Romancing the Holiday Page 5

  “They’re spending some time in the city but will be home right before Christmas, which is almost mandatory around here.” Austin glanced at Spence before turning back to Lila. “Speaking of which, where will you be for the holidays?”

  Spence’s finger curled around the edge of the menu as he waited for an answer. Every muscle inside him pulled tight with tension. The reaction, his loss of control, ticked him off. He shouldn’t care about her answer. He should want her to pack up and get out. He didn’t need a complication, and she promised to be one of those before she’d ever opened her mouth and agreed to join him in that hotel room.

  And that mouth...damn, there was a memory he couldn’t kick.

  “I’ll be here.” She opened the menu then closed it again without looking inside. “Well, not Holloway but nearby in Parry Springs where the campground is. I live there now.”

  “What?” Austin shot Spence a help-me-out-here look. “She’s kidding, right?”

  Spence recognized Austin’s stunned expression because Spence had felt that mix of confusion and futility ever since he opened Mitch’s office door and saw Lila standing there.

  Spence used the opening to try to get a clearer answer from her. “What about spending the holidays with your family?”

  “There’s no one but Uncle Ned and flying to see him is an extravagance I can’t really afford right now.” Her voice stayed strong and sure, like the words meant nothing, but sadness moved through her eyes.

  Spence would bet anger was mirrored in his. The idea she thought being alone at the holidays was even a possibility sent his rage level soaring. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “I hate to agree with Spence, but I have to on this,” Austin said. “You can’t stay alone. Not there.”

  Spence appreciated the brotherly assist. “Listen to Austin. Even ignoring the holiday piece for a second, the campground is a mess. It’s not a secret Ned let it go and stopped making money years ago. He only stayed as long as he did out of some sort of loyalty to his dead wife.”

  Austin’s foot slammed against Spence’s. “Well, that’s understandable since they did build the place together. I mean, of course Ned was mourning and wanted to keep the attachment as long as possible.”

  As far as Spence was concerned, Ned stayed too long. “Whatever.”

  “I can fix the cabins up and make it profitable. The location is perfect for skiers and hikers.” Lila’s eyes lit up and her voice got all wistful in that dreamy way women did when they talked about chocolate and shoes. “With a little love and a bit of sweat equity, it will be great again.”

  Time for a wake-up call. “You can’t even keep a cactus alive.”

  Austin tapped his fingers against the table as his gaze switched from Lila to Spence. “Is that code for something?”

  “She needs some help with the renovations.”

  Austin nodded. “We can help with that. We both owe Ned. He saved us from trouble more than once when we were kids.”

  “Agreed. We need to get the permits and supplies.” Spence stopped talking when Lila began her head-shaking thing. “What now?”

  He fought the urge to talk over her. Yelling might feel good right about now, too. He’d do it if that’s what it took to jumpstart her common sense...and if they didn’t have an audience that even now leaned in.

  “Smooth,” Austin mumbled as he spun his empty water glass around in his palm.

  “It’s not your responsibility. I’m not. It’s not your job to step in,” she said.

  It was a lovely little speech. One Spence might have listened to if he thought she could do any of the necessary repairs without having a cabin fall on her head. The idea of her being out there, alone and injured, made the muscles in his neck snap.

  “But I’m going to.” That seemed to be his new mantra with her. She insisted and he reacted with an automatic no. Some might say that made him an ass. He’d wear the tag with comfort if it meant she was safe and warm and not in a ditch somewhere.

  “Catch me up, Lila. Why not take the help?” Austin asked.

  “She’s the go-it-alone type.” Spence did his best to make that sound like a despicable thing.

  Austin nodded. “That’s impressive and all. I like strong women, trust me, but you need help. We all need help sometimes. Even my would-make-a-dictator-look-reasonable wife lets the men in the family step in now and then.”

  When Lila smiled and looked ready to thank Austin for being sweet or some other nonsense, Spence pulled his last reality card. “You’ll be eaten by a bear.”

  Austin’s mouth opened and closed without any sound coming out. The shoulders of the guy in the booth closest to Austin shook with what Spence assumed was laughter.

  All conversation stopped at the table. Silence pretty much whipped through the entire room. If Austin let out whatever comment he was holding in there, it would be the only noise around them except for the occasional clank of silverware.

  “You’re saying there are bears at the campground?” Lila whispered the question.

  Spence was saved from the job of explaining how the animal kingdom worked when Darla, the waitress and a Holloway mainstay, popped up at the end of the table and dropped two more glasses of water in front of them. She’d graduated high school a year before Spence and held onto her wavy blond hair and cheerleader figure despite working hard and marrying a man who was rarely around to help with the kids or anything else.

  “If it isn’t the Thomas boys and a new female friend. How interesting.” Darla nodded in the direction of the counter. “I would have been here sooner but Mary over there wanted to tell me about a rumor she heard about a fight at the nursery with you three.”

  Spence let his head fall back as he stared at the ceiling. “I hate this town sometimes.”

  Austin pushed the water glasses around, grabbing the full one meant for Spence and sticking him with the empty one instead. “Darla Kingston, the woman who single-handedly keeps this joint running, this is Spence’s new female friend, Lila.”

  Spence’s head snapped forward. “Did you have to say it that way?”

  Whatever spell had grabbed hold of Lila during the bear conversation finally let go. “What’s wrong with saying I’m a friend?”

  “Yeah, Spence.” Austin put his elbows on the table. “What’s wrong with that?”

  Rather than kick his brother, and that was tempting, Spence got the subject back on track. “Darla, tell Lila it’s okay to accept our help.”

  “Are they always so bossy, Darla?” Lila asked.

  Darla balanced a knee on the seat next to Austin as she wiped her hands on her stained apron. “Yes, but honey it is just easier to agree to whatever the Thomas boys say. They tend to get their way eventually.”

  “Not this time.”

  Spence shook his head. That was tough talk from a woman who considered the lack of a microwave a criminal offense. “She’s Ned Payne’s niece and plans to stay at the campground while she fixes it up.”

  Darla’s mouth twisted in a look that suggested she ate something rotten. “Do you have a death wish or something, honey?”

  “I hope you three aren’t the county’s welcoming committee because you really don’t do a great job of selling the area.” Lila didn’t roll her eyes but she sure looked like she wanted to.

  “You let these boys help you.” Darla sat down next to Austin, clearly enjoying her part in the conversation. “Hey, you should send Travis out there. He’s single and has those big biceps.”

  The words burned a hole in Spence’s gut. He hated the idea. “You’re married.”

  Darla snorted. “I’m not blind.”

  “Excuse me.” Lila waved her hand in the air as if trying to get everyone’s attention.

  Spence ignored her. “Travis has enough to do. I’ll take care of the campground work.”

  “What?” Lila’s question sounded more horrified than surprised.

  “Weren’t you just whining about having to work nonstop just
so you can take Christmas Day off?” Austin did nothing to hide the amusement in his voice. Or that stupid grin.

  Spence was tempted to put his brother in a car to D.C. tonight. “Don’t help me.”

  Darla waved off a guy at a table across the room who was trying to get her attention by making a big check sign in the air. “I already heard about The Explosion.”

  Even Lila winced at that one. “Do I want to know what that means?”

  “Some people at the nursery heard the fight. All sorts of sex talk and something about swapping.” When Austin swore, Darla pushed a water glass closer to him. “You calm down. It’s all fine. No one is questioning you, Austin. But, honestly, I’ve been hoping Spence here would bring this lady friend around so I could get my own look at her. Because of the delay—”

  “The fight just happened this afternoon, so let’s not act like I’ve been hiding Lila for a month,” Spence pointed out.

  “—I figured Spence had been doing that thing where he puffs out his chest and orders everyone around. It’s cute but some ladies don’t like that sort of thing.” Darla shook her head. “I’ve been telling you that for years.”

  Lila smiled. “Yeah, Spence. Women don’t like it.”

  Darla reached across the table and patted his hand as if she were his teacher and not essentially his age. “Spence here is a good guy even though he frequently tries to act otherwise.”

  The uncertainty about bringing Lila to such a public place became full-blown regret. “Thanks...I think,” he said.

  Lila leaned in, doing that thing women did where they met one minute and shared secrets the next. “What is all this explosion talk?”

  “Apparently it was about...” Darla met Lila halfway across the table, nearly shutting the men out. “The One-Night Stand.”

  “What?” Lila didn’t bother to lower her voice. She practically screamed the word.

  Yeah, definitely regret the dinner choice. Spence tried to think of a good way to handle the situation and decided there wasn’t one. He glared at Lila. “I warned you this town had a nickname for everything.”

  She grabbed the menu then put it down. She repeated the action twice before settling it in her hands and picking at the frayed upper corner. If she tugged any harder she might rip the thing in half.

  “Uh, Lila?” He reached for the menu but she had it in a sleeper hold.

  She wasn’t paying any attention to him anyway. “As Spence pointed out, the fight only happened this afternoon. How can everyone know?”

  “That’s like ten years in Holloway time.” Austin held up both hands as he spoke, as if they needed a visual aid for the word ten.

  “I don’t believe this.” The paper ripped under Lila’s fingers.

  This time Spence pulled the menu out of her reach and put a hand over hers to keep her from flailing around. “Here’s the good news. Now you don’t have any reason to turn down my offer.”

  Lila finally focused on him. “Which one?”

  “Yeah, Spence.” Austin said. “Which?”

  “What are we talking about?” Darla asked at the same time.

  Spence was tempted to ignore all of them, and the rest of the diner. The customers didn’t even pretend to ignore them. They could at least act like they weren’t listening in and mumble or something.

  “Is this about the sleeping arrangements?” Darla asked as she looked at Spence then Lila. “Where are you going to stay?”

  Lila’s bottom lip disappeared. She nibbled on it for a few seconds before answering. “My thought was the campground.”

  “But then you saw it and realized that wasn’t realistic, right?” Austin asked, looking appalled that there might be a different answer.

  Lila cleared her throat. “Spence said something about an inn but I hate to spend the money.”

  Austin started reaching into his pocket before she finished talking. “There’s no need.”

  “What are you about to suggest?” And Spence decided his baby brother had better be careful because Spence’s control was right on the edge. Sitting this close to Lila, talking about sleeping, being frustrated by her stubbornness. A guy could only take so much.

  “Still married here.” Austin held up his ring finger but it was clear he wanted to show Spence another. A key clinked against the Formica table a second later. “Lila can stay at Dad’s place. It’s on the nursery property, close to the farmhouse and perfectly safe.”

  It was Lila’s turn to look horrified. Her nose wrinkled as she made a face. “I am not kicking an old man out of his house.”

  “I would advise you not call him that because he likes to lift and throw things like he’s a teenager, but the point is he’s out of town,” Austin said. “He’s the one running the Christmas tree lot in D.C. He and Mitch are handling it while I’m here doing some paperwork. So, his place is open. A one-bedroom cabin with electricity and food and a cleaning lady who makes sure it’s not a pit.”

  Relief crashed into Spence. He didn’t even realize he’d been holding his breath until Austin offered his solution. Leave it to his sensible, always-thinking younger brother to step in and resolve the biggest problem. That would almost make up for all the shit Spence would take over the Lila situation once he and Austin were alone.

  “You can’t volunteer someone else’s house.” Lila looked at them all again, her eyes narrowing the longer she did. “Right?”

  The refusal didn’t have any impact on Darla. She tapped her pen against the table. “Karl is a great guy and would insist. Besides that, it’s the neighborly thing to do.”

  “Lila doesn’t get the community concept.” Spence had been trying to explain it for hours now and she wasn’t one step closer to getting it.

  Austin waved off the concern. “She will in time. Holloway can be overwhelming at first.”

  “It’s like I stepped into another time,” Lila said in a voice that sounded lost and far away even though they sat inches apart.

  “You’ll get used to it.” Part of Spence wanted her to like the sensation, to grow accustomed to being around. The other part of him wanted her to run like hell as far away as she could go.

  She looked more confused than when they started the conversation. “What am I going to get used to?”

  That one was easy, so Spence filled in the blank without thinking. “Not being an outsider.”

  Chapter Five

  Dressed in old jeans and the thickest sweater she owned that could fit under her ski jacket and still let her arms move, Lila walked into the diner the next morning. People nodded and smiled as she took off her coat and gloves. Rather than hide, during the seemingly endless walk across the black-and-white block tile floor she treated everyone to a welcoming smile and was surprised when she got many in return.

  She plopped down on the barstool and watched the blinking red and green lights outlining the big specials menu on the wall. A Christmas carol played in the background and strings of tinsel now sat in the center of every booth. Sometime during the night someone, probably Darla, had decorated the place for the holidays.

  Lila liked it. Liked all of it, how warm and safe she felt here. As she balanced on the stool, she even debated getting the sticky doughy thing in the case behind the counter for breakfast rather than her usual boring oatmeal. This was a celebration of sorts, after all. She was starting over. Even though yesterday had been bumpier than expected, she didn’t wake up worrying about the credit calls that would start by eight-oh-six. That already made her life better than the six months that went before.

  After one night in Karl Thomas’s massive bed, Lila felt refreshed and ready to work. Spence had dropped her off after dinner and Austin hovered around the entire time. Having a sibling shadow had Spence snapping and cranky, but she’d been grateful for the third-party reinforcement. On top of the campground disappointment and threats of bears, she’d needed a few hours to regroup and sparring with Spence wouldn’t have given her that.

  Lounging back on the stack of pillow
s last night as she held the remote and flipped through what seemed like a thousand satellite channels refueled her. Well, it did after she forced Spence to call his dad and get permission for her to be in his house. He not only agreed, he threatened to “teach his sons some real manners” if she didn’t stay.

  With that assurance and a brief tour of the place by Spence, she’d felt safe and warm. Looking out the window she could see the three-story farmhouse on the hill. Minutes after Spence had left, the lights on the middle floor had clicked on. She was miles from her old life, both the happily married one she thought she’d had and the crappy one she really did. Knowing Spence was close swept the rest of her tension away.

  “Lila. Welcome back.” Darla didn’t miss a beat. She poured the coffee with one hand and set down silverware wrapped in a napkin with the other. She was a blur of constant motion. Before Lila could ask for it, a plate clanked against the counter with a long twisty doughnut on it. “I saw you eyeing it up.”

  Lila tried to ignore the sugary blob but maybe she could pick at the end. “Do you work every shift? I just saw you at dinner yesterday.”

  “The Schmidt in Schmidt’s Diner is my grandfather. So, yeah, I’m always here except when I’m home cooking for the husband.” Darla dumped the coffee pot on the warming burner behind her.

  Lila ripped off the end of the dough and popped it in her mouth, licking her sticky fingers right after. But, really, that was going to be it. At five-five, her figure went from curvy to chubby pretty fast. She’d always carried what some might consider extra weight because the stick-figure thing didn’t appeal to her. Neither did starving. She had breasts and hips and refused to apologize for being built like a woman.

  “I don’t think I could be around food that much,” she said as she pulled another piece off the doughnut.

  “Do you cook?”

  “Not unless I’m forced or you count instant oatmeal.”

  “I don’t, but nice try.” Darla left for a minute to ring up a customer. When she returned, she jammed her pen in her hair and took up residence right across the counter from Lila. “So, how long have you known Spence?”