“This is a great view, I love it up here. I love the Thomas’ new house, too.”
Caitlin turned her head to face him. He was suddenly very close, watching her. “You built their house, didn’t you?”
“Part of it. Mostly the cabinetry throughout plus the fireplace and all the wood trim.”
“After admiring the Starry Skies, I can tell you are very talented with a saw and router.”
“Among other things.”
Caitlin let out a tiny gasp at his good opinion of himself. “And what is that supposed to imply?”
He shook his head, shushing her, and then, before she could speak again, Quentin’s head bent down and he was brushing his lips against hers. Caitlin’s mind spun. This wasn’t happening. She was kissing someone besides Stefan. For the first time in years.
Quentin’s warm lips were soft and tender, his body heat radiating on her face. Her heart went into overdrive, pounding so hard it frightened her. How could this be happening to her? Not now, not here. Not so soon after Stefan. She almost felt like she was being disloyal. It was the strangest feeling. And yet, Stefan had betrayed her in the worst possible way.
Caitlin pulled away, her eyes stinging with emotion.
“Am I coming on too strong, Just Caitlin?”
She nodded, shook her head, and then shrugged her shoulders. “I—I can’t explain.”
Her eyes were full of tears but she held them back. She certainly was not going to cry in front of this man.
When she tried to turn her head away, Quentin took her chin and brought her eyes back to his. He reached out a finger, his glove suddenly off, and wiped at the tear hovering on her eyelashes. “There. Now you’re all better.”
“Am I?” she whispered.
“If you hate me, I’ll back off, Caitlin,” Quentin said softly. “But I think I understand your reluctance.”
“How would you know anything about me?”
“I’m more than just a construction guy. I’m a pretty good sleuth.”
“Has Rayna been gossiping?” Irritation rose up her throat.
“No, Rayna doesn’t gossip. But I can read between the lines.”
“You’re very intuitive.”
“I know when a girl’s been hurt. And I suspect it was very recently.”
“How could you possibly know that?”
He shrugged, not willing to give up his secret. “I watch a lot of soap operas?”
Caitlin laughed. “Right. Tell me another fib. Soap operas are strictly a daytime addiction, Mister Construction Worker Artist.”
He smiled and Caitlin liked how handsome those genuine, happy smiles made him.
“Right now, let’s enjoy the ride back, Just Caitlin, and I’ll make sure you get home safely.”
Within a few minutes, they pulled up to the front of the Thomas home and Quentin pulled on the reins to stop the horse. He took Caitlin’s hand and helped her out. She dropped his hand and stuck her fists inside the deep pockets of her coat.
“I’m afraid you’ve got fresh mud on your coat,” he pointed out.
“Hmm. Funny how that happens every time I’m around you.” Caitlin quirked her mouth. “I have a secret weapon at home though. Mrs. Davies.”
“That woman is her own secret weapon,” Quentin agreed.
Just then, Kellen came up and took the reins, motioning to the next couple and helping them into the sleigh. He’d lit a lantern and it swung off the steering mechanism to provide light.
Before Caitlin and Quentin could walk down the hill, a young woman came running up to Quentin out of the dusk. She threw her arms around his neck. “Where have you been?” she demanded, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “You promised me a sled ride.”
“Serena!” he cried, picking her up in his arms to whirl her around. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
“I wanted to surprise you. So did I, did I?”
The young woman didn’t let him answer. Before Quentin could say a word or introduce Caitlin, the girl he’d called Serena had smothered his face in snow, knocking him down to the ground. She pinned his legs and then he did a quick move and Quentin had her pinned, proceeding to cover the young woman with a hand full of snow in retaliation.
Caitlin stood staring at the two of them, feeling like she’d just fallen into an abyss.
“I—” she stammered.
“I’ll be back,” Quentin said over his shoulder as the woman, who couldn’t have been much more than nineteen, dragged him away, completely ignoring Caitlin. It was getting pretty dark, but still.
“Stay there, Caitlin,” Quentin called out, already twenty feet away. Before Caitlin could move, the two of them boarded his sled and were off down the hill.
Gulping down her shock, she turned her back on them and marched down the hill to her car. Stay and watch him play with another woman? He was crazy if he thought she’d hang around to play second fiddle.
With the sudden descent of darkness, the crowd was breaking up. Families herding their offspring into cars. Waves and goodbye’s filled the air.
“Nice to meet you, Caitlin,” came a chorus of women’s voices in the parking lot, cars askew at all angles. Flashlights snapped on, but she couldn’t recognize anyone very well.
“Thank you,” she called back in a wooden voice.
Feeling like a robot, she stuck her frozen key into the ignition. After revving the engine, Caitlin peeled out of the long driveway back to Main Street, spitting snow and mud.
Chapter 13
A cold sweat came over her. Caitlin was barely aware of her surroundings as she drove back to Starry Skies.
What had just happened?
Her legs were heavy when she walked up the porch. One small lamp was lit in the parlor. The sound of their guest family was on the landing. Caitlin could hear the parents telling their son and daughter to get ready for bed. Then a door closed and their voices disappeared.
The group of friends who had checked in that afternoon were still out. Probably dining somewhere in town. Maybe they had been at the sledding party, too, but Caitlin hadn’t recognized them in the crowd.
Caitlin was grateful tomorrow was Saturday. She wouldn’t have to see Quentin for two more days. And, even on Monday morning, she planned to not be here. She’d make up an excuse for a few hours.
Pulling off the heavy winter clothing, she dropped them on the floor. A hot shower was next. She stood under the steaming water, her mind as numb as her legs.
Afterward she pulled on her pajamas and a sweatshirt, turned up the heat a bit and climbed under a mountain of blankets.
Who was that woman? The familiarity between her and Quentin was unnerving. An old girlfriend? A girl who wanted to be his girlfriend? That was definitely the body language between them. What was worse was that she was so young.
“Robbing the cradle much, Quentin Hudson?” Caitlin said bitterly to the dark bedroom.
He couldn’t be the man for her. He was a redneck and she was a city girl and never the two should meet. Let alone flirt or kiss. Or do anything like unto it.
She buried her head in the pillows, a moan escaping. Covering her mouth, the memory of Quentin’s lips on her own returned full force. The power of that simple, heartfelt kiss had taken her breath away. Nobody had kissed her like that in a long time. Not even Stefan.
Wade was around all weekend so she and Rayna spent quite a bit of time together, nesting, making plans, and practicing their breathing exercises for labor.
Caitlin knew they were just being kind to spend time with her Saturday night watching a movie from the Redbox at Dove’s and making popcorn.
The rest of the weekend, she read a cozy mystery, made brownies, and was tempted to go haunt Dove’s for their Snicker minis. Which she resisted, proud of herself for not giving in.
On Sunday morning, Rayna kept hinting that Caitlin should attend church and meet more people. “I feel guilty that you’re cooped up. I’m sure you’re usually dining with friends, going to the theatre or
opera, or . . .” her voice trailed away and Caitlin knew she was going to say something about attending Stefan’s gigs.
“Yes, I was his number one fan, but he decided that wasn’t enough,” Caitlin said flippantly.
Rayna made a pouty face. “I wish I could throttle him. You deserve a great guy. A Snow Valley guy. They’re all pretty much made of awesome. This is God’s country, after all.”
“Well, your man is,” Caitlin said while trying to hide her sulking glower.
“The good guys will be at church, so go!”
Caitlin stuck the milk back in the fridge. What if Quentin was at church? She did not want to see him. He was another Stefan. After all the cozying up he’d done in the sleigh, and the kiss, he ran off with some flit of a girl in skinny jeans and long blond hair. He’d hardly noticed that Caitlin had left. And he hadn’t called or texted.
Of course, she hadn’t given him her cell phone number either. But Quentin hadn’t asked. He was too busy panting after the young thing.
Typical man.
“Go, go, I tell you!” Rayna made a shooing motion.
“You go back to bed. Your kitchen vacation is over,” Caitlin added sternly.
“Not until you agree to attend church. Just the sermon. You don’t have to stay for Sunday School or the refreshments afterward.”
Caitlin finally got the hint. Rayna and Wade wanted the house to themselves. Then she blushed, feeling stupid.
“I’m going, I’m going!” she called, swinging out the kitchen door. “Are you satisfied?”
Rayna laughed as she headed to the staircase. A few seconds later, she heard her cousin let out a whoop when Wade picked her up in his arms and carried her up to their room. Which was a good thing. Rayna really shouldn’t be doing stairs at all.
Sighing, Caitlin put on a skirt and some black tights to keep her legs warm. She’d had the foresight to purchase a nice pair of dressier black boots in addition to the snow boots.
When she walked into the foyer of the Snow Valley Community Church, the organ was playing peaceful and soothing music. Perhaps she did need this. Thinking about life and eternity would give her some perspective. The Savior would also help heal her wounds and bitterness.
She saw some of the women from the sledding party, and Ivy Thomas, the newlywed, gave her a hug. “So happy to see you here!” she whispered. “Welcome!”
“Thanks,” Caitlin returned. Her neck ached as she purposely avoided glancing around at the families and couples surrounding her on the back row. She did not want to accidentally catch Quentin Hudson’s eye.
As soon as the final hymn was sung and the benediction given, she jumped up and headed for the double doors to the parking lot—despite the smell of cinnamon rolls and apple cider coming from the kitchen down the hall.
“Caitlin!” a familiar voice sounded. It was Quentin Hudson. She almost froze in place, but instead pretended not to hear him. She kept walking, letting the glass doors swing closed behind her as her boots crunched on the snow.
His voice tugged at her in more ways than she wanted to think about, but she wasn’t going to let a man hurt her again.
She picked up her pace and practically leaped into her car. When she drove out of the parking lot next to the church cemetery, Caitlin caught a glimpse of Quentin coming to a halt on the sidewalk staring after her as she peeled down the street.
On Monday, she did the grocery shopping for Mrs. Davies who was cleaning the Hidden Lily Guest Suite, the Romantic Skies Room, and the Sagebrush Room, preparing a new suite for a couple who were arriving to visit their daughter’s family for one of their grandchildren’s baptism.
She ate lunch out, checked in briefly with Doctor Taggart to give him her updated records on Rayna, and then took a tour of the hospital’s labor and delivery floor. Very tiny! But adequate when there were less than fifty babies born every year.
At three o’clock, Rayna called her cell. “Where are you? I haven’t seen you all day.”
“On my way home,” Caitlin said, forcing her voice to sound chirpy.
“You sound strange,” Rayna said suspiciously.
“Just ate a Snickers and I’m hyped up on sugar.” Caitlin’s chirp got louder.
“Hey, if I can’t have candy, then neither can you.”
“Sorry, I lied. I actually just ate the most healthy spinach smoothie. Wow, all those carrots and beets were incredible.”
“Don’t bring me one,” Rayna warned.
“Not to worry, I bought the last one. On my way home now. So,” she said, trying to sound innocent. “Is the house quiet, is that why you’re calling?”
“Mrs. Davies left hours ago and Quentin just took off the rest of the afternoon. He had to make a run for supplies. He’s installing the baseboard and crown molding the rest of the week.”
Caitlin’s smile grew. She’d managed to outlast him. “See you soon,” she told Rayna.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, she stayed upstairs to help finish the deep cleaning, only sneaking into the kitchen to snag food when Quentin and his guys left for lunch. The rest of the kitchen chores and breakfast prep she accomplished after dinner.
On Thursday, she was up and showered early, gathering her medical things for the weekly physical with Rayna.
The house was so quiet when she headed down the hall parallel to the kitchen that she gasped when she bumped smack into the man. As if Quentin had materialized out of thin air.
“Hey, you’re alive,” he said, his voice low and quiet.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she answered with a gulp.
“I figured you were either a ghost, or had left town without telling anyone. Since Rayna hadn’t hired a new midwife, I decided it must be the first scenario.”
“Very funny,” Caitlin said. Inwardly, she was pleased he’d noticed. “Well, see you around.”
He reached a hand across the hallway to stop her. “See you around? We’re both working in the same house all day long every day. Strange that I haven’t seen you in almost a week.”
“Has it been a week? I hadn’t noticed.” There was her chirpy voice again. Why did she do that when she was trying to hide something? Or flat-out lying.
“Now I can tell you the same thing. Very funny.”
Then Quentin touched his hand to hers, sliding his palm along the inside of her wrist. A sizzling sensation ran up and down her skin, despite the fact that he quickly dropped his hand again, as if he was afraid to startle her. Even so, Caitlin melted at the feel of his skin.
“You okay, Just Caitlin?” he said in a husky voice. The light in the hallway was shadowy. The afternoon was growing later and she hadn’t turned on any lights yet.
“I’m perfectly well, thank you very much. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
She’d only taken two steps toward the foyer when he grabbed her hand and spun her around. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“You’re avoiding me, and I want to know why. I must have done something, but I can’t figure out what.”
Caitlin lifted her shoulders, avoiding his eyes. “We hardly know each other. How could you have possibly done something?”
“That’s not true,” he said, a frown between his eyes. “You’ve been here almost a month, we see each other every day. What happened last Friday night? I know something did, because that’s the last time we actually spoke. At the sledding party. And I swear you purposely left church early, ignoring me when I called out to you.”
“Nothing.” Her eyes darted from his neck, down his shoulders and then his torso. He smelled like musk and wood shavings. She teetered on her feet.
Quentin made a noise in his throat that sounded close to a laugh. “You are such a liar. It’s written all over your face.” He came closer and Caitlin could feel his breath against her cheek.
She teetered, trying not to lose her balance, and scrunching up her eyes so they didn’t make eye contact.
“We had fun sledding. And then you and I had a really nice slei
gh ride. It was cozy, I had a great time. Then I kissed you and you ran away. I tried to find you to walk you to your car, but there was no Caitlin anywhere.”
“I had to get home. Rayna needed me.”
“Nuh-uh.” He shook his head, staring at her until his sheer will made Caitlin finally lift her head to look at him straight on. “Wade was home last weekend. Try again.”
“Maybe this just isn’t right. We’re too different.”
“I disagree completely. Tell me what’s going on inside your head. That kiss, Caitlin—it was something else. At least I felt it, and I thought you did, too.”
“Okay. I’ll tell you. I’m not in the habit of hanging around a man who kisses me and then runs off with another woman. Are you satisfied now?”
His frown deepened. “What are you talking about? There’s no other woman.”
“That girl—the one who—” Caitlin stopped, suddenly angry. “Why am I having to explain it to you? This is insane. I did this with my fiancé only a month ago. I can’t go there again. Especially with someone I barely know.”
Quentin wouldn’t let her run off. Instead, he took her by the shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. “I knew it. I knew you’d been hurt. That explains part of why you’re even here in Snow Valley. It all makes sense now.” He let out a breath, pulling her closer. “I don’t know where this might go, but I’m going to tell you something that is the God’s honest truth. Caitlin Webster, I’m falling for you. Hard. And you’d better get used to the idea because I’m not going anywhere.”
She took a ragged breath. “In a month I return to San Francisco and my life there. This—this—whatever this is or isn’t—can’t go anywhere, so I suggest you just go back to your little teenage girlfriend.”
“What the he—” he cursed and slammed a hand against the wall. “You’re mixing me up with someone else.”
“I saw you with my own eyes.”
“This is why you avoided me last Sunday at church?”
“Smart man.”
Caitlin spun around and ran up the stairs, trying to shake off the mix of attraction, hurt, and frustration colliding within her.
Winter in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance) Page 18
