Page 12 of A Family Affair: The Cabin
Those hazel eyes widened. “A man?”
“Yup.” He opened a few cupboards, located two bowls, and set them on the counter. “I’m hungry. How about you?”
* * *
His name was Pete, no last name given. Elissa thought of making up a name for herself, but decided on the truth. Well, the truth with her name. The other stories she told him were contrived and the look he gave her throughout most of their meal said he knew it. She told him she’d known one of the owners, which was true, and had always wanted to visit, but life had gotten in the way. Again, sort of true. When Mrs. Blacksworth talked about the cabin, Elissa had grown very curious, though not curious enough to ask to visit. But cheating fiancés had a way of driving a person out of town, making her seek safe haven, and a place to think. The cabin in the Catskills was the perfect spot and since she had a key and as far as she’d known, the place was empty, she’d figured why not? What could a few weeks in the woods do but help her gain perspective? She’d been here three days and was just getting comfortable with the night sounds and the creaking floorboards when Pete with no last name showed up.
Did he know Christine and Nate Desantro? Oh, she hoped not. They would not be happy to hear Elissa had invaded their cabin, especially if they found out she’d been the one delivering the letters as per Mrs. Blacksworth’s last wishes. And she had another one to deliver, this one headed to Nate Desantro, and it had to do with his long-time employee, Jack Finnegan. She wished she hadn’t agreed to deliver the letters, but she’d promised and she couldn’t go back on her word to a friend, especially when that friend was dead.
“So, you’re not afraid to stay out here all alone?” His gaze narrowed on her. “I took you for a city girl, but…am I wrong?”
What could it hurt to dole out this bit of truth? She nodded, tried not to notice the man’s strong jaw, the cleft in his chin, or the blueness of his eyes. Way too handsome. Elissa shifted in her chair. “Chicago born and bred.”
“Ah, Chicago. A city girl, for sure.”
She shrugged. “I might be a city girl but my parents took us camping every year. Mountains. Fresh water. Hiking trails. Lots of animals…” The memories crept over her, made her smile. “Those were good times.”
“Sounds like it.” His voice softened for just an instant. “Nothing gives you perspective faster than fresh air and walking trails. It’s a one-way trip to peace.”
There was a sadness in his voice, filled with what might be regret. She knew the sound of regret, had heard it enough times in her own voice. What was this man’s story? He had one, no doubt about it, and she guessed it centered on a wrong choice. A woman? Of course, there would be a woman. Nobody looked like this man and didn’t have a woman, or women. Elissa tried not to notice the long, leanness of his body, the muscles, the jeans that hugged his thighs. And that mouth: full lips, perfect for smiling and…kissing. But when he turned his attention on her, those blue eyes zeroing in, his body leaning toward her as though she were the only woman in his world, well, she could see where there could be trouble or fireworks…probably both.
“So.” Pete cleared his throat, toyed with his knife. “We’ve shared a meal and small talk. Guess it’s time to own up to what you’re doing here because we both know this isn’t your place.” He waited for her to attempt an objection and when she didn’t, he continued, “I know that because the real owners hired me to fix up the place.” More throat clearing. “To sell.”
Elissa darted a glance at him, wished she hadn’t. Those eyes were homing in on her in a hunt for answers. Dang it all, she’d never been good at lies or pretending. When people told her something, she believed them. Why wouldn’t she? And if someone asked a question, she answered with honesty. Again, why wouldn’t she? It was how she’d been raised, how she wanted to live her life.
And that’s why it had been so easy for her ex-fiancé to create a separate life. All he had to do was conjure up a few tales and she’d believed him—even if his answers didn’t quite add up. She’d never investigated or questioned because that would have meant doubting the man and doubting their commitment to one another. Once a person did that, there was no going back to a point where you didn’t doubt, where you believed with your whole heart.
“Elissa?”
She let out a sigh, planted her hands on the table, and forced herself to look at him. What was the point of faking it? There was no way to erase the past or wish her ex-fiancé had made a different choice. What was done was indeed done. “I came to get away and sort things out.” He lifted a brow, waited for her to say more. “I found out my ex-fiancé had another girlfriend, another fiancée, actually…and a baby. Of course, I didn’t know about either until I surprised him at his place. I’d always wondered why he didn’t want me going there without his okay. No drop-ins or surprises.” Her voice dipped. “He said it had to do with needing quiet time to think and create for the tech company he owned, but that was all a lie.”
The man across the table rubbed his jaw. “Yeah, I call bullshit on that one. You never suspected he had a woman on the side? Or a baby?”
“No.” Why was he looking at her like that? “What? How should I have known?”
“You were planning to marry the guy. How could younotknow?”
“People lie and some lie very well.” She didn’t like the look he’d given her, as though it were a deficiency to trust someone. “Do you think you’d be able to tell when a woman’s lying, especially one you trust?”
“I’d know.”
“Humph. Lucky you. I must be the only fool in the world because I had no idea. If I hadn’t decided to go against his wishes and surprise him a week before our engagement party, we’d be working on the wedding invitation list and picking out china patterns.”
Pete shook his head. “The guy was a jerk. Did you at least keep the ring?”
“Of course not. I didn’t want any reminders of my horrible error in judgment.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You trusted the guy; nobody can fault you for that.”
“Live and learn, right?”
His lips curved into an almost smile. “And don’t be so trusting next time.”
“Exactly.” Elissa raised her wine glass, saluted the air. “Ex-act-ly.” She finished her wine, set the glass on the table with a dull thud. “But now here I am, almost thirty years old, with a detailed list that includes a husband, two children, and a dog by thirty-four, and I’m back to square one.”
“Ah…” He nodded his dark head, the almost smile slipping to a real one. “You’re one of those list people: make a plan, follow the plan, and don’t deviate, not even for a jerk-cheating fiancé.”
She frowned, rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know how I missed the signs.” A sigh, followed by a bigger sigh. “I learned a lot. Never again.”
