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“It’s lovely,” Carey said. She stepped over to the window and pulled the curtain aside. Long French doors led to a balcony and framed a view of the snow-covered village green.
Ben came in and set down the luggage. “Very nice. I’ve always liked this view.”
Thea smiled at him in an amused way. “Glad you approve. I found a portable crib for the baby. It’s down in the office. Ben can bring it up for you later,” she said to Carey. “We’ll let you unpack and freshen up. Come down to the party anytime you’re ready. Ben will save a place for you.”
The party? Did she mean their family party? Carey didn’t plan on joining Ben and his family today. For one thing, she didn’t want to intrude and be even more trouble. For another, it was far easier for her to keep to herself and not be forced to answer a lot of questions…and tell a lot of lies.
His mother seemed to read her thoughts easily. Was her expression so transparent?
Thea took a step closer and rested her hand lightly on Carey’s arm. “Of course you’ll join us. You must. We aren’t serving any food in the restaurant today, for one thing. Nothing in town is open, either. You have to come down and eat. And we’d love to have you. That’s what Christmas is all about.”
Carey smiled at her, but didn’t seem convinced. Thea glanced at her son, looking for some help.
“I always feel out of sync at these things and you can keep me company.” He stared down into her eyes, his blue eyes working their special magic, melting her willpower.
He’d changed from his snow-shoveling, pancake-making clothes before they’d left the house and looked very handsome in a slim-fitting black pullover and a dark gray sport jacket.
“My mother is only trying to scare you about the food. If you really don’t want to come down, I’ll bring something up for you.”
There was definitely safety in numbers, Carey decided. No telling what would happen if she stayed up here with Ben providing room service.
“Of course I’ll come. Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Martin.”
“It’s Thea…and you’re very welcome.” She smiled slightly, then glanced over at Ben. “We’re still on the appetizers. No rush. I’ll see you two downstairs.”
Thea closed the door behind her but Ben stayed, Carey noticed. “Don’t you need to go down and see your family? I won’t be very long,” she told him.
“I can wait. I’m afraid if I leave you up here, you might be tempted to hide out all day.”
His suspicions were correct. The way he’d read her mind made her smile.
“Is that a law around here? No one can be alone on Christmas?”
“It might be,” he teased her back. “You don’t want to end up in the lockup after all. Not when you’ve just landed in such a cushy spot.”
“You’re right. That wouldn’t be very smart.” She opened her bag, took out some clothes and put them in a drawer. “Your mother is very nice. Very…hospitable.”
“She’s a natural at making people feel welcome. Maybe that’s what keeps this place in business after all.”
“Is there some problem?”
Ben shrugged. He picked up a stuffed dog, then waved it at Lindsay, who was lying on the bed. “The inn hasn’t been doing that well since my father died. She’s had to let a lot of the help go. It’s hard for her. I try to help, with repairs and the outdoor work when I can and my sister works here, too. She does all the food service. But it’s still a lot of responsibility for one person. Sometimes she talks about selling it. But I’d hate to see that happen,” he said honestly.
Carey didn’t know what to say. She’d heard there were always complications and tensions when a family ran a business together. She guessed Ben’s family was not immune, though he seemed very easygoing.
It didn’t seem the time to talk about these private matters. Carey didn’t want to seem as if she was prying, either. Lindsay soon got bored with the stuffed toy and Ben picked her up, talking softly to her while she patted his head with her hands.
Carey liked the way he handled the baby. His strong but gentle touch touched her heart. That was just the way she’d imagined a good stepfather would treat her little girl. If she ever found a good stepfather for Lindsay…which right now seemed highly unlikely.
Carey found a lipstick and swiped on a fresh coat, then fluffed up her hair with her fingers and put on a pair of silver hoop earrings she’d found in her makeup bag.
She definitely wasn’t dressed for a party. This morning, she’d pulled on a blue velour hooded top with a cream-colored camisole underneath, jeans and boots. She wondered if she should at least change to a dressy blouse and put on some jewelry.
Ben stood near the door, watching her. “Don’t worry, Carey. You look…perfect.”
She glanced at him, then looked away. “No, I don’t, but thanks,” she said, smiling at him.
Perfect? She knew it was just a word. Something anyone might say. He didn’t really mean anything by it. Still, the tone of his voice and the way he looked at her made her feel something positively electric between them, like a bolt of heat lightning. “Let’s go. I don’t want to keep your family waiting for us.” She scooped up her bag, suddenly eager to join the party downstairs.
Hanging around a hotel room with this man was not a great idea. Lindsay was not much of a chaperone.
Chapter Four
The family gathering was just as Ben had described it. Maybe even bigger and noisier, Carey thought, with everyone talking, eating and laughing at once.
Carey knew that if she hadn’t felt the gentle pressure of Ben’s hand on her back, guiding her into the dining room, she would have made some polite excuse and run back upstairs again.
Thea’s guests sat at a long table that stretched from one end of the large room to the other. The room was beautifully decorated for the holiday, with arrangements of red-and-white roses mixed with holly and trailing ivy, white candles of various sizes, glowing everywhere, and a large Christmas tree at the room’s far end, surrounded by piles of gifts.
A gang of children, too excited to eat, ran around chasing each other. They had clearly started the day in their best clothes, but now shirttails were flapping, satin sashes were trailing and ponytails had come undone.
They looked as if they were having a great time, as children know how to do instinctively at these kinds of parties. Before too long the baby in her arms would be running with the pack, Carey thought wistfully. Though they would not be part of any big holiday reunions like this one.
Thea had saved seats for Carey and Ben, and also set up a high chair for the baby. Ben led them to their places and they sat down. He introduced Carey to those seated nearby, mostly married cousins and aunts, from what Carey could gather. She tried hard but couldn’t keep all the names straight in her head.
Everyone seemed very welcoming and there was a great deal of talk about the snowfall, their different routes traveling to Greenbriar, and about the dinner, which emerged slowly from the kitchen, each course more delicious than the next.
It seemed that Ben’s sister, Luanne, had prepared the entire meal and was busy working in the kitchen throughout the festivities.
The menu was extensive—with a salad course, roast goose, baked ham and beef tenderloin, all kinds of side dishes, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn bread stuffing. There were platters of roast vegetables, asparagus, stuffed mushrooms and string beans with almonds.
Carey hoped the chef would emerge at some point. She wanted to meet the talent behind such a wonderful Christmas feast. She did see Ben’s mother, Thea, running in and out of the swinging doors, carrying out more and more dishes laden with food.
Carey didn’t feel pressured to socialize and mostly sat quietly, just watching everyone. It was a lively, warm gathering and she thought Ben was lucky to be part of such a big family. It was something she’d missed growing up and missed in her life now, too.
Ben sat on her left, talking mostly to a cousin about his own age named Jeff, who sat across the table. Jeff was a lawyer who lived in Connecticut. He and Ben seemed to have a good rapport.
Carey was seated across from Jeff’s wife, Alice, a friendly blonde in her mid-thirties. She was busy keeping her eye on their three children, and didn’t bother Carey with too many personal questions. Carey was able to answer with the cover stories she’d told Ben.
Until, as Alice passed a platter of roast goose, she said, “So, how long have you and Ben been dating?”
A mouthful of corn bread caught in Carey’s throat. She blinked and smiled.
“We aren’t dating. I just met Ben last night. On the road. I had a car accident and he stopped to help me.”
Carey carefully omitted the part about how she stayed over at Ben’s house. That would only give Alice the wrong impression…again.
“Oh, that’s too bad. About your accident, I mean.” Alice cast her a sympathetic look, but also seemed as if she didn’t quite believe that Carey and Ben were not romantically involved.
Carey could hardly blame her. She supposed to the rest of the party, they did look like a couple. They’d walked in together and were now seated side by side, with Ben’s arm slung around the back of her chair in a familiar way, and he’d also just taken Lindsay into his lap so Carey could finish her dinner.
Alice’s look seemed to say that maybe Carey didn’t think they were involved…but they were.
One of Alice’s little boys ran up to her to ask a question, interrupting the adult conversation. Carey was relieved. But suddenly she felt self-conscious. Did everyone here think she was Ben’s girlfriend?
She suddenly wanted to tap the side of her glass, stand up and announce a disclaimer. “Hey, everyone…just so you know, Ben and I are not dating. We just met last night…at a car accident.”
Then she felt silly. Did it matter what Ben’s family thought? It would only really matter to him. After she left. He probably only saw these relatives once or twice a year anyway and most likely, didn’t care what they thought about his social life.
She also knew, someplace deep inside, she was cooperating with this mistaken impression.
How easy it would be to slip into that role of his girlfriend, his romantic partner. And it was Christmas. And they were both alone. So perhaps playing this pretend game for the day was a harmless but helpful way for each of them to get through the holiday?
Ben’s sister, Luanne, finally emerged, wearing kitchen whites—a chef’s white jacket, and work pants. She was tall, with a full, shapely figure. She looked a few years younger than Ben and shared his good looks. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and she also had the trademark Martin blue eyes, Carey noticed.
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