She embraced him warmly, then stepped back with slightly narrowed eyes, though she was still smiling. “Okay, fess up. Did you come to make sure I’m not holding your brother hostage or anything? I know he told you this morning that he and I are together now, and suddenly here you are. Have you come to steal him away from me?”
“Why would I do that? I consider my brother to be a very lucky man.”
She dimpled. “That’s sweet. Thank you.”
He squeezed her hand, then released her and nodded toward his brother. “I decided you had the right idea about taking a few days to relax here.”
Aaron’s brows shot even higher. “You were able to just take off from work on such short notice? I thought your calendar was so full for the rest of the year that you didn’t have time to breathe, much less disappear on impulse like this.”
“I just had to rearrange a couple of things.” Like heaven and earth. His poor administrative assistant had been forced to move both to free the rest of the week at Andrew’s request. His dad and uncles weren’t exactly happy about his decision either, because they had to pick up the slack. They probably thought he’d come to make sure Aaron wasn’t being foolishly impulsive, so it was likely their father secretly approved of the mission. Andrew couldn’t imagine what everyone would say when they found out the real reason for the unscheduled trip.
“Can I get you a cold drink, Andrew?” Sarah called from behind the counter. She hadn’t changed a bit since the last time he’d seen her, looking little older than her adult offspring. Her blond hair was just sprinkled with gray, her minimally made-up face was hardly lined, and while she carried a few extra pounds, she still looked fit and healthy.
“A lemonade sounds great,” he answered with a smile, fondly remembering the fresh-squeezed lemonade he’d enjoyed last summer.
“I’ll get it.” Shelby hurried toward the counter.
Sandy-haired, blue-eyed, twenty-seven-year-old Steven Bell held out his right hand. “I’d stand to greet you, but I’m still sort of clumsy with these damn crutches,” he complained.
Andrew shook his hand. “I was sorry to hear about your accident. How are you holding up, Steven?”
“Not bad, thanks. The leg should be completely healed in a few weeks with no lasting problems. The rest of me is still sore but better. All in all, could be worse.”
“Aaron told me you’re planning to train as a firefighter.”
“Yeah, I’m hoping to start training as soon as I’m out of this cast. Fire and EMT classes start in mid-October, so I want to be in top shape by then.”
“Well, Dad?” Hannah’s father asked Pop with a grin. “Now do you believe there really are two of them?”
Pop chuckled. “Always did. I was just pulling Aaron’s leg by pretending otherwise.”
“How long can you be with us, Andrew?” Mimi asked eagerly, still avidly studying him and his brother as if searching for any minute difference.
“I’m not sure yet,” he prevaricated. “Through the end of the weekend probably, unless something comes up.”
“Where would you like to stay? Cabin 7 is available now,” she said blithely. “And I guess Cabin 8 is open, too, if your brother is going to be shacking up with my granddaughter.”
Andrew heard a few gasps and muffled laughs.
“Mother!” Bryan chided in a strangled voice.
“What?” Mimi looked from one of her family members to another with a matter-of-fact shrug. “We’re a modern family. We’re down with it.”
This time it was Andrew who choked on a laugh.
“Oh, man, Mimi’s been watching old sitcom reruns again,” Steven said with an affectionate groan.
“One of the motel rooms will be fine with me, if it’s available,” Andrew assured them. “I don’t need to tie up a cabin because I probably won’t use the kitchen anyway. I don’t cook much.”
Mimi nodded. “We have a couple empty rooms. I think the one you stayed in last summer is available.”
“That would be great. I enjoyed the view of the lake from the balcony.”
She stood. “Here, take my seat. I have to go. The family’s gathering at our house after closing for white chicken chili that’s been cooking in Crock-Pots all day, and I have a few things to finish up. We’d love for you to join us.”
“It would be my pleasure. Thank you.”
She patted his cheek as though he were ten rather than thirty. “I’ll have Lori bring you a key to your room. It’s almost time for her to close the desk. She’s on her summer break from college and she’s been filling in for Hannah during the past couple weeks while Hannah visited some relatives.”
Towing Pop along with her with the firm reminder that she required his assistance with dinner preparations, Mimi swept out of the diner. Andrew took her emptied seat, with his lemonade on the table in front of him. He glanced at his watch. Still another twenty minutes to go before the seven-o’clock closing time. After that, late arrivals wanting a room or campsite would have to ring a bell at the gate for service. One of the family members was always on call to answer that kind of summons, night duty rotating among the various households.
They spent those remaining twenty minutes talking—though more accurately, Andrew primarily listened, having little chance to get a word in with Shelby, Maggie, Steven and Bryan talking over each other to catch him up on what he’d missed. They told him more about the excitement yesterday with stolen-goods fencer Russell King, aka Terrence Landon, who had used Cabin 7 as his own private base of criminal operations for almost a month before Shelby and Aaron shut him down. The conversation segued into all the maintenance tasks scheduled for the remainder of the summer and beyond—chores that had been on Steven’s agenda before his mowing accident and subsequent decision to pursue his childhood dream. Now Aaron was excited about taking over Steven’s job with Bryan, who would be his direct supervisor.
Andrew watched his brother’s face while the men talked about those upcoming projects. The work would be hard, mostly manual labor in the summer heat, but Aaron looked as though he couldn’t wait to get started. He hadn’t shown nearly as much enthusiasm for his last couple of jobs, both in sales with comfortable working conditions and a more-than-adequate income. Who’d have thought he’d get this stimulated working in resort maintenance? How much of his eagerness had to do with his new and exciting relationship with Shelby? Would it last or would it fall apart with time, leaving everyone involved disappointed and heartbroken?
Andrew had no precognitive talent, but he wanted to believe his brother would make his new direction in both romance and career work for a lifetime. Their family had a history of short courtships and long marriages, so maybe Aaron had inherited that gene.
As for himself—
“Oh, look, Hannah’s back,” Shelby said, waving toward the doorway behind Andrew. “She’ll be so happy you’re here, Andrew.”
Hoping his smile didn’t look as sickly as it felt, Andrew nodded, taking a moment to steel himself for the performance ahead. He sensed his brother studying him a bit too closely—or was that just projection on his part? Avoiding Aaron’s eyes, he glanced in Maggie’s direction, only to find her looking at him with a slight frown.
Clearing his throat, he stood and turned to watch Hannah approach, a credible expression of pleased surprise on her face when she saw him there. Pasting on a bright grin, he stepped forward. “Hello, Hannah. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Chapter Two
E
ven though nearly everyone had private quarters, the Bell clan often gathered at the end of a workday for meals. The family compound lay on a clearly marked private drive off the main resort road. Three almost-identical redbrick ranch-style houses were occupied by Hannah’s grandparents, her parents and her aunt and uncle, with her grandparents in the center. As the third generation had become adults, they’d chafed against living with their parents and invested in homes of their own at the end of the road. Four similar tan-and-cream, two-bedroom mobile homes were grouped two on either side of the dead-end drive. Their grandfather grumpily referred to the tidy cluster as the “trailer park,” but Hannah and her sister and cousins had been content with their quarters. Lori was the only one of their generation who still lived with her parents, though for most of the year she was away at college.
Mimi and Pop were the hosts on this Monday evening, and everyone was there except Lori, who had a date, much to the displeasure of her family. While Hannah was away, it had come to light that Lori’s current boyfriend was Zach Webber, a long-haired, bearded rebel who had dropped out of college and was currently scraping by as a guitarist in an alternative garage band. Maybe the family could have accepted all of that, Hannah mused, had they not known he’d done time in juvenile detention for breaking and entering. Probably his legal records were sealed now that he was twenty-one, but Zach had long been the subject of local gossip and tongue-clucking and the family was not at all happy that Lori had chosen to stage a mini-rebellion with him.
The topic of the evening was still the excitement of the day before, though Shelby soon got tired of rehashing it and begged everyone to talk about something else. Grouped around the two large picnic tables that sat behind her grandparents’ house, the family obliged, several new conversations breaking out at once among the twelve diners enjoying Mimi’s white chicken chili and jalapeño corn muffins. Steven’s lazy yellow lab, Pax, wandered around the tables, not exactly begging but giving longing looks to everyone with a plate. With amusement, Hannah saw several members of the family slipping bits of chicken to the dog even though Steven expressly forbade them to do so.
Obsessed as always with work, Hannah’s father spoke up above the chatter, directing his words toward Aaron. “You know anything about running electrical wiring?”
“I’m not a licensed electrician, but I’ve helped with a few basic projects. Why?”
“I’m wanting to install a few more security lights along our private drive, especially there around the sign,” Hannah’s dad said gruffly. His meaningful glance at Shelby made it clear that he was thinking of the one short, dark stretch on the drive where Shelby had been snatched while walking home late from visiting Aaron’s cabin. None of them knew if more lighting would have prevented the attack, but maybe she’d have seen him lurking there had the shadows not been so heavy.
Aaron nodded approvingly, reaching out to cover Shelby’s hand with his in a sweet, loving gesture that made Hannah’s throat tighten for some reason. “I think I can help with that,” Aaron said.
“Oh, by the way, Hannah,” Mimi called out from the next table. “I saw Jenny Malone at church yesterday. She wants to host a baby shower for you. We’re thinking maybe in about six weeks, which will give you time to prepare a list of guests you want her to invite and to register for gifts.”
Hannah felt her face warm in response to having everyone’s attention turned to her—one person’s in particular. “That’s very sweet of her,” she murmured, “but not necessary. I really don’t need a baby shower.”
“Of course you do,” Mimi insisted with a firm bob of her head. “Just because you’re an unwed mother doesn’t mean you won’t need baby supplies. And your friends will want to do this for you.”
If Hannah could have slid beneath the table gracefully, she would have done so then. She looked quickly to her sister for help, hoping Maggie would get the message to change the subject.
“Hannah’s going to be a wonderful mother,” Mimi said in Andrew’s direction before anyone could say anything. “We’re all very excited about the baby.”
Andrew glanced at Hannah briefly before responding to the older woman. “I’m sure you are.”
Looking archly at Shelby and Aaron, Mimi added, “You know, Andrew, even though Hannah’s expecting, she isn’t involved with anyone at the moment.”
Hannah choked on a sip of iced tea.
Mercifully, Maggie stepped in. “Mimi, I forgot to tell you that I saw Esther Lincoln in town Saturday. She said to be sure to tell you hello.”
Predictably, their grandmother bristled at the name of her old archenemy, thoughts of matchmaking abruptly forgotten. “I’ll just bet she did. She knew it would remind me of her and her scheming ways which she figured would ruin my day. Well, I just won’t let it.”
“Esther and Mimi competed in bake-offs at the county fair when they were younger,” Hannah heard Shelby explain in a low voice to Aaron and Andrew. “It was not a friendly competition.”
“Because she cheated in every which way she could, from kissing up to the judges to using recipes she found in the Julia Child cookbooks,” Mimi retorted indignantly, proving there was nothing wrong with her hearing.
“Now, Mom, don’t get started on that again.” Hannah’s uncle C.J. changed the subject to tell a funny story about a quirky customer he’d served at the marina that afternoon, which led to other anecdotes for Aaron and Andrew’s benefit. Everyone laughed at the appropriate times, but Hannah could see that her grandmother still fumed about her old grievances and her aunt Sarah kept looking at the empty space where Lori usually sat.
Andrew’s chuckles sounded a bit strained—understandably. She figured her own smiles would look forced to anyone studying her too closely, but she was fairly confident she was getting away with them for now.
She was going to have a firm talk with her grandmother later. This situation was difficult enough; it would be untenable if Mimi decided to try matchmaking between Hannah and Andrew while he was here. Mimi meant well of course, and she had no idea Andrew was the father of Hannah’s baby. Once she found out the truth, the pressure would intensify. If there was one overwhelming thing Hannah did not want, it was for Andrew to feel obligated to propose to her just because her family—or his, for that matter—expected him to do so. The very idea depressed her.
Even though the family usually sat around chatting after meals, Hannah didn’t linger long. She helped clear away, then claimed weariness, having started that day much too early. Her sister walked her home.
“Thanks for the rescue during dinner, Maggie,” Hannah said when they reached her door.
Maggie chuckled ruefully. “You’re welcome. I saw the look Mom shot at Mimi. I’m sure she’ll ask her not to make future gatherings so awkward for you.”
“I hope so.”
Laughing a little, Maggie shook her head. “You have to give Mimi credit for nerve. She’s determined to find you a husband. Could she have been any more blatant about trying to fix you up with Andrew?”
“I thought I was going to slide right under the table.”
Maggie patted her arm. “I’m sure you did, but you have to admit Mimi has good taste. Andrew’s a catch.”
Hannah shot a frown at her sister. “You aren’t suggesting—”
Maggie held up both hands in a quick gesture of surrender. “No agenda at all here. Just saying. It seemed like there was a little chemistry between you last year.”
“Chemistry? You mean when he was helping us stop my jerk of an ex-husband from bankrupting the resort? When I had to tell him that my judgment was so bad that I’d married a man who cared only about what I or my family could do to make his life easier? That I was so stupid and naive I let my head be turned by flattery and empty promises?”
Maggie’s amusement had faded during Hannah’s bitter tirade. “Um, sis—”
“Or maybe I look better to him now,” Hannah continued on a roll, gesturing meaningfully toward her midsection. “Accidentally pregnant at my age. Still paying off the bills my jailbird ex left me responsible for. Still so freaking angry and mortified that I—”
Hearing her own words, she stopped and shook her head. “Would you listen to me? Sorry, Mags, I guess the pregnancy hormones just kicked into overdrive. Seriously, I’m not interested in getting romantically involved with Andrew or anyone else. I tried the happily-ever-after thing and I failed miserably at it. Now all I need, all I want, is to make a home for my child, to ensure that he or she is loved and safe and happy while I continue with my work here. I really just don’t have the time or the energy to take on anything else for the foreseeable future. So let’s just drop it, okay? I’m turning in now.”
Still looking concerned, her sister gave her a hug. “You’ll call if you need me?”
“Of course, but I’m fine, really. Just tired. See you in the morning, okay?”
“Sleep in. We’ve got everything covered in the office.”
“I’m ready to get back to work. Too much free time is obviously bad for my mood.”
Only partially mollified, Maggie turned toward her own place, leaving Hannah to lock herself in her trailer, where she promptly covered her face with her hands and burst into tears, overwhelmed by the events of the day.
* * *
Andrew waited until both sisters were closed in their homes before turning and walking silently down the road. He stayed in the shadows, not wanting to be seen. He’d had enough experience with undercover work to be assured he was successful. His brother was preoccupied with Shelby, having moved into her trailer only that very afternoon, and the rest of the Bells were getting ready to turn in before starting another busy day early in the morning. Hoping to have a chance to talk privately with Hannah without anyone being the wiser, Andrew had told everyone good-night and said he wanted to take a walk before returning to his room for the night. That was how he’d ended up an unintentional eavesdropper on Hannah’s conversation with her sister.
Making the half mile or so walk from the family compound to the motel, he took in the sights, sounds and smells of a summer evening in a camping-and-fishing resort. Only a few boats were still on the water at this hour. He heard the muffled roar of motors accompanied by glimpses of red, green and white running lights he spotted through the trees. Wisps of smoke from campfires drifted through the resort, and he fancied he could smell toasting marshmallows on the breeze. A few cars and pickups entered and exited the main gate, some towing boats after a day’s water play. Muffled sounds were just audible from the campgrounds—bursts of laughter, the occasional high-pitched squeal from a child, a couple of yaps from what sounded like a small dog. An idyllic, slow-paced haven, it seemed far away from the hustle and bustle of the real world, a long way from Andrew’s busy life in Dallas.
He paused at the intersection of the main road and the private drive, looking back over his shoulder at the dark stretch where Shelby had been taken. Proof, he thought grimly, of how easily the outside evils could invade even this diligently maintained paradise. While he was here, maybe he’d look over the resort’s security practices. He wanted to make sure she—um, the whole family—was safe here, he quickly corrected himself.
That was the least he could do for Hannah for now. She’d made it clear enough that she wasn’t interested in anything more from him.
* * *
It felt good to Hannah to be back at work after visiting her mother’s family in Louisiana for the past ten days. She’d gone there to break the news to her extended family about her impending motherhood and had been gratified that her relatives on that side were as supportive as the Bell family. Her widowed grandmother was already busily crocheting a delicate baby blanket that she’d promised to mail as soon as it was completed.
She spent Tuesday morning taking reservations by phone, updating the resort’s social media pages and website with new photos her sister had snapped around the place and checking in a few guests. Three thirtysomething men with a three-day reservation for Cabin 5 wandered in just before noon, dressed in board shorts, T-shirts and sandals, ready for a few days of fishing and beer drinking. Judging by their behavior, Hannah suspected two of the three had gotten an early start on the latter; she hoped the other man had been the designated driver.
A tall, lanky man with a thinning mop of brown hair and beer-glazed brown eyes did an exaggerated double-take when he saw Hannah sitting behind the reception desk. He made a point of checking out her bare left hand, then smiled at her with what she assumed was meant to be irresistible charm. “Wow, when the owners of this place advertised beautiful scenery, they weren’t kidding.”
His two companions groaned in response to the outrageous pickup line. Well-accustomed to fending off passes from overly optimistic guests, Hannah merely smiled, looked at the reservation on her computer screen and asked, “Which of you is Nathan Burns?”
“That would be me,” the supposedly sober man said. “Need my signature?”
She slid a form toward him. “Yes, please.”
Skinny Romeo, as she’d mentally dubbed him, rested a hip on a corner of the desk. “The guys and I brought some big ol’ steaks for the grill and plenty of beer and wine. Maybe after you get off work, you could join us for dinner?”
“Thank you,” she said, barely glancing at him, “but I have plans. Linens and household items are provided in your cabin, but please let us know if you need anything. The convenience store, marina and grill in this building are open until seven.”
“We brought Stu’s fancy ski boat—it’s a honey. Maybe you’d find a little time to go out on the water with us while we’re here? We’ll take a cooler full of beers on ice, have a great time.”
“No,” she said simply. “And please remember to have a designated driver when you’re boating. BWI laws are strictly enforced on the lake. Let me get your keys for you.”
She stood and opened the locked cabinet in which the keys to the cabins and motel rooms were stored. She heard a snort and a snicker behind her.
“Way to go, Bill. You’ve been hitting on a woman who’s preggers,” Stu said in a mocking whisper she probably wasn’t supposed to hear.