Page 3 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
Chapter Two
Fee couldn’t believe she’d been stupid enough to make a joke about Tom’s legs. It gave completely the wrong impression – one of friendliness and maybe more. Her sole purpose in coming here was to begin the long, slow path back to a level of balance in her life. But something about the genuine warmth in Tom Chambers’ deep brown eyes and his frank, open smile hadthrown her off kilter.
She picked up her two small bags and headed down the narrow hall to the bedroom. Fee stood in the doorway and admired the polished wood floor, unadorned windows and stone-clad fireplace. Neat, clean and practical, it fitted her sensibilities down to the ground. The simple wood-framed double bed wasn’t piled with unnecessary pillows and the green and white cross-stitchquilt screamed warmth and comfort. Maybe giving up her sleeping pills would be possible here.
Five minutes later she’d hung her few clothes in the small wardrobe and stowed her underwear and odds and ends away in the solid oak chest of drawers. Years of nomadic living meant she travelled light, moving in and out of her latest abode in far less time than most women took to apply their make-upin the morning.
Fee wandered into the bathroom next door and happily checked out the perfect combination of a modern shower and antique bathtub. She’d gone without proper facilities for weeks on end but it’d only given her a deep appreciation for good plumbing when it was on offer. As she spread her paltry array of toiletries out on the narrow glass shelf a piercing memory slammed backand Fee gasped for breath.
On the last morning with Pierre she’d teased him about being the only man to wear designer cologne in a war zone. He’d laughed and blown her a kiss as he stepped out of the front door of the press hotel in Kabul. Fee lifted her camera to capture the moment but seconds later he stepped on one of the notorious IEDs and blew up in front of her eyes. She’d carriedon taking photos through the tears streaming down her face and when she discovered his betrayal later it’d only made his death more painful.
Sinking to her knees on the cold tiled floor she let the tears flow.
‘Hey, honey, are you okay?’
Strong arms lifted her up to her feet and a masculine scent of plain soap and heat sneaked into her awareness. Fee’s eyes flew open andshe registered the fact she was plastered against Tom Chambers’ broad chest. He stubbornly held onto her as she tried to jerk away.
‘I’ll let go when I’m sure you’re not going to fall down again.’ His deep, soft drawl eased her fear. ‘I’m not going to hurt you. There you go.’ Tom assured her as he dropped his hands away.
‘What areyoudoing here?’
‘I came with your towels.When I set up this morning they were still in the dryer. I knocked but you didn’t reply and I heard you crying through the open window. I couldn’t ignore it.’
‘I wish you had.’
‘Yeah, I bet you do.’
‘Uh, the towels?’
‘I dropped them in the other room when I came looking for you. I’ll go and fetch them.’ Tom hurried away and she rested her hands against the edgeof the washbasin.
Fee refused to look at her reflection, knowing it’d be the pale, tight, strained visage that had become her new normal. She ran the cold tap and scooped up the freezing water to splash over her face and neck.
‘There you go.’
She snatched the soft white towel he thrust into her hand and rubbed at her skin until it burned.
‘Better?’
She managedto nod and turned back to face him. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome. I’ll leave you alone, unless…’ Tom shook his head. ‘Forget it.’
‘What? It isn’t easy to forget something you didn’t hear in the first place.’
‘Forgot my golden rule.’ He shrugged. ‘Leave the guests alone.’
Fee couldn’t resist a tiny smile. ‘What were you going to suggest?’
‘Only coffee,’he protested. For some reason she found his obvious embarrassment endearing. ‘You looked so damn miserable,’ Tom mumbled and stared at the floor, toeing the edge of the small patchwork rug with his worn boots.
‘I was,’ she murmured. ‘What do you Americans say about waiting for the rain another day?’
Tom frowned before a shy smile crept across his face intensifying the attractivecreases fanning out around his eyes. ‘You mean you want to take a rain check?’
‘Yes, please. Now’s not a good time.’
‘Sure.’ Tom crammed his hat back on and walked away.
