Mistletoe in Maine (5 page)

He stared into stunning blue eyes lined with compassion.

“It’s been several years. Time moves on.”

She withdrew her hand but kept him in her gaze.

“Yes. Yes, it does. I’m just sorry that we lost touch. If I had… I mean, if Jack and I had known—”

“Naturally, you couldn’t have,” he said, backing away. Paul couldn’t bear extended sympathy. It was one thing to offer
I’m sorry
. Quite another to dwell on things until one pressed old hurts back up to the surface.

Beth looked pained but forced a smile.

“It’s good seeing you again, Paul.”

“Yeah, you too,” he said, studying her eyes. It was hard to forget the way they’d been together all those years ago. Inseparable, and so in love, like crazy teenage kids can be in high school.

“I’d really love a chance to talk sometime,” she said. “You know, hear about what you’ve been up to.”

“I’d like that.”

A little later, Carol polished off her delicious chocolate dessert, thinking what a nice evening it had been. Even her kids had been behaving, at least reasonably well. She’d noticed Paul lingering by the pretty blonde’s table for quite a while during dinner. While he, of course, might have just been checking on a guest, their exchange had seemed more personal. Especially the way the woman had appeared to admire him with affection each time he’d turned his handsome face her way.

“I trust everything was to your liking?” Paul asked, startling Carol out of her reverie.

She nearly choked on her wine, and she quickly set it down. “Oh yes, just fine. The dinner was delicious, thank you. My compliments to the chef.”

He tilted his chin with a pleased smile. “I thank you very much.”

“Wait a minute,” Carol said, surprised. “You mean, you’re the cook too?”

“That’s weird,” Will said under his breath.

“Not weird, you throwback,” Ashley quipped. “That’s modern.”

Carol sent them both a silencing look as her cheeks flamed. “I’m sorry,” she apologized to Paul.

He chuckled good-naturedly. “Quite all right. The Baker family would not be among the first I’ve surprised with my culinary skill.” He glanced across the way at the blonde who typed on her smart phone, then clapped his hands together, addressing Carol. “We here at the inn have a special tradition. Each evening after dinner, the guests are invited to convene by the fire with the drink of their choice. We have wine, more merlot if you’d like,” he said to Carol. “Cocoa…” he continued, looking at the kids.

“With marshmallows?” Ashley asked.

“As many as you’d like!”

Will slunk down in his chair, obviously bored. There were likely a million things a young teenage boy would rather do than hang out with a bunch of old folks around a fire. And Paul, being the wise man he was, knew one of them. “Plus,” he said, addressing Will, “Daniel’s thrown down the challenge to take anyone on in a game.”

Will scooted up in his chair at attention.

Right on cue, Daniel appeared at Paul’s side. “Guitar Hero, anyone?” he asked with a grin.

“You’re on!” Will said, seeming delighted.

Across the room, the blonde stood and slipped from the room.

“I’ll be seeing you later?” Paul asked Carol.

She felt the warmth in her cheeks in spite of herself. “That would be nice. Thank you.”

Paul stopped Beth when she was nearly to the stairs. “Leaving so soon? I was hoping you’d join the others by the fire.”

She sighed, her face falling. “I’m sorry, Paul. I wish I could stay. The truth is, I’m not feeling so hot.”

He studied her with concern. “Is there something I can…?”

“Oh no. No, thanks. It’s just a migraine. I get them from time to time.”

“I know how debilitating those can be. Nancy used to get them too.”

“I just need to take a pill and chill for a while.”

He nodded with sympathy. “Feel better.”

She brought her hand to his cheek. “You really are a very good man. That part hasn’t changed.”

“Thanks, Beth,” he said hoarsely.

“See you tomorrow?” She looked into his eyes.

His Adam’s apple rose in his throat. “I look forward to it.”

Paul watched her walk slowly up the stairs, wondering what was becoming of him. Could it be that the old feelings he had for Beth were starting to resurface? Or, was it more that he’d been alone so long that the attentions of any beautiful woman would tug on his heartstrings?

One way or another, it didn’t really matter, did it? He was halfway through his life and certainly not in the market for romance. All he needed to focus on now was seeing this inn through its final holiday season as successfully as he could. Daniel was leaving for college soon, and Paul would be starting his new life in Montreal. Tons of great fishing and lots of peaceful sunsets were coming his way. Those would be plenty to keep him company.

Carol set down her merlot, thinking maybe she shouldn’t have accepted the second glass. She felt light-headed enough from their exhausting journey and trying drive through the North Woods.

“What keeps you busy in Virginia?” Velma asked. She wore a flower-patterned blouse with a complementary indigo headband. Carol had just recently gathered that she was Paul’s mom, so she had to be in her sixties, though her dress and demeanor indicated otherwise. She certainly had a much younger boyfriend on her arm, but it was clear they were companionable and comfortable in each other’s company.

“I’m a schoolteacher,” Carol answered. “Ninth grade English.”

“That’s a tough subject,” Zach said.

“And we’re grateful to have folks like you out there doing it,” Paul added, offering to refill her wine.

She declined with a shake of her head. “I don’t think I’d better. Two’s my limit.”

“It’s good to know your limits,” Paul said, his dark eyes dancing. Carol’s breath caught in her throat. She knew he was just being congenial, but when he sat this close—just on the other end of the sofa—she found it hard to concentrate. She tried to remember the last time she’d even been on a sofa with a man, but somehow couldn’t recall. She really had built a more sequestered life for herself than she’d realized.

She leaned toward Ashley, who was contentedly working a jigsaw puzzle on the large coffee table, an empty cocoa mug at her elbow. “Honey, I think it’s time you got ready for bed.”

The little girl rose reluctantly as strains of Guitar Hero wailed from the next room. “What about Will?”

“He’ll be up in a bit,” Carol said with a kind smile. “He is a little older, you know.”

Ashley politely told everyone good night, then sadly traipsed up the stairs.

“Cute kid,” Zach said. “I never had those kinds of manners at her age.”

“Yeah, and you’re still working on them now,” Velma teased.

“Oh, now, Mama Bear.” He leaned forward to nuzzle her neck, and Paul blinked hard.

“I’m awfully glad we could fit your family in,” he told Carol.

“Me too,” she agreed. “It’s good we got here when we did. The weather only seems to be getting worse.” As if to accentuate her point, winds howled outdoors, shaking the storm shutters.

“Or better!” Paul said. “Depending on how you look at it.” There was a twinkle in his eye that caught the firelight. “You are having your first skiing lesson tomorrow.”

Ashley surprised them all by dashing down the stairs. “Mom!” she cried, her cheeks bright pink. “I saw it! I actually saw it!”

Carol stood with alarm, taking her daughter in her arms. “Saw what, honey?”

“My moose! My real live Christmas moose!”

Carol ran a hand through her hair with a sigh. “Now, Ashley…”

“I mean it, Mom,” the child protested. “It was there!”

“Where?” Paul asked.

“What’s going on?” Daniel asked, resurfacing from the back room with Will.

“Ashley saw a Christmas moose,” Carol explained calmly.

“O… M…” Will began.

Carol shot him a look.

“But Mom, she’s making things up again!”

Ashley’s chin trembled. “Why won’t anyone believe me?” With that, she turned and dashed up the stairs.

“I’m sorry,” Carol told the others. “I’d better go to her.”

When Carol entered the Bear Room, Ashley stood weeping by the window.

“What are you doing, baby?” Carol asked, walking to her.

“Watching my moose run away.” Ashley sniffed. “You all made fun of him, so he ran away!”

“Oh now, honey. I’m sure you thought you saw something, and maybe it even
was
a real moose—”

“It was a
Christmas moose.
A big one with lanterns!”

Carol studied her doubtfully. “Antlers?”

“I swear, Mom.” Ashley’s dark eyes were insistent. “It was, like, glowing and everything! Why won’t you believe me?”

“I believe that you believe,” Carol said kindly.

“That’s not the same thing.”

Carol pulled her daughter into a hug and held her close.

“Let’s try to get some rest now. Tomorrow is another day.” She pulled back to look her daughter in the eye. “A very exciting one at that. The Baker family’s going skiing!”

Ashley raised her brow. “Yeah, that will be cool.”

Carol pulled Ashley’s pajamas from a drawer and the girl reluctantly removed her clothes and tugged them on.

She lightly patted her daughter’s head. “Now, go on. Hop into bed.”

Ashley scurried to the huge bear bed and scooted down under the covers. Carol gave her a kiss and switched off the light, but not before catching the glimmer of something in the window. Something bright beamed from the deep woods for a flash of a second, and then it was gone. Now Carol was extra glad she’d stopped at that second glass of wine. Next, she’d be seeing reindeers!

Carol was halfway to the landing when she ran into Paul. “Everything all right up there?” he asked.

“Oh yes, just fine.” She heaved a sigh. “It’s just been a long day for all of us. For Ashley too, it seems.”

Paul raised his brow, questioning.

“She’s had this fixation all along about some kind of Christmas moose…”

“We do have moose here, you know.”

“Not the kind she’s looking for.”

Paul gave her a knowing smile. “She’s mixed in a bit of magic?”

“More than a bit,” Carol said with a laugh.

Paul’s eyes brimmed with understanding. “She’s just a girl.”

“Yes, and straddling that line between real and make-believe.”

“Some of us never outgrow it.” By the way he said it, Carol had the notion he was talking more about himself than Ashley. He looked deep in her eyes as if trying to discern something, and Carol felt weak from his perusal. “It’s not so bad to believe in fun stuff, Carol. Once in a while.”

They were standing very close now, closer than Carol had realized in the small space on the landing. She was near enough to breathe him in, the manly scent of sawdust and pine. Even in his dinner jacket and tie, the words
rugged outdoorsman
seemed etched in his handsome face.

“Paul?” a soft, feminine voice asked from above them. “Can I trouble you for a soda?”

Carol stared up the steps to find the beautiful blonde dressed in a robe. Paul had told the others she wasn’t feeling well, and, judging from the paleness of her skin, she hadn’t much improved.

“Beth,” he said, turning toward her in surprise. “Of course.”

Carol made her way down the stairs in front of him, awkward in her gait. What had she been thinking? That Paul might feel attracted to her too? She grabbed hold of the railing, nearly stumbling.

Paul caught her by the elbow to steady her. “Watch your step!”

Carol collected herself, determining that was just what she would do. Watch her step every step of the way here, lest she make an utter fool of herself in front of the innkeeper.

Chapter Five

Carol’s skis splayed out sideways as she fought to stabilize herself on the slick snow. Paul couldn’t help but be captivated by her apparent winter sports naiveté. Her kids seemed much more confident on the slopes and were already passing high above her in a chairlift, complete with hoots and hollers. “Hey, Mom!” Will called before his sister added, “Come on up, the weather’s fine!”

Carol hunched forward with a death grip on her poles. “I don’t know if I can do this,” she said, her breath coming out all puffy with morning cold.

Paul smiled encouragingly. “Sure, you can.”

Beth adjusted her dark goggles beside him. “Just like riding a bike.”

“But I’ve never skied before,” she said, inching forward.

Paul drew closer to help her along. “Always a first time.”

Was it his imagination, or did Beth seem to stiffen at his lending Carol assistance? It was clearly his duty as her host, as well as her skiing instructor. Beth, on the other hand, needed no instruction whatsoever. She was practically pro level, exceedingly at home on the slopes.

Beth slid into the chairlift, then seemed disappointed Paul hoped to position Carol between them. Well, he certainly couldn’t leave Carol standing out here on her own while he climbed in ahead. Who knew where she’d wind up. Likely at the base of the Bunny Hill.

 Paul clambered aboard and brought the gate down in front of them.

“This thing goes up pretty high, huh?” Carol asked with a worried look.

“If I were you, I’d be more concerned about coming down,” Beth said in a tone that was slightly… What? Catty? Beth? His Beth? No. That didn’t seem right. Beth was somebody who’d always been one hundred percent sure of herself. It wasn’t like her to dig at other people. Unless… Paul felt his neck warm as he thought about what a fool he’d been.
Jealous? Beth is jealous? Of a guest?

Paul’s gaze fell on Carol, and she stared back at him. “You’ll do just fine.”

“Yeah, right,” she said, her voice cracking.

 Paul’s mind reeled. Beth couldn’t possibly be jealous of Carol, a woman he barely knew. Never mind that she was smart, spunky, and funny… And had the most beautiful brown eyes he’d ever seen. They were mesmerizing, really, in a way that could hold any man in their spell.

She peered down the slope at two figures whizzing by, laughing and shouting. “Hey, are those my kids?”