Hopefully, none of her preparations would go to waste. She mentally rehearsed the pitch she’d memorized.
Eco-tourism is the way of the future. By investing in the Solace Lake Lodge, Hainstock Investments could get in on the ground floor.
This had to work. She’d make it work.
When Ethan stepped into the kitchen, she gestured for him to take a seat at the table. She put the sandwiches on a plate and set it on the placemat in front of him. “Would you like coffee?”
“I’d love some. Can I help you with something?”
“No, I’m fine. Why don’t you go ahead and eat?”
While she measured coffee grounds, she watched from the corner of her eye as he pulled the blue and grey silk tie from his shirt collar and stuck it into the pocket of his jacket. He opened the top three buttons of his immaculate white shirt, and Harper’s mouth went dry at the sight of the small triangle of tanned chest.
Embarrassed by her reaction, she spun away, busying herself with finding cream and sugar. Had it been that long since she’d seen a man as attractive as Ethan James?
Definitely. There weren’t a lot of unattached men her age in this part of north central Minnesota. And certainly none who looked like Ethan James. Minnewasta, some ten miles down the road, was a great little town but not exactly a breeding ground for good-looking men. The town’s population of fifteen hundred, which hadn’t changed much since she’d started elementary school there as a ten-year-old, were salt-of-the-earth kind of people but decidedly average looking.
By the time she had herself under control and brought coffee to the table, Ethan had already devoured his food.
“You look like a guy who could use some apple pie.”
His beautiful brown eyes lit up. “I never say no to apple pie.”
Harper grabbed the pie from the fridge and cut it into six even pieces. After placing one piece on a plate, she warmed it for a few seconds in the microwave before bringing it to him.
“Bon appétit.”
“Thank you.”
He dug into the pie with obvious enjoyment. It occurred to her that with the blizzard blocking the roads, Ethan was likely going to be a guest at her table for several more meals. She did a quick inventory in her head of the contents of her freezer and pantry and hoped they’d be adequate.
She refilled both their coffee cups and got him another piece of pie. The way this guy ate, running out of food was a distinct possibility.
Ethan finished the last bite of his dessert, then wiped his mouth with his napkin. “That was great. Did you make it?”
“No, I’m not much of a pastry chef. The cook at Miller’s Golf Resort down the road made it and gave it to me. I work there part-time. She’s always giving me food. Says she’s trying to fatten me up.”
Harper averted her gaze. That tidbit of embarrassing information had spilled from her mouth too easily. It had to be the late hour.
“When you see her again, tell her it was delicious.”
Hoping her cheeks weren’t as red as she thought they were, she turned back to face him. “Well, I’m supposed to see her tomorrow, but with this storm, I’m not sure either of us is going anywhere.”
His dark brows furrowed in a frown. “I guess not. Like I said, I hate to impose, but do you think I could spend what’s left of the night on your couch?”
“I think I can do better than that. I have plenty of room. This is a hotel, after all.” She tried to keep her smile upbeat as she added, “At least it used to be.”
“Thank you. I’ll leave as soon as the weather clears.”
“There’s no rush. You can stay as long as you need to.”
“You’re very kind.”
“Actually, I’m more practical than kind. If you stay here long enough, maybe I’ll be able to convince you to recommend investing in my lodge. I need you alive and unfrozen, Mr. James.”
Something flashed in his eyes before he looked away. But then he laughed softly, and she thought it must have been fatigue that made her think she’d seen a trace of guilt on his face.
“I’d kind of prefer that myself,” he said.
She liked the sound of his laugh. Despite the impression of privilege and power given by his expensive suit, his laugh was genuine and unpretentious. Hope blossomed in her heart. Ethan James seemed like a decent guy. With luck, he was a guy with the ability to look past all the lodge’s faults to see the possibilities she saw. “Can I get you anything else?”
“Thanks, no, I’m fine. But it’s been a long day. If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to take you up on that offer of a room now.”
“Of course. Do you have anything with you, any luggage?”
He shook his head. “No, nothing. Not even a toothbrush. I’d planned on a two-hour meeting, not an overnight excursion.”
“I think I can rustle up a few things, maybe even a toothbrush.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your hospitality.”
“You’re welcome. Mr. James—”
“Please, it’s Ethan.”
“Ethan,” she repeated with smile. “I want to thank you for coming here and considering the investment potential of the lodge. It means a lot to me.”
He nodded, but said nothing more. Ethan James was her last hope. None of the banks she’d contacted would lend her money. If he and Mr. Hainstock decided Solace Lake Lodge was too big a risk, it was all over.
Harper pushed down her fear and made herself smile. “If you follow me, I’ll show you to your room and find you a few things.”
She led him up the stairs to what had once been the best room in the lodge. It still had the best view of the lake, but everything else about the room screamed shabby, with none of the chic. The area rugs were worn and faded, and the wooden floors had long ago lost their shine. The bedspread and matching curtains hadn’t been replaced since her grandmother died some ten years previously. They’d been washed so many times that the once vibrant blues and greens were now faded and dull.
As she entered the room, she lifted her chin slightly, refusing to be embarrassed. The room was spacious, and she made sure it was always scrupulously clean. She had nothing to be ashamed of.
Except maybe…
“I’ll bring you an extra blanket and a space heater. With this wind, it’s going to get cold in here tonight.”
“Thanks.” Ethan opened the door of the closet and then closed it. “Where’s the bathroom?”
“Down the hall, third door on the left.”
He looked surprised. “Oh.”
“There’s extra towels and soap in the bathroom.” Even to her own ears, the promise of soap and towels didn’t sound like much to get excited about.
But then that was why he was here – to help make the lodge something a lot of people could get excited about.
“I’ll be back in a moment.”
She fled back down the stairs and hurried to her own quarters on the main floor. Lifting the heavy lid of the large, old-fashioned trunk in the corner of her bedroom, she rummaged through the clothes and other items stored there until she found a man’s robe and pajamas, a T-shirt, a couple of flannel shirts, and a pair of jeans. Though normally practical to a fault, she hadn’t been able to part with some of Grampa Bill’s old clothes. Somehow, giving them away meant he was really gone. Harper lifted a flannel shirt to her face and inhaled. Even though she’d washed the clothes before putting them away, she swore she could still detect the faint scent of her grandfather’s favorite pipe tobacco. The thought made her smile.
After finding a space heater, an extra quilt, and a new, still packaged toothbrush along with a mini tube of paste from her last visit to the dentist, she hauled everything back up the stairs to Ethan’s room. The door was open, but she stopped on the threshold, feeling uncomfortable about walking in unannounced.
“Ethan?”
He turned from the window where he’d been staring into the darkness and stepped toward her. “Here, let me take that from you.”
“You too. Thank you, for everything.”
She nodded before turning around and hurrying back down the stairs. A moment later, she retreated into her own room and closed the door. She stared at the lock, her hand hovering above it. After a moment’s hesitation, she turned it. Locking the door made her feel slightly ridiculous, as if she believed she was so irresistible Ethan wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her. As if she had to worry about him ravishing her in the middle of the night.
What would it be like to make love to him?
Harper tossed the ridiculous notion from her mind, embarrassed by the direction her thoughts had taken. The only thing she wanted from Ethan James was his belief in her project.
And lots and lots of money.
To purchase “Lies and Solace”, Book one in the Love at Solace Lake Series, or any of Jana Richards’ books, go to www.janarichards.com/books.html.
Secrets and Solace
PROLOGUE
Angry voices hung on the humid summer air, as heavy as the scent of the pine trees in the forest surrounding her. Scarlet Lindquist tiptoed along the well-worn path, the soft earth muffling her steps. If Mom and Daddy caught her following them, they’d be mad. They’d told her to stay with Grandma at the lodge because they had things they needed to talk about. Adult things.
Her older sister Harper said Daddy’s unexpected arrival at their grandparents’ fishing lodge meant he was taking them home. He wouldn’t have come all the way from Minneapolis if that wasn’t his plan. Didn’t he tell them how much he’d missed them since he went away?
Scarlet wasn’t so sure. Harper hadn’t heard the fighting between Mom and Grandma Dorothy. But she had. They thought she didn’t understand, but she understood plenty; she was eight, not a baby like her sister Maggie. Mom said the marriage was over, and she was never going back. She was going to start a new life. Grandma said she’d be a fool to throw away her marriage. That she had a good life with Daddy, a secure life, and surely there could be forgiveness. Mom said Grandma didn’t understand, that she’d never understood.
She hoped that didn’t mean her parents were getting a divorce. Her friend Becca’s parents got a divorce and she had to move between their houses every week, and they were constantly telling her how much they hated each other. Scarlet wished Daddy would come home, so things could be the way they were before.
She stopped and crouched behind a clump of trees. Her parents had arrived at The Point, a finger of land that stuck out into Solace Lake. Her mom kept her canoe here because it was easy to launch from the small sand beach on the very tip of the point, but today Scarlet saw that her mom’s yellow canoe was tied to the dock. Grampa had built the dock at The Point for the use of his customers, the fishermen who came up to the lodge to catch the fish that lived in the lake. There was another dock closer to the lodge, but Grampa said fishers liked this one because the deep water at the end of the dock was the best spot on the lake to fish.
When she peeked between the branches, she saw that her parents had stopped walking and were facing each other on the beach. Scarlet held her breath, afraid they’d hear her and make her go away.
“I know what I said before, but I can’t give you up. I don’t want a divorce. We can try again. We can work this out.” Daddy’s voice sounded funny, as if he was crying. “You know I love you, don’t you? I’ve always loved you. That hasn’t changed.”
“I know,” Mom said. “But I can’t go on like this, living a lie.”
“It’s not a lie! We have a family! The girls need us. Can’t we try again? At least for them?”
“It’s too late, Rob! You know it is!” She shook her head. “I’ll never keep Harper and Scarlet away from you, no matter what happens between us. They need you.”
“I can’t bear it, Miranda! I can’t lose you. I’m sorry I wasn’t the husband you needed. I’m sorry I put my work first too often, but I can change. Can’t you give me another chance?” He covered his face with his hands. “If you leave me and take the girls, I have no reason to live. I’d rather be dead.”
She’d never seen her daddy cry before and it frightened her. She couldn’t stop her own tears from streaking down her cheeks. She put both hands over her mouth so her sobs couldn’t escape.
“Don’t talk like that, Rob. It’s not fair. You know as well as I do, we’re no good together. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. You deserve someone who loves you to distraction, and that’s not me.”
They stopped talking and Scarlet heard only the birds singing in the trees. Then daddy sighed, his voice sounding tired and sad. “Do you love him?”
“Yes.” Scarlet heard the hitch in her mother’s voice. “I always have.”
Who were they talking about? Did this mean they were never going home again? She didn’t want to stay here forever with Grandma Dorothy and Grampa Bill. She hated the fishing lodge. She hated the bugs and the crawly things. She wanted to go back to their big house in Minneapolis and play with her friends. She wanted her daddy.
A sob escaped despite her hands covering her mouth. She curled into a ball and made herself as tiny as possible.
The branches parted and her mom peered down at her. “Scarlet, honey, what are you doing here? Didn’t we tell you not to follow us?”
“Why can’t we go home with Daddy?” Fear and anger made her shout.
“I’m sorry, honey. For now, we’re going to stay here.”
“I don’t want to stay with Grandma and Grampa! I want to go home!”
Her mom pulled her up and gave her a hug, her arms so tight Scarlet could barely breathe. “We won’t be here much longer. We’re going to have a new home soon.”
“Will Daddy be there?”
“No, honey, he won’t. But you can visit him, and you can talk to him on the phone anytime you want to.”
“Will Harper and Maggie come to our new home, too?”
“Yes, of course. We’ll all be together.”
Except for Daddy.
Mom kissed her cheek. “Go back to the lodge now. Daddy and I will be along in a little while.”
Scarlet nodded. Over Mom’s shoulder she saw her daddy. His hands were in the pockets of his jeans and his head was down. He looked sad, like he was going to cry again.
She scrambled out of her mom’s arms and down the path to fling her arms around his waist. He sank to his knees and hugged her back. Then, he grasped her shoulders in his hands and looked into her face.
“I love you, Scarlet.” He kissed her cheek. “No matter what happens, always remember that, okay?”
“Okay.”
He gave her a brief, sad smile. “Good girl. Now listen to your mother and run back to lodge. We’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Tears ran down Scarlet’s cheeks. “I don’t want to leave you.”
He kissed her again and then gave her one of his goofy grins. For a moment he was the Daddy she’d always known, the one who laughed a lot and told them funny stories. “Are Mom and I going to have to go out into the middle of the lake to have a private conversation? C’mon, go back to the lodge now, pumpkin.”
She wanted to argue. She wanted to cry and scream and tell him not to leave her. But the sadness was back in his eyes, and she knew it wouldn’t do any good.
Scarlet looked to her mom, hoping to appeal to her, but she’d stepped onto the dock and jumped into her yellow canoe. In the weeks since they’d been at the lodge, Scarlet had seen her on the lake lots, drifting around on the water.
Her father straightened to his full height, his movements stiff and angry. “Miranda, we haven’t finished talking. Don’t turn your back on me.”
“I think we’ve said everything there is to say.”
“That’s your solution for everything, isn’t it? Walking away and shutting me out.
That’s not going to work anymore.”
With a sigh, Mom climbed back onto the deck. “Fine. Say whatever it is you need to say.”
Scarlet turned and ran back the way she’d come, not wanting to hear them fight any more. She heard her mom call after her, but she ignored her and kept running. Partway back to the lodge, she saw Willy, Grampa’s handyman, running in the opposite direction on another path toward her mom and daddy. They wouldn’t like him listening to their conversation either.
Instead of going back into the lodge, she stumbled her way to the little fort in the trees that she and Harper had built by piling together sticks and branches. Even though it was next to the path between the lodge and Grampa Bill’s shed, it was hard to see unless you knew where to look. She pushed aside the branches at the opening and went inside. She didn’t want to go back to the lodge and face Grandma’s questions about where she’d been.
Scarlet curled up on the dried leaves lining the floor of the fort and tugged on her ponytail, twisting her hair between her fingers. Where was this new home Mommy was talking about? Was it here in the country, close to Grandma and Grampa’s fishing lodge, or someplace else? It was scary not knowing. Would she have friends there? When would she get to see her daddy again?
She fell asleep and was awakened with a start when she heard someone running along the path, sobbing. She stuck her head out of the fort in time to see Harper trip over a root on the path and skin her knees. Her sister was two years older and Scarlet had rarely seen her cry, even when she’d fallen out of the tree in their backyard and broken her arm. It scared her to see her crying now.
“They’re in the water!” Tears streamed down Harper’s face. “Willy said Mom and Daddy are in the water, and they didn’t come back up. We have to tell Grandma!”
Scarlet ran behind Harper, her heart racing. Did Mommy and Daddy go out on the lake because she’d followed them? Because they didn’t want her to listen?
Truth and Solace Page 29
