Can't Fight The Moonlight (Whisper Lake Book 3)

by Barbara Freethy

  "She could be dead. He could be waiting forever. That seems more tragic than romantic."

  "It would be romantic if she came back."

  "But she probably won't. And why is it just her choice?" he argued. "Why doesn't Noah get a say?"

  "I don't know. I'm not really disagreeing with you, Justin."

  "So you wouldn't spend ten years waiting for a guy."

  "No. I don't think I'd spend ten minutes right about now."

  "Ruthless," he said with a grin.

  "You can't count on another person for your happiness. It doesn't work that way. You have to go out and grab what you want. Waiting seems so passive."

  "I completely agree. If I wanted a woman like Noah wants Alice, I'd go get her. I'd fight for her."

  "I've always wondered if Alice wasn't waiting for him to do that. But Noah seems to feel some guilt about their affair, and he believes it has to be her decision. He can't try to persuade her. But meanwhile, the clock is ticking, and Noah spends a week here every year wandering around the inn. There was a period when the inn was closed. It was locked down for almost a year before I bought it. Noah said he went crazy during that time. He used to come and sleep in his car."

  "The man is crazy."

  "He acknowledges that. He said love makes him insane," she said with a soft smile. "It is pretty sweet. I can't imagine being loved like that."

  "I can't imagine loving anyone like that. It seems too one-sided. Needing anyone that much makes a person weak and vulnerable and desperate. Who wants to live like that?"

  "Apparently, neither one of us. But it's Noah's life. He gets to do what he wants with it."

  "Have you ever tried to persuade him to let her go?"

  "No. It's his choice."

  "I thought you wanted your guests to be happy."

  "I do, but I don't meddle in their lives."

  "You don't?" he asked doubtfully.

  "Well, sometimes I do," she admitted. "But not in something like this. And what would I even say?" She shook her head. "It's up to him if he wants to come here every year, and I'm happy to have him. He's a lonely old man. Even if Alice doesn't show up, he gets to be in a place that brought him joy a long time ago."

  "It's not enough."

  "I don't think Noah wants as much for himself as you want for yourself."

  "He should. Everyone should. Why settle? Why not go for what you want? That's what you're doing. That's what I'm doing. Maybe with a little encouragement, Noah would do the same."

  "If you want to encourage him, feel free."

  "Maybe I will."

  "And that wouldn't distract you from your work?"

  "Fair point." Her words made him realize how much time he'd wasted on this conversation.

  "I'm surprised you're so interested in Noah," she continued. "I thought your only waking thought would be on getting a new phone and computer."

  "That's at the top of the list, but I doubt the stores open before nine."

  "True, but you still seem awfully caught up in Noah's story."

  "Maybe I just wanted to keep you here a little longer."

  Her gaze widened. "Why would you want that?"

  "I like talking to you," he said simply. "Actually, I liked kissing you even more."

  Her lips parted, as wariness filled her gaze. "That's direct."

  "That's who I am."

  "I told you last night, I'm not interested in a hookup. And I can't imagine that I'm the kind of woman you usually date."

  "I have to admit you're the first innkeeper I've ever kissed."

  She smiled. "And you're the first robot maker I've ever kissed. But it's not happening again."

  "What happened to turning my obligation into a vacation and making sure I have a fantastic time in Whisper Lake?"

  "I'd be happy to introduce you to my single friends, some of whom might find a fling more interesting than I do."

  "But I don't want them. I want you. And I think you feel the same way about me. Those kisses were not one-sided. There's an attraction between us. It might not make sense, but it's there."

  "That doesn't mean we have to act on it."

  "Or we could and make ourselves happy."

  "For a few nights? No. Not interested. I'm a relationship kind of woman, Justin. I could try to pretend otherwise, but I'd be lying."

  He felt incredibly disappointed to hear that, not that he was particularly surprised. "I'm definitely not a relationship kind of man."

  "Have you ever been in love?"

  "No."

  "But you must have been involved with someone," she pressed.

  "I have on occasion dated for a few months or so at a time. The last woman I spent real time with was probably two or three years ago." He frowned, thinking maybe it was even longer than that. But he didn't care. He wasn't lonely. He wasn't unhappy with his life.

  "What happened to her?" Lizzie asked.

  "Nothing specific. Our schedules stopped meshing up, and too many cancellations led to the end of whatever it was. We just stopped talking."

  "You both stopped talking, or you did?"

  "Actually, I think it was mutual."

  "You think? It probably wasn't. That's a lie men tell themselves to feel better about disappearing on a woman."

  "I didn't disappear. We kept trying to set something up, and it didn't happen, and we decided to get in touch if we were ever both free, and that's where we left it. What about you? When was your last relationship?"

  "Two years and ten months ago."

  "That's rather specific," he said, curious about the shadows moving through her eyes.

  "I remember specifically because we broke up when I decided to buy the inn."

  "What happened? He didn't want to move to Whisper Lake?"

  "That was one reason. But it was more than that. We met when I was working at a hotel in Denver. He actually became my manager when he transferred in from Los Angeles. We never should have started anything because he was only going to be there for three months and then he'd be taking a permanent position in New York. But I decided not to think about that. And as the time passed, and he suggested I move to New York with him, I thought maybe I would. But then I found out the inn was for sale, and I realized I could have my dream."

  "But you couldn't have him, too."

  She shook her head. "No. There was nothing for him here. He had much bigger dreams. He tried to talk me out of buying the inn. He showed me all the ways I was going to fail. It was a little hard to take. I suppose he was trying to give me good advice."

  He winced, thinking he'd been trying to give her similar unwanted advice only a short while ago.

  "But," she added, "I didn't want to hear all the reasons why I couldn't do it. I wanted to hear why I could. But he didn't believe in me. Anyway, he went to New York, and I came here. I think we're both happier. But sometimes I still hear his voice in my head, all the doubts he raised, especially when things like the furnace break, and I wonder if he was a little bit right." She shrugged, then got to her feet. "Anyway, that's my story, and I should get back to work. I can't fix the heat, but I have other things to do." She paused. "I learned my lesson, Justin. I don't start things that can't be finished, not anymore."

  He slowly nodded, then stood up. "I get it. Too bad."

  "I'm sure you'll survive."

  He met her gaze and smiled. "I'll survive, but I'm still sorry."

  "I don't think I've ever met anyone as direct as you."

  "I don't play games. That's why I could never be like Noah. I would have hunted Alice down and told her how I felt and then I would have known. I would have moved on."

  "Maybe Noah can't handle the truth as well as you can. Some people have softer hearts."

  "I can't argue with that. My heart hardened a long time ago."

  Curiosity ran through her gaze. "I've been telling you a lot of stories, but one of these days, you're going to have to tell me at least one of yours."

  "I'm not that interesting."
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  "I doubt that. But I need to get a shower and then go downstairs."

  Thinking about Lizzie in the shower made him realize that he needed a shower, too, and that it needed to be cold. Because talking to her had only made him want her more.

  She flushed a little as their gazes met. "Don't picture me in the shower," she warned.

  "Too late," he said with a grin, as he headed down the stairs behind her. They might want different things, but they also wanted each other. And he wasn't ready to give up on making that happen.

  Chapter Seven

  Lizzie had trouble not picturing Justin in the shower. He'd looked hot in jeans and a T-shirt with his wavy brown hair, broad shoulders, and extremely fit body. She couldn't imagine there was an ounce of fat on him. He liked to be in control of every situation, and she suspected that covered diet and fitness as well.

  She didn't know why she was so attracted to him. His cockiness should be irritating. His directness should be unappealing. His devotion to his job and his electronics should be a red flag that he was not the man for her. But then she thought about the way he'd kissed her with passion and purpose and almost deliberate restraint as if he were afraid to release the floodgates.

  She shared that fear. Just kissing him had made her lose track of where she was, who she was, what she was doing. Having sex with him would be an off-the-charts distraction.

  It would probably be amazing, and it had been a long time since she'd experienced amazing, but then it would be over. And she had enough self-awareness to know that she probably wouldn't handle that well. So she turned the water temperature to cold and was shivering by the time she stepped out of the shower. But it took only a few moments of the inn's rebellious heating system to put her back in the hot zone.

  She slipped into a summer dress and sandals, grabbed a sweater for when she went outside, and then headed downstairs. The furnace guy said he'd be there at one, which was still two hours away. After checking on the guests, making sure that Victor would be able to man the front desk, and would be able to let in the repairman if she ran late, she left the inn and slid behind the wheel of her Prius.

  She needed to pick up a few items for the cocktail party, and she also wanted to check in with Chloe at the Blue Sky Café. She hadn't liked what she'd seen the night before, and Chloe had not returned any of her texts. She decided to stop there first, then run to the market after that.

  When she got to the café, she was surprised to see Adam sitting at one end of the counter. talking to Chloe. They appeared to be having a rather serious, intense conversation, which made her pause. Was there something going on between them?

  She was almost hesitant to interrupt, but then Chloe looked up and saw her. She gave her an odd, surprised look, then forced a smile onto her face and waved her over.

  "Hey there," Chloe said. "I get two Coles for the price of one."

  "And now you have one. I need to get back to work," Adam said quickly, sliding off his stool. "Everything good with you, Lizzie?"

  "Yes. I'm having my cocktail party tonight. Can you make it?"

  "I doubt it. I'm working on a series of break-ins on the west shore. So far, they've all been empty houses, but I'm concerned at the frequency and escalation."

  "That's disturbing."

  "That's why I need to catch whoever is doing it," he said shortly.

  She wondered if it was the break-ins that were making him tense or whatever he and Chloe had been talking about.

  "Also," Adam said, pausing. "I spoke to Nathan this morning. He got into a motorcycle accident in New Zealand."

  "What? Is he all right?"

  "He's fine. But he needed some cash, so I wired him some money. He told me not to tell anyone, but that's not how it works in our family. Honesty is always best." Adam's pointed look swung to Chloe, then returned to Lizzie. "Don't worry about him. He's okay."

  "I'll see if I can get a hold of him later," she said. "Did you tell Mom and Dad?"

  "Not yet, but I will. I'll see you later."

  As Adam left, Lizzie took the seat he'd just vacated, pushing his barely drunk coffee cup to the side as Chloe set down a new one for her.

  "Do you want something to eat?" Chloe asked.

  "Coffee is fine."

  "I'm surprised you have time for coffee. You're usually extremely busy on happy hour days."

  "I'm going to the store after this to pick up a few things. It was a good excuse to get out of the inn. I'm also having a tremendously bad heating problem. The furnace broke and the inn is up to about a hundred degrees inside. It's unlivable. Most of the guests have gone to the beach, or somewhere else in town for now, but if I don't get it fixed before this afternoon, my party may be a complete bust. Beyond that, guests will probably start leaving."

  Chloe shook her head. "It's been one problem after another for you this month."

  "I know. I'm in a bad patch."

  "Is there anything I can do?"

  "No, but thanks." She looked around. "It's not too crowded in here."

  "Not yet. The lunch rush starts around eleven thirty." Chloe pulled out her phone and then smiled. "Look, Leo is crawling all around." She turned the phone around so Lizzie could see the video.

  "So cute. He's getting big."

  "I know. I miss him so much when I'm at work, but it is what it is." Her smile dimmed, as she put her phone into her pocket. "I'm lucky that Kevin's parents are here for a few months. They love to watch Leo."

  "Does Kevin love to watch him?" she couldn't help asking.

  "Yes. Kevin is great with him. He adores Leo. He just…" Her voice fell off. "I'm sorry, Lizzie. I don't want to talk about Kevin."

  "Is that what you were talking about with Adam? Because you both looked tense."

  Chloe hesitated, her gaze swinging around the half-empty restaurant, as if to make sure no one could hear them. "We were talking about Kevin."

  "What's going on? Or would you rather not say?"

  "We're having problems."

  "I'm sorry. I had hoped things were getting better."

  "They're getting worse." Chloe drew in a breath. "I saw a text on his phone, Lizzie. I think there might be another woman."

  Shock ran through her. "Are you sure?"

  "No, I'm not sure. But something is going on, and he won't talk about it."

  "Did you ask him about the text?"

  "Not yet. Adam thinks I should confront him. But Kevin has had a hard year since he was captured and injured and sent home to recover. He's not himself. I don't know if I will push him into a conversation I don't really want to have." She paused. "I have a son to consider. I can't break up this family over a stupid text."

  "You know how much I hate admitting that Adam is always right, but he's right. You have to talk to Kevin."

  "What if he's having an affair? What if he wants to leave? What if he gets so angry, he just flips out?"

  "Is that a possibility? Are you scared of Kevin?"

  "No. That's not what I meant. He would never hurt me, but his temper is much sharper than it used to be, and his words hurt. I sometimes feel like he's trying to drive me away. If we break up, he can go back to the army when he clears medical and not feel guilty about it. That's what he really wants. I asked him to get out, but he can't quite commit to doing that. He misses his team. He doesn't feel like he has a life here."

  "He has you and Leo and his parents and this diner."

  "He hates the diner. His parents always wanted him to run it, but he never wanted to. He asked me if I'd move somewhere else with him. I said I'd consider it, but we'd have to figure out what we would do for jobs. Sorry. I shouldn't be dumping all this on you. You have your own problems."

  "That doesn't mean I can't care about you. I think you have to find out what's really going on with Kevin, even if it hurts."

  "It's so easy to say that, but you don't have a child."

  "That's a good point. I'm not in your shoes, and I don't know how you feel. But I have been in a relation
ship that wasn't honest, and it never ends well. If he is having an affair, you need to deal with it, and if he's not, then you can move past that idea and work on the rest."

  "You're right. I just have to decide if I can do it. You Coles are pretty smart."

  "Adam is definitely smarter than me, but I have my moments."

  "I don't know why you'd say that, Lizzie. Sometimes you don't give yourself enough credit."

  She shrugged. "I had to follow in the footsteps of four siblings who were much more brilliant than me. Even Chelsea, who only ever wanted to sing, got through school with much better grades. I have street smarts, but not book smarts."

  "Sometimes that's more important."

  She took a sip of coffee. "I think you should come to my party tonight. Leave Kevin at home if he doesn't want to participate. Keira will be there—Hannah, too. I'm going to make margaritas."

  "I do love a good margarita. I'll see. If I get the courage up, I may ask Kevin to take a walk with me and see if we can figure things out."

  "Whatever is best," she said. "I better get back to the inn. Call me anytime, if you need to talk, or text me. I'm here for you."

  "You're very generous, Lizzie."

  "And you're my friend. That's what friends do."

  "Speaking of friends, that man you were with last night…very handsome."

  She saw the gleam in Chloe's eyes. "Yes, Justin is attractive. No doubt about that."

  "And…"

  "Nothing. He's a guest. He's leaving soon. Enough said."

  "Not nearly enough," Chloe said with a laugh. "You looked at him last night like he was a big juicy steak, and you wouldn't mind taking a bite."

  Guilt warmed her cheeks. "I was not that bad."

  "You were, especially when he started acting like a rock star on stage."

  "That did surprise me. When I first met him, he was in a suit and tie. I did not think he had an inner rock star inside him. But, like I said, he's only here for a few days, and I don't have time for men. They're always distracting. I have bigger plans for my life."

  "A man doesn't have to get in the way." Chloe paused. "Okay, I have to admit they often get in the way, but sometimes that's a good thing. You don't want your life to be only about work."