by Bird, Peggy
“Please, call me Matt. If you could point me in the direction of my cabin, I’ll go settle in.”
He watched as she donned a chipper smile like a suit of armor. “Nonsense, I’ll help you with your things. It’s right this way.” For some reason, her forced smile bugged him. He got enough fake social interaction in Manhattan. He was hoping for something different here.
Before Matt could protest, she grabbed the bag out of his hand. It had to be heavy for this sprite of a woman. She was only about five feet and some change, but she made no comment, nor did she slow down. Matt’s last girlfriend had been five-foot-ten, and she wouldn’t even tote her own carry-on luggage. Matt smiled at the petite woman’s back. She barreled on toward the lake, talking as she went. She was intriguing—guarded and distant one moment, enthusiastic the next.
“The cabins are all numbered. The main house here is in the middle, number five. It has a kitchen where we lay out a nice continental breakfast every morning if you don’t want to fend for yourself. You can also request a boxed lunch to take on a hike or whatever else you need. Meg, our cook, is really quite good. There is also a great room with a fireplace, a game room, and a porch if you feel like socializing with any of the other guests. Beyond the main house to the right are cabins one through four, and here to the left are six through nine.” Jade stopped and looked over her shoulder at him. Matt stared back at her, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“What?” she asked.
“I just wondered if you were going to take a breath or turn blue.”
“Sorry.” Jade blushed, a soft shade of rose staining her pale cheeks.
Matt’s smile faded. No distractions … Yeah, right. Matt took a step toward Jade and stood close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from her. He frowned at himself; he usually wasn’t this pushy.
Jade took a step back and turned on her heel. She tightened her grasp on his suitcase and made her way between the large central house and a cabin with a wooden number six on the door. She then turned left onto a path that wound its way past additional cabins, parallel to the lake. He noticed she didn’t turn to see if he was following. Instead, she was focused on maneuvering his large luggage through the underbrush as she veered off the main path onto a smaller one that led back to a wooden door marked with a seven.
“Well, here we are, Mr. Connor.” Jade put down his case to dig in her pocket and pull out a set of keys.
“Please, call me Matt.” Matt stood behind her, looking down at her glossy hair. He was close enough that he could smell the mint of her shampoo mixed with pine. He took a half step forward for a better whiff. At the same moment, Jade’s upper body leaned forward to unlock his door.
• • •
So far, so good. Jade was managing to stay professional and completely ignore the inconvenient attraction she felt for this virtual stranger. Everything was perfect until she put his case down, pulled out the key, and leaned in to unlock cabin seven.
Her butt pressed back, brushing against his well-muscled thighs. Jade inhaled sharply and jumped as if she had been burned, then straightened suddenly, overcompensating in her haste. Her momentum carried her backward, and her back met the wall of his chest with a soft thud. She felt his arms come up and around her shoulders before she could spring away. She had gone from opening his door to being wrapped in his arms, a guest’s arms, in seconds. Fast hands. She felt her body’s response, quick and sharp, as a warm flush spread down to her core. Matt’s sudden intake of breath betrayed his equally strong reaction.
“Oh! Uh, sorry. Wow, sorry,” Jade said. She pasted an awkward smile on her face.
Matt made sure she had her balance before releasing her and taking a controlled step back. If she hadn’t been crowded between Matt’s body and the door to his cabin, Jade would have sprung away.
“That’s the third time you’ve apologized to me since I arrived.” His voice was dry, but when she turned to face him, Jade was sure she saw teasing humor in his eyes.
Jade forced a light laugh. “Hmm, you’re right. I take it back, then.”
“You’re not sorry?” He cocked one eyebrow and took a half step forward again.
“I’m sure I will be, very soon.” She grumbled and turned to the door to unlock it. She did so stiffly, careful not to repeat her earlier clumsiness, and handed him his key without touching his hand. She stepped off the path to let him enter the cabin. He sat his laptop case down inside the door and turned to reach outside for his other bag just as Jade bent down to retrieve it. She stopped herself right before their hands would have met, and straightened awkwardly. Good going, Jade admonished herself. Matt easily swung the heavy bag inside next to his others and directed a devastating smile her way.
“Where can I find you if I … need anything?” The devilish glint in Matt’s eyes left no doubt about his intentions, but Jade reined in her reciprocal smile. She was doing her job here. Nothing more.
“From nine to five I’m in the main house or on the grounds.” Jade bit her lower lip nervously.
“And after hours?” Matt teased.
Her response was terse. “Check with Ben. He’s on nights.” She did her best to ignore the stunning smile he gave her before she turned and walked away.
Jade groaned inwardly as she made her way back to her cabin to change out of her sweaty clothes. How does this always happen to me? I was resolved! I made a sound decision based on really great supporting data. And bam! Mr. Sex-on-a-Stick shows up. This is obviously the universe’s idea of a cosmic joke. I might as well be on the second day of a diet with a triple bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a shake laid out before me. She blew out an exasperated breath that cleared her bangs from her eyes.
Jade let herself into her cabin, hung her parka from the peg by her door, and worked her feet out of her boots. She looked around her cabin, which was not a total disaster—yet. The laundry bag was getting too full, books and jewelry supplies were strewn across the table, and there were some dishes in the sink, but it was nothing a twenty-minute cleaning session couldn’t solve. She could always ask the cleaning crew, Maddie and Stu, to stop by, but that felt too indulgent. After all, she was staff now, not a guest. Not just staff, but the management.
Jade shook her head at the thought. How the hell had that happened? Oh yeah, free room and board during the winter months while her aunt and uncle wintered in Florida. She could manage the resort and still have enough time left to design and cast jewelry, and maybe even launch a jewelry business. Best of all, it was not only convenient from a financial standpoint, but a social one too.
Hiding out was easy at Lakehaven. Hiding out was, in fact, the whole point of a mountain retreat. Jade smiled to herself. She was good at retreating. She hummed a bar of Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield.” That pretty much summed it up. And if retreating was good, keeping busy was even better; managing Lakehaven provided both. She could do this!
Then she remembered the Kent sisters, Mr. Boyle, and the treasure hunting wackos and thought, I’m doomed.
Chapter 2
Jade showered quickly and dressed casually. The manager’s office was on the first floor of the main house, so she headed back in that direction, passing cabin seven on her way. She glanced toward the cabin, but even though it was close, it was barely visible through the trees. All was quiet—no sign of Matthew Connor. She quickened her pace. Some boring paperwork and bill paying would be just the thing to keep her out of trouble.
Two hours later, Jade finally stood up from her desk to stretch and take stock. The office was tidy for a change, the bills were ready to go out, the paperwork was done, and her stomach was empty. Satisfied that she had done all she could here, Jade headed for the kitchen.
Meg Hammond had worked in the Lakehaven kitchen since high school, at first helping Nani Sawyer and Aunt Bertie, and eventually taking over for them. She was, in Jade’s opinion, a culinary wizard. Jade insisted the gift was God-given, but Meg always pointed out that sixteen years
of practice and a few lessons here and there didn’t hurt.
The kitchen was Jade’s favorite place in the main house. (The front porch was a close second: screened from bugs, a view of the lake, a porch swing … what was not to love?) Meg’s food was great but her company was even better, and she always gave Jade the scoop about what was going on at Lakehaven. The way Jade figured it, spending time in the kitchen was an invaluable source of information and sustenance for a manager.
“Ah, yes, I thought I heard these brownies calling my name!” Jade said to Meg’s back. She snatched a brownie from the pan. They were still warm.
“Really, what do they sound like? High and munchkin-y or deep and husky?” Meg replied.
“Deep and husky? Why does every discussion with you go in the same direction? Mmmmmm!” Jade finished on a bite of brownie, frosted of course.
“Speaking of ‘deep and husky, mmmm,’ did you get an eyeful of our new guest?”
Jade feigned ignorance. “Which new guest would that be?”
“Oh please, I know you checked in Mr. Connor. And if you are breathing, I know you checked him out.”
Jade laughed. “Yeah, I saw, I came, he conquered. But he’s a guest. I’m not interested and … I’m not interested.”
“You said that second thing twice.”
“New topic, this one bores us,” Jade said in a corny upper crust accent.
“Okay. Did you e-mail those pictures to Francesca?”
Jade was silent, chewing intently on her brownie.
Meg gaped. “You are kidding me. She wants to see your jewelry! She wants to sell your jewelry, and you—”
“Maybe. Maybe she wants to sell it. I don’t think the line is ready yet.”
Meg was shaking her head. “But you’ll never know if it is because you won’t e-mail the pictures!”
“What if she hates them?”
“Then she has shitty taste, and you find another boutique owner. There must be about, oh, say ten billion boutiques in New York. Trust me, your work is beautiful and people will buy it.”
“I don’t like this topic anymore, either.” Jade chomped into her brownie.
Meg sighed. “Eventually you’ll have to stick your neck out and debut your jewelry. So … Mr. McHottie?”
“No.”
“No to the jewelry and no to the hottie. I’m sensing a trend.”
“Aunt Bertie is counting on me to run Lakehaven efficiently and professionally. I’m pretty sure that doesn’t include sleeping with the guests.”
“Yeah, and I’m pretty sure the employee manual doesn’t say anything about fraternizing.”
Fraternizing? Jade thought. There is nothing about that man that makes me think of a brother. “I am not interested. In fact, I might even try a year of celibacy. Did I already eat that whole brownie?”
“Mmm hmm. So, your date was a bust.” It wasn’t a question.
Jade frowned. The date they were discussing had been a disaster, one in a long line of disasters. “I have a strictly no kiss, no tell policy. Can I have one more brownie?”
Meg handed Jade a brownie. “No, not that one, one from the middle.” Meg sighed and picked one from the middle of the pan.
“Jade, your policy is more like a kiss-off policy.”
“Bite me.” Jade took a particularly vicious bite of brownie to make her point.
“Look, you keep talking about finding the love of your life, but you’re in here with me eating brownies like they’re the Last Supper!”
“A girl’s got to eat.”
“Well, try varying your diet. I’d recommend adding a little meat.”
“Meg, are we still talking about food?”
“No, I’m talking about a six-foot-two side of grade-A.”
“I am so not having this conversation! Does your husband know you talk like that?”
“Honey, he loves when I talk like that!”
“Okay, let’s say I take your fine advice. What happens when I bite off more than I can chew?”
“Then you tell me all of the delectable details, and we both end up happy!”
“I’m afraid there will be no happy endings for this girl. Look, I’ve tried all sorts of … dishes. None of them satisfied. I have a very discerning palate.”
“I just have a feeling about this. Your next great adventure is around the corner. Take a risk, Jade. You’ve got to take the bull by the horns, or whichever other body parts you can grab. I know it isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. Unless you’re chicken?”
“Nice try, Meg, but I’m not biting.”
“Not biting what?” an amused male voice chimed in from the doorway.
Jade nearly choked on her last bite of brownie. Meg laughed.
“Mr. Connor, welcome to Lakehaven. I see you’ve found your way to our kitchen.” Meg used her most cheerful hostess voice.
“Yes, thank you. Something smells wonderful,” he responded.
Great, nice cover. Jade shot a glance at Meg, then turned slowly. The sight of him … God, he was good looking. Jeans, a fisherman’s sweater, laughter in his eyes—too unreal. Okay, stop staring now and say something.
“Mr. Conner, this is Meg Hammond, our chef extraordinaire.”
Matt flashed Meg a million-watt smile that had her grinning. “Great to meet you, Meg.” He turned to Jade and took a deliberate step toward her. “Do I have to beg in order to get you to call me Matt?”
“Oh! Uh, no, not at all. No begging necessary.”
“I should say not,” Meg murmured under her breath.
Jade shot Meg a dirty look, but Meg ignored her. Or, was too busy smiling widely at Matt to see her glare.
Jade glanced at Matt just in time to see him wink at Meg. Apparently, his hearing was keen enough to pick up her comment. She could see him bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Great. What a typical male, flirting with anything in a skirt. Though technically, Meg was wearing pants.
“Okay then, dinner will be in twenty minutes. Can I get you a beverage in the meantime?” Meg offered.
“That would be great, thanks.”
“Jade, could you take the iced tea and show our guest out to the dining room?”
“Sure.” Jade forced a smile onto her face while she tried to determine how much of their earlier conversation Matt might have overheard.
Meg interrupted her thoughts. “Just remember what I said, Jade.”
“Yeah, which thing you said? The stuff about the ‘Last Supper,’ or the stuff about the bull?”
“No, the stuff about the chicken.”
What a smartass. Chicken, my butt. I’ll show you chicken. I can’t believe Meg thinks I’ll fall for her juvenile, reverse psychology crap. He’s staring at me. “What?” It came out sharper than she intended.
Matt raised an eyebrow. “You’re scowling.”
“Sorry.”
“You’re apologizing again.”
Jade sighed. This was not going well. “Right. Not sorry.”
“Good. Look, if you don’t want to accompany me to the dining room … ”
Oh great, now she was alienating the guests. “No, God no, it’s not that. I’m just—oh, ignore me. I’m just a huge geek.”
“I like geeks.”
“Really? What’s the appeal?” She couldn’t help the note of sarcasm that crept into her tone.
“They’re usually interesting. So what’s on the menu tonight? Chicken?”
Jade laughed nervously at the misunderstanding and unintended (she hoped) double entendre all in one. She had to give it to Meg. The girl knew how to manipulate a situation. Jade stifled a sigh. Might as well play the gracious hostess and change the subject at the same time. “How do you like Lakehaven so far?”
“Well, it’s very … charming. So far.”
“Great! We’re glad you’re enjoying the ambiance. I hope you’ll take in all we have to offer.”
That got her another raised eyebrow. Oh, geez. Extract foot from mouth. Ugh. Jade bit
her tongue to get her brain into gear before her mouth did any more damage. Her eyes darted to Matt’s mouth. She blushed as she thought of the exact kind of damage her mouth could cause. No, no no! Damn Meg and her suggestive conversations. Matt grinned down at her and said nothing. Absolutely nothing. She had to drag her gaze away from his mouth. Not good.
Jade led him quickly to the dining room, set down the pitcher of iced tea, and pulled a tall glass from the sideboard. They were alone in the dining room. Damn, where was everyone? “You have your pick of tables, Mr. Connor.”
“Matt.”
Jade bit her bottom lip. Her instinct told her to keep her distance, but she couldn’t see how to refuse his request that she use his first name and still maintain the friendly charm that was as much a part of Lakehaven as its view. She wanted nothing more than to make a hasty exit. Jade thought of her cozy cabin. She would rather be there working on the jewelry she had spread out on her dining room table, but her job as the manager of Lakehaven dictated otherwise. She fought back a sigh. “Right, Matt. Well, which will it be?”
“The small one in the corner.”
Jade nodded and headed for the corner. “Good place to people watch.” Jade set the tea down.
Matt shot her a look of surprise. She guessed he hadn’t expected her to understand it, but the corner table happened to be one of her favorite spots in the dining room. Matt pulled a chair out for Jade and gestured toward it gallantly.
Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? Her brain searched for a good excuse, but all she could come up with was, “I have to shampoo my hair.” It was such a ridiculous thought that she smiled. The next thought she had was, “The cat ate my homework”—no, wait, it was “dog.” She almost giggled at herself and Matt was smiling back at her, which made her scowl. Crap, now he would think she was imbalanced or mentally deficient.
The only thing she could come up with to make it better was to sit with him to prove she was stable. She tried to think up something normal to say. Matt wasn’t saying anything either, and they both sat there smiling at each other in silence. Then after a few tense moments, they both spoke at once:
