Page 9 of The Cold Ride

“Yeah. I mean, they’re your friends, right? And if they need somewhere to stay tonight, we should make dinner for them too. It’s the right thing to do.”

I was making lasagna. There was always plenty. So it wasn’t like I needed to change what I planned to make for dinner. Pride filled me at her selflessness and desire to help others. It never failed to amaze me that she was mine, that she had come from me—and James.

Swallowing my misgivings, even though I knew it would be asking for trouble, I nodded in agreement with a smile I didn’t feel. “All right, baby, I’ll invite them to dinner.”

“Good.”

“Make sure you put your bowl in the sink when you’re done. I’ll be back in a jiff.”

She rolled her eyes. This child was on the cusp of being a pre-teen, and the sass was strong with this one. My dear god in heaven, she would give me gray hair by the time we finished her teen years. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

But I couldn’t put off the confrontation any longer. Girding my loins, I left the sanctity of our home and headed back down the hall into the inn proper. Even under construction, the hallway and inn beyond held a charm that most places built today would never achieve.

When I entered the lobby, James glowered. He wore a thunderous expression laced with hatred. Under the circumstances, I didn’t blame him. If it were me, I’d be pissed too. He had every right to his anger. But so help me if he turned that anger toward our daughter.

Swallowing past the lump of fear, I pasted a smile I didn’t feel. All four guys turned my way with expectant expressions. But there was anger I spied in their eyes too, and not just from James. Because they all now knew I cheated on Evan at the end of our marriage.

“Why don’t I show you where you’ll be staying. We’re not presently open for guests, so you’ll have the run of the place. Just be careful down here in the construction area.” I withdrew the keys from my pocket. We were real old-fashioned here. Although, I was considering making an upgrade to those fancy keycards. I’d already priced them out, but wanted to wait until the bulk of the rehab was completed before I went to the expense.

“If you’ll follow me.” I headed for the grand staircase. It was one of those sweeping wooden numbers that went straight up. On the second floor, there were thirteen rooms. And there were ten rooms on the third floor with two suites on the top floor. It was a small inn. But I loved being able to deliver a personal touch and truly get to know guests. We had couples that returned every summer for their anniversaries and such to the point I received Christmas cards every year from them.

It was a part of having this inn I would miss terribly if I was forced to sell it.

“Who’s doing the repairs for you? Because it looks like the contractor is taking forever.” Aiden stated as we reached the first of the rooms on the second floor they would occupy.

“You’re looking at the contractor. And well, I’m raising a daughter and trying to run a business at the same time. It means I’m working whenever she’s in school or asleep. I save the time between school and bedtime for the two of us.” If I could manage it. Most days were a hodgepodge of business and family life in a great big jumbled mix that left me exhausted by the day’s end.

“Just so you are aware, the exterior doors are all locked at eight, in case you go out. You’ll have to use the phone on the front porch to ring me. Then they’re unlocked at six every morning.” I gave them the spiel I gave all guests.

“That’s good to know. We hope we’re not imposing.” Wyatt smiled with a touch of sympathy in his amber eyes.

They were, but I wouldn’t admit it. This meeting between James and Amelia was a long time coming. And fate had intervened by sending them my way with something from Evan.

Even with my inner turmoil, I’d be damned if I was going to let it show. Instead, I played the part of gracious hostess. “Not at all. In fact, I wanted to invite you guys to eat dinner with my daughter and me. It should be ready by six. We’ll be eating in the dining room in our quarters. Just take the long hall downstairs and knock on the door.”

“Dinner sounds great,” Lucas said with a big, cheesy grin.

Wyatt nodded with a small smile. “We appreciate the hospitality, Rory. But after dinner, we need to discuss why Evan sent us.”

Evan. My heart painfully squeezed at the mention of my ex-husband. We’d been young and stupid when we got married. I’d barely been legal, and he’d been home on leave. I’d been on spring break when we met and wound up spending the week together. We called it love, but it had been hormones and alcohol. We had no business marrying each other. He rescued me from a dire situation, and we loved each other, but we weren’t good for each other. We fought constantly. And when he was deployed, it was easier to love him because I didn’t have to witness his infidelity up close and personal.

But Evan had sent his friends my way for a reason. And I owed him for the part I played in our marriage’s demise. “It’ll need to wait until Amelia is in bed. After eight-ish, we can meet down in the lobby so we don’t disturb her while she’s sleeping.”

“We can do that.” Wyatt agreed as I opened the first room and handed him the keys.

“Your rooms are side by side down the hall. Let me know if there’s anything else you need. I’ve got to get dinner started. So I’ll let you guys get settled.” Then I turned and ran.

Okay, I didn’t run because I wanted to act cool as a cucumber. But I sure as hell power walked back down the stairs to the lobby. Because I wasn’t ready for what came next. I needed time to get myself centered for that next step.

A hand around my bicep stopped me in the lobby before I could make good my escape. I knew who it was without looking. The memory of his hands on me had never left. I would know his touch anywhere. But I’d forgotten how potent his touch could be as every nerve ending in my body sizzled to life. Inhaling a deep breath, I put on my happiest face and shifted in his direction. “What can I do for you, James?”

“Well, for starters, you could start by explaining why you never told me I have a daughter.”

* * *

Frowning at the woman I once loved with every fiber of my being, I tried wrapping my head around why she’d kept something this important from me. I realized I’d been an ass when she came to see me that day with tears in her eyes. I’d shut her out of my life. But that didn’t excuse her actions and failure to tell me about something this important.

She was the mother of my child and my deepest regret. Almost a decade had passed since that sweltering Memorial Day weekend party, but standing with her in arm’s reach, it felt like no time had passed. The years melted away.

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