vacation, so that you can relax on the lake. Summer will be a much better time for that.”
Evidently, he wasn’t the only one who didn’t like seeing Rebecca look upset. Her mother was clearly beside herself at the wedding being called off.
“Besides, I have too much to do right now with the Tapping of the Maples Festival to spend time with you.”
Tapping of the Maples Festival? What was that?
Finally, her lips curved up a slight bit at the corners. “It’s going great. But I’m crazy busy trying to run the inn,too.” Her smile fell away at whatever her mother said in response. “Stu would be here to help me with everything if he could, Mom.”
It sounded like she meant it, but at the same time there was a thread of irritation there, whether at her mother or his brother—or both—he wasn’t sure.
“I know I made another bad decision,” she was saying into the phone, bristling now as she defended herself. “But I’m staying this time, Mom.”
Another bad decision? What kind of woman had his brother been engaged to?
“No, I’m not waiting for him to come back.” Rebecca’s voice had risen and she was pacing the small area behind the check-in counter. “Even though things didn’t work out with Stu, that doesn’t mean I have to pack up all my things and leave my friends and my job.” A pause, and then: “I really love being an innkeeper. And I love Emerald Lake.”
He saw concern and remorse—and frustration—flash across her mouth as she said, “Of course, I love you all, too! But I’ve made my decision. I’m staying. Talk to you tomorrow. Give my love to everyone.”
She’d been firm without becoming nasty. Yet again, she’d surprised him with her strength of will. In fact, she was a great deal firmer than anyone would ever guess, especially given how sweet and gentle she looked. It wasn’t just her delicate angel’s face that gave that impression; it was the picture of those pink painted toes he’d seen the night before that wouldn’t leave his brain.
The inn was home to her. That was why she felt comfortable coming downstairs to the kitchen without shoes on. It was just what she’d told her mother.
Sean hadn’t felt like he’d had a home in a very longtime. Although, in truth, the inn had a warmth about it that even managed to draw him in and made him want to stay in Emerald Lake when, previously, for years he’d barely been able to come back home without itching to get away again as soon as he could.
Why, he had to wonder, had her mother treated her like that? What else had Rebecca screwed up? And how badly?
Damn it, listening to her on the phone with her mother gave him more insight into her than he was comfortable with… and only made him want to learn more.
Being hit with yet another urge he didn’t understand where Rebecca was concerned had him heading away from the check-in counter for the kitchen.
“Sean, well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? I heard you were back but didn’t get a chance to feast my eyes on you yesterday. Stand still and let me get a good look at you.” Mrs. Higgins, the inn’s head chef, grinned at him, her eyes twinkling. “I can see that you are still just as much of a heartbreaker as you always were.”
Knowing better than to get into it with the woman who used to change his diapers when he was a baby, he said, “Are there any of your delicious scones left?”
She nodded to a tray beside her. “I just pulled a new batch fresh from the oven. How many, sweetie?”
Only Mrs. Higgins would call him sweetie. And, strangely, it was okay when she did it. Because he knew she was one of those very rare people who was just as nice as she seemed. No hidden shadows. No secrets.
“How about four?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Got a big appetite today, don’t you?”
“I’d like to bring some out for Rebecca, too.”
Her expression softened. “Such a sweet girl, isn’t she? And so good with the guests. Although I’ve always
Evidently, he wasn’t the only one who didn’t like seeing Rebecca look upset. Her mother was clearly beside herself at the wedding being called off.
“Besides, I have too much to do right now with the Tapping of the Maples Festival to spend time with you.”
Tapping of the Maples Festival? What was that?
Finally, her lips curved up a slight bit at the corners. “It’s going great. But I’m crazy busy trying to run the inn,too.” Her smile fell away at whatever her mother said in response. “Stu would be here to help me with everything if he could, Mom.”
It sounded like she meant it, but at the same time there was a thread of irritation there, whether at her mother or his brother—or both—he wasn’t sure.
“I know I made another bad decision,” she was saying into the phone, bristling now as she defended herself. “But I’m staying this time, Mom.”
Another bad decision? What kind of woman had his brother been engaged to?
“No, I’m not waiting for him to come back.” Rebecca’s voice had risen and she was pacing the small area behind the check-in counter. “Even though things didn’t work out with Stu, that doesn’t mean I have to pack up all my things and leave my friends and my job.” A pause, and then: “I really love being an innkeeper. And I love Emerald Lake.”
He saw concern and remorse—and frustration—flash across her mouth as she said, “Of course, I love you all, too! But I’ve made my decision. I’m staying. Talk to you tomorrow. Give my love to everyone.”
She’d been firm without becoming nasty. Yet again, she’d surprised him with her strength of will. In fact, she was a great deal firmer than anyone would ever guess, especially given how sweet and gentle she looked. It wasn’t just her delicate angel’s face that gave that impression; it was the picture of those pink painted toes he’d seen the night before that wouldn’t leave his brain.
The inn was home to her. That was why she felt comfortable coming downstairs to the kitchen without shoes on. It was just what she’d told her mother.
Sean hadn’t felt like he’d had a home in a very longtime. Although, in truth, the inn had a warmth about it that even managed to draw him in and made him want to stay in Emerald Lake when, previously, for years he’d barely been able to come back home without itching to get away again as soon as he could.
Why, he had to wonder, had her mother treated her like that? What else had Rebecca screwed up? And how badly?
Damn it, listening to her on the phone with her mother gave him more insight into her than he was comfortable with… and only made him want to learn more.
Being hit with yet another urge he didn’t understand where Rebecca was concerned had him heading away from the check-in counter for the kitchen.
“Sean, well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? I heard you were back but didn’t get a chance to feast my eyes on you yesterday. Stand still and let me get a good look at you.” Mrs. Higgins, the inn’s head chef, grinned at him, her eyes twinkling. “I can see that you are still just as much of a heartbreaker as you always were.”
Knowing better than to get into it with the woman who used to change his diapers when he was a baby, he said, “Are there any of your delicious scones left?”
She nodded to a tray beside her. “I just pulled a new batch fresh from the oven. How many, sweetie?”
Only Mrs. Higgins would call him sweetie. And, strangely, it was okay when she did it. Because he knew she was one of those very rare people who was just as nice as she seemed. No hidden shadows. No secrets.
“How about four?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Got a big appetite today, don’t you?”
“I’d like to bring some out for Rebecca, too.”
Her expression softened. “Such a sweet girl, isn’t she? And so good with the guests. Although I’ve always
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