His Winter Rose and Apple Blossom Bride

by Lois Richer

  Jason’s head was shaking before he’d finished asking.

  “Give me a motor and some tools and I can do great things. But with a hammer I’m a liability.”

  “He’s telling the truth,” Ashley vouched, trying to smother her smile. “If you look above the piano you can see where he was going to hang a picture.”

  They all turned to stare at the damaged plaster. Jason endured their teasing good-naturedly until Ashley cleared the dishes and served dessert. The subject changed to the timing of the festival.

  “It’s got to be in January,” Piper explained. “We need the ice and snow to carry off the ice-sculpture contests. And the lake will still be frozen, which will allow us to have our family skating day and the community bonfire out there.”

  “Not to mention the ice-fishing tournament.” Jason set down his fork. “I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a meal so much. Thank you, Ashley.”

  “Me, too,” Michael added, scooping up the last bite of apple betty. “You should sell this recipe to my mom. She’d pay a lot to serve this.”

  “It has to be the spices,” Piper decided, savoring the taste on her tongue. “I know there’s cinnamon, but you’ve added something else that makes me think of apple trees just starting to form the apples. It’s delicious.”

  “A hint of nutmeg. Thank you all.” Blushing, Ashley rose, began removing the dessert dishes.

  “Oh, no. You cooked. We clean.” Jason lifted the plates from her hands. “Isn’t that right?” he asked Piper.

  “Absolutely. Why don’t you take your coffee out on the deck, Ash? It’s a gorgeous evening. Jason even lit a fire in the firepit, just in case it gets cool.”

  “I’ll go with you to make sure you won’t have to stand out there alone and stare at the stars by yourself,” Michael offered, grasping her elbow as if to lead her. “You understand, don’t you, guys?” he said over one shoulder, winking at Piper and Jason.

  “I’ll let it go this time because I get to spend some more time with my girl, but I’m warning you, man.” Jason shook his head. “There will come a day when that smooth tongue of yours is going to fail.”

  “Envy is a terrible thing.” Michael let Ashley tug her arm out of his grasp, and poured two cups of coffee from the decanter she’d left on a side table. “After you, madam.”

  She went with him, because to refuse would be to create a scene. Besides, Piper and Jason needed time together without her in the room.

  “You and Jason sound like you’ve known each other forever.”

  “That’s what it seems like. Jason could be the brother I never had,” Michael admitted. “We clicked the day I arrived back here and he offered to help me move in.”

  “He is a nice guy. I’m glad he and Piper found each other.”

  “You two have been friends for a while, I take it?”

  “The three of us, Piper, Rowena and I, were inseparable as kids.” She smiled. “We all came from here, went to boarding school together and stuck by each other through thick and thin. We still try and get together as often as we can. And we phone a lot.”

  “Nice.” Mick handed her a cup. “This deck has the most fantastic vista.” He remained beside her, staring across the treetops. “Years ago people considered the view and built accordingly. Now it seems like we raze everything to the ground and then try to recreate nature. Most of the time we don’t do nearly as good a job.”

  “Why won’t you help Piper with the play sets?” she asked, refusing to dance around the issue any longer. “She’s worked so hard on this, trying to get Serenity Bay on the map so people can live here year round and earn a good living. It can’t be that hard to build a few sets.”

  Michael kept staring outward, as if he were ignoring her.

  “Are you against the winter festival or against bringing more tourists to town?”

  “Neither.” He did look at her then, surprise covering his face. “I’m for both. The more the merrier. I think Piper’s done a fantastic job of developing Serenity Bay.”

  “But you’re against development, is that it?”

  “Not at all.” He shook his head, frowned at her. “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, you’re not helping, so—”

  “It’s not that I don’t want to. I think the winter festival is a great idea. Bringing back some of the old ways to teach the kids, showing them firsthand how trappers worked—all of it is going to be very educational and fun. That’s the way kids learn best.”

  “Not to mention the people it will bring to town just to see the contestants,” she murmured. She kept her focus on him. “So what’s the problem?”

  “The problem is time. Actually a lack of it.” He sipped his coffee, then reached out, plucked a tumbling leaf from her hair. “I don’t have enough of it. I teach full-time. I have a young daughter to raise and a house to clean. I’m already struggling to keep up in all three of those areas, Ashley.”

  It wasn’t the answer she wanted, and Ashley had a hunch it wasn’t the whole answer, either. There was something Michael wasn’t saying. What was he hiding?

  “I finally remembered you,” he said quietly.

  “P-pardon?”

  “From when you lived here before. Ashley Adams. You lived in that big silver-gray house on the waterfront. I used to envy you.”

  “Me?” Ashley turned to look at him. “Why would you ever envy me?” You had parents and sisters who loved you, a stable home.”

  “That’s easy. You could get up in the morning, walk a hundred feet and dive into the water,” he explained.

  “So could you. Serenity Bay is almost surrounded by water.”

  “Ah, yes, but I had to bike to get to the beach. You lived right beside it. You could swim anytime you wanted. For someone like me who is addicted to water, your house was perfection. It’s up for sale, did you know?”

  “No, I didn’t.” The house she’d once loved had become a cold empty place. Her father wasn’t home much during the year so he’d only kept the sparsest of furniture. Summers he spent in the backyard or on his boat. By an unspoken mutual agreement, neither of them spent more than the necessary amount of time inside.

  “Well, it is. I looked at it when I moved here last spring. It might need a bit of work but the location is still its biggest asset.”

  “You weren’t tempted to buy it? Access to water and all that?”

  “I wish.” Michael shook his head. “I couldn’t afford it. Anyway, it’s a place meant for a big family to enjoy and right now there’s only Tati and I.”

  “She’s a beautiful child.”

  “Yes, she is. Beautiful and headstrong with a tendency to spill stuff.”

  Ashley remembered her own childhood. “Aren’t all kids clumsy, to some extent?”

  He snickered. “You don’t know Tati very well. To some extent doesn’t begin to cover my child.”

  There were several comments Ashley could have made just then, but none of them seemed kind. So she kept her mouth shut and after a couple of minutes of silence Michael described his daughter’s attempt to “help” him make dinner two nights before.

  “Every smoke alarm in the place was ringing. I had to toss the toaster outside eventually. That’s when I found out she’d put cheese slices on the bread she’d buttered before she put it in the toaster. The house still smells.”

  “Accidents happen,” she told him, suppressing her laughter.

  “Once could be called an accident but yesterday I had to take my DVD player apart.”

  “She put something in it?” Ashley asked, trying not to stare at him as his expression changed from chagrin to laughter.

  “My socks. Tati claimed she was trying to make a video for her grandmother.”

  “A video of socks?” Ashley frowned.

  “To show Granny the holes so she could get me new ones for Christmas,” he admitted. “Tati’s a little focused on Christmas at the moment. She has her special Christmas dress all picked out.”

  “Sma
rt girl. It’s good to be prepared.”

  His shoulder brushed hers. Since Ashley was in the corner of the railing she could hardly move away. Leaving would only prove—to herself most of all—how much he affected her. So she stood there.

  “It must be fun to have a child in your life.”

  “Fun, yes. Also very scary. Since you knew me back when, you might remember I was never an A student when it came to responsibility. Being the youngest kid does that, I guess.” He studied her. “Are you cold? Would you like to move nearer the fire?”

  Ashley nodded, followed him to the lounge chairs. He waited till she’d sunk into one, then sat down on the end of it.

  “What about you? Do you want children?”

  “Someday.” She panned a look. “I’d like to get married first, though.”

  “Smart lady.” He flicked her cheek with one finger, chasing away a mosquito. “If I remember correctly, you were always popular with the boys.”

  “You remember incorrectly,” she chided, peeking up through her lashes. “Or you’d remember me hugging your mother’s ficus plant in the corner at her parties. I was usually the wallflower. Too shy, I guess.”

  “You don’t seem the shy type.”

  “But then you don’t know me that well.” She reached for the soft shawl she’d dropped on a side table earlier.

  “I’d like to,” he said simply, meeting her gaze. “Know you better, I mean. Maybe we could go out for dinner one evening.”

  “You’re too busy,” she reminded archly. “You can’t even find a moment to work on the sets.”

  “Tati and her grandmother have a standing date on Friday nights. I’m free as a bird then.”

  Ashley shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not really interested in dating right now,” she murmured, feeling hemmed in. “I came to Serenity Bay to relax and recuperate for a little while.”

  “After your accident. My mother told me. Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, then.” Michael folded his hands together in his lap, stretched out his legs and glanced around like an eager tourist taking in the sights. “Nice weather we’re having, isn’t it?”

  She couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “Now there’s a sound I haven’t heard in a while. Ashley laughing. I like it.” Piper walked onto the deck behind Jason who was carrying a tray with two mugs and a plate of cookies on it. She sat down on the swing, patted the seat next to her then accepted her cup. “What are you two talking about?”

  “The weather.”

  “Ashley not dating.”

  Their simultaneous responses had the other two grinning.

  “Maybe we should go back inside and let them settle this,” Jason said.

  “Oh, I’d rather let them continue. We’ll just listen in.” Piper leaned back against Jason’s arm, slung across the back of her seat and passed the cookies. “Ashley needs a challenge, Michael. She’s kind of stuck in her ways. That’s why I’ve been begging her to help me with the festival. Did you know she contacted her former boss about setting up a gallery to display local artists’ work in town?”

  Michael shifted, his attention intent on Piper.

  “I didn’t know,” he said. He turned to Ashley. “Any luck?”

  “No. He turned me down without even seeing some of the things that are produced here. But that’s okay. I’ll find someone else. I’m good at getting backers for artists who need to get their work to the public.”

  “Are you?”

  “Have you heard of Terrence Demain?”

  “Who hasn’t?” Michael nodded, eyes wide. “Mosaics. Gorgeous walls of fantastic color.”

  “Exactly. A friend of mine commissioned his first wall. The critics couldn’t get enough of his work and he took off.”

  “That’s what Ashley does, you see. She finds the talent and then brings it to the light. Her former boss could tell you how good she is if he hadn’t fired her.” Piper smiled at Ashley. “How many times has Ferris begged you to come back, Ash?”

  “I’ve lost count.”

  “You don’t want to go back to your old job?” Michael studied her.

  “Maybe. Sometime.” Ashley kept her face expressionless as she scrambled for excuses. The intensity of his stare was unnerving. “I need a break first. I’d been working nonstop for ages. It feels good to relax, putter around a bit. And Piper’s a peach for letting me come here. There’s nowhere like the Bay for reorienting yourself.”

  “Mmm.” Michael tilted his head to one side, shrugged. “I guess.”

  She watched him closely, framing her next words with care.

  “You probably thought the same thing yourself. I mean, isn’t that why you’ve come back, after all these years? To start over with your daughter?”

  “I guess you could say that.”

  If she hadn’t been watching Ashley might have missed his wince. As it was, she couldn’t help but wonder what had caused it and why he was staring at her as if she held some secret he needed.

  “Anyway, I’ll probably leave in a couple of weeks.”

  “But you have to be here for our wedding, Ash,” Piper protested. “You and Row are my bridesmaids and I’m not getting married without either of you. I’ve got your dresses all picked out.” She threaded her fingers through Jason’s, her engagement ring flashing its fire. “Christmas isn’t all that far off, you know.”

  Michael choked on his coffee. One look at his face and Ashley burst into laughter.

  “What is so funny?” Piper asked.

  “Apparently you’re not the only one who’s looking forward to Christmas,” Ashley told her.

  “Or thinking about fancy dresses,” Michael added.

  “Oh.” A furrow appeared across Piper’s forehead. She glanced from him to Ashley, then shrugged. “I’ll assume it’s a private joke.”

  “It is,” Ashley assured her.

  Michael winked at her, then rose.

  “I’d better get going,” he told her, holding out one hand to Ashley. “Walk me to my car?”

  She could hardly refuse. Ashley placed her hand in his and rose. “I thought you said you had Friday evenings free?”

  “I do. I gave my students a test last week and promised I’d have their marks ready on Monday. People think teaching is nine to three but they have no idea about the overtime.”

  “I guess not.”

  “Thanks for hosting me, Piper. And Jason, anytime you want another dinner guest, give me a call.”

  “Will do.” Jason and Piper stood together, arms wrapped around each other’s waists. “You know you’re welcome. Bring Tatiana next time.”

  “We’ll see.” He walked toward the door. Ashley followed. “Good night,” he said as he stepped outside. “Thanks again.”

  They waved. Ashley walked with him to his car without saying anything. Dusk had fallen. Across the road, some sixty feet away, a doe and her fawn were enjoying an evening lunch on a patch of grass. She touched his arm, pointed.

  Michael watched for a while. Then he faced her.

  “It was a great meal,” he said. “I enjoyed talking to you. Are you sure you won’t have dinner with me sometime, so I can repay your generosity?”

  She shook her head, smiled. “I don’t think so. But thank you.”

  “Why?”

  The bald question took her by surprise.

  “Because.”

  “That’s not an answer.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, kicked at a stone on the ground before meeting her gaze.

  “I’m not trying to trap you into anything, Ashley. I’m not looking for anything more than a friend I can talk to.” He shrugged. “Tati’s great but sometimes it’s nice to talk to another adult, discuss something other than her friend Wanda at day care.”

  She smiled at the frustration that gilded his voice.

  “I’m sure there are lots of adults you can talk to.”

  “But not you?”

  She shrugged. “I won’t be h
ere that long. I’m going to spend some time helping Piper while I search for another job.” She struggled to explain. “I’m sure your mother told you I broke off my engagement recently. I guess what I’m saying is that I need time to put my world back together again.”

  He nodded, his dark eyes melting with empathy.

  “Believe me, I understand that.” He thrust out his hand. “If you get a moment and want to talk, phone me.”

  “And you’ll make time in that busy schedule of yours?” she murmured as her fingers slid into his.

  He held her hand, stared down at it cradled in his bigger rougher one, then looked at her. Ashley stared into his eyes, unsure if the zip of current she felt was only her imagination.

  “I’ll make time for you,” he answered quietly. He lifted her hand, brushed his lips against her knuckles. “Good night, beautiful. I hope we cross paths again soon.”

  Then he was gone and Ashley was left with the imprint of his lips on her skin. But it wasn’t only that he’d touched her physically. Something in her spirit recognized that he was seeking solace, just as she was.

  She didn’t understand how or why she knew that, but Michael Masters’s effect on her was no different than the first time she’d visited the Louvre. Her knees were weak, her palms damp and she couldn’t quite catch her breath.

  Sort of like a panic attack. Only better.

  All the more reason to stay away from him.

  Chapter Four

  “Will you get me another mommy?”

  Michael jerked out of his thoughts, found Tati staring at Carissa’s picture in the silver frame he’d placed on a shelf in her room. He regrouped quickly, picked up his daughter and hugged her.

  “I don’t know if I can do that, sweetheart.”

  “’Cause my mommy was special.” Tati nodded like a wise owl. “I know. She danced the best Swan Lake.”

  She never failed to amaze him. “How do you know about Swan Lake?”

  “Wanda.” Tati’s busy fingers brushed through his hair. “She said her mom didn’t believe my mommy was a ballerina so she looked on the Internet. Wanda’s mom said my mommy had rave reviews. Are rave reviews good, Daddy?”