Seducing the Innkeeper (At First Sight Book 3) (3 page)

Matt laughed. “Something or someone?”

“You could say both.”

“Interesting. Thought you were a love them and leave them kind of guy. Want me to join you and aid in the hunt?”

“Leave off, bro. I’ve found her and this time I plan to keep her.”

“Whoa. You’ve gone weird.”

“I’m serious.”

“Then good luck and be careful. Remember hunts can be traps.”

“Not this time. I’m doing the trapping and I’m always careful except once.” Years ago he had been captured. After that weekend he’d been granted immunity to the women he’d dated. “How’s the Home Make-Over contest going?”

“One more place to check. I’ll head there next weekend.”

“Have fun.” Mark laughed. “Maybe this time instead of a house you’ll find the woman of your dreams.”

“Doubtful. I’ll leave love and marriage to our sisters.”

“Don’t count us out. You never know when the Blakefield Curse will strike. Ciao.” He hung up and hit speed dial for his attorney.

“I’ll see if he’s available,” the secretary said. Moments later he heard his friend and lawyer’s voice.

“Mark, what’s up?” Tony asked.

“Need some advice.”

“Social or legal?”

“Mostly legal.”

“Spill.”

Mark explained where he was and why he’d driven to northern Vermont. “Haven’t seen my son yet but when you see the picture you’ll have no doubt I’m his father.”

“You say he’s about nine. We were in our last year around the time he was conceived. Never knew you had anything serious going on back then.”

“I did.”

“How can you be sure?” Tony asked. “You were never one to take chances.”

“Let’s say there was one time. Remember the long spring break weekend. You went to the beach and I stayed at school.”

Tony whistled. “And were a wreck when I returned. So you found her again. What do you want me to do?”

“Her name is Christa Parsons but she goes by Sommers now. She was a junior at the U. Place is Green Mountain Inn. Let me know what you learn.”

“Will do. Be careful. Sign no papers. Don’t make a verbal agreement or a promise. Might be a good idea to return home until we have the facts.”

“Not going to happen. Talk to you soon.” He hung up and started a new file on his laptop and typed an outline and questions for a feature on the inn.

He glanced at his watch. “Nearly three-thirty. Wonder if he’s home from school.” Mark grabbed his jacket and stepped outside. He glanced toward the house where he felt sure his son lived with Christa. Mark grinned. He could march to the house, pound on the door and announce himself. Not a wise move. He had to wait until he and Christa had their talk.

Feeling too restless to return to the cottage he set out to walk off some of his edgy energy. Just beyond the cottage he chose one of the paths starting on the level and then led up a small hill. At the top he stopped to survey the scenery.

A meadow spread from the slope to the edge of the lake. He noticed the wooden boat house and a pier. Across the lake he noticed a blaze of color. Splotches of orange and yellow flowed across a background of green. In the center of the display was a circle of scarlet. Were those sugar maples? Did Christa tap the trees to make syrup? That would add a note of interest to the feature if she agreed to have one done.

Would she or would she want him gone? Why hadn’t she told him about the pregnancy? He would have married. He’d been ready to take that step. Her disappearance had brought a cascade of emotions…fear for her, puzzlement and anger. His attempts to find her had been frustrating. There’d been no record of a Christa Parsons at the University. He’d begun to believe she had some scheme that had gone awry.

He leaned against a tree and fought a resurgence of that emotional storm. When had she changed her name? He drew a deep breath. He would learn the answer and the answer would define what he would do. He still wanted her and he wanted his son. Persuading her was the problem.

He pushed away from the tree and strode toward the lake. As he left the shade sunlight blinded him. When his vision cleared he saw a boy at the edge of the lake. The boy’s hair was blond. Mark’s heart hammered against his chest. He wanted to grab the boy and demand his name but caution was needed.

Mark continued forward. He saw a model boat skim across the water to the shore. The boy scooped the vessel and turned. Mark stared. There was no question of paternity. Mark faced himself at a younger age.

The boy halted. “Are you a ghost?”

“I don’t think so. Why do you ask?”

“You look like the man in a picture my mom has in her wallet. Was one of my dad. But you’re older.”

Mark swallowed. Christa had taken some snapshots during their time together. What had she told the boy? “What happened to your dad?”

The child shrugged. “I’m not ‘zactly sure. I wasn’t supposed to see the picture but my half aunts snuck it out and showed me. They thought they were funny.”

“Half aunts.” Mark held in a laugh.

The boy stood with the boat in one hand and the control in the other. “They’re Mom’s half-sisters so that makes them half aunts. When my grandfather and their mother died Mom had to take care of them.”

Mark sucked in a breath. Was that the reason Christa had left school so suddenly. That didn’t explain why she hadn’t told him about the pregnancy. “I can see why you call them that. Very inventive.”

“I’m glad they’re only half. They’re always bothering Mom for money and things, especially since Peggy finished college and they came here to live. Mom does all the work.” He started up the path and turned. “If you’re not a ghost, who are you?”

“Mark Blakefield.” Though he wanted to identify himself as the man in the picture he couldn’t. Not until he and Christa talked.

“See you.” The boy ran off.

“Wait.” But his son had vanished. Did the boy suspect the truth? What was his son’s name? The encounter made the talk with Christa imperative. He turned and strode to the inn. A green Jeep pulled out of the lot.

When he entered the lobby the elderly woman seated behind the counter looked up. “Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Christa.”

“You just missed her. Do you want to leave a message?”

Matt shook his head. “I’ll catch her later. He turned from the desk and returned to the cottage.

* * *

Christa and Davy returned from their run to the bank in time to eat dinner at the inn before the place was crowded by guests and locals. Her son’s silence puzzled her. Usually the trip to and from town was filled with stories of his friends, school and anything popping into his thoughts. Since he’d returned from the lake he’d been thoughtful.

Her stomach roiled. Had he met Mark? Had Mark made a threat or an announcement? She needed to know but was afraid to ask.

After the waitress brought their food Christa reached for Davy’s hand. “Is something bothering you?”

He looked up. “Sort of. I know there are no ghosts but he isn’t one.”

Christa’s hand tightened. “Tell me what happened.” She released her son’s hand when fear flashed in his eyes.

“There’s this man I saw by the lake. He looked a lot like the picture the half aunts showed me last month. They took it from your wallet. They told me he was my dad and I thought he was dead. Did he have a brother?”

Christa drew a deep breath. The time had come. How much could she tell him? “Would you like him to be your dad?”

Davy shrugged. “Never thought about having one. Might be fun. He said he was Mark something.”

“Did he say anything else?” She hated the sharp edge to her voice.

“Just that he wasn’t a ghost. He didn’t touch me or anything. He stared a bit. Didn’t even ask my name. I ran off ‘cause I didn’t want to miss going to town.”

Relief washed through Christa. Mark had behaved in a way she hadn’t expected. She needed to tell her son about the events of the past but she had to know Mark’s intentions. She would fight any move on his part to take Davy away. “Do you need to talk more about this?”

He shook his head. “I need to think if I want a dad or not. I don’t want to live without you.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“Okay.” He lifted his fork and attacked the food.

Christa smiled. Davy would be fine. Would she? Until she spoke to Mark she wouldn’t know what he intended to do. “Mrs. Lowry will take you home. Peggy and Stella are working tonight. I have to check on them.”

He nodded. “That’s good. They’re nosy and always acting like they know secrets.”

And they did. About Mark. And their thefts. Now about Davy.
Though she hadn’t denied his claim the pair could use their knowledge to hurt her and Davy.

Christa tasted the Yankee pot roast and sighed with satisfaction. The dish was perfect. She only wished her appetite was equal to the meal.

While she ate her thoughts turned to her problems. How was she going to tell Davy why his father had been shut out of her life? He would want to know. How could she tell him she’d fallen in love with Mark and had feared his reaction to the news? She had imagined Mark denying he was the father or offering money if she would go away.

Davy wouldn’t understand. Especially when Mark was here and determined to claim his son. She’d made the same decision about him just as she had with her half-sisters. Admitting her mistake was difficult.

As they began dessert Davy returned to his chatty self. She laughed at his stories. He scooped the last bite of apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream. “Can I leave the tip?”

“Don’t you always.” She handed him several bills. After he tucked them under his plate they rose. “Don’t give Mrs. Lowry a hard time. Homework. A half-hour of TV, then bath and bed.”

He nodded. “Can I stay up late tomorrow?”

“What day is it?”

“TGIF.” He gave her a high five and darted past guests arriving for dinner. Moments later Christa caught him in the foyer. She ruffled his hair. He and the older woman who doubled as desk clerk and sitter waved and left.

The door closed. Stella left her station. She leaned against the counter. “We looked him up on the internet.”

“Who?”

“Mark Blakefield.”

“Why? He’s none of your business.”

Stella laughed. “Since he’s Davy’s daddy we thought you should know about him.”

Peggy sauntered over. “His family owns a group of magazines.”

“I know that.”

Peggy smiled. “He’s not married or engaged. He likes hot women. He’s rich and available. You can hit him for a bundle. I’m sure he doesn’t want to be tied down by a kid.”

Christa glared. “What he has or wants has nothing to do with you.”

Peggy glanced at the cash register. “You are so dumb. I would hit him for child support in a heartbeat.”

“Ten years will add up to a large sum,” Stella said.

Christa stepped away from the counter. “To work.” Once they returned to their stations she entered the office but left the door open.

After booting the computer she opened the booking calendar. The inn was solid for December and January. Even the cottages were full. She found a list of confirmed reservations she had neglected earlier and entered them. After checking emails she listened to phone messages. While she and Davy were in town she’d missed a call from a realtor interested in listing the property. She made a note to call the woman in the morning.

For a brief time she considered asking Mark for child support. The money could be used to rid herself of Stella and Peggy. She shook her head. Wouldn’t work. They would always want more. Davy was her joy and responsibility. He had been from the moment she’d held him in her arms.

She rose and walked to the door. Seven o’clock. Her heart stuttered. Mark stood at the entrance to the dining room. Stella put her hand on his arm and leaned toward him. Christa resisted the urge to storm from the office and claim him.

She clenched her hands. Her half-sisters weren’t his type. Neither was she. Hadn’t Stella said he liked hot women?

Christa returned to the desk and made a list for her weekend relief. She checked receipts from breakfast and lunch against credit card slips and cash. This done she locked them in the safe.

At ten she removed the cash and receipts from the dining room register. Peggy glared. Christa ignored muttered comments. After locking the money in the safe she locked the office door.

Christa stepped onto the porch. A hand grasped her arm. She gasped.

“Don’t panic.”

“Mark.”

“We have a problem to solve. I’ve seen him. He is my son.” As he spoke he drew her down the steps. “I want to know what happened ten years ago to make you run away. I want to know why you never told me you were pregnant.”

She met his gaze. In the light from the inn and the parking lot his green eyes mesmerized her. She looked away to break the spell. “We’ll talk. Tomorrow. It’s been a long day.”

He pulled her into his arms. “I would have married you.”