Single Dad's Holiday Wedding. Patricia Thayer

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      “This house still amazes me,” he said.

      “Thanks,” Tim acknowledged. “It’s been a lot of work over the years, but so worth it. The bed-and-breakfast has allowed me to spend more time with Claire and my girls.”

      Jace shook his head. “I can’t imagine having three daughters.”

      Keenan’s smile brightened. “You have one who gives you joy. I’m a lucky man, I tripled that joy.” Tim sobered. “Too bad Lyle didn’t feel the same about his child. Maybe we wouldn’t be having this conversation tonight.”

      The sound of laughter drifted in from the back of the house. “That sounds encouraging,” Tim said. “Come on, son. Let’s go enjoy the evening.”

      They walked through a large dining room with several small tables covered in white tablecloths for the inn’s guests. They continued through a pantry and into a huge kitchen.

      Okay, Jace was impressed. There was a large working area with an eight-burner cooktop and industrial-sized oven and refrigerator, and all stainless steel counters, including the prep station. On one side a bank of windows showed the vast lawn and wooded area out back and, of course, a view of the San Juan Mountains. A group of women were gathered at the large round table. He recognized all of them. Morgan because she was married to his good friend Justin Hilliard, another business owner in town. Paige he’d met briefly before today. The petite blonde was Leah Keenan Rawlins. She lived outside of town with her rancher husband, Holt.

      And Lorelei.

      Tonight, she seemed different, more approachable. She was dressed in nice-fitting jeans, a light blue sweater and a pair of sneakers on her feet. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and it brushed her shoulders when she turned her head. She looked about eighteen, which meant whatever he was feeling about her was totally inappropriate.

      Those rich, chocolate-brown eyes turned toward him and her smile faded. “Mr. Yeager?”

      He went to the group. “It’s Jace.”

      “And I go by Lori,” she told him.

      He didn’t want to like her. He couldn’t afford to, not with his future in the balance. “Okay.”

      “Oh, Jace.” Claire Keenan came up to them. “Good, you’re able to stay for dinner. We don’t get to see enough of you.” She smiled. “I get to see your daughter when I volunteer at school.”

      He nodded. “And I’m happy Ellie and Cassie are friends. Thank you for including her in the kids’ sleepovers.” He glanced out the window to see his daughter running around with the other children. Happy. “Your granddaughter Ellie helped Cassie adjust to the move here.”

      Claire’s smile was warm. “We all want to make sure you both got settled in and are happy.”

      That all depended on so many things, he thought. “You’ve certainly done that.”

      The older woman turned to Lori. “I wish I could talk you into staying longer. One day isn’t much time.” Claire looked back at Jace. “Lori is a second grade teacher in Colorado Springs.”

      Lori didn’t want to correct Claire Keenan. She had been a second grade teacher before she’d been laid off last month. So she didn’t mind that her dear father had decided to leave her a little something. It would be greatly appreciated.

      But, no, she couldn’t stay. Only long enough to finish up Lyle’s unfinished business. She hoped that would be concluded by tomorrow.

      Claire excused herself. Tim arrived, handed them both glasses of wine and wandered off, too, leaving them alone.

      Lori took a sip of wine, trying not to be too obvious as she glanced at the large-built man with the broad shoulders and narrow waist. No flab there. He definitely did physical work for a living.

      “How long have you lived in Destiny, Mr.… Jace?”

      “About six months, and I’m hoping to make it permanent.”

      She didn’t look away. “I’m sure things will be straightened out tomorrow.”

      “I’m glad someone is optimistic.”

      She sighed. “Look, can’t we put this away for the evening? I’ve had a long day.”

      He studied her with those deep blue eyes. “If you’d rather I leave, I will. I was only planning to drop my daughter off.”

      In the past few hours Lori had learned more about Jace Yeager. She knew that Lyle probably had the upper hand with the partnership. “As long as you don’t try to pin me down on something I know nothing about. It isn’t going to get us anywhere except frustrated.”

      He raised his glass in salute. “And I’m way beyond that.”

      CHAPTER TWO

      TWO hours later, after a delicious pot roast dinner, Lori stood on the back deck at the Keenan Inn. She’d said her goodbyes to everyone at the front door, but wasn’t ready to go upstairs to bed yet.

      She looked up at the full moon over the mountain peak and wondered what she was doing here. Couldn’t she have had a lawyer back in Colorado Springs handle this? First of all, she didn’t have the extra money to spend on an attorney when she didn’t have a job and very little savings. She needed every penny.

      So this was the last place she needed to be, especially with someone like Jace Yeager. She didn’t want to deal with him. She only planned to come here, sign any papers to her father’s estate and leave.

      Now there was another complication, the Mountain Heritage complex. She had to make sure the project moved forward before she left town. She didn’t need to be told again that the project would mean employment for several dozen people in Destiny.

      “Why, Dad? Why are you doing this?” He hadn’t wanted her all those years, now suddenly his daughter needed to return to his town. How many years had she ached for him to come and visit her, or to send for her. Even a phone call would have been nice. The scars he’d caused made it hard for his daughter to trust. Anyone.

      She felt a warm tear on her cold cheek and brushed it away. No. She refused to cry over a man who couldn’t give her his time.

      “Are you sad?”

      Hearing the child’s voice, Lori turned around to find Jace Yeager’s daughter, Cassie.

      Lori put on a smile. “A little. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. A lot of memories.”

      The young girl stood under the porch light. “I cried, too, when my daddy made me come here.”

      “It’s hard to move to a new place.”

      “At first I didn’t like it ‘cause our house was ugly. When it rained, the ceiling had holes in it.” She giggled. “Daddy had to put pans out to catch all the water. My bedroom needed the walls fixed, too. So I had to sleep downstairs by the fireplace while some men put on a new roof.”

      “So СКАЧАТЬ