Lies and Solace

by Jana Richards

  “Me, too.”

  He kissed her again, shaking with need as he tried to communicate with his body the passion in his heart. She responded ardently at first, then pulled away, as if there was a line she was unwilling, or afraid, to cross. A wave of disappointment washed over him.

  Don’t push her.

  The mantra sang in his head. Reluctantly, he let her go.

  She was worth waiting for.

  “Did you bring the bids for the renovations with you?”

  She was changing the subject. He pointed to the briefcase he’d dropped near the door. “I did, and the preliminary blueprints from the architect, too. We can look them over tomorrow.”

  “Good. I’m curious to see who bid on the project. Are you hungry? Dinner is ready.” She smiled politely, once more turning into the perfect hostess.

  “That sounds great.”

  He followed her into the kitchen where he was greeted by a rich blend of welcoming scents. Harper’s kitchen was warm and cozy and comfortable. Like home.

  “It smells amazing in here.” He pointed to a large pot on the back burner of the stove. “Is that home-made soup?”

  “Yes, beef barley, my grandmother’s recipe. It used to be my grandfather’s favorite. It was the first thing she taught me to make.”

  “She must have been very proud of you.”

  Harper shrugged and looked away. “Grandma Dorothy was…difficult. She’d always been the kind of person who demanded perfection, but after my mother died, she was even worse. She ruled this lodge, and the three of us, with an iron fist. No matter what we did, or didn’t do, it was never good enough. I don’t know if she was proud of me or not.”

  She turned away, giving the soup a stir with a large wooden spoon. “I added lots of carrots. I hope you like carrots.”

  From the tense set of her shoulders it was obvious she didn’t want to talk about her grandmother any longer. He imagined doing so brought up painful memories of her parents. He wished she could confide in him. He wanted to understand her pain, take some of the burden away.

  Don’t push her.

  He squeezed her shoulders between his hands to let her know he understood, then lightly kissed her hair before stepping away. Her shoulders relaxed, her tension eased.

  “I can smell something else, too. Something sweet,” he said.

  Harper turned to him with a smile. “I have a surprise for you. I told the cook at Miller’s how much you enjoyed her pie and she sent another one along. It’s baking in the oven.”

  His nose detected the sweet notes of cinnamon and sugar. “What kind is it? It doesn’t smell like apple.”

  “It’s blueberry this time. Martha makes a mean blueberry pie. I’ve set a table for us in the dining room. Can you help me bring in the food?”

  “Sure.”

  She filled two bowls with the fragrant soup and they each brought one to the dining room table. A loaf of bread and a bowl of butter were already in place.

  “Martha also wanted you to sample her bread,” she said with a grin. “I think she was as excited as I was that you were coming. She wants to impress the new boss’s rep.”

  He buttered a chunk of bread and bit into it. It melted in his mouth. “I think I’m in love with Martha. Do you think she’d come work for us?”

  She shook her head. “No, no way. She’s been with the Millers for nearly thirty years, and I believe she’s getting ready to retire in a year or two. She’s a wonderful cook, but she’s not what I have in mind for the lodge.”

  “You want something more modern.”

  Ethan watched as she lifted her spoon and blew on the hot soup before sampling it. “Exactly. I want something different. Miller’s has already cornered the market on homespun, country cooking around here.”

  He tasted some of the soup. It was delicious. Harper was no slouch herself when it came to cooking. “It might be difficult to attract that kind of chef to a rural area like this.”

  “I know. I wish…” She shook her head and lifted her soupspoon once more.

  “What?”

  She frowned and put down her spoon. “I wish Maggie would see how perfect the job as chef at the lodge is for her. But at least she volunteered to help me shop for all the appliances and equipment a professional kitchen will need.”

  “That will be very helpful.” He took another slice of bread and buttered it.

  “Yeah, it will.” Her brow wrinkled as she tore a piece of bread into chunks and dropped them onto her plate. She obviously had more on her mind.

  “Spill it, Harper. What are you thinking?”

  She looked up and blinked. “I didn’t know I was so transparent.”

  “Only to me. What’s on your mind?”

  “For all that Maggie insists she has a life that she loves in the city, she doesn’t seem very happy.”

  “What’s going on with her?”

  “I don’t know.” Harper shook her head. “She doesn’t confide in me. It’s been that way since our grandmother died. Maggie was fourteen. I came home to look after her and Grandpa, and I sort of took over the role of her mother. I never wanted to be anything except her sister, but she was so young and rebellious that I had to lay down the law for her own good. Fortunately, as she got older, she settled down, and we were able to step away from that adversarial relationship. But she’s never trusted me with her thoughts and worries. Not really.”

  “And that upsets you.”

  She gave him a sad smile. “Of course it does. I only want to be her sister. I want her to be happy. I would never use anything she tells me against her.”

  Ethan reached across the table and grasped her hand. She had the softest skin. “I’m sure she knows that.”

  “I’m not so certain.”

  “Then maybe you have to tell her.”

  She surprised him with an amused smile. “Honesty isn’t something we’re big on in my family.”

  There was that word again. Hearing her say it sent his heart racing. “Sometimes the people we care about most are the ones it’s hardest to be honest with.”

  Her blue eyes met his. “Yes, that’s true.”

  Ethan had the uncomfortable feeling she saw right through him, past the façade and the fake name to the man beneath. The man who was being less than honest with her.

  By the time they finished dinner and cleaned up, it was close to nine, and completely dark. The days were gradually getting longer, but March in Minnesota meant daylight hours were short.

  They dressed in warm winter gear and headed for the garage. Once they got there, Harper grasped the handle of the garage’s overhead door and pulled as hard as she could. The heavy metal door stubbornly refused to budge. “It must be off the tracks again,” she said.

  “Can I try?” Ethan asked, stepping closer. She caught a whiff of the citrusy aftershave she liked so much. God, he smelled good enough to eat.

  She swallowed and stepped aside. “Be my guest.”

  He gripped the door handle and pulled, but the door didn’t move. “Come on, baby,” he murmured. “Don’t be like that.”

  He tried once more, his face straining with exertion. The door lifted. The fog of Ethan’s warm breath curled around his face in the cold air. “There you go. You just have to whisper a few sweet nothings to her.”

  Oh, to have him whisper a few sweet nothings in my ear. Harper sighed and stifled a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold. She cleared her throat. “Thanks for muscling it open.”

  “My pleasure.”

  She nearly groaned. Did he have to use that particular phrase? Her brain turned everything he said into something sexual.

  With an effort, she pushed away all thoughts of pleasure and whispered endearments and did her best to concentrate on the business at hand – getting Ethan to his cottage. The last time Ethan visited, he’d been a passenger on her sled, but this time he’d go solo.

  “Have you ever driven a snowmobile?”

  “Years ago,” he replied. �
��When I was kid in Wisconsin. My brother and I used to chase each other around the lake near our inn. It was a blast.”

  “They’re a lot of fun, but up here in the woods, they’re practical, too. Right now the road up to your cottage is blocked with snow, so this is the only way there, aside from snowshoes.”

  She’d considered giving him the same room at the lodge he’d stayed in before, at least until construction began, but she knew how cold it could get. With the ancient bathroom a frigid walk down the hall, it wasn’t exactly comfortable accommodations. The cottage was new and warm, with a pretty, modern bathroom, a wood burning fireplace and brand-new appliances. It had plenty of space and would afford Ethan as much privacy as he’d like.

  Besides, having Ethan under the same roof tempted fate. She wanted him, but she didn’t know if she was ready to make love with him, to trust him so intimately. For now, having him stay in the cottage seemed like the safest option.

  “I put electric start in these babies, so getting them going is usually pretty easy. I only have to pump the choke a couple of times and turn the switch. Before you start the engine, it’s a good idea to depress the throttle a couple of times to make sure it hasn’t frozen open, otherwise it could take off without you.”

  She squeezed the throttle on the handlebar and when she was satisfied it was working properly, opened the choke. Ethan leaned in, watching intently. His close proximity made her forget what she was doing. Her fingers fumbled when she turned the electric start. As the engine roared to life, she released the choke, then handed a helmet to Ethan.

  “You start the other one,” she shouted over the noise of the sled.

  He slipped on the helmet and fastened it under his chin. Mirroring her steps, he started the second snowmobile without any trouble. Harper put on her own helmet and mounted her sled. She drove out of the garage with Ethan following closely behind.

  Stopping at his truck in front of the lodge, they picked up Ethan’s suitcase. Harper used a couple of bungee cords to secure it on the seat behind him. Then, she remounted her sled and turned in the direction of the cottages.

  She’d chosen the cottage closest to the lodge for him. Parking the snowmobiles in front, she led the way up the stairs to the front porch, which she’d cleared of snow. Once inside, they took off their boots. Harper walked to the fridge and opened the door.

  “I’ve stocked the kitchen with a few things I thought you might need. Coffee, juice, bottled water, and some snacks. If you need anything else, let me know.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

  “I didn’t stock any real food since you’ll be eating most of your meals with me at the lodge.” She suddenly realized she hadn’t asked him if that was what he wanted. “Unless you don’t want to.”

  Ethan took off his gloves and tossed them on the kitchen counter. He grasped her hands and squeezed reassuringly. “I’d much rather have meals with you, spend time with you.”

  “I’m glad,” she said in relief.

  “I don’t want you to feel you have to cater to me, though. I’ll look after cleaning the cottage myself, and I can help you with the cooking. I’m not much of a chef, but I can peel a vegetable.”

  She loved the warmth in his dark eyes. “Good to know. I’m not going to be around for every meal. I’ll be working several lunch and dinner shifts at Miller’s, so you’ll have to fend for yourself sometimes.”

  “I’ll be away occasionally, too. I’m working on finding new management for Miller’s for when we take over in the summer, so I’ll have to go back to the city quite often.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’ll appreciate the time we have together.”

  She’d treasure her time with Ethan. She only wished they didn’t have so many obligations that kept them apart. “How about breakfast at eight tomorrow morning?”

  “Sounds great.” He caressed her cheek, his thumb gently stroking the delicate skin below her eye. “Would you like to stay for coffee?”

  Her body reacted to his touch with a flash of heat that emanated from her core and spread to her fingertips. She wanted to stay for coffee, but if she did, she might be tempted to stay the night. And though her body might be more than ready to make love with Ethan, her heart and her head weren’t there yet.

  She couldn’t bear the disbelief, and the displeasure, she was sure she’d see on his face when he found out she was a virgin. Or worse, the pity.

  Reluctantly, she took a step away from him. “I think it’s best if I go now. Good night, Ethan.”

  Regret flashed briefly across his face. “Good night.”

  She left the cottage and climbed on her sled for the short trip back to the lodge, wondering when her head was going to catch up with her body. Or if it ever would.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The next morning Ethan climbed on the snowmobile for the short trip down the hill to the lodge. Remembering the way Harper had started the machine last night, he depressed the throttle a couple of times to ensure it wasn’t frozen open. Then he opened the choke and turned the key. To his relief, it started on the first try. He backed off the choke, then squeezed the throttle on the handlebar. With a roar of power the sled took off. Ethan laughed in delight as he shot off the trail Harper had created and steered the sled over the snowbanks. He’d forgotten how exhilarating the freedom of driving a snow machine could be.

  The trip to the lodge was too short. Maybe he could convince Harper to take him on another tour around the property. This time he could drive his own sled.

  He entered the lodge through the back door, which led to the kitchen. Knocking on the doorframe he called, “You awake, Harper?”

  She appeared around a corner wearing a pink apron and carrying a mixing bowl. She gave him a welcoming smile. “I’ve been awake for hours. Some of us get an early start on the day.”

  “You do realize it’s only seven fifty a.m.? That’s practically the crack of dawn in my world.”

  Her smile disappeared. “I’m sorry. If this was too early for you, I could have made breakfast later.”

  “I’m kidding, Harper. I’m starved, and I’m dying for a cup of coffee. Is it ready?”

  Relief flooded her face. “Of course. Come in and I’ll pour you a cup.”

  After stripping out of his winter gear, he followed her into the kitchen. She pulled two cups from a cupboard and poured coffee into them. “So, this morning we’re going to take a look at the bids for the general contracting, right?”

  “Right. We’ve got five bids. I did a little investigation on each of the bidders, some general background stuff. I checked around to see what kind of reputations they had, if there were any negative reviews of their work, or if their business practices had ever come into question. Most seem to be good, solid companies.”

  “Sounds like we may have a difficult decision to make. Can we take a look after breakfast?”

  “Absolutely. But first I want to show you what the architect has come up with. I’d like to get your thoughts.”

  “I’m excited to see the plans,” she said with a smile.

  When they finished cleaning up after breakfast, Ethan brought his briefcase and a cardboard tube containing the blueprints to one of the tables in the dining room. He pulled the rolled-up plans from the tube and set them on the table, using a couple of sugar bowls and salt and pepper shakers to hold down the curling edges.

  “This first drawing shows how the structures will be situated on the property. It’s a bird’s eye view from above.” He pointed to the lodge. “Here’s the lodge with the new guest wing on the south side. To the north, we have the new event center. It’s close to the lodge so guests don’t have far to go to their rooms. It also shares the parking lot with the lodge.”

  “Okay.” She stepped closer and pointed to a couple of smaller structures near the lake. “What are these?”

  When she leaned over the blueprints and tossed her hair over her shoulder, blonde curls tumbled down her back. The scent of lil
acs filled his senses. Was it the perfume she used or maybe her shampoo? For the rest of his life he’d think of her whenever he smelled lilacs.

  She looked up at him. “Ethan?”

  He blinked, struggling to regain his focus. “The first one is the new spa. It has a steam room inside, treatment rooms for massages, and esthetician stations. Outside the spa there’s a ten-person hot tub and two outdoor dry saunas. The other building is meant to house recreational equipment, like kayaks, canoes and paddle boards that guests can rent. I see the building as the recreation hub for the lodge, where guests can sign up for bird watching excursions or dog sled rides.”

  Her blue eyes danced with excitement. “That’s a great idea. There’s no room for that sort of thing in the lodge itself.”

  She had the most amazing smile, completely open and full of life and promise. Again, he forced himself to stay focused. “Here’s the artist’s rendering of the event center.”

  He heard Harper’s quick intake of breath. “It’s gorgeous! I love it!”

  Ethan let out a relieved breath. He’d suggested the barn-style building to the architect, so he was especially pleased she liked it. “Good. I’m glad.”

  She touched the roofline of the drawing. “I love that it looks kind of like an old barn. It really fits the vibe we’re trying to create.”

  “All the out buildings are going to be clad with cedar siding that will weather with age. They’ll look like they’ve been here forever.”

  “That’ll be perfect.”

  “The event center may look old, but it’s state of the art. It’s got a modern kitchen that can cater a large group, and we’re going to equip it with audio-visual equipment so we can host conferences as well as weddings.”

  “It looks like there’s a second-floor balcony. What’s that for?”

  He flipped through the drawings until he found the detailed rendering of the second floor. “We’ve got two smaller meeting rooms up there that can turn into one larger room by folding away the dividing wall between them. There’s a staircase going upstairs from the main floor of the event center, as well as an elevator. Your owner’s apartment is also up there. What do you think?”