“I didn’t mean to intrude on your work time, Lauren.”

This time there was no mistaking how her heart leapt when Garrett said her name. What was up with that? It’s not as though she was interested or anything.

“I’m glad you stopped by. I need to head back anyway. Can you recommend a good restaurant for lunch?”

His eyes brightened. “Want to have lunch with me?”

“Sure, that would be great,” she said, meaning it.

“Good,” he answered. “I’m really glad you came, Lauren.”

There was that heart flip again. He’d better quit saying her name or she’d need a pacemaker.

DIANN WALKER

and her husband, Jim, started on a three-mile trek through Amish country in 1997, and at that moment, she had no idea she was taking her first steps toward a new career. Inspired by their walk, she wrote an article, which was published a year later. Other articles soon followed. After studying fiction writing, she celebrated her first novella sale in 2001, with CBA bestselling novellas and novels, written as Diann Hunt, reaching the bookshelves soon afterward. Wanting to be used by God in the ministry of writing, Diann left her job as a court reporter in the fall of 2003 and now devotes her time to writing. Well, writing and spoiling her four granddaughters. She has been happily married forever and loves her family, chocolate, her friends, chocolate, her dog and, well, chocolate. Be sure to check out her Web site at www.diannhunt.com. Sign her guestbook and drop her an e-mail. And, hey, if you have any chocolate…

A Match Made in Bliss

Diann Walker

MILLS & BOON

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding; in all

your ways acknowledge Him, and

He will make your paths straight.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

With heartfelt thanks:

To my wonderful agent, Karen Solem, for your

constant support and wise counsel.

To my editor, Krista Stroever, for your upbeat

attitude that always encourages me, and for your

expertise that challenges me to grow as a writer. It

is my privilege to work with you.

To my friend and kindred spirit, Colleen Coble,

who patiently sees me through every crisis and

critiques my words in their roughest form.

I thank God for you.

To my supportive husband, without whom my

stories would never have felt the warm embrace of a

book binding. I love you more than words can say.

Most of all, to you, my readers, who are kind

enough to spend a few hours of your time to

journey through these pages with me.

May God bless you all.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

“I can’t believe you did this without even consulting me!” Garrett Cantrell stomped across the den of the Woods Inn Bed and Breakfast. His footsteps were muffled once he stepped on the oriental rug, then thumped again when he turned and walked across the hardwood floor.

He stopped and frowned at his daughters, who sat quietly on the sofa. “What were you thinking?” He turned to his firstborn. “Macy, you’re a high school graduate—and older than most at that,” Garrett said, referring to the childhood illness that had caused Macy to start school later than others, giving her almost a two-year edge over her peers. “You’re old enough to know better. Would you appreciate it if I manipulated your life?”

Macy lifted her chin in a rebellious attitude. He shot her a quelling look, and she lowered it once again.

“And you.” He looked at Molly. “You’ll be a senior next year. How about I set you up with Reggie Snodgrass?” The look on her face would have been comical had Garrett not been in such a foul mood.

Reggie didn’t exactly turn the girls’ heads. Well, he did, but usually in the opposite direction. Everyone in the area knew Reggie had been sweet on Molly since first grade. He was tall, skinny, wore black-rimmed glasses, talked with a nasal twang and snorted every time he laughed. The typical high school geek.

Molly lifted her face to her dad, her eyes wide with fear. She wisely kept her mouth shut.

Garrett paced some more. “I knew I should have gotten rid of that computer.” Stopping in front of them again, he said, “Let me get this straight. Because of your fascination with that reality TV stuff, you came up with the brilliant idea to advertise in a chat room, a contest called ‘Win Daddy’s Heart’? Then you left details on a message board.”

The girls sat rooted like potted plants.

“You picked five applicants from pictures and bios e-mailed to you and offered the women a free two-week stay at our B and B.”

Completely mute. Macy’s right eye twitched.

“You figured we could live off our investments, so the two weeks without paying guests would be no big deal.” Still pacing, he said this more to himself than to them. “Then you took it upon yourselves to write these contestants’ names on the scheduling book so I wouldn’t double book our rooms. When they come, their afternoons will be free, and I am to take them out individually on the nights of my choosing.” He stopped and turned to them.

At this, Molly nodded ever so slightly.

“We all are to mill around and just get to know one another over the two weeks, and by the end of their stay, you’re hoping someone will win my heart, is that it?”

Molly’s face brightened for just a moment. She nodded enthusiastically as if her dad was finally catching on. Macy was much more cautious—and sensible. She didn’t move. Not one inch. He couldn’t even tell if she was breathing. Her eye continued to twitch.

He blew out a long sigh. “Let me see that.” He pointed to the file in Molly’s hands.

She handed it to him. “It’s all right there, Dad. We checked out every applicant, making sure they were compatible with you.” She smiled tentatively, as if proud of herself for being organized with the whole thing.

He glanced through the file. “There are only four applicants here.”

Molly shifted uncomfortably on her seat and looked at Macy. “Well, uh, we seem to have misplaced the information on the fifth applicant,” Molly admitted.

“She did call, though, and said she probably wouldn’t be able to make it. Something came up. So I don’t think we have anything to worry about,” Macy added.

Garrett rolled his eyes. “Perfect.” He slapped the file against the palm of his hand and pulled up a chair. Sitting down with a thump, he faced them. A slight pause followed. “Look,” he said in a gentle voice, “I know you’re trying to help me. I miss your mom, that’s true, but that’s not why I haven’t dated. I just haven’t met anyone I want to date.”

“But Dad, Mom died three years ago. It’s time.” Molly laid each word before him as if tiptoeing across a room.

“That’s not for you to decide,” Garrett snapped. His youngest daughter looked every inch the image of her mother. Her dark-brown hair lay softly across her shoulders like a silken scarf, and her brown eyes glistened in the morning light. He felt his insides go soft. A headache throbbed over his eyes, causing him to rub his forehead. “Okay, here’s what you have to do. You write to each of these ladies and tell them there’s been a big mistake. The search for someone for your dad is off. No free vacations for the applicants. The game’s over.” He started to stand.

“We can’t,” Molly offered in a weak voice.

He stopped in midair, turned to her and sat back down. A sick feeling washed over him. A feeling that said this wasn’t going to go away. “Why not, Molly?”

She cleared her throat and stared at the toes of her sneakers. “Um, because a couple of ladies will be coming tonight. The others will be in tomorrow.”

He gaped at them in disbelief. The grandfather clock ticked from the opposite wall, punctuating the scant moments of freedom remaining. “You’ve heard the story of Jacob and Esau? You know, the selling of the birthright and all?”

His daughters watched him, saying nothing.

“Well, just know your positions in this family are hanging by a thread.” He paced again. “If we send them home, it could be bad publicity for the place.” He mumbled the words to himself. He continued to think it through. The women would have paid for their airfare—he couldn’t exactly make them turn around and go home. He stopped in front of his daughters. “I can’t believe this.” He looked at them incredulously. “I actually have to go through with this.”

Right then the front door creaked open. “Yoo-hoo, anybody home? Hello?” A singsong voice echoed through the entryway. “Anyone here? Yoo-hoo?”

Garrett cringed. His eyes narrowed and he pinned his daughters with a stern glare.

They gulped in unison.

Between clenched teeth he hissed, “If you weren’t so old, I’d put you both up for adoption.” With that he turned and stomped out of the room.

Chapter Two

“Oh, come on, Lauren, you have to go,” Candace and Gwen chimed in over their conference call.

“You need to get away from this place. Get over Jeff, think about where you want to work next and just plain rest,” Candace encouraged.

“But tomorrow? I don’t have anything packed.”

“You always pack light anyway, Lauren,” Candace encouraged.

Lauren Romey released a slight smile in spite of the anxiety welling up inside. Candace Windsor and Gwen Sandler had been two of Lauren’s best friends since college days. If anyone could talk her into anything, they could. Though Candace lived in Nevada, Gwen lived in Arizona and Lauren lived in Indiana, the three managed to meet every year in Candace’s childhood hometown of Bliss Village, California, just a little way from beautiful Lake Tahoe. Lauren had fallen in love with the scenic town the first time she’d gone there, so the idea of going back ahead of their yearly meeting—even for a suspicious surprise getaway like the one her friends were now offering—held a certain amount of charm.

“Now, I can hear your mind clicking from here,” Candace was saying. “Don’t worry about the money. It is our gift to you, and it would be rude of you to refuse us.”

Oh, sure, they always played on her weakness of wanting to please others.

“And since you haven’t found another job yet—”

Lauren winced. “Don’t remind me.”

“You’re free as a bird,” Gwen added. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to make you feel bad, but it’s a perfect time for you to get away, before you’re tied up with new employment.”

Unfortunately, the new employment thing didn’t seem to be a problem. Despite the number of resumés the unemployed corporate attorney had sent out, she didn’t exactly have employers beating down her door to get to her. The fact that she was “let go” from her prior job, she was sure didn’t help matters.

“Besides that, we have a surprise,” Gwen said in her usual perky voice. A voice that sometimes irritated Lauren.

“Gwen, don’t give everything away,” Candace warned.

Uh-oh, these two were up to something. “Do you need to tell me something?”

“Uh, no, you’ll find out soon enough. Let’s just say we’ve taken care of everything and all you have to do is show up.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Lauren pointed out.

“What’s that?” Candace asked.

“The ‘we’ve taken care of everything’ part.”

Gwen laughed. “You worry too much, Lauren. Just go and have fun.” To Gwen, life was just one big party.

Oh, well, there was no use fighting them. Besides, Lauren needed to get out of town. Away from Jeff and Camilla. Away from the memories.

“Now, write this down,” Candace was saying. “Woodwards’ Bed and Breakfast.” She proceeded to give Lauren the address and phone number. “Your flight leaves at seven-ten tomorrow morning. One short layover and transfer.”

Lauren groaned.

“Sorry, that’s the best we could do. Grab a taxi and you’ll be there by early evening.”

“What about Nocchi?” Lauren asked, referring to her shih tzu.

“They said you could bring her.” Gwen laughed. “We checked.”

It seemed they had thought of everything.

Lauren was silent.

“You still there?” Candace wanted to know.

“Yes.”

“Are we all set?”

Lauren hesitated, then offered a resigned “Yes.”

“Whoo-hoo,” Gwen called from the line.

“Great!” Candace chimed in. “I’m going to London with Mom and Dad for a week. Should get back to the States during your second week. I’ll call you then.”

“Okay,” Lauren said, feeling none too sure about this whole thing.

“Bon voyage,” Gwen called with a laugh.

“She’s not going on a cruise,” Candace said dryly.

Showing her good-natured spirit, Gwen simply said, “Oh, yeah. Well, adios.”

Candace groaned. Being the more sensible one of the two, she too sometimes struggled with Gwen’s constant bubbling. “Have a wonderful time, Lauren. Who knows, this trip could possibly change your life.”

I could use a changed life, she wanted to say. “Thanks, Candace. Thanks, Gwen. You two are the best.”

After they all exchanged goodbyes, Lauren put the phone down and stared at it. Candace’s words rang in her ears. This trip could possibly change your life. Lauren wanted to believe that. Her life couldn’t get any worse.

She looked around her bedroom decorated with modern furnishings and deep crimson-colored walls with white trim. How long had she lived in this apartment? Three years now? As a two-bedroom, it wasn’t huge, but it was spacious enough for her. She liked the layout of the place and the fact that it was brand new when she moved in. With it being situated so close to work was a definite plus. She wasn’t sure what had held her back from buying a home, but given the current situation of living off her savings, she was glad she wasn’t tied to a mortgage. Besides, with her best friends living in other states, the bigger home would only increase her feelings of loneliness.

Lauren left her bedroom and headed toward the attic to retrieve her luggage, all the while praying her friend was right.

By Saturday afternoon four of the contestants had arrived. No one was sure if number five would show. Since they had lost her application, Macy and Molly seemed a little relieved.

After dinner, Garrett stepped outside behind their B and B. Twilight had just settled over Bliss Village, and he needed a breath of fresh air. Macy and Molly could take care of entertaining the guests for now.

Once outside, Garrett gazed at the evening sky. Was he crazy for trying to run this place? After all, the B and B had been his wife’s dream, not his. They’d only lived there, what, two years when she died? Hardly seemed possible that he and the girls had lived there five years already.

He walked over to get Bear, his black Lab, from his pen. He had never seen such a diverse group of women. Where in the world had his daughters found them—on weirdbadandugly.com? He sighed. Okay, he wasn’t being fair. They weren’t ugly, after all. But they were, well, a little weird. He kicked a rock out of his path. Maybe they weren’t strange at all. It might just be him—he didn’t know what to look for in a woman anymore.

Bear trotted alongside him as they took a pine-laden path in the woods behind his B and B.

Besides, Garrett had to admit Gracie appealed to him, with her lithe body, long brown hair that looked soft enough to wallow his face in and brown eyes that could match that of any doe in the county. It had been some time since he’d been attracted to a woman.

If only he could duct-tape her mouth.

There was something about her voice, or maybe it was the way she said things, or what she said. He didn’t know. But he had a sneaking suspicion if he was with her for very long, they’d have to put him in a strait-jacket. In fact, he figured the government could use her as an instrument of torture in times of war.

No wonder she lived on a mountain.

Maybe he should reserve judgment. Perhaps she was nervous. He’d give her the benefit of the doubt.

He’d try to give them all the benefit of the doubt.

Garrett came to the wicker bench he had placed on the rough trail and sat down. The air smelled damp and heavy with the scent of pine. This place calmed him like nothing else could. Birdsong whispered through the trees that cooled and protected him when he visited during the heat of the day.

Bear walked around, sniffed here and there, then strutted back. With the stance of a lawn ornament he sat at attention beside Garrett’s feet.

Brown cones and pine needles littered the area. Garrett sighed and ran a hand through his thick dark hair. He couldn’t remember such a stressful day. Oh, he knew his daughters meant well, they constantly nagged him about dating, but he had a feeling the next two weeks would be about as comfortable as wearing a suit and tie on a fishing boat. He leaned over and scratched Bear’s head. The dog leaned in for a good rub.

“What am I going to do, Bear?” Garrett kept scratching. “There’s not a woman there I can relate to. I know the girls have put a lot of work into this, so I have to follow through, but it won’t be easy. I have a feeling we’ll be making lots of trips out here, ol’ boy.” Bear looked up and Garrett was almost certain he saw a smirk on the hound’s face. Sometimes Garrett felt his dog was close to human.

He rubbed his forehead. Why did Susie have to leave him? He wouldn’t be going through this whole mess if she were still here. They had so many dreams for their future. He could still remember how her eyes used to sparkle whenever she talked about the B and B. She had such a passion for people, for…life. He sighed. Those days were over and there was nothing he could do about it now. But, oh, how he missed her.

How long he sat there Garrett wasn’t sure, but darkness had fallen over the trees, with only slivers of moonlight poking through the branches. When he stepped into the clearing, the full moon sailed high in the sky and lit his way back to the house. He hoped to sneak up to his room, since the actual “contest” didn’t start until tomorrow. With any luck, they’d all disappear with the morning fog.

Garrett and Bear trudged the path toward the house. “Good night, ol’ boy,” Garrett said, hooking the hound to a chain and giving him one more scratch behind the ears. Then Garrett straightened. As if on cue, Bear yawned and walked back to his doghouse, completing their nightly ritual.

When Garrett stepped inside the back door and into the kitchen, he was pleasantly surprised by the silence that met him. Seeing a note on the kitchen island, he walked over and picked it up. “Dad, we took the women to the coffee shop. Figured you’d appreciate some time to prepare for tomorrow. Be back in a little while. Love, Molly.”

“Ah, thanks, girls,” he said to the empty house, feeling himself relax. Pulling a cold soft drink from the fridge, he grabbed a hunting magazine and settled into an overstuffed beige chair in the den.

This evening held promise after all.

Recognizing some of the familiar sights in Bliss Village, Lauren knew the taxi had to be getting close to the bed-and-breakfast, though not close enough for her. The stench of stale smoke and cheap cologne filled the car, making her wish she’d not eaten the greasy hamburger at the airport. Even Nocchi whined and pawed at her nose. A country-and-western tune whined through the radio speakers, while the taxi driver concentrated more on scratching the whiskers on his face than driving.

Frustration mounted as Lauren fumbled through her bags in search of—but not finding—the paper with the information on where she would be staying. The bed-and-breakfast was located on Pine Road in Bliss Village and the name had “wood” in it—she remembered that much. If the driver went to Pine Road, they were sure to find it. She finally gave up her search for the paper, shoved everything back inside her bag and zipped it closed.

She glanced out her window. Earlier, they had passed a few quaint, cozy Victorian homes with warm, inviting lampposts and porches. Now they approached a more rustic area lined with cabins and woodsy-type homes. Lauren saw a sign on the lawn of the next property. Woods Inn Bed and Breakfast.

“There it is!” she said, pointing.

The driver hit the brakes and screeched to a sudden halt at the curb, practically giving Lauren a whiplash in the process. She knew some personal-injury attorneys who would love this guy.

Quickly she checked on her dog in the carrier beside her feet on the floor. The driver got out of the car and Lauren followed suit, then reached back inside for the carrier. Once outside, she took in a big breath of fresh air. The driver slid her bag from the trunk as if he hadn’t the strength to lift it, and let it drop on the street with a thunk. Feeling less than charitable, she paid him reluctantly for his services.

The taxi squealed off and she glanced around the property dense with pines and large, leafy green foliage. Gothic arches adorned the thick massive stone structure that loomed before her. Not exactly the cozy Victorian she had expected, but it had a sort of earthy quality about it.

Lauren grabbed her things and looked at the front door. “Well, here goes nothing.” Trudging up the incline toward her home for the next two weeks, she hoped Candace and Gwen were right and that she could get some rest here.

Once she reached the door, she set her luggage down beside her, took a deep breath and knocked.

Upon hearing the doorbell, Garrett leaned his head back against the comfy chair and glanced toward the ceiling. “Great, contestant number five.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a fraction of a second, as if it would all go away like a bad dream. With reluctance he pulled himself from the deep chair, walked down the hall, around to the front door and opened it. The visitor took him by surprise.

“Hi, I’m Lauren Romey. I have a reservation here.”

Now here was a welcome sight. Dressed in stylish jeans and a long white T-shirt adorned with a classy silver belt at her waist, this woman had definite potential. It didn’t hurt that she had hair the color of buttercups and eyes that made him feel he had stepped into the clear, blue-green water of Emerald Bay. His spirits improved considerably.

“Garrett Cantrell, owner of the place.” He shook her hand, then stepped aside to allow her entrance. “So you decided to come after all, huh?”

She raised her eyebrows and looked at him with surprise. “Oh, uh, yeah.”

“Here, let me get that for you.” He reached for her luggage. In her other hand, he noted a dog in a carrier.

“You have a dog, Miss Romey?”

“That’s what they call ’em where I come from.”

“Oh, a guest with a sense of humor,” he said with a smirk.

“Is that a problem?”

“The humor or the dog?”

She laughed with a little hesitation. Seeming to sense they were talking about her, Nocchi whined and pawed at the floor of her carrier. “Shh,” Lauren scolded. She turned back to Garrett. “They told me I could bring her. I assure you, Nocchi is harmless.”

“Nocchi?”

“Yes, spelled N-o-c-c-h-i, but it’s pronounced no-key.”

He thought he’d eaten an Italian dinner once by that name.

“Her name is actually Pinocchio. I call her Nocchi for short.”

Now he’d heard everything. A tiny black dog with a barely visible nose named Pinocchio. Okay, that was weird. Weirdbadandugly.com. Garrett stuck his face closer to the carrier to get a look at the animal. He rubbed his eyes and peered in again. The dog was actually wearing a dress. Not only that, but a denim sailor-type cap festooned with a matching bow sat a little crookedly on her head. Now he’d seen everything. Talk about your froufrou dogs. This was just wrong. No animal should have to suffer that type of humiliation. Garrett leaned in farther and squinted. “Is there something wrong with her, um, eyes?” he asked, pointing.

“Huh? Oh, that.” With a defensive jerk, Lauren pulled the carrier away from him. “She’s—” Lauren lifted her chin “—cross-eyed.”

Certain he had misunderstood, Garrett leaned toward her. “She’s what?”

Her chin rose another notch. “I said Nocchi is cross-eyed.” Her expression dared him to challenge her.

He thought she was about to add, “You got a problem with that?” But she didn’t. He bit the sides of his mouth to keep from laughing.

She turned back to her pooch. “Poor thing. She was dropped as a pup, and they said she’s been that way ever since.” Lauren stuck her fingers through the grated door of the carrier and stroked Nocchi. “I do have to be careful moving the furniture.”

Garrett shuddered.

Lauren missed it; she continued to stroke her dog. “She’s a shih tzu,” Lauren explained. “She never makes any noise—” Nocchi suddenly yipped and jerked back, making Lauren almost drop the carrier.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Nocchi,” Lauren cooed, checking the dog over. She looked back to Garrett. “I think I poked her in the eye.”

Garrett looked at Lauren’s long, manicured nails. He wondered if the dog would ever see again.

Lauren hurried on. “She’s housebroken and won’t be a problem, I promise.” The woman lifted those Emerald Bay eyes to him.

How did women do that? It seemed they had an internal button marked “charm weapon” that they turned on when they needed it. Garrett winced inside, but his lips rose at the corners. There was a strict “no pets” policy—why would Macy and Molly tell her a dog was all right? He sighed. He couldn’t turn her away. She was the one normal applicant in the group. Well, at least she appeared normal. Still, the dog was questionable.

“That’s fine, Miss Romey—”

“Please, call me Lauren.” Her eyes twinkled.

Oh, sure, now that I’ve accepted her dog, it’s Lauren. “Lauren,” he repeated. “If you want to step into the front room, I have your key on a desk there.”

As they walked down the hall, Garrett heard her footsteps behind him and wondered what she would think of the place. A woman like her no doubt stayed in only the nicest inns and hotels. He squared his shoulders. Why should he care what she thought? Woods Inn could rival the best of them.

She gasped as he led her into an enormous room with a massive stone fireplace that stretched to a cathedral ceiling. He glanced back at her and followed her gaze from the brown beams arched above to the dark warm carpet beneath their feet. Though the room was large, the subdued lighting that shone from corner lamps gave it a sort of cozy feel. Well, that was what his girls had told him, anyway.

“This is very nice,” Lauren said as though she meant it.

“Thanks. My girls offer the feminine touch with the plants and fluffy pillows, all that. If I had my way, I’d have bear heads mounted on the wall.”

Lauren grimaced.

Garrett laughed. “Yeah, that’s kind of what my daughters thought.”

“How old are your girls?”

“Macy is nineteen and Molly is sixteen,” he said. “Macy had a childhood illness that caused her to start school late.”

“Won’t be long until you will have an empty nest—well, except for your visitors.”

He thought a moment. “It’s funny. My wife and I were working hard to make the adjustment easier—you know, dating, still making time for each other so that we wouldn’t grow apart and then be strangers once the girls were gone. With my wife’s death, I’m afraid the adjustment won’t be quite as easy.” He didn’t like the vulnerable feeling that swept over him. Walking over to a large wooden desk, he made a couple of notes in the log book and handed Lauren a key. “Would you care for a snack before you settle in? It’s on the house,” he said with a smile.

“No, thank you. I’m pretty tired.”

“Here, let me help you to your room,” he said, grabbing her luggage.

In silence they climbed the small spiral staircase together. Garrett opened the door to her room, allowed her entrance and placed the luggage just inside the door. She turned to him. “I will need to take Nocchi out. Is there a preferred area?”

He thought a moment. “You’d better let me know when you’re ready. I have a black Lab outside.” Alpha dog, he wanted to say. The thought made him feel proud, even a trifle studly. “Bear is chained, but I don’t want him to startle Nocchi.” One look at Bear, and she’d wish she’d left her dog at home.

“Thank you,” she said before closing her door.

He turned to go back down the stairs, feeling a tad ashamed of his thoughts. What had gotten into him anyway? He was grumpy, that’s what. He didn’t appreciate the position in which his girls had placed him. Not one bit. As Garrett walked down the stairs, he wondered how on earth he could endure the next couple of weeks with five strange women and a cross-eyed hairball.

Chapter Three

A sense of restfulness greeted Lauren the moment she stepped into her room. The pleasing scent of cinnamon wafted from a dainty dish of potpourri. Compliments of Garrett’s daughters, no doubt.

She wondered about these girls who had lost their mother. Her heart squeezed with compassion for them. She looked forward to meeting them. They had to be beautiful if they resembled Garrett in any way. Thick dark hair crowned his head with soft curls, stopping short of wide, dark eyes. She would not have been surprised to learn he had Greek ancestry. His manner seemed cautiously friendly, almost business-professional with a smidgen of warmth thrown in for good measure.

She didn’t need to be thinking about the hotelier’s good looks.

She lowered Nocchi’s carrier on the floor and glanced around. Earth tones covered the bed, plump pillows and window tops. Color-coordinated pictures depicting woodsy scenes hung here and there against the pine-paneled walls. A heavy wooden rocker with thick cushions added the perfect touch to this rustic yet inviting bedroom. At one corner a door led to a good-sized bath area, complete with a roomy shower.

Lauren took a deep breath. She was glad she had come—this was exactly what she needed. Picking up her cell phone, she decided she’d call Gwen, since Candace had already left for London.

Punching the numbers, she waited while the phone rang.

“Hello?” Gwen answered with her usual enthusiasm.

“Hi, Gwen. This is Lauren. Just wanted to let you know I made it to the B and B and it is wonderful, just as you and Candace said.”

“Oh, I’m so glad, Lauren!” Gwen said, her chewing gum snapping as she talked. “I think you’re going to have a wonderful time.” She popped a bubble. Lauren couldn’t understand for the life of her why Gwen—a grown woman—still insisted on chewing bubble gum. To her credit, she did try to chew discreetly, but a bubble here and there always managed to pop during a conversation, giving her all the grace of a junior high school student. “I’m praying for you.”

“Thank you.” Despite her gum and party attitude, Gwen had a way of making those with whom she talked feel as though they were the most important people in the world. Lauren’s heart warmed as the two discussed her trip to California and how much fun she was sure to have. “I don’t know what I’d do without you and Candace.”

Gwen’s gum stopped snapping and she seemed to grow pensive, something she didn’t do often. “We have a special friendship. We’re always here for you, just as you’ve been there for us. “Now,” she said, her perky voice back in place, gum popping, “you get some rest while you’re there, okay? No more doom and gloom!”

“Will do. And Gwen?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks again.”

“You’re welcome.”

Lauren put her cell phone on the nightstand and lifted her luggage onto the bed. Nocchi whined, obviously wanting out of her prison.

“Oh, dear, I forgot about you, didn’t I?” Lauren walked over and opened the small door of the carrier. Scooping the eight-pound, black shih tzu into her arms, Lauren cuddled the dog, then scratched the white stripe that went from just under the dog’s chin down to her belly. “I’d better take you outside before you get too comfortable.” Nocchi snuggled her head into Lauren’s neck, a gesture that brought them both sheer pleasure.

“Okay, let’s go.” Lauren adjusted Nocchi’s hat, latched a leash onto her collar, walked her out of the room and down the stairs. She saw the owner bent over paperwork at his desk. Nocchi veered a little too far over and bumped into a stand. Garrett looked up.

“Sorry,” Lauren said to Garrett while tugging at the leash to pull Nocchi to her. She rubbed Nocchi’s noggin. “Is this a good time to take her out?”

“No problem.” He stood and started toward the back door. “Come this way,” he called over his shoulder.

Lauren followed him through the dining room, into the kitchen and out the back door, taking in his long strides, tall, lean frame, sweatshirt and jeans. Something about him made her want to put on a sweat suit, scrunch into a blanket and cuddle with someone under the stars. Jeff Levinger’s face popped into view, causing an ache in her heart. Six months, and she still hurt as if they had broken up only yesterday. People don’t just fall in and out of love—it takes time to get over the pain. She remembered her promise to herself to wait a year before starting another relationship. Not that there was a problem. She didn’t exactly have men waiting in line to take her out.

“Why don’t you hold on to Nocchi, and I’ll keep Bear chained, but we can let them get to know each other a moment. Would that be all right?”

His voice chased away the ache in her heart—for now. “Well…” She bit her lip and thought a moment. “I suppose it would be all right.” She followed him over to the doghouse, where a black Lab ambled out of the opening, his tail wagging. A good sign, she thought.

Nocchi started barking like crazy. Lauren and Garrett worked to calm their dogs.

Once Nocchi quieted, Lauren listened as the man soothed his dog. That spoke well of him. Men who were good to animals were true heroes in her book. This trip might be worthwhile after all.

“I think Bear’s ready,” Garrett said, motioning for Lauren to bring Nocchi over.

Carefully she stepped close to Bear and squatted down so the dogs could sniff one another while Nocchi stayed in her arms. Bear’s tail continued to wag. Nocchi sniffed back, her tail wagging with a trace of caution.

“You want to put her down? I’ll see that Bear behaves.”

“If he doesn’t, I’m afraid I’ll have to hurt you,” she said with only a hint of teasing before gently placing Nocchi inches from her on the ground.

Garrett studied her a moment. Almost as if he considered taking her on.

“I’m kidding.”

“Good thing. I haven’t worked out in a while.”

“Oh, now who’s the comedian?” she kidded before adding, “Like I could hurt you.”

He straightened his back. Had she imagined it, or did she see him flex?

“Well, you could try,” he said, quirking an eyebrow and flashing a biceps.

They both laughed. “Hey, it seems they’re hitting it off,” Lauren said, looking at the dogs. “Guess you’re safe.”

“Well, would you look at that?”

“You’re surprised?”

“You have to admit they’re very different. I’ve never seen Bear take to a little dog before. I knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but I didn’t expect him to actually like her.” The two dogs appeared instant friends.

“Must be the clothes. I mean, an outfit can make all the difference,” Lauren said while examining a slight chip in her red nail polish. “I looked a long time before I found a clothing site for dogs on the Internet that I could be happy with.” She looked up to find Garrett gaping.

Garrett snapped his mouth closed. Men just didn’t appreciate the finer things in life.

“She’s a little self-conscious about the whole cross-eyed thing, so I thought some nice doggie clothes would make her feel better.” Lauren smiled. “Isn’t that right, Nocchi,” she cooed, patting the dogs’ head.

He stared at her a moment then lifted a weak smile.

They engaged in a friendly chat while they watched the dogs interact. Lauren told him she was a corporate attorney from Indiana. An ex-corporate attorney who had lost her job, she should have said, but why throw in the gory details? Besides, she was still a corporate attorney, just an unemployed one.

Garrett told about his wife’s dream of owning a B and B, and he talked about his daughters. By the time they heard the car doors in the parking area, they had gleaned quite a bit of knowledge about each other.

Lauren took Nocchi for a little walk around the grounds, while Garrett went into the house to greet everyone. When Lauren stepped inside, she heard the chatter coming from the house and hoped it wouldn’t be that noisy all the time. She really did need some peace and quiet. They were still standing around talking when she walked into view. The moment everyone saw her, all talk came to a complete stop.

Lauren scooped Nocchi into her arms, more for comfort than propriety, and looked up. “Hello.” The odd mix of women looked none too friendly, from her point of view. Of course, she had to tell herself she was stressed and probably overreacting.

The wide grin on Garrett’s face encouraged her. Everyone looked from him back to her. He walked to her side and gently grabbed her arm, a gesture everyone seemed to notice. “Ladies, I want you to meet Lauren Romey.”

A cold chill seemed to sweep across the room like an arctic blast. No one in the room was smiling but Garrett. She didn’t know what was going on, but there was a definite competitive feel in the air.

“Hello,” she said.

Garrett gently guided Lauren around the room. “Lauren, this is Gracie Skinner.” Lauren felt a trifle intimidated by the tall, thin beauty with perfect hair and teeth. This woman could model for any upscale New York agency. Lauren wondered why Gracie would be at the B and B, and decided she must need a break, too. “Gracie comes from Castle Mountain, Tennessee,” Garrett said.

“My, my, what a funny little dog,” Gracie said, pointing at Nocchi’s hat.

Why couldn’t anyone appreciate Nocchi’s upscale appearance?

Gracie locked eyes with Lauren. “Howdy, Lucy.”

“Um, it’s Lauren,” she corrected.

“Oh,” Gracie said with a fake laugh, “ain’t I bad?” She waved her hand and walked away.

Suddenly the woman didn’t look so beautiful.

Garrett pulled Lauren to the next woman. “This is Ellen Little from Tangly, Ohio.” Though she was a bit skinny, the woman’s red hair had a shine that could rival a washed apple. She put a hand to her meager chest and took a deep breath. Behind her trendy glasses her eyes were an interesting green, almost the color of a budding leaf. After pushing her glasses back up her nose, for a fleeting second she lifted her eyes and upturned mouth. “Hello,” she said in a near whisper, barely extending her hand. Maybe she was intimidated by Miss Model’s presence, too.

Moving on down the line, Garrett said, “This is Billie Gibbons from Goosefield, Montana.”

“Hello,” Lauren said, thinking an attacker would be hard-pressed to take on this one. Still, the way the woman’s brown hair curled around her eyes and face made her appear soft and reachable.

“How ya doing, kid?” Billie asked, pulling Lauren and Nocchi into a bear hug and giving Lauren a stiff pat on the back. She wondered if she ought to cough in response. Nocchi squirmed, no doubt to get some air.

“This is Nikki Spartan from San Francisco.” This one scared Lauren. Her skin was as pale as bleached muslin, yet she seemed to have a thing for black—black spiked hair with blond tips, black lipstick and a black leather jacket and pants. Lauren felt as if she should be searching her pocket for pepper spray while she tried not to stare at the woman’s silver nose ring.

The woman’s lip curled in typical Elvis fashion. “Nice dog,” she said with a grunt.

Okeydokey, Lauren thought, mentally rolling her eyes. She was ready to make a hasty retreat to her room.

“And these are my daughters,” Garrett said with obvious pride, pointing to two strikingly beautiful teenagers. Their friendly faces made her instantly feel better.

“This is Macy, who will be leaving me and going off to college in the fall.”

“Hello,” Macy said.

Lauren beamed at the budding woman standing before her. Black ringlets started at her crown and spiraled down to her shoulders. Her fringed curls stopped short of her eyebrows, emphasizing her dark liquid eyes—eyes that appeared to hold a touch of sadness. “Hello, Macy. So nice to meet you.”

“And this is the squirt—I mean Molly.” He aimed a mischievous wink at Lauren.

“D-a-a-a-d!” his youngest daughter said, shoving him playfully on the arm.

“Nice to meet you, Molly.”

“Hi.” Looking every inch her sister only with straight hair landing midway down her back, Molly lifted a smile. “Glad you could make it.”

Why did everyone think she wouldn’t make it? Had Candace told them she might not come? “Thank you” was all Lauren said. Though each woman looked distinct in appearance, Lauren had to admit each one was attractive in her own way—even Goth Woman. As the women began to chitchat among themselves, Lauren made excuses to Garrett and his daughters and left for her room.

She trudged up the stairs. It seemed odd to her that there were only women guests. She thought that couples normally frequented these kinds of places, especially in a quaint town such as Bliss Village, fairly close to Lake Tahoe. Something told her there was more to this vacation than met the eye. Oh, well, she was there to please her friends and get some much-needed R&R. She would soon go home and search for another job. Another life.

Once inside her room, she removed Nocchi’s hat and dress, then settled her on the floor. Lauren plopped onto the bed, falling back into the plump softness of the pillows, and tucked her hands behind her head. A restful two weeks awaited her. No more thoughts of court hearings, client contacts, billing logs, job hunts, or—most important—Jeff. Rest. Sweet rest.

A time of starting over.

Garrett’s image popped into her mind, though she couldn’t imagine why.

The morning sun blazed through Lauren’s window, waking her. She glanced at the clock and couldn’t believe she had slept until eleven o’clock on a Sunday. Back home she’d have already attended the worship service and be halfway through Sunday school by now.

Normally an early riser by nature, she figured she must have needed the sleep. She snuggled farther into her covers, relishing her moment of laziness. The bed held her like a comforting hug. That’s how she used to feel in Jeff’s arms.

Until he dumped her.

Lauren threw off the covers with a yank. “With my best friend!” She looked at Nocchi. “He broke our engagement to be with Camilla. Supposedly my best friend. Well, she had been my best friend all through school until college. How could he do that to me?” Fresh tears formed, and Lauren shoved them away. At least she had Gwen and Candace. Theirs was a true friendship. “I will not waste my tears on you today, Jeff Levinger.” She stomped across the floor, grabbed her things and headed for the shower.

Jeff, Camilla and Lauren had grown up together. “The Three Musketeers,” they had dubbed themselves in elementary school. As they had entered high school, Jeff’s and Lauren’s feelings had changed toward one another. A budding romance had developed, but still they had included Camilla in many of their outings. She was their friend, after all. No one could separate them. They had made a pact years ago that nothing would ever come between them.

Jeff and Camilla had lied.

As those thoughts filled her mind, Lauren scrubbed herself clean with a vengeance, stepped out of the shower and pulled on a sweat suit.

True, Jeff and Lauren had broken up while in college. She had attended law school in Nevada while Jeff and Camilla had gone to law school in Indiana. The distance had made it impossible for Lauren and Jeff to keep up their relationship. But once she had returned to Indiana after law school, she and Jeff seemed to pick up right where they had left off—or so she had thought.

Please, God, help me to forget him. Help me to forgive them. Even as she prayed those words, she wasn’t sure she was ready to let go of her anger.

Lauren scrunched a little gel in her wet hair and lightly dried it. Afterward, she read her morning devotions and had a time of prayer. Next she placed Nocchi in a red checkered gingham dress with a matching bucket hat. Nocchi seemed to enjoy her wardrobe. She never tried to scoot out of the hat or clothes—a dog after Lauren’s own heart.

Lauren latched the leash to Nocchi’s collar. Deciding she would make a list of what she wanted for her next job, she grabbed her laptop and headed outside to do some work.

Silence met her when she arrived downstairs. How odd. She glanced at her watch. Maybe everyone had gone to church.

She made her way to the kitchen, picked up a muffin and a small bottle of apple juice. A white square piece of paper on the counter caught her attention. “Lauren, after the early church service, we’re coming home to change, and then we’re going a block down the road to play tennis at a small park area. If you’re up to it, come join us. Garrett.”

That charmed her—Garrett took his girls to church. She read the note again. Interesting. Did most bed-and-breakfasts plan events for their guests? She had never stayed in one before, so she had no clue. It certainly seemed to offer more than hotels.

Though she appreciated their invitation, she decided to see if she could find a place to think and work a little while. Shoving through the back door, she and Nocchi followed a trail toward the woods. Maybe they’d find a fallen tree or a stump on which she could sit.

The early-afternoon sun sailed brightly overhead warming her face, while a slight breeze moved a few scraps of clouds across the blue sky. Lauren stepped carefully through the yard, noting the green bushes thick with colorful flowers. Not one to have a green thumb, she had no clue as to the names of the flowers, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying them. Most floral names she couldn’t pronounce anyway. She walked over to a huge pot stuffed with assorted plants of all shapes and varieties. Bending over, she took a deep whiff. “Oh, Nocchi, it’s wonderful here.” The dog lifted her nose in the air as if trying to catch the scent.

Walking farther on the path into the woods, Lauren stopped when she found a bench. “How great is this?”

Nocchi scanned the area for a moment, then finally settled near Lauren’s feet. A lozenge of sunlight draped over the animal’s fur, resembling a bright-yellow ribbon. Lauren basked in the scene for a moment, then turned her attention to the laptop. She pulled it from the case and turned it on. Her wireless card didn’t work out in the woods, but she didn’t need it anyway for what she had to do.

After waiting for everything to boot up, Lauren clicked open a new document in order to make a list of steps to take in her job search once she got home. She stared at the screen, her mind going through the few remaining law firms in town where she hadn’t yet sent a resumé. No doubt she would have little luck if her former boss had anything to say about it. True, she had made some huge blunders her last several cases, and true, her mind had been preoccupied with grief over her split with Jeff, but to fire her? Given her meticulous past work record, it seemed a little drastic. She felt sure the fact that one of the senior partners was Jeff’s dad entered into play.

Oh, well, it should be easier this way. She wouldn’t have to run into Jeff, and when she stopped by, Camilla, in the office anymore.

Maybe she’d do something else. She had enjoyed her prior job; legal work suited her, all right. Still, she couldn’t help wondering if there might be another niche for her somewhere. Her parents had worked as attorneys before their retirement. How would they feel if she tried something else? Lauren sighed. She had always figured she’d practice law, raise a family, have a nice house, picket fence, end of story. Unfortunately, her story didn’t have a happy ending.

Still, at this point changing her career wasn’t really an option. She had bills to pay. After all, it wasn’t as though she had a husband’s income to fall back on. And things on the horizon didn’t appear all that promising—at least as far as a husband was concerned. Who was she kidding? There was nothing on the horizon. Not that she cared. Love was too painful—she’d better leave it alone. Feeling her mood take a nosedive, she decided to quit thinking about that and get to work on her list.

One by one she typed the names of law firms in her hometown and the nearest cities that might be a good fit for her. Just for the fun of it, she decided to dream about other things she might do with her life. She enjoyed working with kids, teenagers. Maybe she’d go back to school and get a degree in counseling. She suspected she might enjoy cooking, though she’d never put that theory into practice. Her work kept her far too busy to spend time in the kitchen. Most days she tore open packaged foods and used the microwave, or she went out to eat.

Soon she had quite a number of possibilities typed on a document. Satisfied, she saved the document into a file named “Employment Possibilities.” She turned off her computer and snapped it closed, causing Nocchi to glance up. When Lauren moved her head, a pain flared in her neck. Wincing, she wondered how long she had been in the woods. Judging by her stiff neck, it had been a while.

“Working when you should be playing can do that to you,” Garrett’s voice called from her left.

She turned to him, barely noticing the leap in her heart. Dressed in a polo shirt, khaki shorts, crew socks and gym shoes, he appeared the athletic type. The sweatband across his forehead and tennis racket in his hand added a professional look. “Hi,” she said, feeling strangely comforted by his presence.

“Hi, yourself. Okay if I sit down?”

She gestured toward the empty spot beside her.

“Why would anyone bring a laptop to such a restful place? Seems to me you’d want to leave your work behind.”

She turned to answer him. His handsome face, mere inches from her, caused her tongue to stick to the roof of her mouth, reminding her of her first day in court. She’d read about those feelings before in books, but she’d never really experienced them. Maybe a few things—fluttering heartbeats, a chill here and there, that kind of thing—with Jeff, but nothing similar to this. Whatever this was.

Turning away, she fixed her gaze on the pines. “I was just making a list.”

“What kind of a list? Like the Santa Claus kind? You know, making a list, checking it twice?”

She dared a glance and he winked. Lifting a quick grin, she turned away again. She could feel him looking at her still. Call it woman’s intuition or the fact that she could almost feel his breath on her cheek—maybe that was wishful thinking on her part—but she felt his gaze on her face.

Which made her remember that she didn’t like her profile. She thought her nose was weird. Still, she was proud of herself for resisting the urge to cover it with her hand.

She suddenly remembered she hadn’t told him about her job situation. Or more appropriately, lack of one.

“Uh-oh, did I overstep my bounds?”

She wavered about whether she should tell him or not. “No, you’re fine,” she finally said. “The truth is I lost my job just before I came here.”

“Oh?” His eyebrows rose slightly.

“I was just making a list of places that might be a good fit for me. I’m not worried. I have enough money to get by until I find something else.”

He nodded but kept silent. They stared into the forest. The wind whispered through the trees. The smell of pine mingled with the musky scent of his cologne and wafted her way. She closed her eyes and breathed in, lingering in the moment.

A comfortable pause stretched between them. “I love this place,” he said, barely above a whisper.

Opening her eyes, she cocked her head slightly and peeked at him. He stared at his hands, which were clasped together in his lap. “That’s why the bench is here. I love to come out here.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She started to grab her things. “I’ve infringed upon your private place.”

He placed his hand on hers, sending a thousand little tingles up her arm. “Please, don’t go.” His words were as warm and inviting as his touch.

“The truth is, the guests are all fine, but you’re easy to talk to. I mean, I’m usually not this comfortable talking with beautiful women.”

Her opinion of him continued to rise.

“I normally keep pretty much to myself, but my daughters seem to enjoy pushing me out of my comfort zone.”

“I have a friend who does that—” She corrected herself. “I mean, I had a friend who did that.”

“You’re not friends anymore?” he asked as if truly interested.

Lauren shook her head. “She betrayed me.” Good grief. What had made her tell him that? Now he’d ask her a bunch of questions, and she didn’t want to talk about it. Besides, it was none of his business.

“Oh, I’m sorry” was all he said. “It’s hard to lose the people we love.” He looked down.

“Your wife?”

He nodded.

“Now I’m sorry.”

He paused a moment. “I guess we have to move past those things, right? That’s what they tell us, anyway.”

“Yeah, I guess they do,” she said, recalling Candace and Gwen’s advice. Lauren decided this man was nice. In fact, he was better than nice. He seemed genuine, kind, a good father. And the fact that he sort of resembled George Clooney didn’t hurt either. She lifted a prayer that God would bless Garrett Cantrell.

“Well, I didn’t mean to intrude on your work time, Lauren. Just happened by and saw you, wanted to say hello.”

This time there was no mistaking how her heart leaped when he said her name. What was up with that? It wasn’t as though she was interested or anything. She was lonely—and, well, she had seen most of George Clooney’s movies. That’s all it was.

“I’m glad you stopped by. I need to head back anyway. Can you recommend a good restaurant for lunch?”

His eyes brightened. “Hey, this isn’t on the schedule, but the girls don’t have me committed until tonight anyway. Want to have lunch with me?”

Lauren hadn’t a clue what he was talking about, but she didn’t want to pry. “Sure, that would be great,” she said, meaning it.

“Good,” he answered. He carried her laptop for her and together they headed back toward the house. “I’m really glad you came, Lauren.”

There was that heart flip again. He’d better quit saying her name or she’d need a pacemaker before the two weeks were over. She shot a glance his way. “Me, too.” Though she hardly knew this man, she felt a strange connection with him. Maybe because they’d both endured heartache. And then there was that whole George Clooney thing. She didn’t know.

But one thing she did know—the idea of spending the next couple of weeks at the Woods Inn Bed and Breakfast sounded pretty good to her right about now.

Chapter Four

When Garrett and Lauren returned from lunch, a van from Channel 4 was situated in the parking lot, and a young reporter was taping an interview with Macy and Molly. Garrett did not have a good feeling about this at all. He groaned.

“You okay?” Lauren asked.

“If I had remained childless I would be okay,” he said, shoving the gearshift into Park. Without another word he turned off the engine and jumped out of the car.

How could the girls get him into such a mess? It was one thing to have the stupid contest, but did the whole town have to know about it? No doubt he would never hear the end of it. He reminded himself to be friendly. This was free advertisement for the B and B. Enjoy the process, right? He swallowed the anger that lodged in his throat.

His girls saw him and waved. The reporter, a young man who appeared all of sixteen, turned to him. “Mr. Cantrell, I presume?”

Garrett gave a short tip of his head.

“My name is Drew Huntington, and I’m from News Channel 4. I’ve been interviewing your daughters about the ‘Win Daddy’s Heart’ contest.”

There was the sound of approaching footsteps, and Garrett turned to see the surprise on Lauren’s face.

“And you must be one of the contestants?” the reporter asked, his face resembling a puppy about to pounce on a rubber ball. By this kid’s eagerness, Garrett figured him to be fresh out of college and new on the job.

“I—” Lauren stopped, her gaze traveling to each one.

Her face turned a shade of white that Garrett had never before seen on a noncelestial being. “Lauren, are you okay?” he asked.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m not feeling so well.” With that, she practically ran across the parking lot toward the house.

Garrett turned back to the reporter. “Stage fright,” he said to ease the tension, though his stomach churned, not buying his own story for a moment.

Everyone laughed. The reporter talked to each of them awhile, getting the information on how Macy and Molly had come up with the idea, the names of the contestants, where they were from and any incidental details they had given the girls.

“So you don’t know much about Lauren, is that right?”

Macy shook her head. “We’ve misplaced her application. We can find out for you, though.”

Drew Huntington perked up. “Great. I can come back.” His eyes locked with Macy’s. She blushed beneath his gaze. Garrett saw the whole thing and didn’t like it one little bit. He cleared his throat.

Drew turned to Garrett. “I think this is fun news, Mr. Cantrell. A human interest story not just for Bliss Village residents. It might even be picked up by the big guys.”

Garrett’s gut twisted. His icy gaze settled upon his daughters. Molly coughed. Macy’s right eye twitched again.

Confusion registered on Drew’s face, and he fingered the collar of his shirt. “Yes, well, I’ll let you folks get back to your contest.” He handed his camera to the other man with him and quickly made arrangements with Macy to drop back in the middle of the week to talk further with the contestants. He said goodbye to Garrett and Molly. He turned to say goodbye to Macy. “Nice to meet you,” he said, extending his hand. With nary a twitch, both eyes sparkled as she looked at him, his hand holding hers a little longer than necessary.

Garrett folded his arms across his chest and frowned. “Girls, we need to think about dinner preparations.” His voice was deeper and stronger than usual. His lips pulled into a thin line and he glared at Macy.

She defiantly stared back. “We just ate lunch.”

“I’m hungry,” he snapped, though that wasn’t exactly accurate. He had eaten a late lunch with Lauren.

The reporter scurried off to his van, took one last glance at Macy and flashed a huge grin before he climbed aboard.

Garrett wanted to string the little twerp up by his toenails.

He and his eldest daughter were having enough problems getting along without throwing a boy into the mix just before she heads off to college. She had her mind on a college degree, and he aimed to see she kept it there.

Macy smiled until the van faded from view. When she turned to Garrett, the corners of her mouth drooped south. “What was that all about?” The hands on her hips told him she was prepared for a fight.

“He was just being nice, Dad,” Molly interjected.

Garrett’s head jerked toward his youngest. “You stay out of this, Molly.”

She promptly closed her mouth and headed for the house.

“Listen, Macy—”

“No, you listen, Dad. I’m not a little girl anymore. I know you’re lonely. I know you miss Mom, but things are what they are. We can’t bring her back. And I can’t stay with you forever. Neither can Molly. We have our own lives to live!” She turned and ran into the house.

Garrett felt as though he’d been punched in the gut. Was that what this contest was about? The girls thought they had to get him someone so they could have their own lives? Did they really think they needed to take care of him?

He walked to his bench in the back woods, speaking quietly to his wife. “I’ve made such a mess of things, Susie. I don’t know how to do this.” His jaw tensed as he waited for the words. “Why did you leave me? I don’t want to do this by myself!” The sharp pain of guilt stabbed him, making him ache all over. “I meant to get that tire fixed! Oh, how I meant to get it fixed.” His mind agonized with the thought of her tire blowing, causing her to lose control of the car and plow into a utility pole. His words twisted in agony, then snuffed to silence as he allowed the familiar thorns of guilt to tear into his conscience and pierce his momentary peace once again. “God, I need Your help.”

Garrett swallowed hard. He hadn’t called upon God since before Susie’s death. Weakness made him do so now. He lifted a determined jaw and pulled in a ragged breath. No. God had turned a deaf ear when Garrett had needed Him most.

Garrett would not turn to Him now. He would take the girls to church for Susie’s sake, but that’s as far as he would go.

Standing, Garrett headed toward the house, all the while ignoring the empty shadow that hovered over his heart.

Lauren closed her door and fell onto the bed. “A contest?” Staring into space, she felt the truth hit her like a bad jury decision. “The surprise!” She smacked her palm against her forehead. “I’m such an idiot! How did I forget the surprise?”

She stood and began to pace. So that’s why everyone had thought she wasn’t coming. She must have been late or something. A contest to win his heart. What had Candace and Gwen been thinking? She felt near hysteria. The last thing she wanted was another romantic involvement. For crying out loud, couldn’t they see how Jeff had hurt her? How could they put her through that again? She continued to pace. She needed a gym, time to think. It always helped her to work out when she was upset. She skidded to a halt and looked at Nocchi. “We’ll go for a brisk walk in the woods—without the laptop. The fresh air will be better than being inside a gym, anyway.”

Adrenaline pushing her forward, Lauren gathered Nocchi and headed for the woods at a record pace. Even though there wasn’t a path, she wandered deep into the dense pines. Jeff had told her she was a workaholic and needed to loosen up, enjoy life a little. Maybe she should prove to him—to everyone—she could enjoy life as well as the next person. Though she wasn’t interested in romantic involvement with anyone at this point, it couldn’t hurt to play along in the game. And she didn’t want to disappoint Gwen and Candace. Or Molly and Macy, for that matter.

As thoughts of the contest bounced around in her mind, she came to a tree that bore the initials GC plus SC with a heart around it. Lauren stopped and traced the markings with her fingers. Garrett and his wife. How he must grieve for her still. Lauren’s heart ached for that kind of love.

Thoughts of her life, her future mingled with her raw emotions. Macy and Molly, and Garrett and a wife Lauren could not visualize. What a precious family they must have been. Lauren wondered if anyone could ever love her that way. She whispered a prayer for the Cantrells and one for herself. How hard it was to trust God with a future she could not see. A future she felt sure held only loneliness.

When she finally pulled free from her thoughts, Lauren scanned the area, feeling she had gone a little farther into the forest than she had planned. With a glimpse upward, Lauren noticed that the tiny opening beyond the treetops revealed dark, low-hanging clouds. “Hmm, it might rain, Nocchi. We’d better get to the house.”

Lifting the dog into her arms, Lauren started back. After walking a while, she came to the same marking on the tree that she had seen earlier. If a sliver of panic had not rushed through her, she might have gotten excited with the realization that Garrett and George Clooney had the same initials. Unfortunately, even that couldn’t lift her spirits now. She was lost.

“Let’s see. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.” Nocchi cocked her head to look at Lauren. “Don’t be impressed. I have absolutely no idea whatsoever what that has to do with me finding our way back to the house.”

She’d be the first to admit her friends were right about her being directionally challenged. She figured some people had brown eyes, some had blue. Some came equipped with an internal compass, some didn’t.

She didn’t.

Lauren stood a moment and tried to get her bearings. The trees started to rustle overhead, a sure sign a storm was brewing.

An urgency pushed her to get back to the house. She began to jog. Her speed picked up with the wind, her steps taking her one direction, then another, then another. Rain began to fall from the sky and pelted her skin. A chill worked its way to her bones. Nocchi shivered in Lauren’s arms. She wanted to cry, but refused to give in to her emotions. Her body grew cold and wet as her tired legs ran hard through the wooded maze. Limbs swayed overhead. She thought she heard a man’s voice call out, but decided it must be the sound of the whipping wind that howled through the trees.

Water dripped from Lauren’s hair onto her face. A shadow moved ahead of her. She wiped her eyes to see if she had imagined it. Another movement. With everything stirring around her, it was hard to tell if it was a tree or something else. It could even be a bear. Faster and faster she ran the other way, her feet sloshing through puddles, her vision blurred. A pain cramped in her side. The cold pierced her lungs. There was that voice again. Was it Garrett’s? As she slowed to catch her breath, a hand clamped upon her arm. “Lauren!”

A gasp caught in her throat. Fear froze her in place. Lauren stood trembling when the owner of the hand stepped around her into view. She peered through wet lashes to see concern etched on Garrett Cantrell’s face. “Are you okay? You were gone so long. I was worried about you. Since I didn’t hear Nocchi in your room when I knocked on your door, I figured you took her into the woods.”

Without hesitation she fell against him, exhausted from running, chilled from the rain. He dropped his umbrella and pulled her so tightly against him, she could feel his heart beating through his light jacket. Her mind muddied like the ground beneath her feet. How long she stood locked in his embrace she didn’t know. She didn’t care. Finally he leaned back so that he could see her, still holding her in his arms. “I’d better get you to the house so you can change into some warm clothes,” he said, but his feet stayed planted, his eyes probing deeply into hers.

Feeling his breath brush lightly against her cheeks made her light-headed. She was afraid to breathe, afraid of breaking the stillness between them. Her legs wobbled. Suddenly Nocchi shivered in Lauren’s arms, bringing Lauren and Garrett both back to their senses.

Dumb dog. Should have left her in the room.

Garrett picked up the umbrella and held it over them while edging Lauren out of the woods. She realized she probably never would have found her way back without him.

Once they were back at the house, she ran upstairs, peeled off her drenched clothes down to the skin and pulled on a sweatshirt and pair of jeans, then dried her hair. She also dried Nocchi, then left her in the bedroom and returned downstairs. But for the soft violin music playing from the stereo, the house was quiet as she slipped into the front room, where a cozy fire played in the hearth. Garrett entered carrying two cups of steaming liquid on a tray.

“I guess Macy and Molly took the ladies sightseeing. They try to give me little breaks here and there. It appears we have the house to ourselves.”

Adrenaline surged through her body.

“Though I seriously doubt they’ll stay gone long in this weather. Not exactly a great day for sightseeing,” he added. “I know you drink coffee, so I made some.” He placed the tray of coffee cups, sugar and cream on the table. He stood and handed her a cup. “Want some sugar or cream?

“Sugar,” she answered, thinking how nice it was to be in this room with Garrett Cantrell. Reminded her of a scene out of a movie.

Garrett gave her some sugar and a spoon, then grabbed his own cup and sat down beside her on the sofa near the fireplace.

“I’m sorry you had to go out,” she said, stirring sugar into her coffee, then taking a sip. “I didn’t realize I could get lost in the woods. I feel so foolish.” Truth was she could get lost a mile from home. She placed her cup on the table.

His expression held apology. “Don’t feel that way. It’s easy to get lost in the woods, especially if you’re not familiar with the area.” He took a drink of coffee. “I thought you seemed upset with that news reporter. In fact, you almost appeared surprised, as if you didn’t know about the contest.”

She took a deep breath. “Well, as a matter of fact, Garrett, I didn’t know about the contest.”

Confusion flickered in his eyes. “How is that possible? Aren’t you the fifth contestant?”

Lauren laughed. “Well, I guess I am, but you see, my friends set this up for me.” She explained how Gwen and Candace had encouraged her to come to the bed-and-breakfast, take a break, and that they had said a surprise awaited her there.

Garrett chuckled. He settled back against the cushions and stretched his arm across the top of the sofa, his fingers hovering a mere half inch from her shoulder. “I guess we both got surprised.” He explained how the girls had set up the contest, and he’d known nothing about it until it was too late to stop it.

“I hope you don’t mind being here now.” His eyes searched hers.

Big brown, soft, compelling eyes—eyes that made her heart turn liquid. “No, it’s been, um, kind of fun up to now.”

At this Garrett laughed out loud. “Kind of fun? Well, I guess that’s one way to view it,” he said.

“No, I didn’t mean that I wasn’t enjoying—”

He scooted in a bit and placed his hand on her shoulder, giving her a light squeeze. “I know you didn’t. It’s okay. I’m just glad you came,” he said, his eyes locking with hers. Her shoulder warmed to his touch. The soft music floating overhead, the tenderness of his hand resting on her shoulder made her want to close her eyes and imagine him lifting his fingers to her hair—

Suddenly Garrett pulled his hand away as if he had been burned. The sleepy haze that had settled over her disappeared like a mirage in the desert.

“Everyone should be back soon.” He got up and walked toward the window. Pulling back the curtain, he peeked out, then dropped the cloth back into place and turned toward her.

Lauren lifted her cup to her lips. Anything to cover the awkward moment between them. She didn’t want to analyze what had just happened. The image of the carved initials on the tree came to mind, reaffirming her conclusion that he was still grieving for his wife.

Lauren curled her feet beneath her on the sofa. “So tell me about your girls. How do they feel about living in a bed-and-breakfast?”

He looked relieved that Lauren had changed the subject. He returned to his place beside her, but she didn’t miss the fact that he sat farther away this time. “I think they’re okay with it. Sometimes I think it infringes on their privacy, but they’ve adjusted pretty well.”

“And how are they since they’ve lost their mother?” Lauren asked in almost a whisper. Not that it was any of her business, but she had noticed a little friction between Macy and her dad.

A shadow touched his face. “As well as can be expected, I guess.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Macy’s the hard one. I think she blames me.”

Lauren’s heart squeezed. “Oh, I’m sure that’s not true.”

He blew out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know. When Susie died, Macy changed.”

“It would be hard on a girl to lose her mother.”

“That’s true enough. But Molly’s adjusted. She has her moments, but she doesn’t pick at me all the time.”

“I know plenty of girls who pick at their parents. It’s an age thing, I think. I’m sure I did.” She laughed.

Garrett lifted a hopeful expression to Lauren. “Maybe you’re right. I just know the sooner we get past it, the better.” They heard a car door close. “That must be them.”

Before they could get up, Macy and the others swished through the front door and stepped into the front room.

Garrett rose from the couch and turned to greet them.

Gracie locked eyes with Lauren. “Well, looky here. Ain’t this just so cozy?” She walked across the room and looked from Lauren to Garrett, her words dripping with insincerity. She glanced down at the coffee tray and turned to the other contestants. “I guess while we’ve been sightseeing, Lucy here has been having a good time of her own.”

Shock kept Lauren silent.

“I don’t know what you mean by that, Gracie, but I invited Lauren to sit down with me for coffee. Is there a problem with that?” Garrett’s eyes pinned her.

She lifted her face with a look of total innocence. “Why, no, Garrett, not at all. Anything you want, you get.” She flashed her pearly-white teeth.

“Hey, would you ladies want some hot chocolate?” Molly offered, clearly trying to defuse the situation.

“Great idea. I’ll go put my things upstairs and be back,” Billie Gibbons said, making her way up the stairs.

“Yeah, me, too.” Nikki Spartan tossed them her Elvis smile. Lauren could almost hear strains of “You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog.”

Ellen Little followed along behind them, hands clenched together, mouth tightly sealed. She looked so fragile Lauren feared that if someone blew on her, she would break into a thousand pieces.

Garrett went to help Molly and Macy get hot chocolate for the guests, leaving Lauren and Gracie alone in the room.

Gracie lifted an arched brow and glared at Lauren. “Don’t think I’m not onto you, honey. You might as well know right here and now, I am winning this contest.” With that, she turned and walked from the room, allowing her chin to lead the way.

Little did Gracie know that if Lauren had had any doubts about being a contestant before, she didn’t now. She knew a challenge when she heard one.

Suddenly the idea of being a contestant in this game suited her just fine.

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