Twice the Temptation

“Check through them,” Nate said. “They might trigger something.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m going to put in a call to a police captain I know in L.A. and make sure they document the first two incidents there. They can check with your production crew on that end and see if they noticed anyone hanging around your set while you were filming.”

Avery frowned at Reese. “I wish you’d let me call your sisters. MacFarland Investigations could send someone here to watch over you.”

“You can’t. If they knew anything about what was going on, they’d fly in. And Naomi’s arguing a case on Monday to get a judge to open up the sealed adoption records on the woman Dane and Ian believe might be their sister.”

“They’re trying to locate a brother, too, aren’t they?” Nate asked.

Reese nodded. “All they’ve been able to find so far is that after they were all separated, their younger brother was placed in a foster home for a year. In any case, I don’t want Naomi distracted—she’s got too much on her plate as it is.”

“Okay,” Avery conceded. “But—”

Whatever else he was going to say was interrupted by the arrival of two women who stopped at their table. Reese recognized both instantly. The tiny and bubbly brunette was Molly Pepperman. She ran a boutique in town and had become a close friend of her sister Jillian. Rising, Reese hugged Molly first and then the older woman at her side, Miss Emmy Lou Pritchard, the local librarian.

“Reese, Avery told us you’d be here. We don’t see enough of you in Belle Bay,” Molly said. Then she nodded at the two men. “Avery, Nate, good to see you both.”

“What are you two doing here?” Reese asked.

“We’re checking in early for the Singles Weekend,” Molly said. She flashed a grin at Miss Emmy Lou. “We decided we might get a head start, check out our prospects, so to speak. We’re also planning to take a chance on the fantasy box.”

“No, I—” Miss Emmy Lou began.

Nate cut her off. “You’re what?”

Molly met his eyes. “There’s a big mixer kicking everything off tomorrow night, and Avery is going to let interested guests draw fantasies out of Hattie Haworth’s fantasy box. Miss Emmy Lou and I are going to be the first two in line.”

Nate’s eyes narrowed. “You’re talking about the hat box that was discovered in Hattie’s secret room?”

“That’s right,” Molly said brightly. “My grandmother is coming in tomorrow to run the store for a couple of days so I can devote my full attention to the festivities here.”

“Clarissa is coming back to run the store?” Nate asked.

“That’s right.” Molly turned to Reese. “Are you going to draw one?”

“No,” Reese said. Hers was already burning a hole in her pocket.

“Oh, that’s right.” Molly tapped a finger against her forehead. “I forgot. You must have drawn yours at the same time Naomi and Jillian did. And theirs have come true.” She took Reese’s hands in hers. “That must be why you’re here this weekend. To see if Hattie can work her magic for you, too.”

Reese opened her mouth intending to set Molly straight. But then it struck her suddenly that Jillian’s friend might have it exactly right. She might not have come here with the idea of letting Hattie work her magic, but the seed had been firmly planted the instant she’d run into Mr. Blue Eyes in the lobby.

The question was, what was she going to do about it?

It was at that moment she felt the tingling awareness that she’d felt off and on during the day whenever Blue Eyes had been near.

He was here in the bar right now.

For an instant, everything inside of her yearned to search the crowd in the bar and find him. To leave everything else behind and go to him.

“Miss Emmy Lou and I are going to work the room.” Molly released her hands. “Feel free to join us when you’re done.”

Reese didn’t watch the two women walk off. If she did, she was sure she’d see him. And she hadn’t yet decided what to do. Panic and anticipation bubbled up. Once she did see him again, she would have to make a decision. She would have to take charge.

“What kind of a Singles Weekend are you running here, Avery?”

The sharpness of Nate’s tone had the effect of allowing Reese to refocus on the two men. Tension was radiating off the sheriff in waves.

“Just the regular kind. Lots of hotels and resorts run them. The trade magazines all rave about how they build business.”

“Other hotels and resorts don’t offer Hattie Haworth’s fantasy box and the promise that those fantasies might come true,” Nate pointed out.

Avery studied Nate for a moment. “Capitalizing on the growing reputation of Hattie Haworth and her lover as matchmakers isn’t against any law I’m aware of.”

“It’s not their reputation as matchmakers you’re capitalizing on. Ever since news of that box has leaked out, the talk in the village is that the fantasies on the parchment papers are all very sexual.”

“And what’s the harm in that?” He winked at Nate as he pulled out a brochure and pushed it toward him. “What happens in Haworth House stays in Haworth House.”

Reese watched color rise in Nate Kirby’s face.

“The harm is that Miss Emmy Lou Pritchard, a pillar of our community, intends to draw out one of those sexual fantasies. She’s close to seventy.”

Avery’s brows shot up. “Is there some kind of age limit on fun—some statute that I’m not aware of?”

“No.” Nate glanced toward the two women, and it was then that it clicked for Reese. Nate Kirby wasn’t upset that Miss Emmy Lou was going to draw out a fantasy. He was worried about Molly. Jillian had mentioned to her that Nate and Molly had a history.

“No,” Nate repeated as he turned back to Avery. “Nothing you’re doing is against the law. But just to make sure it stays that way, I want to book a room for your Singles Weekend.”

Avery smiled at him. “I had a feeling you might, so I saved one for you. Come right this way.”

Reese managed to hide her amusement until the two men had exited the booth and started toward the lobby. But her smile faded entirely as a man slid into the seat across from her.

The moment she glanced up, the blue eyes trapped hers. Thoughts slipped away as her heart leaped into her throat and fluttered like a bird.

“I think we should talk about the fantasy on your parchment.”

4

“YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT the parchment?” Reese asked.

Mac nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since we ran into each other in the lobby this morning. I was sitting close by at the bar,” he continued, “and I couldn’t help but overhear most of your conversation.”Reese narrowed her eyes. “You eavesdropped?”

“Rude, I know. But I’m not sorry.” What he’d learned had finally settled the conflict that had been going on inside of him—perhaps since that first moment he’d seen her. If Reese Brightman was somehow destined to hook up with a boy toy this weekend, Mac was determined it would be him. And he didn’t have a moment to lose. Not if Charles Dutoit had come here with the same purpose in mind.

“Did you draw that parchment I read out of Hattie Haworth’s fantasy hat box?” he asked.

When she nodded, he felt some of the tension inside of him ease. He knew he was taking a huge risk professionally and personally. He wasn’t about to tell her who he was, not yet—there was too much baggage there. He had no doubt that he’d eventually pay a price for that, but he’d handle it. There’d be a price to pay personally, also.

But right now, sitting across from her, Mac felt that tingle of certainty, that “click” he always felt when a project jelled for him. Whatever the consequences, he knew he was doing the right thing.

“Can I see it again?”

For a second, Reese simply stared at him while her head spun and her pulse pounded. She’d looked into his eyes before and experienced a kind of intense desire she’d only ever read about. But right now she saw something dangerous in them, something reckless that she hadn’t noted before. And it thrilled her to the bone.

Anticipation and panic warred inside of her. She could refuse. She could get up and walk away. Avery and Nate were just outside in the lobby. But that wasn’t what she wanted. What she wanted more than anything was to give in to the temptation to take the wild ride only this man could give her.

He smiled at her, and she felt the impact right down to her toes. “Please? Can I see it again?”

Without taking her eyes off of his, she drew it out of her pocket, opened it up, and placed it on the table between them. When he took it out of the envelope and turned it so it was facing him, his fingers accidentally brushed against hers. Both of them went very still. It wasn’t just the flame shooting through her and melting everything in its path. There was also a flutter in her heart that continued to dance as his gaze returned to hers.

Who was he that he could do this to her? And who was she turning into that she couldn’t seem to prevent it from happening? Both questions fascinated her. And she wanted answers.