Mountain Country Courtship

by Glynna Kaye

  “I think about it all the time. Maybe adopting.”

  “Is that a possibility? I could put you in contact with a good law firm.”

  Like she could afford the kind of legal assistance Denny had the funds to retain. From what her aunt had told her, it was top-dollar, go-for-the-throat lawyers who had managed to gain full custody of Denny for Charlotte Gyles.

  “I don’t know. I mean, I don’t want to legally wrestle Annalise’s daughter away from her. But I think, for her own good as well as Taylor’s, it would be the best thing. I’d be more than willing to bring her home for good.”

  “Maybe you should talk to your sister the next time she visits. Let her know what you’re thinking.”

  “But what if she takes it wrong?”

  “What’s to take wrong? Like you said, you’re not forcing anything. You’re offering. A mother who loves her kid would see your sincerity, the generosity of your proposal.”

  Tears pricked Lillian’s eyes, and she blinked them away. “I would love for that to happen.”

  “It sounds like a good plan to me.”

  He stood gazing down at her, a tender reassurance in his eyes. Denny was a good man with a heart of gold. Every time she saw him, talked to him, her day was made a little brighter. She hated to think about him moving on in a few more too-short weeks.

  And in that moment, something inside her shifted ever so slightly, and her heart beat faster as their gazes continued to hold. She wet her lips and felt herself sway toward him. Was aware of his hands coming up to gently cup her face.

  And then, closing her eyes as he tilted his head and lowered his mouth to hers, she heard the tiniest of sounds behind her.

  Chapter Ten

  To Denny’s disappointed surprise, Lillian turned away at the last moment, and his lips grazed her cheek. Obviously he’d misread the signals in a major way.

  She stepped back, firmly pushing him aside. “Taylor! You’re done with your bath already?”

  “Uh-huh.” Standing a few feet away from them, the little girl wrapped in a big plush towel looked from Lillian to him and back again, her eyes dancing. “You were kissing.”

  Not quite, thanks to you, kid. But that had been the plan. Nevertheless, relief flooded him that Lillian hadn’t willingly rejected his intention to comfort her.

  Ignoring the child’s bald-faced declaration, Lillian slipped her arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get you dried off, in your jammies and into bed.”

  She turned Taylor in the direction of the bathroom, but the child peeped around her to look at him, her smile wide. “You were kissing Aunt Lillian.”

  He held up his hands. “What can I say? She was here.”

  Lillian cut him a sharp look, but Taylor giggled as she was ushered from the room.

  He returned to the dishes, straining in vain to hear what was being said in Lillian’s low whispered tones and the soft responses of her niece coming from the bathroom.

  He supposed he was going to be in hot water for that almost-kiss. But like he’d told Taylor, she was there. He was there. And Lillian was in need of reassurance. Support. She loved that kid to pieces, and felt helpless to do anything about rescuing her from the sad situation they’d both been forced into by her sister.

  Clearly it was getting out of hand, though, when it was causing both of them so much heartache each time the sister put in an appearance—or even when it merely appeared she might, like for this upcoming birthday.

  Still, he’d been thinking about kissing Lillian ever since that night in the Hideaway parking lot.

  He put the last of the cupcake tins on the dish drainer and reached for a towel to dry them. He was crouched down to a lower cabinet putting them away when Lillian at last returned. She walked straight to the sink and plunged her hands into the cooling water, feeling around for stray items he might have missed.

  She released a pent-up breath. “She’s so wound up, I don’t know if she’ll ever get to sleep.”

  Denny closed the cabinet door and stood, moving to stand behind her. Then wrapping his arms around her, he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I don’t suppose we could pick up where we left off when we were interrupted?”

  Quick as a whip, she spun toward him and pressed her hands to his chest, leaving two sopping-wet prints on his blue polo shirt, the glare in her eyes clearly conveying her thoughts: don’t try a stunt like that again, buster.

  He stepped back.

  “You might find this whole thing amusing, Denny, but I’m the one having to explain to Taylor what happened between us.”

  “She didn’t seem put off by it—why should you be? Besides, nothing happened.”

  And didn’t he know it. He could still feel Lillian’s face cupped in his hands, her whisper-soft breath as he’d angled his mouth over hers.

  She grabbed the dish towel off the counter and dried her hands. “And what’s Aunt Viola going to think?”

  “Who’s going to tell her?”

  Exasperation flashed in her eyes. “Taylor. Who else?”

  “Your aunt likes me. What’s the big deal? Nothing happened.”

  “You should probably go. Aunt Viola will be back any minute, and Taylor will hear her come in and rush out with the news.”

  “What news?”

  Had he missed something here? Besides an opportunity to kiss Lillian? Did her flustered state of alarm have anything to do with Todd Samuels? Despite what looked to be the man’s blatant efforts to get her attention, she hadn’t seemed that interested, although women sometimes played hard to get.

  But Denny couldn’t be mistaken that when he managed to grab a few minutes with her here and there—like tonight—she seemed to enjoy his company. Nor did she seem opposed to the playful texting flirtation that had developed.

  She took him by the arm and steered him toward the door. “Thank you for helping Taylor make cupcakes tonight.”

  He didn’t know how else to categorize the tone of her voice except as prim. Distant. Had he somehow offended her because he’d tried to kiss her? He couldn’t have misinterpreted the signals to that extreme, could he?

  “Look, Lillian, if I’ve—”

  “There’s nothing more to be said. Let’s put this in the past, please.”

  She walked him clear to the front door of the inn. “Good night, Denny.”

  Then she closed and locked the door behind him.

  * * *

  When Denny left, Lillian quickly wrapped up things in the kitchen and quietly welcomed her aunt back home a short time later. Thankfully, Taylor had fallen asleep by then—and the following morning, Aunt Viola slept in long enough for her to get Taylor safely out the door for school.

  Even by late afternoon, while settled behind the library’s front desk, she still couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened between her and Denny.

  Or almost happened.

  He’d tried to kiss her.

  Or actually he did kiss her. Sort of. He’d just missed his target with the unexpected arrival of her niece.

  Was that why he’d remained in town when he could have left some time ago? As Aunt Vi suspected, did he have an interest in her? She shoved that fleeting hope aside, not willing to go there.

  She didn’t doubt that her own behavior had led Denny to believe such an attempt was welcomed. She’d let herself all but drown in his sea-blue eyes, then leaned into him as if she couldn’t stand on her own two legs. But he had no business trying to kiss her. And she certainly shouldn’t have encouraged him to.

  All sorts of reasons why kissing wasn’t a good idea pounded through her head. First off, they barely knew each other. Plus kisses weren’t something she carelessly passed out like candy to neighborhood kids at the holidays. Compounding that, he had no intention of remaining in Hunter Ridge when the inn was finished, so his kissing her amounted to no
thing more than toying with her. Passing the time in a little town where there wasn’t much else to do, except entertain yourself with a naive local girl.

  And yet...her betraying heart had the nerve to relive over and over those tantalizing seconds as his mouth descended, his warm breath hovering over her lips. But wouldn’t he hate her if he’d kissed her, then found out she was no more trustworthy than his former fiancée? That she’d ditched her own groom at the altar?

  But her most maddening thought?

  Now she’d never know what it was like to be kissed by Denny Hunter.

  “Lillian?”

  She jumped at the sound of her manager Jeri’s voice.

  “Sorry to startle you.” Jeri looked around the library almost furtively, her next words a whisper. “Maybe it’s not appropriate to tell you this, but I want you to know Reba Clancy did submit an application yesterday.”

  Despite not being surprised at the news, Lillian’s spirits faltered. “Are you telling me this because you think I should withdraw? Save face?”

  “I think you’re qualified for the position, and I wouldn’t have encouraged you to apply if I didn’t believe that.”

  “But that was before we knew for certain Reba had her sights on the job. Her experience runs rings around mine. We both know, too, that with Cameron’s grandmother on the advisory board, the deck is stacked against me.”

  “Maybe not. She’s a savvy businesswoman who has long had to look at difficult issues and weigh them objectively.”

  “What part of ‘she hates my guts’ don’t you get? This is a woman who wants great-grandchildren, like, yesterday. I was her first real hope that her hard-core bachelor grandson might finally settle down right here in town and start making her dreams come true.”

  “There are others on the board. She can’t steamroller over all of them.”

  “Don’t hold your breath.”

  “Look, I’m not trying to upset or discourage you by telling you about Reba. I thought you had a right to know.”

  “Thanks, Jeri. I guess I have a hard decision to make. Throw in the towel now or go down fighting.”

  “Don’t give up, Lillian. Whenever I’ve applied for jobs, I’ve always told myself that on any given day I’m the best candidate—that those who are making the decisions can be swayed by God in my favor, no matter how superior I think the competition may be.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  When the workday finally ended and she got back to the inn, Todd’s crew was finishing up for the day. New insulated windows that fit the age and style of the house had been installed that week, in time for a cold snap that moved in from the north. It was late September, and autumn’s prelude to winter was definitely in the air.

  When she stepped into the apartment, eager to crash, she halted at the sound of Taylor’s giggle—and the sight of Denny seated at the dining table playing Candy Land with her. Her niece was getting a little old for that one, yet she still loved it.

  But what was he doing here?

  “Hey, Lillian,” Denny greeted her, and Taylor hopped up from her chair to give her aunt a hug.

  “Where’s Aunt Vi?”

  “In the garden.”

  Her aunt better not be doing too much bending and kneeling. While modest exercise was good for her, according to her physical therapist, she didn’t like the thought of Aunt Viola being out there by herself, unsupervised. What if she got down to pull a weed and couldn’t get back up? What if she fell?

  Denny stood. “Do you have a few minutes? Maybe we could go for a walk?”

  “So you can kiss her again?” Taylor giggled.

  “There will be no kissing.” Lillian’s cheeks warmed as Denny’s amused eyes met hers. “Taylor, why don’t you see if you can help Aunt Viola?”

  “But—”

  “Good idea.” Denny voiced his support as he placed a hand on Taylor’s shoulder. “Your aunt will probably appreciate the company.”

  Once Taylor left the apartment and they heard her calling to her aunt from outside, Denny motioned to the door. “Shall we?”

  She’d rather not. But maybe walking would ease the tension that had clung to her for almost twenty-four hours.

  It was still daylight, but the days were getting shorter and shorter, with the sun setting not long after six now. There was a coolness in the air that made her grateful to have slipped into a jacket. Denny had his windbreaker.

  “I didn’t see your Porsche out front.”

  “Luke Hunter lent me the blue pickup over there.” He nodded to a 4x4 parked just past the inn. “I need to haul stuff to help out Todd’s crew, and the sports car didn’t fit the bill.”

  They’d gone but a few blocks down the street in silence when Denny halted. She stopped, too.

  He ducked his head slightly to look at her, his words coming softly. “I suppose my trying to kiss you last night means I won’t be invited to the birthday party?”

  She sighed.

  “Are you mad at me because of that, Lillian? Or because you were embarrassed Taylor saw us?” He cut another look at her. “Has she said anything to Viola about it?”

  “If she hasn’t, she probably is right now. I didn’t want to tell her not to say anything to our aunt because that might imply we’d been doing something wrong.”

  “Nothing wrong at all. But if I misread—”

  “You didn’t. Nevertheless, it wasn’t wise and we both know it.”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” He glanced around for eavesdroppers, keeping his voice low. “I’m sorry if what I did last night led you on. I was concerned for you and Taylor and what this mess with your sister is doing to you both. I do enjoy your company and, well...”

  A pity kiss?

  “What was it you told Taylor? You were there, I was there...” Clearly she’d been right. He hadn’t given any thought to what a kiss might mean to her until later, then realized that wasn’t where he’d intended to go at all. “Don’t worry about it. Like I said, it wasn’t wise on either of our parts. We’re two very different people with vastly different lifestyles, priorities and goals. Anything we’d start now would only end in a bad way for both of us. Taylor, too.”

  “I’m glad you’re not mad. I want us to be friends, if that’s okay with you.”

  An ache growing in her heart promised that it would be a long time before she’d ever think of Denny Hunter as just a friend.

  “Of course,” she said lightly, as if it didn’t mean anything one way or another to her. “It’s for the best. I want to make my home—Aunt Vi’s and Taylor’s—in Hunter Ridge. You’ll be returning to the world of GylesStyle Inns a few weeks from now. We’ve both made our choices.”

  Her words hung in the air between them. What more could be said, anyway? She’d voiced the truth.

  And then as the silence stretched, he cleared his throat, a faint smile touching his lips. “While I won’t be remaining here, I may not be given the choice of returning to GylesStyle.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My stepbrother, Vic, was recently promoted to a vice-president position with GylesStyle. One I’ve worked long and hard for.”

  “He stole your fiancée and your promotion?”

  Denny shrugged. “What it boils down to is this—the reason I’ve stayed in Hunter Ridge for this renovation rather than overseeing it from the Bay Area is because my stepbrother got it in his head that I’m trying to undermine him. And his father—my stepfather and owner of the company—essentially banished me. Blackmailed me, you might say. If I still want to play a part in the company, land a hinted-at-promotion, I have to lie low and stay out of Vic’s way for a while.”

  So his remaining in Hunter Ridge for the renovation had nothing to do with a growing affection for the town—or her.

  “But Vic’s still floundering,
from what I hear,” he continued, “and blaming me. My future with GylesStyle Inns is increasingly questionable.”

  “That is so unfair. That’s—”

  A few businesses away she glimpsed Cameron’s brother sweeping the sidewalk in front of the hardware store. Their eyes met. He grinned, set the broom aside and tucked his fists under his armpits.

  Denny’s voice was a low growl as he followed her gaze. “I’ve had it with this kid.”

  She’d had enough of it, too. Striding ahead, her heels clicking her determination not to shrink from doing what she should have done a long time ago, she planted herself in front of the startled boy, her hands on her hips.

  “What is your problem, Randy Gray?”

  From the alarmed look in his eyes, he hadn’t expected a confrontation. Taking a step back as though fearful she might swing at him, he darted a look around—to see if there was anyone watching who could rescue him?

  He took another step back, his face turning red.

  “Uh, look, lady, I’m not the one with the problem.” He smirked. “You’re the one who chickened out. Ditched my brother and left him standing like a goofball in front of the wedding guests. Not me.”

  * * *

  Coming up behind Lillian, Denny halted as an invisible fist punched him in the gut.

  The boy cut a sympathetic look at him. “Hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, sucker.”

  Again grabbing his broom, the kid ducked inside the hardware store before further words could be exchanged.

  Slowly Lillian turned to him, her gaze wary.

  She’d dumped some unsuspecting guy on his wedding day? Chicken Man’s brother? “That’s why he’s been strutting around like that every time he sees you?”

  She nodded. Barely.

  “Why didn’t you tell me? Why’d you lead me to believe he was a small-town eccentric I needed to get used to? I was about to grab the kid by the shirt collar and toss him in a chicken coop.”

  She stepped aside for a passerby. “Could we please not discuss this here?”

  “All right.” But discuss it they would.