by Kat Bammer
Blake watched Peter hop in and accelerate down the gravel driveway. Before getting in his SUV, he took one last look across the clearing. He really loved the silence and nature out here. Blake shook his head—no time to enjoy his surroundings. He got in, turned the key in the ignition, closed his door, and sped down the driveway. At the end of the clearing, he looked back through the mirror and caught a glimpse of movement. Blake stepped on the brake and turned around in his seat. He didn’t see anything moving but he could have sworn there had been a small kid running across the meadow.
Should he go back? He sat still for a moment, his eyes glued to the mirror but he saw no movement. He looked at his watch again. He really had to get going. There wouldn’t be a kid running around in the woods alone. Maybe it had been a deer and his eyes had played a trick on him.
Blake’s stomach growled again, and he lifted his foot from the brake and sped up again. He needed to hurry to get to the bar in time for the delivery and Peter was waiting for him at the cafe. He would go on a lookout another time. He could spend the night up here tomorrow and check things out then. The empty package of cookies came to his mind. Maybe there was something, or “someone” going on that was worth investigating further.
3
Moon Lake really was her home now. Claire had taken the bike out for a ride to Blake’s Bar to grab dinner there and had to stop three times to chat. Right now their neighbor Mrs. Brooks told her about her son Paul who was doing pretty well this season with his new NHL franchise team the Hamilton Mohawks.
Claire didn’t follow hockey at all but Paul was Julie Brooks’ brother and she had met him and some of his teammates, when they visited back in June.
So between Julie’s updates about him and Lisa and Peter watching the games, Claire knew more about hockey than she cared for. Even though, whenever she had the choice between a cooking show and some sports hoopla on TV, cooking would always win—hands down.
So she smiled at Mrs. Brooks and nodded and congratulated her. The people of Moon Lake always had time for a quick chat, and even though Claire still felt a little under the weather, it would be rude not to take a few minutes to chat with the neighbors.
Claire arrived at the parking lot in front of the bar. Not a lot of cars. Maybe Blake wouldn’t be too busy and they could have a nice chat. It had been quite some time since they had spent time together—aside from sleeping together, which happened fairly regularly.
She remembered Peter and Lisa, home at the Inn. They had been sitting on the couch, ready for their movie night and Claire hadn’t wanted to impose on their date night.
Claire rounded the corner and leaned her bike at the side wall of the building. The surface of the lake resembled a mirror in the fading sunlight, reflecting the mountains and trees surrounding it. She watched Blake’s boat on the dock behind the bar, swaying gently on the waves. Maybe they could go out on the lake this weekend. She would love to spend some time with Blake.
Claire turned around to the heavy wooden door of the bar and when she stepped inside, the smell of great Mexican food assaulted her. She stood for a minute and sniffed the air. Cilantro, chili con carne, and oregano. Her stomach growled. Claire’s gaze swiped across the room. Blake was not behind the bar and there were only three tables populated. Maybe he was behind back and would come out any minute. She took a seat on a bar stool and nodded to Mr. Brown, a fisherman and Mr. Patterson, the owner of the only store in Moon Lake, who sat on the other end of the bar.
Then she heard Blake. Rolling laughter accompanied by a cacophony of female giggling. Claire’s stomach clenched. She turned on the stool and could see him in one of the booths with his back toward her. The three young women were literally hanging on his every word, smiling and nodding while Blake spoke.
Claire clenched her teeth and turned back to the bar. She knew how those women felt. He was good at making you feel special. The night they had first been together, he had made her feel cherished. She had been new to Moon Lake and had been a little overwhelmed and lonely. Lisa had made out with Peter and she had been sitting there, reflecting her choice to up her life and take over the Inn with Lisa. Blake had been kind and charming. Funny and caring at the same time. He had swept her off her feet and into his bed the very same evening.
But it would go nowhere. He had told her that early on. He’d told her they’d keep it simple. A wife and kids wasn’t in his cards, he had said. Well lucky for him, it wasn’t in hers either. Not anymore. It had been once. But the reality of being a wife hadn’t resembled how she had envisioned it to be. And being a mother… Claire’s stomach tightened, and she shook her head. No use thinking of it. Now she was alone again. She had closed that chapter of her life, had left everything behind. Even though it still hurt like hell thinking about Anna, her Anna, who was never allowed to live. Claire stood up and her eyes darted to the exit, but she stiffened her spine, and with a fake smile to the old men sitting at the bar, circled back to the kitchen.
“Hey, girl, long time no see. How you’re doing?” Milan, Blake’s gorgeous cook, embraced her in a bear hug against his rock-solid abs. “Blake didn’t say you were coming. I would have made tamales de pollo if I’d known.”
Gorgeous and beyond nice.
Warmth radiated through Claire’s body and with a smile on her face, she said. “You know I like everything you whip up and that chili smells great.” Claire took a seat at the small table and relaxed.
“Oh, but my cooking is nothing compared to yours. If you ever want to take over the kitchen here, I’m game. I’m still craving that blueberry pie of yours. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted something just like it.” He smiled at her and Claire chuckled. She had cooked for Blake once and Milan had devoured the leftovers the next day, begging her ever since to cook for him or take over the kitchen of the bar and grill one day.
Then Milan’s face turned serious, and he lowered his brows. “So, how are you doing? You look kinda pale—everything all right?”
“I’m fine. Just plenty hungry and a little tired, that’s all.” Wasn’t it strange that someone like Milan was so perceptive to catch even a mild unease, while Blake hadn’t even recognized her presence at all? That had to mean something which was kinda depressing, thinking of it.
Claire nibbled on her lip and when Milan still looked at her with his head cocked to the side, she perked up on the chair and smiled again. Time to change the subject. “If you want to get your hands on really delicious baked goods, Holly, from the Black Cat, is the pastry and pie queen around here. Compared to her stuff, mine doesn’t even compete. By the way, what about your love life? Caught one already?”
He laughed and Claire smiled. She always asked him this question, ever since one evening, when he had complained about his latest love-related disaster to Lisa and her.
“I’m still waiting for you to get rid of that scoundrel”—he pointed with his thumb to the door—“and ride with me into the sunset.”
They both laughed about that and Claire relaxed. He was the real deal. Good-looking and a good guy all around. Always made her feel good. It was a wonder nobody had snatched him up. Although most likely finding a man in a small town like Moon Lake was a challenge for him.
“Well, well, well. You can’t even leave your girl a minute alone, before the competition starts closing in,” Blake said when he entered the kitchen. He smiled and kissed Claire on the top of her head before he punched Milan against the shoulder and leaned against the counter. When he looked at Claire again, his brows lifted. “Didn’t see you coming in. Why didn’t you wait for me out there?”
Claire’s stomach tightened, and she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“You were…occupied.” She loosened her muscles to not show the jealousy she was feeling. On a rational level she knew it was his job to accommodate his guests. But it was still hard for her to see him flirting with other women. Especially ones that were that interested in him, and young and beautiful. Claire had come to accept her body.
She would never be as thin or lean as other women. That was because she didn’t like to exercise and she was a chef, for God’s sake. She loved cooking and eating too much to starve herself. She had put on weight excessively after Anna, but time, change, and the emotional healing she had been doing, had regulated her weight back to her normal, curvy self again.
Blake always made her feel beautiful. More than that, he worshipped her body, every time they were together.
Blake watched her for a minute without saying something, then he straightened and turned to the counter. He took a bowl and filled it with steaming chili con carne. Then he grabbed a spoon and a basket of bread and placed it in front of Claire.
“You get testy when you are hungry, so eat something.”
Her stomach growled and her mouth watered.
“Thank you, Blake.” Claire looked up at him to the counter, where he had taken the same position as before, relaxed, except for his face. His eyes were narrowed, and he looked at her as if she was a puzzle he had to solve.
Claire dug in and the spices exploded on her tongue. She moaned. This was exactly what she needed. Great food always made everything better.
“What happened to your hand?” Blake cocked his head. His eyes narrowed even more.
Claire looked at her fingers which were still bandaged.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Burned myself this morning—nothing serious.”
“Let me take a look.” He stepped toward her and grabbed her hand but Claire pulled back.
“I said nothing serious, okay.” Claire’s face flushed red.
Blake immediately let her go and raised his hands. “Okay, got it.”
Claire settled again and began eating her delicious meal when Blake cleared his throat.
“You don’t need to be jealous, you know.”
Claire’s spine stiffened. She swallowed but the last bite nearly got stuck in her throat. And there she thought he hadn’t noticed.
“Don’t start to get all possessive on me. We have fun together, remember—keeping it simple, that was the deal.”
Claire’s chest tightened; she loosened the death grip she had on the spoon and looked at Milan, who looked at her with compassion.
“That was the deal.” The moment she said it, she could feel her heart miss a beat. He was right. They both didn’t want a serious relationship. They had talked about it and they had agreed on it. They had also agreed on being exclusive, so she didn’t need to worry about those other women. He wasn’t the kind of man to break this promise. Of that she was certain.
* * *
Claire had sworn she would never fall in love again. She wasn’t a naïve eighteen-year-old girl anymore, giving everything for a little attention and love.
“So, what are you up to this weekend? Care to join me? We can take out the boat tomorrow.”
Claire’s belly felt like a knot. She really wanted to say yes. Wasn’t that what she wished for when she came here this evening?
But maybe she should take a step back. Cool their relationship down a little. She had to get her feelings under control. Falling in love again would destroy everything, and Blake clearly didn’t have the same attachment problems she had. She put down the spoon and pushed away the bowl.
Claire shook her head and took a sip of water to clear her throat.
“Sorry, I can’t—got a lot to do at the Inn. No time for fun and play.”
Blake shrugged, straightened, and turned to the door. “Right, I should get going on the roof of the cabin, anyway. Winter will be here soon.” He pushed through the door, and the silence after the door closed with a click was deafening to Claire.
Continue with Blake and Claire’s story in Meant to Be.
It was just a fling, friends with benefits, nothing serious… until she got pregnant.
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Available HERE!.
Dear friend,
Since you came this far, I just claim you as my new friend. So hello, friend.
I hope you liked the story of Peter and Lisa and I would love to hear from you if that’s the case. So, with that out of the way, I wanted to tell you a little bit about this book.
Lisa first came to me standing on the cliff. The killer behind her and the drop before her. Severely bleeding and hopeless.
Well, I woke up in a cold sweat. You know, I'm easily frightened by anything that comes close to thriller-territory. (Books, movies, scary stories told around a campfire… just all of it). Funny story: my favorite movie of all time: Pride and Prejudice - last week I watched Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - it freaked me out. I even had to skip a few scenes, because I was too scared to watch. I know this is kinda lame, but hey that’s me.
So that left me in a bind. I didn't want to write a thriller. (I hadn't even thought about writing at all before. But I've been an avid romance reader pretty much my entire life, so ...thriller - absolute no-go.)
But somehow Lisa stuck with me. The next night I had the same dream, but it went a little further. Lisa heard Peter call her from down on the boat.
You can't imagine the relief I felt when I realized Lisa wasn't alone…that not all was lost.
And when she decided to jump, I cheered her on, even though I probably wouldn't be brave enough to do it in real life. Well, maybe if it was life or likely death or…certain death. Let's hope I'll never have to find out.
So, Peter and Lisa - and that's where it all started.
The little town of Moon Lake, the lake, the forest, the mountains are a conglomerate of childhood memories, from when my family spent summers at a lake nearby.
Soon Moon Lake was born and populated with women I wanted to be friends with and strong, sexy military guys I wanted to get to know… maybe even touch their abs…just a little (but don’t tell my husband).
See you!
Kat
* * *
Continue with Blake and Claire’s story in Meant to Be.
* * *
It was just a fling, friends with benefits, nothing serious… until she got pregnant.
* * *
Available HERE.
The Sec Ops Group Books
Hero of my Dreams
Carter & Edith
I'm Carter. I'm a warrior. A shadow fighter. And she's like a blinding light in this dark world.
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Preorder available now.
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Turn the page for a Sneak Peek of Meant to Be, book 2 in the Moon Lake series.
