Lauren Blackwood stared at the man who lay sprawled on the evergreen shrubs lining the front of the porch. The lean male form had dislodged many of the lights strung along the snow-topped greenery. She had the sick feeling this was Mister Joshua S. Chasez — the only new patron due in that afternoon. He wasn’t bound to be too pleased with Barney’s enthusiastic greeting. As she recalled he was looking for a peaceful retreat from his life in big city. He was probably now convinced three children and two dogs was not the ‘peace’ he had been seeking.
Moving down the steps, she clambered over the bushes until she reached the hapless man. Seeing his shoulders shaking, she became alarmed. “Mister Chasez, let me help you. I’ll call a doctor immediately.”
Gingerly JC lifted his body from the prickly shrub and gained his feet. Luckily his long leather jacket had protected him from serious damage. It had been a decidedly ungraceful tumble, but he saw the humor in it.
He was... giggling? Lauren was shocked. The man wasn’t angry? He wasn’t ready to rip her apart? And it wasn’t a little chuckle or a bark of laughter. It was a delightful boyish giggle! “I’m so sorry, sir—” she began.
“Hey, no big deal. Accidents happen.” JC brushed the snow from his pants as he looked to the trio of children peering at him over the porch railing with fearful eyes. The old Golden had been joined by another canine, though despite his size appeared to be much younger. “It’s cool, kids. I won’t tell your mom.”
“That is our mom,” the older boy pointed to the woman.
For the first time JC really looked at her. Damn! They didn’t make moms the way they used to! he thought. She appeared young, lovely and filled out her well worn jeans in way any man could appreciate. Healthy, generous curves, no flat stick was she. Then he made the mistake of looking into her dark eyes. For a moment he sank into their warm, bottomless depths and didn’t want to be rescued from drowning.
Lauren had never known such an intense, immediate attraction to any man. Suddenly she was crushingly aware she hadn’t known a man’s touch in more than four years — since Christopher had left for his last tour of duty and been killed...
“Uh... Mom?” the little girl called, breaking the invisible thread of attraction.
Shaking her head to clear the forbidden erotic image from her brain, Lauren removed herself to the sidewalk, indicating he should follow. “I am Lauren Blackwood. I run the inn.”
JC followed her to the porch where three children and two dogs waited. “Joshua Chasez. I’ve met Sam, Olivia and Jasper.”
The oldest boy had the massive Saint Bernard puppy by the collar, attempting to restrain the eager canine. “I’m CJ, Christopher James Blackwood, Junior,” he stated with pride. “And this clumsy doofus is Barney.”
“He is not a doofus!” Sam protested. “He’s just got puppy dums like Mom says.”
CJ rolled his eyes. “More like terminal puppy stupids. He knocked one of the guests into the bushes.”
JC stooped down to scruff Barney and the big fur ball wriggled free of CJ and plied his ham-steak huge tongue to the man’s face, making him laugh. “He certainly is friendly and enthusiastic.”
Relieved the man didn’t appear to hold a grudge, a grateful Lauren murmured, “Look up enthusiastic in the dictionary and you’ll see Barney.”
With a final pat to the pup’s massive head, JC straightened. “I see my stay will be... interesting.”
CJ grabbed the new arrival’s duffle bag and waved his siblings to the door. “It isn’t always like this, sir. I promise.”
“Like I said, it’s cool.”
The small troupe of people and dogs entered the large lodge great room that served as lobby, front desk and guest lounge. A large fire place decked out for the holidays dominated one wall. It was flanked by large, comfortable-looking leather sofas. The place didn’t look like a hotel – albeit a very informal hotel; it resembled a home.
“I hope you enjoy your stay in spite of the less than stellar beginning,” Lauren told JC as she approached the desk. “We serve breakfast between seven and nine. Home-style unless you come later, then we have a buffet. We don’t generally serve lunch, but if you’re around I can generally scare something up. Dinner is served between six and seven-thirty. For both meals you are given a selection. We like to know in advance so I know how much to prepare.” Stepping behind a rustic desk, she tapped on a laptop keyboard. “We don’t have room service per se but we like to be accommodating as we can. People come here for the quiet, the view and home cooked meals—”
“Lauren, do you rattle on like this for everyone or is it just me?” JC asked quietly.
Feeling her face go hot, Lauren resisted the urge to put her hands on her flaming cheeks. She had been babbling like a nervous school girl... “I’m sorry, Mister Chasez.”
“Joshua or Josh.”
“Joshua. I suppose I am trying to make up for the beginning—”
“It’s over. We can start from here.”
“That is very gracious of you.” She handed him a key. “B2.” She pointed to a short corridor behind the desk area. “The stairs are there or there is an elevator to the second floor.”
JC shook his head with a smile. “I think I can make it up the stairs.”
“I’ll show you the way,” CJ offered, still in possession of the man’s bag.
JC reached for his duffle. “I can get that, dude.”
The boy shook his head resolutely. “I can help... Please,” he added in a whisper.
Deciding not to argue, JC followed the child.
Lauren wished she hadn’t looked back to check on their progress. Maybe then she wouldn’t have noticed the man’s surprisingly broad shoulders for one so lean and slender. She’d already gotten a good look at his tight little tush while he was sprawled across the bushes. Whoa, mama! she scolded herself. One: he was a guest. Two: she was the mother of three, which generally turned men off. Three: who was to say he was single... She had to get a grip. Hormones – all just raging hormones. Mister Joshua S. Chasez wasn’t even her type.
Looking over at the twins, she smiled. Their father, whom they favored, now he had been her type. Tall, blonde, blue-eyed, solidly built. Christopher had been the love of her life from the first time she’d laid eyes on him. He’d come home dressed in his uniform, looking dashing and mature. When their parents had wed, the sixteen year old Lauren had met her older, marine step-brother. It had been frustrating with Christopher being so noble and stoic, determined to let her be a teenager instead of taking what she had so willingly wanted to give. He had waited until her eighteenth birthday before beginning their brief courtship. CJ had been the result.
Lauren sighed angrily. Damn terrorists. They had stolen her husband, her children’s father and their future all in the name of their benevolent god.
“Here you are, Mister Chasez.” CJ stopped in front of a wooden door with brass lettering B2.
“Thanks, but I’m pretty sure I could have managed.”
“Blackwood doesn’t have bellboys or anything...”
JC took out his wallet and gave the boy a twenty dollar bill.
The boy shook his head. “That’s too much.”
“I assume there is a reason you’re playing bellboy.”
CJ gazed longing at the money, torn between greed and his upbringing. “I’m saving for a present for Mom.”
Tucking the bill into the pocket of the boy’s flannel shirt, JC smiled. “Then you need this. I’m used to pay a lot more for a lot less.”
“But—”
“I insist.” With a stern look, the man said, “I bet you aren’t supposed to argue with the guests, are you?”
“Well... no...”
“I insist. So you have to accept the tip.”
A smile lit CJ face. “Thanks, Mister Chasez.”
JC had stretched out on the large, rustic bed to relax before investigating his surroundings more thoroughly. Just beginning to doze, he was disturbed by a light knock on his door.
“Mister Chasez, I’ll just leave selections for tonight’s and tomorrow’s meals under the door—” Lauren Blackwood’s voice came from the hallway.
Immediately he was on his feet, pulling the door open.
Startled, she murmured “Oh! I didn’t mean—”
“It’s cool, Lauren.” He took the paper, perusing the lists. Pot roast or baked chicken for dinner. Chicken would be a better choice... Ah, hell, he was on vacation. “Pot roast tonight,” he told her. Ginger bread pancakes or chocolate waffles for breakfast. “Gingerbread pancakes, tomorrow morning.”
Lauren nodded. Darn, he looked so delicious all rumpled and half asleep. Once again forbidden naughty thoughts assailed her. Okay, so he wasn’t the brawny soldier type, but he was making her female awareness do the tango. She tried to avoid staring at him. She had not been so aware of a man since Christopher, certainly never a guest. Guests were temporary. Lauren didn’t do temporary... Well, just maybe... Oh, hell no! She took herself firmly in hand. Widowed mothers of three young children who were pushing towards thirty did not do temporary.
“Uh, Lauren, was there something else?” JC broke into her silence. He’d noticed the pulse point at her throat fluttered like a trapped humming bird. Was she feeling the instantaneous attraction, too?
Standing there she looked incredibly young and... Luminous. Yeah, that was the word for Lauren — the perfect description. She was physically pretty enough, but she had that inner glow that made her beautiful. Serene, caring, sweet — like an angel or maybe an earth mother. He was a sucker for kids, dogs, hearth and home-types even though he’d studiously avoided them. His life wasn’t conducive to ‘hearth and home.’
“I—uh—you’re currently the only guest for a couple of days. I feed my family at six in the evening if you care to join us. If not I’ll be glad to serve you in the dining room at the time of your choosing.”
“Six is fine. Sounds like fun.”
“It’s more like a circus,” she stated with a half-smile. Sparing him one last helpless glance, she said, “See you at six, dress is casual, very causal.” Then she walked away.