Page 16 of Clear Blue Sky

“You can’t make this shit up.” Reese pinched the bridge of his nose.

“He had lunch at my restaurant yesterday. He acted as if we needed to put the past behind us,” Nelson said. “However, I don’t trust Marcus. He vowed revenge. So did his sister.”

“If they wanted to bring you down, why didn’t they expose your affair? That could have gotten you a less-than-honorable discharge.”

“Because it would have tainted Seth’s record and it would have hurt Roxy’s reputation. She comes from old money and appearances mean everything.” Nelson closed his eyes and inhaled sharply. “It’s always possible that I wasn’t the father, but I’m pretty sure I was.”

“Why use you? Considering your history, that’s cruel to make you the father.”

Nelson blinked. He should have known what Roxy had been up to. Three times that night he’d turned her down. He told her that it wasn’t a good idea. She kept telling him they never got to have their goodbye and that she and Seth were done.

It had all been a lie.

“I have no idea what she told Seth, or if he even knew she was pregnant. A long time ago, I cared deeply for her and she for me. But Marcus always got in the way. His jealousy of the way my career turned out tainted mine and Roxy’s relationship to the point he poisoned her against me. I don’t know what game she was playing. I honestly don’t want to know.” Nelson sighed. He couldn’t believe he was having to deal with this again. When he packed up his life and moved to Lake George, he honestly believed that part of his life was over. “But there is no way in fucking hell Marcus randomly picked the Village of Lake George, and your hotel and resort, which is a stone’s throw away from my business, by chance.”

“I’ll keep my eyes and ears open, but can I make a suggestion?”

“Of course.”

“Have you met Katie Donovan and Jackson Armstrong?”

“The private investigators? Yeah. They’ve both come in with their respective families. Why?” Nelson narrowed his stare.

“Patty and I can only do so much spying. We’ve got three kids and other guests to deal with. I’m happy to report everything that I see and hear, but Marcus and his buddies don’t know anyone here and Katie and Jackson’s network is vast. They could plant someone here, using the cabin I keep for troopers or family, giving you more access to what Marcus might be up to.”

“I like that idea.”

“I’ll hook you up with their private numbers. I’m sure they can make something happen today.”

“Thanks, man.” Nelson stretched out his arm. “I owe you one.”

“Anytime.” Reese turned on his heel and headed toward the main house.

Nelson climbed behind the steering wheel and quickly shot a text to his brothers that they had a set of eyes at the hotel and might have two. He hit the start button and turned his vehicle around. As he pulled out onto the main road, some of his problems melted away knowing he was headed back to his home and a beautiful, sweet woman waited for him in his bed.

It was an unexpected emotion. Caring for Brandi this deeply had come out of left field. Enjoying it had shocked his system.

He’d decided to roll with it because this was his new beginning. The clear blue sky that Lake George offered helped open his soul to heal.

All he had to do was get through the next eight days.

* * *

Brandi lifted her legs and dropped her feet on the ottoman. Raising the coffee mug to her lips, she took a long slow sip of the bitter brew as she watched the sun lift over the mountains. The sky turned a fiery orange-red. She never saw a sunrise like this in Manhattan. Not unless she was on the ferry, and even then, it was ruined by the tall buildings and lack of lush greenery.

Sucking in a deep breath, she took a moment to enjoy the peacefulness of it all. The hum of a few engines cruising across the lake to find the perfect fishing spot tickled her ears. The birds chirping in the background were the perfect morning music to get her blood pumping.

And all the glorious scents of the crisp lake floating across the air, blooming flowers, and the dew made her never want to leave.

When her eyes blinked open, she’d been surprised to be alone in Nelson’s bed. She found a note stating he had an errand to run. That was over an hour ago.

What the hell did he have to do at the crack of dawn? Perhaps he had a meeting with one of his brothers or something. Or a delivery at the restaurant. She had no idea, and she wasn’t going to start this relationship off with doubt. Or badgering about where he went off to. She had no reason to be insecure.

Nelson had never been anything but kind and honest. To question him now would be the kiss of death.

She set her mug on the end table and opened her laptop. Even though it was the weekend, she still had to work. In the past, she never cared. She’d spent the last five years or so trying to prove to her father she had what it took to run the business just as well as Lake. That meant long hours and she’d sacrificed any resemblance of a real love life.

It was time for that to change.

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