Christmas at Evergreen Inn (Jewell Cove 4)

“It’s pretty hard for me to get away right now,” she replied. “I’ve got guests booked in until the twenty-third. I’m closed the twenty-fourth through the twenty-sixth, but that’s Christmas.”

He stood back up. “I see,” he said, standing back. “I’m on the schedule over Christmas, too. I work the holiday so the guys with family can be home with their kids and stuff.”

Why didn’t she want to date him again? Because right now he seemed quite perfect.

Maybe that was it. He was too perfect. And she knew very well that too perfect didn’t actually exist.

“Well, I’d better get going. I’ll stop in later with a road update, okay? Thanks for putting me up last night.”

His voice was merely friendly now, lacking the soft warmth she’d heard in it before, and she felt a sliver of regret knowing it was because she’d refused his invitation.

“You’re welcome. You more than earned your room and board with the shoveling and stuff. Take care out there today.”

“I will.”

She stayed in the dining room and listened for the moment he went out the back door. Then she let out a deep breath, wondering if she’d done the right thing.

Then she remembered all the events where she’d seen Todd, a new girl on his arm, that lopsided smile and sparkle in his eyes just for her, and knew she wasn’t equipped to deal with a man so potently sexy.

Chapter Four

By five o’clock Lainey felt run off her feet.

She’d cleaned up the breakfast mess and then started the batch of soup she was planning on feeding the group for lunch, knowing it needed to simmer for a couple of hours. Once the kitchen was spotless, she went through the house and tidied as much as she could, replacing towels and bedding and cleaning bathrooms. She answered questions about the town, made phone calls to determine what was open and what wasn’t, updated guests on road conditions, fed them again, made more phone calls since the only two guests to leave were the father and son, who’d decided to try their luck on the highway south. That still left her with all rooms full for the night and a sofa open for Mr. Sewell if he chose it.

It also meant feeding everyone dinner, which usually wasn’t part of the inn’s service. The Rusty Fern was open but the grill was closed, Breezes Café informed her that they were run off their feet and short-staffed, and that only really left Gino’s Italian. Gino, bless him, said that he could supply her with baked ziti, garlic bread, and salad for fifteen. The only problem was getting it to her. The walkway from the road to the inn was shoveled, but the roads above Main hadn’t been touched by a plow. When Lainey went out at three o’clock, she could still see where Todd’s SUV had left deep tracks in the snow. These, along with the ones from the men who’d left an hour earlier, were the only sets of tire tracks on the street. Everyone else was staying put.

She ordered the food anyway, saying she’d figure out something for delivery.

At five there was a knock on the front door. When she answered, Todd was there with a truck that wasn’t his. “What are you doing here?” she asked, looking behind him at the monstrosity. It was a diesel, fitted out with a wedge blade on the front. “Don’t tell me you’re clearing snow.”

He grinned. “And having a great time. It’s one of Tom Arseneault’s rigs. The road crews are so busy on main streets and highways that a bunch of us are helping clear some places in town. I wanted to see if you needed anything.”

Lainey looked at him, pondering. Why had he come back? She hadn’t really been overly kind this morning, and when she’d taken a few moments to breathe she’d felt guilty about that. She wasn’t usually cold or rude. She’d been afraid. Todd was so dynamic, almost larger than life. She could easily get swept up in fancy … and fantasy. Now here he was, asking if she needed a helping hand—again.

“Todd, has anyone ever told you you’re too good to be true?”

He laughed. “Nope. Never. Are you a little more relaxed now? You were wound pretty tight this morning.”

She shook her head. “Sorry about that. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how to act.”

“You have a full house. I get it.”

“No, not that. Well, not entirely that,” she amended. Determined not to blush, she looked up at him. “What happened between us … well, it was unexpected and I didn’t know how to handle the morning after. It wasn’t you, though, it was me.”

He groaned, and she let out a sigh. “I know. Oldest line in the book. And you told me last night not to use it.”

“It’s okay. Let’s not worry about it now. Seriously, is there anything you need?”

He was so easygoing that she had to blink to switch gears. “I have an order for dinner at Gino’s. I was trying to get in touch with a cab to deliver it for me, but—”

“But Hal’s only got two taxis and both are busy?”

“I wish. He’s not running them at all.”

“I think I could handle it in the truck. Anything else?”

Just like that, her problem was solved. She thought for a moment. If they were going down to Main, she could use some things from the bakery for tomorrow. “Is the bakery open? That would help me a lot.”