?”
“The townsfolk would riot in the streets if we didn’t,” Marty said proudly and patted him heartily on the back. “Just some snow. We have heaters aplenty and hot chocolate that will send you to heaven and beyond.”
“Sounds delightful. Guess I’ll have to head to the festivities at some point.” His mind drifted to marketing plans revolving around the festival for next season. They could make this town very rich indeed, but that hinged on Mel selling the inn and the chances of it grew slimmer by the second.
“Take Mel with you,” Donna said sternly. “That woman needs a night of fun.”
“More than one night, I’d expect,” Danny murmured into his coffee before he took a sip. When he raised his eyes, Donna and Marty watched him closely, and he cleared his throat. “Not to say she isn’t a wonderful hostess.”
“Don’t lie to us, boy,” Marty growled. “That woman is more hard-headed and dour-faced than anyone I’ve seen in my long years.”
Donna sighed and poured herself a cup of coffee as well. “Not that she doesn’t have her reasons, but she can’t waste away like this. I’m amazed she let you stay.”
Danny knew Mel was a widow, but no one knew he had that information. He forced his brow into a curious frown as he asked, “Did somethin
g happen to her? She lose somebody?”
Marty nodded solemnly as he spun on his stool and pointed to a wall of photos. “See that man there? Top right corner?” Danny stood and walked to it, recognizing the face from the photos at the inn. “Name’s Robert—Bobby, around here. He was her husband, died overseas.”
A twinge started in Danny’s chest. “Sorry to hear that. I had no idea.”
“You wouldn’t. Damn girl never talks to anyone,” Donna said sadly. “Robert grew up here and they bought that inn together. Wanted to run it together when he was out of the navy, except he… He never made it home.”
“Was it recent?”
“Three years ago,” Marty answered. “Three years, she’s been hiding in that damn place, sinking deeper and deeper into herself, and there’s nothing she’ll let anyone do for her.”
Danny hadn’t known it had been that long, but he guessed, for her, it might not seem like that long ago. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“She might not be so badly off if it hadn’t been a double blow,” Marty scolded, and Donna shushed him quickly as she took the towel from her shoulder and whacked him with it. “What? If he’s stuck with her for a few days, he might as well know it all.”
Donna pursed her lips, raising the towel to whack him again, but she let it fall to the counter instead. “You’re right, but if she throws him out into the storm later, you better have a room ready for the poor man.”
“What else happened?” Danny asked, curiosity biting him.
Marty puffed his chubby cheeks out and patted his rounded belly. “She was pregnant when she got the news,” he said quietly.
“She never mentioned that.” Danny’s stomach plummeted with each step he took back to the counter. “You mean she… oh no.” The realization hit him when he saw the sadness in Donna’s eyes. She wiped away a single tear before turning away. Marty hung his head, and Danny wanted to kick himself in the face. He’d come here to buy this woman’s inn, but remorse for his selfish desires overwhelmed him. He sat down heavily on his stool and tapped his fingers on the coffee mug. “No wonder she’s not a very happy person.”