Holiday Havoc (4 page)

Sean opened the side door, which sported a wreath with a red bow, and revealed polished wooden floors reflecting moonlight streaming through the open door. To the right, through an arched doorway, she could make out a spacious and airy kitchen, with a center island that would undoubtedly be a gathering place for guests. Sean guided her down a short hall to a cozy reading alcove and helped her sit on a flower-upholstered chair. Light from wall sconces glowed over her right shoulder. Beneath her feet was a dark green patterned throw rug.

“I'll be right back,” he said and darted back outside, leaving the door wide open.

A draft of frigid air blew in. A chill prickled her skin. A shadow flittered across the open doorway. “Sean?”

“H
ello.”

Startled, Lauren yelped as she whipped around to see a tall, stately woman gliding down the hall toward her.

“Oh, dear, I didn't mean to startle you,” the woman said as she stopped near Lauren where she sat. “You must be Lauren.”

Catching her runaway breath, Lauren waved her hand. “Sorry. I'm a bit jumpy tonight. Yes, I'm Lauren.”

“Mary Shannon.” She stuck out her hand. “I'm so happy Sean was able to convince you to come stay with us after the fright you've had tonight.”

Gripping the older woman's slender hand, Lauren immediately liked Mary's genuine smile and bright blue eyes that crinkled at the corners. Her red hair curled around an impish face, and her nautical-themed sweater and pants made Lauren feel as if she'd just stepped onto her yacht rather than into her home.

“Thank you for the offer,” Lauren said, releasing Mary's hand.

“Let's get you situated in a room. I'll put you on the first floor so you don't have to navigate the stairs.”
Mary's eyes twinkled. “Though I'm sure Sean would be happy to be in charge of carrying you up and down.”

Remembering how easily he'd lifted her into his arms heated Lauren's cheeks. She was saved from commenting by Sean, returning with her cases.

“I've made up the Mermaid Suite,” Mary told him, waving a hand toward the hall.

With a grin, Sean headed that way.

“The Mermaid Suite?”

Pride gleamed in Mary's face. “Each room has a theme. It was such fun decorating them. I love the Pirate Room on the third floor the best. That's where Sean is staying.”

“I'm not taking your room, am I?”

Mary laughed. “Oh, no. My room is down the hall from where you'll be.”

With support from Mary, Lauren hobbled down the hall. Dried starfish and silk kelp clung to a fishing net draped on one wall. Pictures of the Oregon coast hung on the opposite wall. Sean stopped in front of a closed door, above which hung a small sign that read, The Mermaid.

Bracing herself for some garish display, Lauren peered inside. She was surprised and pleased to see the room didn't display tacky renditions of the mythical creatures. Rather, the room was done tastefully in shades of muted greens and white. The four-poster bed, covered with a sea of quilts and pillows, beckoned with comfort.

In the corner stood a two-foot-tall Christmas tree decorated with seashells and starfish ornaments. Next to the tree sat a plush sage-colored chair and ottoman and a floor lamp casting a soft light to illuminate the
room. A window overlooked the garden. A perfect spot to read.

An antique white vanity with a gilded mirror beckoned with a display of trinkets from the sea. Sean set her suitcases on the floor.

“There's a private bath.” Sean gestured past the matching dresser and sliding closet doors to a closed door.

“This is lovely,” she remarked.

Mary beamed. “Can I help you get ready for bed?”

Lauren shook her head as she sank into the chair by the window. “I'll manage.”

Nodding, Mary said, “Rest well, young lady. We'll see you in the morning.” Mary shooed Sean out before gliding from the room and quietly shutting the door behind her.

Lauren eased her head back and closed her eyes, grateful to Sean for his thoughtfulness for bringing her here. She was glad she hadn't allowed her stubbornness to keep her from accepting the invitation to stay here. Aunt Mary had such a welcoming way about her. Lauren really liked Mary. And Sean, too. She thought back to their conversation in the truck. When she'd asked him about church—a look of such utter sadness had flashed across his face. She'd wanted to ask what was wrong, but then they'd arrived at her house and the moment passed.

A line of scripture floated into her consciousness. “Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.”

What burdens did Sean carry?

“I can't bear any more burdens, Lord,” she whispered.

 

A loud bang jarred Lauren awake. She jerked upright, the bedding impeding her movements, causing pain to shoot up her leg from her ankle.

She groaned and a shiver of apprehension tightened her shoulders. Shrouded in darkness, she strained to listen.

What had she heard? An intruder? Someone trying to get in through the window?

Her mind flashed to the horrible night that had changed her life. She'd been alone then, too. Her attacker had jimmied a window and silently entered her studio. But she'd survived. Barely.

Helplessness and vulnerability swamped her. Terror set off alarms through her mind. No, wait.

Memory flooded in. She wasn't alone. She was safe in Shannon's Bed and Breakfast with Sean and Mary. Releasing the hold she had on the soft comforter, she took several deep breaths.

Rain batted against the windows. Thunder rolled through the night.

A crash of thunder must have been what she'd heard.

She was panicking for nothing.

Letting out a sigh of relief, she settled back against the fluffy pillows and tried not to shiver with residual fear. Storms didn't usually bother her, but tonight the dark seemed oppressive and the howling wind outside fueled her imagination.

Between the attack on the beach and the scare at the hospital, it was no wonder she was jumpy.

But she wouldn't have to relive the Nightmare again.
Adrian Posar was securely locked up in prison, where he'd never be able to hurt her again. The police would find the beach attacker and all would be well.

Closing her eyes, Lauren forced her mind to concentrate on a blank canvas. She fell back to sleep with a sketch of Sean's handsome face etched in her mind, even as a lingering sense of dread gripped her heart.

 

Morning came with a rush of sunlight gliding into the room. Lauren opened her eyes and stared at the scene above her. A mural of frolicking mer-people in a blue and green sea covered the ceiling. She hadn't noticed the painting last night. With a critical eye she assessed the work. Not bad. Some of the proportions were off, but painting upside down had to be a difficult feat so she decided to just enjoy the view.

Turning her head, she glanced at the side-table clock. Her eyes widened. It was almost noon. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept in so late. The cushy bed cradled her body, the comforter kept the December chill out, making it far too easy to sleep deeply. Even now, she didn't want to leave the safety and warmth of the bed.

But laziness wasn't acceptable. With a soft groan, she rolled to her good side and then slid her feet from beneath the covers to land on the floor. Gingerly, she tested her foot. Her ankle throbbed. She shifted all her weight to her uninjured leg.

Dressing and using the facilities proved exhausting, but she hadn't wanted to ask for help. By the time she emerged from her room, sweat trickled down her neck and she was shaking. The hallway was empty. A distinct pounding from above told her Sean was working. She
contemplated calling for him, but decided she could make it to the kitchen on her own steam.

She hobbled down the hall, using the wall for support. When she entered the beautifully appointed kitchen, she found Mary Shannon at the stove. Today she wore another nautical-themed outfit in yellows and blue. She even sported tassels on the hem of her sweater.

“Good morning,” Lauren said, though her voice sounded winded.

Mary whipped around, a hand going to the base of her throat. “Oh, my. This time you startled me.” She smiled and wiped her hands on a towel. “Did you sleep well?”

“Very,” Lauren replied as she eased into a cane-back chair at the breakfast nook table. “You?”

“I kept hearing noises. Must have been the weather,” Mary stated. Concern flashed in her delicately-lined face. “You don't look so good.”

Lauren didn't feel so good. Nausea roiled in her empty stomach. She needed food and more painkillers. “Could I bother you for something to eat? I shouldn't take my medication on an empty stomach.”

“No bother at all,” Mary said. “I was just fixing Sean's lunch. Seafood gumbo.” A frown furrowed her brow. “It's a bit spicy. Would you care for some? Or would you like something a little milder?”

Though the gumbo smelled delicious, Lauren wasn't sure she could do spicy. “Milder, please.”

“Eggs and toast?”

“Perfect.” Lauren tried to rise from the chair. “Let me help.”

“Nonsense,” Mary scolded. “You're my guest and
you're injured. You sit, relax. Food will be up in a jiffy.”

“Thank you.” Lauren sat back down, grateful to take the pressure off her foot. Overhead, she heard a power saw start up. “It was nice of Sean to move here to help you with your renovations.”

Carrying a plate of fluffy eggs and buttered toast to the table, Mary nodded. “Yes. It's been good for him to be here. He needed a change.”

“Is he a carpenter by trade?”

A slight smile tugged at the corners of Mary's lips. “That's a question you'll have to ask him.”

She'd tried, but he'd sidestepped the question, turning the conversation back on her. Interesting. She ate the meal and took her medication. By the time Sean entered the kitchen for his lunch, she was drowsy again. And didn't even protest when he carried her back to her room and tucked her back in bed.

As she drifted off, she felt the soft touch of a kiss on her forehead. She smiled and surrendered to sleep.

 

Night fell with a fresh winter storm coming ashore. The windows rattled with gale winds barreling off the ocean and rain tapping on the glass. As far as Sean was concerned, it was a perfect night for a cozy fire, hot chocolate, Christmas music and a beautiful woman by his side. Lauren.

All day, he'd been looking forward to spending a relaxed evening with her. Hoping to get to know her better. So far he really liked her. Liked her kind and warm-hearted nature when she wasn't watching him with wariness in her pretty eyes.

After a dinner of clam chowder, bread and fresh
green salad, Sean, Lauren and Aunt Mary moved to the living room. Sean noticed how much more animated and lively Lauren had become throughout the course of the afternoon. She'd slept for another couple of hours before venturing out of her room again.

At one point, when he'd come down for a bottle of water, he'd found the two women chatting away about color schemes and accessories for the rooms he was working on. Somewhere Aunt Mary had found a crutch for Lauren to use. And later, when he'd stopped for the day, he'd discovered them bent over a jigsaw puzzle laid out on the game table in the parlor.

He'd known Lauren would be a good distraction for his aunt and his aunt a good distraction for Lauren. He just hadn't thought someone as obviously wary as Lauren would bond so soon. Aunt Mary had a way of making people feel welcome.

He wished Lauren would loosen up with him, as well. Earning her trust was becoming very important to him, though he couldn't pinpoint why.

He sat in a wingback chair close to the warmth of the stone gas fireplace, sipping from a large mugful of cocoa. The day's newspaper lay next to him waiting to be read. Colorful lights danced on the tree near the front window.

Lauren left the puzzle and, using the crutch, hobbled over to a matching chair next to him, while Mary settled across from them on a small love seat, tucking a blanket around her legs.

“Tell us what it was like growing up in Hollywood,” Mary said.

Sean sat forward. Lauren had opened up that much
to Aunt Mary? Being from Hollywood was more telling than just L.A.

A pensive smile touched Lauren's lips. “Did you ever see the early-nineties TV show
90210?
”

Mary shook her head. “I've never been big on television.”

“I've seen the reruns and the newer version,” Sean offered, thinking of the young and beautiful teens full of angst, navigating high school in a world of wealth and privilege. A world foreign to him. He'd grown up in a middle-class suburb of Portland, full of soccer moms and working dads. He and his siblings had had their share of teen issues—finding the right crowd, having a limited budget for clothes. Certainly having a car was out of the question especially since they lived two blocks from the high school—but nothing as dramatic as what the TV show portrayed.

“I grew up in that same zip code, but my experience was nothing like the show, even though my father was a movie producer. I lived in a middle class part of town.”

Sean figured even middle class Hollywood was more affluent than the suburb he'd grown up in. Lauren didn't appear pretentious at all. Another reason to admire her.

Mary's eyes widened with interest. “Ooh, swanky.”

Lauren's mouth quirked. “He and my mother met on a movie set. She was an extra with stars in her eyes for fame and glory. She chose being the wife of an up-and-coming movie mogul over pursuing her own career. But when I was three, Dad left her for a younger starlet.” She smiled grimly. “Such a cliché.”

Sean's heart ached for the pain he could tell she was
trying to hide. Her father's desertion of his family had left a wound on her soul. From his experience working with teens, Sean had seen firsthand how devastating an absent father could be on a child. It was always worse when the father remarried and cleaved to his new family, leaving his children to suffer heartbreak.

Remembering Lauren's comment about her father being dead, he asked, “When did he die?”

“A few years later in a skiing accident in Colorado. From then on it was just Mom and me.”

“And she still lives in Los Angeles?” Mary asked gently.

“Yes. Dad had a big life insurance policy and thankfully, since he hadn't remarried, the money came to us. Mom still had to work, though. When she couldn't book consistent acting gigs, she became an agent. She owns her own agency now.”

Lauren exchanged a glance with Sean. “Though at the moment she's on a cruise. She'll be back in time for Christmas day.”