I’ll get back to the library and check email again,she told herself.Maybe tomorrow. And in the meantime, I’ll make myself indispensable here so that I can be sure to do what I promised my brother, and stay away.
Half an hour later,Grayson knocked on her door again, this time with a very plucky post-nap Leo, and they all piled in the SUV and followed the winding road through the darkened trees.
This time Grayson put on the radio himself, and Evangeline was relieved not to have to make conversation when so many conflicting feelings were still swirling around in her chest.
By the time she had sung her heart out on a song or two while Leo chuckled at her in the mirror, she was feeling much better.
They rounded a bend and suddenly the lake came into view in front of them, shimmering in the moonlight, and she drew in a quick breath.
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Grayson asked softly.
“Beautiful,” she agreed.
“The inn has the best views,” Grayson said. “Trudy inherited the place. It’s been in her family since it was built.”
“I can see why no one wanted to move,” Evangeline said, her eyes on the lake as the SUV carried them around it, with a series of old-fashioned lampposts lighting the way.
After a moment, a beautiful, old inn came into view. Twinkling white Christmas lights hung from everywindow and the trees on either side were lit as well. The whole shimmering vista reflected back in the lake making it look even bigger and brighter than it was.
“Leo, you’re going to love the lights,” Evangeline said softly.
Leo was gazing out the window, but at an angle that would have shown him the starry sky, not the lake or the house.
He was such a thoughtful baby. She felt like she could see his mind working, trying to figure out what was shining in the sky.
“Here we are,” Grayson said, pulling the car into the small lot.
She waited for him to get her door and when he offered her his hand again, she took it, trying not to let herself get lost in the sensation that swept through her every time the warmth of his big hand enveloped hers.
“There they are,” a man’s voice called out in a friendly way from the front porch.
“Hi, Mr. Sullivan,” Grayson called back to him as Evangeline opened the back door to scoop Leo out of his seat.
He kicked his little legs out when he caught sight of her and made impatient noises while she unlatched him from the seat. As soon as she had him in her arms, he got a satisfied look on his sweet little face.
“Ahhhh,” he said, grabbing a hank of her hair and giving it a nice tug.
“I’m excited too,” she told him as they approached his daddy. “Do you want to see all those lights?”
Coming out on the other side of the SUV the house came into view, shimmering like it was on fire.
Leo stilled in her arms and then started kicking his legs and reaching for it with his cute little hands.
“It’s really cool, isn’t it?” she said to him.
He was wiggling like he thought he could fly to the house. When Grayson caught sight of them he headed over.
“Let me take him,” he said gently. “You’re going a little bit bananas, aren’t you, buddy? That’s making it too hard for Evangeline to hold you.”
She relinquished the boy, though she’d been having no trouble at all. Grayson looked more at peace the instant he had his son in his arms, which was probably the real reason for the handoff, so she figured she shouldn’t feel like she was shirking her duty.
“Ward Sullivan,” the older man on the porch said. “Trudy’s husband.”
Mr. Sullivan was wearing a weathered cowboy hat and a friendly smile. He was tall and handsome with twinkly blue eyes.
“Evangeline Dunn,” she said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Come on in,” Mr. Sullivan told them. “Trudy has quite a meal going and we have some interesting guests here right now.”
