For Jessie's Sake. Kate Welsh

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СКАЧАТЬ with her other guests. The conclusion he’d reached was that though he didn’t want to be, he was still as attracted to Abby Hopewell as he’d been years ago. And that made him feel unsettled, uncomfortable and just plain stupid.

      He gave up on breakfast and hustled Jessie out to the pickup. Once he had them both belted in, he pulled the bottle of antacids out of the glove box and ate a handful, damning Abby for causing the familiar pain in his belly to blossom once again.

      Then he looked back up at the Victorian he hadn’t yet seen in the light of day. It was perfect.

      Every period detail was right on the money. Even the porch furniture was a trip back in time.

      All of which meant Abby was probably the only woman he’d ever met who would understand his love for restoration and his obsession with historical accuracy.

      At that moment Jessie squealed and bounced up and down in her seat. “Look at all the plants, Daddy. And what’s those bunch of houses over there?”

      “I noticed them last night, but I don’t think they’re houses. One of the people at breakfast said something about visiting the Hopewell’s winery. And those plants are grape vines.”

      “There sure are lots of them and that wine-ry is real pretty. Not as special as Abby’s Castle but it’s pretty.”

      “It’s call Cliff Walk, kitten, not Abby’s Castle,” Colin told his starry-eyed daughter.

      “I still think it’s her castle. She even lives in the tower just like Rapunzel. Maybe that’s her town over there, Daddy,” Jessie speculated, her mind hopping subjects again.

      Colin looked back at the B and B and noticed Abby staring out a window at them—her expression frozen in sadness. “I want to find out what it’s all about,” he said, his mind occupied with questions other than Jessie’s.

      “They look a little like our old house but different, too,” Jessie went on, sounding as confused as he felt.

      He mentally shook himself. Their home had had Spanish influences, like so many others in Southern California. This was subtly different. In the light of day he saw it was definitely Tuscan.

      “Actually I think this is Italian. It looks like a village I visited in Italy when I was in the army. That’s where Mrs. Hopewell is from.”

      Jessie’s smooth brow puckered with deep thought. “There’s so many new peoples here. Who Mrs. Hopewell is, Daddy?”

      Colin smiled. “That would be Abby’s mom. Let’s go exploring before we head over to the house.” Maybe he’d get some questions answered from the queen mother.

      “Am I still gonna have to stay in the living room and on the porch when we get to Torthúil?”

      “It’s no different than usual when I start on a house. Till I get the place inspected, and find out for sure where you’re safe, you stay put in the rooms I’ve checked out.”

      “But we don’t have the trailer no more. You said this time—”

      “I was wrong, partner. Daddies can make mistakes.” And wasn’t that an understatement, considering who owned the house where they were staying and the mess the one he owned was in. “It’s been years since I was here,” he continued as they drew closer to the little Hopewell village that made him feel as if they’d stepped right into the pages of a tour book on Tuscany. “I guess I remembered Torthúil the way it was when I left.”

      She gave him a long-suffering sigh. “Then let’s go ’sploring. It’s better than not doin’ nothin’ at Torthúil. Why Gram didn’t fix the roof when it got old?”

      “No one’s lived in it for years. A small farm like Gram’s in Florida doesn’t make enough money to survive down there and fix up a house she doesn’t live in up here. Nobody who saw the house told me we needed a new roof or I’d have gotten it fixed. I wish they had but—”

      “Look at that big doggie!” Jessie shrieked in his ear. “Isn’t he won’erful?”

      Big? He was massive. The Hopewells had a dog? A big dog? Things certainly had changed. “You sure it’s a dog, kitten? Looks more like a horse to me.”

      Jessie giggled, strained to sit taller the closer he drove so she could still see the leaping canine monster. Colin parked in the crushed-granite parking lot labeled Visitor Parking, then unbuckled Jessie from her booster seat behind him. He swung her in front of him where she usually took the opportunity to grab the wheel to pretend driving. Today the dog took all her attention, leaping around like a goat as he chased a ball thrown by a tall blond boy who looked about nine or ten.

      Colin decided that no matter how affectionate the dog seemed, he wasn’t putting Jessie down to get trampled. But he needn’t have worried about the animal jumping on her or knocking her down. Instead he galloped over and all but fell at Colin’s feet, presenting his belly for scratching. The boy followed and obliged his pet.

      “Can I pet him?” Jessie gazed at Colin with pleading eyes. At that moment he silently promised to get her the puppy she’d been asking for since she turned three.

      “Sure you can pet him,” the blond boy said. “You could probably use him for a pillow. I do all the time.”

      Carefully and slowly, Colin eased Jessie to the ground. All the big dog did was let his tongue loll out of his mouth and pant harder as Jessie none too gently moved her hand over his belly. Then he put his head back and moaned in ecstacy.

      Jessie giggled. “He’s funny.”

      “My dad calls him a character,” the boy said. “My uncle Nic bought him for me the day they brought my new baby cousin home to Hopewell Manor from the hospital.”

      “Actually, if you remember, Uncle Nic bought him for your cousin,” a woman said from behind them. “Lucky for you Thunder’s a little too big for a premature newborn.”

      “I never thought I’d see the day dogs were allowed at Hopewell Manor,” Colin remarked absently, waiting for Juliana Hopewell to recognize him.

      She walked out the door of the nearby building and cocked her head, her eyes narrowed as if in thought. He was ready for another hard-as-emerald stare when she realized who he was, but instead her green eyes lit with delight. “Colin McCarthy? My Lord, but you remind me of Tracy. And actually Thunder only visits the manor. This is Jamie. He’s Caroline’s son. They live in a house they built toward the back of the winery property.

      “The baby Thunder was originally bought for is Sammie’s. Nikki was just barely five pounds the day she came home. Her father was rushing his fences a bit and overjoyed at finally getting her home.” She chuckled. “So, besides having a lovely little girl of your own, how are you, Colin? And what are you doing back here after so many years?”

      Apparently James Hopewell hadn’t shared with his wife what had happened between Colin and Abby. Well, he wouldn’t be rude to Juliana when she obviously hadn’t had anything to do with what her husband had done. Besides, from what he’d heard, she’d been on the receiving end of Hopewell’s cruelty herself.

      “I came back to live at Torthúil, but the house is in much worse shape than I’d thought it would be. Jessie and I are staying at Cliff Walk СКАЧАТЬ