Finally Home

by Taylor, Helen Scott

  * * *

  The following morning Melanie was finishing up a tour with a couple thinking of booking the hotel for their wedding reception when Jack wandered in.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him exchange a few words with the girl on the reception desk, then disappear into the manager’s office and close the door.

  So much for that becoming her office when he married.

  She shook hands with the young couple and saw them out. Sighing, she walked back to the office. Despite telling herself she’d overcome much worse problems, she’d spent a restless night tossing and turning, worrying about the future of her job and the implications for her son if she couldn’t find another position near his school.

  She raised her hand to knock then changed her mind. What the heck. This was supposed to be her office. She pushed the door open to find Jack staring out the window, hands in his trouser pockets.

  He glanced over his shoulder, flashing a quick smile of sparkling blue eyes and white teeth against tanned skin. She felt an echo of the strange jolt of awareness she’d experienced the first time she met him. With a sharp breath, she straightened her shoulders.

  Many of the female employees flirted with him, but Melanie liked to think she was immune to his good looks and charm. After all, he was her boss—that alone put him out-of-bounds. Plus he’d been engaged to be married.

  “Come in, Melanie,” he said, turning to face her.

  “I’m already in.” She raised her eyebrows and halted by the desk.

  “So you are.” He leaned back against the windowsill. “I expect you’d like to know what’s going on.”

  “I have been wondering.” She hoped he was about to explain there’d been a minor delay in the wedding and he would be married in a couple of weeks.

  He briefly looked away and flattened his lips. Before he said a word, she sensed that the problems with his marriage plans amounted to more than a minor delay. “I’ll be coming back to work full time,” he said, his voice determined.

  Her worst fears realized, Melanie stepped across to one of the velvet guest chairs and dropped onto the seat. How could she persuade him to keep her on? Maybe if she accepted a lesser position? As long as she kept the manager’s flat, she’d survive on lower wages. Possibilities spun through her mind.

  “I want you to stay on.” He walked closer and propped a hip against the edge of the desk. “I’d been thinking about trying to secure more corporate events before this wedding malarkey took over my life. I want you to continue managing the wedding reception side of the business while I explore the corporate angle. I’ve got the contacts.” He winced. “Or I did have before I jilted the town’s favorite solicitor. Let’s hope Stephanie isn’t the sort to take revenge by trashing my business reputation.”

  Melanie leaned back on a sigh, and the tension in her shoulders eased. “That’s a relief. I thought you wouldn’t want me anymore.”

  Jack swallowed audibly, then looked down and cleared his throat. “I don’t want you to suffer because I temporarily seem to have lost the plot. Your job will remain unchanged, except we’ll be sharing this office. I’m sure we can work around each other.” He glanced up at her from beneath his lashes.

  “I’m sure we can,” she said briskly, ignoring her little shiver of awareness and the way his eyes appeared even bluer than usual against his tanned skin.

  Jack straightened his tie and she got the distinct impression he was uncomfortable. That wasn’t surprising, considering the situation. It couldn’t be easy discussing one’s personal life with a member of staff.

  Whatever had caused Jack to change his mind about getting married was none of her business, and she had no intention of prying. If he wanted to confide in her, he could, but that was unlikely. They hardly knew each other. Their relationship was strictly professional.

  Melanie breathed a sigh of relief and stood, suddenly full of enthusiasm for the rest of the day. The happy life she and Ryan were establishing in this new town would continue. Day by day, week by week, they would put the past behind them.

  She noticed the time on the clock over the fireplace. “I have a one o’clock appointment. I’ll grab a sandwich first, if that’s all right with you?” She raised her eyebrows.

  Jack’s gaze skimmed over her thoughtfully. “There’s something we need to discuss, Melanie, but it can wait until later.”

  She didn’t like his ominous tone, but her position as manager was safe and anything else paled into insignificance beside that worry.

  * * *

  Melanie was in the dining room examining wedding table-decorations with a sales rep when one of the waitresses brought her a business card.

  Melanie turned the square of vellum into the light and read Ms. Stephanie Curtis, Solicitor. She held it out to the waitress with a smile. “I think this is meant for Jack. He’s lunching with the Rotary Club chairman. Why don’t you suggest she calls him later?”

  The waitress shook her head, blond curls bouncing. “The lady asked for you.”

  Melanie frowned. “Are you sure?”

  When the young woman nodded, Melanie apologized to the sales rep and told him she’d consider his products and be in touch. With a hint of trepidation, she walked out to the reception area. She couldn’t imagine what Stephanie Curtis wanted with her. She’d only met the woman a few times. Usually she saw her from a distance as she came and went from Jack’s house. The last thing she wanted was to get involved in their relationship problems.

  Stephanie Curtis rose elegantly from a floral settee by the huge granite fireplace in the entrance hall and offered her hand. “May we talk?”

  Melanie could hardly say no, so she led her visitor into the manager’s office and closed the door. “Please take a seat.” Not sure if this visit should be classed as business or personal, Melanie opted to take the second guest chair rather than sit on the other side of the desk. As soon as she sat and noticed Stephanie’s chilly expression, she wished she’d put the desk between them. “How can I help you, Ms. Curtis?”

  Stephanie glanced around the room, her glossy pink lips taut. “Did you do it in here?” She gave Melanie a derisive glance and laughed bitterly. “No, you don’t look the sort to be adventurous. I bet you’re an ‘in bed with the lights out’ type of gal, aren’t you. What the hell does Jack see in you?”

  For long moments Melanie couldn’t think. The quiet tick of the clock marked off the seconds as she stared at Stephanie, her mouth open, her brain frozen in shock. “I don’t—”

  “Please spare me the pointless denials.” Stephanie jumped up and stalked around the room, examining the furnishings as if she were picturing Melanie and Jack making out together in various places.

  “You really have got this wrong.” Melanie stood and followed her. “There’s nothing between Jack and me. Nothing. Heavens…” She put her hand to her throat and flushed at the thought of Jack touching her, making love to her over the desk or in the office chair. “Whoever told you this is just out to cause trouble. I promise there’s no truth in it. How can you even imagine he’d be interested in someone like me?” She reined back the denials crowding her mind. She was babbling and needed to calm down.

  Stephanie stared at her through narrowed eyes, her expression dangerous. “Don’t lie to me. Jack told me he’s in love with you.”

  “Jack in love with me?” Melanie stumbled back and caught hold of the edge of the desk. “Why would Jack say that?”

  St
ephanie pointed a finger at her. “Don’t think you’re getting away with this, you cheating bitch. Everyone thinks you’re such a nice person. And isn’t Jack lucky to have found someone he can trust to take care of his precious hotel. Looks like Jack got lucky in more ways than one. I’m going to make sure everyone knows exactly what sort of woman you really are.”

  “But I’m not…” Melanie started. One look at Stephanie’s face told her she was wasting her breath.

  Stephanie strode towards the door. “Tell Jack I said hi when you see him.” Then she slammed the door behind her.

  Melanie stared blankly at the fireplace for a long time, trying to absorb what had just happened. The hollow, breathless shock inside her gradually filled with spiky anger. Nothing had happened between her and Jack, which meant he’d lied and used her as an excuse to break off his engagement. When he got back from his lunch appointment, he had some damn explaining to do.

  Melanie tried to work, but every time she started to read, her mind wandered back to her conversation—or should that be confrontation—with Stephanie.

  Jack told me he’s in love with you.

  Ridiculous as Stephanie’s words sounded, she couldn’t forget them. She pushed aside the strange little fizz of heat the words gave her. There was no way Jack had feelings for her. Absolutely no way. She’d have noticed some clue in his behavior, surely. Even if he did love her, what difference did that make? She was certainly not in the market for a husband, or even a boyfriend. If she were, she knew better than to date her boss.

  Even if he did look like a god.

  A little frisson of something she’d rather ignore ran up and down her spine. She gave herself a shake, sat up straight and tried to concentrate on the letter she was composing, but every time she heard a car, her gaze skipped across to the window to check if it were Jack.

  When she finally spied the silver Mercedes pull up in a parking space outside, she shot out of her seat and headed for the door, a ball of nervous tension wound tight in her belly. Thank goodness he’d come back before she had to collect Ryan from school. If she’d had to sleep on this without confronting him, she’d have had a terrible night.

  She hurried out the front door and met him as he headed towards the hotel. “May I have a word?”

  He turned on his bone-melting smile. “Certainly.” He indicated she should precede him through the hotel door, but she held her ground.

  “I’d rather talk somewhere a little more private.” Melanie had a nasty feeling this conversation might involve raised voices, and she didn’t want the other employees knowing her business. At least not yet. If Stephanie got her way, it sounded as though she intended to spread the news of Melanie’s relationship with Jack around the whole town, so the other staff would hear eventually.

  For a moment he hesitated, surprise and maybe a touch of caution on his face. Then he changed course towards his house. “Let’s talk in the Gatehouse. We shouldn’t be disturbed there.”

  He opened his front door, then stood aside to let her pass. This was the first time she’d been inside his house. If anyone saw them, this would almost confirm Stephanie’s allegations.

  Melanie wrung her hands together as she paced across the small living room to the window and looked out over the neatly manicured lawn at the back of the property.

  She heard Jack moving around behind her and closed her eyes. How on earth did you accuse a man of claiming to love you? Especially when it was patently obvious that he didn’t. Maybe it would be easiest to give him the chance to come clean.

  “Would you like a cup of tea?” he asked. She realized he was very close behind her. His nearness hummed over her skin like an electric charge.

  “No.” She shook her head and bit her lip.

  “Unfortunately, I think I might know what this is about.” The wariness in his voice sent goose bumps racing down her arms. She’d hoped to discover Stephanie’s accusation was a misunderstanding. But Jack’s voice held an unmistakable hint of guilt.

  “Ms. Curtis came to see me today.”

  “Damn. Sorry,” he added quickly. “What did she say?”

  “What do you think she said?”

  “I’d prefer not to play guessing games.”

  Sudden anger snapped through her at the exasperation in his voice. She jerked around and met his intense blue gaze. “I’m not the one playing games. You’ve got some explaining to do.”

  He raked his hands back through his hair with a sigh. “I really am sorry if Stephanie’s been unpleasant to you. I had no intention of involving you in our breakup.”

  Melanie shook her head as if in a daze, hearing his words but hardly able to believe them.

  Jack gave her a harassed look. “It was a moment of madness. Stephanie is very determined to get what she wants. Saying I’d fallen in love with another woman seemed to be the only way to extract myself from the relationship.”

  “But why me?” Melanie rubbed her temples, comprehending his dilemma, yet still at a loss to understand why he’d picked on her.

  Jack paced away and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ve no idea. It’s not as if I’ve ever thought of you that way. I suppose you were on my mind because of work.”

  That confirmed what she’d thought. They had a strictly professional relationship. Irrationally, his explanation still bruised some sensitive female part of her that hoped he at least found her slightly attractive.

  “I assume she was angry?” he said.

  “Oh yes. Spitting tacks. She called me a bitch and accused us of…inappropriate behavior.”

  He’d been staring at the floor, but his gaze shot up at her words. “What exactly did she say?”

  Heat burned up Melanie’s neck into her face. She opened her mouth, then closed it again.

  Jack moved closer and laid a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”

  Mortified at the direction the conversation had taken, she turned her back on him. “You must go and set this straight with Ms. Curtis before she tells everyone. If people in this town spread nasty gossip about me, it’s bound to reach Ryan.” At the thought of her son’s brave little face, her chest tightened. He’d already suffered enough to last a lifetime.

  Jack put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. She stepped away from him. Jack Summers was not a sympathetic shoulder to cry on.

  She hadn’t accepted the comfort of a man’s arms since her husband died five years ago. She couldn’t afford to lean on a man again and be disappointed. She needed to take a mental step back and be careful. She didn’t want to lose her job over this.

  After regaining her composure, she turned to face Jack and looked him in the eye. “What we need to consider now is damage control.” If she pretended the situation was a work problem, it made her feel better. The secret was to distance herself from the issue and be objective.

  “Damage control,” he repeated with a frown. “You’re probably worrying unnecessarily. The locals may gossip about us for a week or so, but it’ll soon blow over and be forgotten.”

  Jack might dismiss gossip, but Melanie had firsthand experience of how damaging it could be, even if it was wrong. “I won’t take the chance that any bad feeling affects Ryan.”

  He tapped his lips thoughtfully and scrutinized her for so long, she feared he would see behind the façade she presented to the world and guess she was hiding something. She needed to divert his attention.

  “Let’s meet with Stephanie and
tell her the truth,” Melanie suggested.

  “Ah.” Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t fancy our chances there. Once she’s made up her mind about—”

  “We’ll go together. You can explain what happened, and I’ll back you up.”

  Melanie could visualize the meeting. They would book an appointment with Stephanie in her office to make it businesslike. Jack would calmly explain he’d felt cornered and said the first name that came to mind as an excuse to break off their relationship. His explanation seemed plausible if a little stupid, but then she’d known men do far worse things under pressure. Hopefully Stephanie would look at the situation in the same way.

  Chapter Two

  Jack led Melanie out of the hotel towards his car for their eleven o’clock appointment with Stephanie. Melanie crossed her fingers, hoping Stephanie hadn’t spread too much unsavory gossip about them since she returned home.

  Melanie slid into the passenger’s seat of Jack’s car and smoothed down the skirt of her sensible navy suit. She was aiming for a demure, businesslike look. There was no point in antagonizing Stephanie any more than necessary.

  The hotel handyman stared after them as they drove away. Although Jack had taken Melanie out in the hotel’s van to visit suppliers, she’d never ridden in his car before. Now the handyman had seen them leave together, it would be all over the hotel by the end of the day.

  When they arrived at the solicitor’s office, they were shown to a small waiting area with black-and-tan leather chairs. Jack fetched two cups of coffee from the machine, then sat with his chin in his hand staring out the window.

  After a while, Melanie checked her watch for the third time and recrossed her legs in the opposite direction. She wanted to get this wretched meeting over with and sort out the misunderstanding. “I suspect there’s a bit of one-upmanship going on,” she said. “She’s kept us waiting half an hour.”