Love at Christmas Inn Collection 1 Read online

"Do you know when the next one might be?"

  He shook his head. "I don't know for certain, ma’am, but I don't think one's scheduled. We haven't had a wedding here in a long time…maybe a year."

  "A year?" Ari's gaze shot upwards to the board dangling from the bell tower. "Has it been that long since the bells rang?"

  The man shrugged. "Longer. I've been here almost two years and I've never heard them."

  Ari stared at the man as he hefted the wheelbarrow and pushed it down the walk.

  Her family's legacy was love. The bells represented that love, whether it came in the form of a renewed Christmas spirit, a wedding, or a family vacation that lived in memory for years. Christmas Inn represented Christ's peace and joy. Her family had been given the responsibility of maintaining that legacy and they…Ari included…had failed.

  The modern frontier might consist of disillusionment, divorce, discouragement and materialism, but those things were just as dangerous as the wild animals and starvation the early settlers faced. Angus had it right. Christmas Inn and its little chapel needed to be a safe haven, a beacon of Christ's love and peace in the frontier…past and present.

  Ariana stared at the bell tower and vowed to see her ancestral home restored to its rightful place. And maybe she'd find her own in the process.

  4

  The unmistakable rumble of a Harley Davidson motorcycle roared from the parking lot below. Taylor had just finished resolving plumbing problems in rooms seven and eight. They were the last to be finished before tackling the dining area. Then he’d move on to the family home next door. Everything was on schedule and for that, Taylor gave a big sigh of relief.

  Come January first, he had big plans involving a motorcycle…like the one he'd heard moments ago. He just needed to finish this job and get through Christmas.

  Hurrying to the window, he spotted the bike’s driver removing a helmet next to the exact make and model Taylor had his eye on. Dark blue gas tank. Leather seats. All chrome and polish. The bike looked brand new.

  Taylor had put his dream of a motorcycle tour of the U.S. on hold almost ten years ago. Now he had enough savings to buy his favorite model of motorcycle. With his younger brother Bobby licensed and poised to take over the family business, Taylor was ready. It was his turn. This time, he wouldn’t let anything stop him.

  "Better not let Mom catch you eyeing a beauty like that." Bobby walked up behind him.

  "She'd like that big bike a lot better than the rocket you zip around on." Taylor moved away from the window, wiping blue plumbing glue off his hands.

  "Hey, what can I say? Speed is my thing."

  "Yeah, and you have the tickets to prove it."

  Bobby chuckled. "Still, don't let Mom catch you mooning over a Harley. You might shatter her illusions. She refuses to believe you're going to ride off into the sunset and abandon the family."

  "Abandon?" Taylor winced. "Dad's cancer is in remission. He's well enough to help out occasionally and you know the business. I'm not—"

  Bobby punched his arm lightly. "Relax. I’m just razzing you. We'll be fine. Mom doesn't like it when any of her chicks fly the coop. Remember last year when Missy got married?"

  Taylor remembered the wedding well. He'd footed the bill and postponed his trip yet another year to see his sister properly wed to her best friend.

  That wasn't going to happen this year. Taylor would be on that bike the day after New Year's. He wasn't even sure where he was going. He just knew he would be on his way.

  "Speaking of beauties."

  Taylor looked up at his brother’s muttered words. Ariana Christmas stood in the doorway, her gaze searching the room. She looked gorgeous in a long, deep purple tunic that did something wonderful to her brown eyes. They seemed prettier, warmer…if that was even possible.

  As soon as she saw the two of them, she flashed the dazzling white smile that made Taylor's stomach feel like he'd been punched.

  "I’d love to put her on the back of my back of my bike and zip around town." Bobby's low comment squelched the effects of Ariana's smile.

  "Back off. She's a client." Taylor regretted his words almost before they were out of his mouth. His tone held too much bite.

  Bobby glanced his way. "So? Since when are clients off limits? I don't see you turning away Ms. Kovacs’s attention."

  Taylor shook his head. "That's different." He nudged his chin toward Ms. Christmas who was walking their way. "She's different."

  He didn't have time, with the spoiled beauty drawing ever closer, to explain to his brother that Ariana came from money, was too entitled and too used to getting her way. She probably ate kids like Bobby for breakfast.

  "Good morning, Mr. Knox." She held out her hand and Taylor gripped the soft, white, perfectly shaped fingers and palm. He couldn’t help but notice that her diamond rings were missing. Telltale white circles around her fingers marked where they had been.

  "Taylor, please."

  "All right, but only if you call me Ari."

  He nodded. Maybe he should have stuck with Mr. Knox. Ari sounded too familiar, too intimate.

  "Hi, I'm Robert Knox. But you can call me Bobby." His brother extended a hand, and Taylor bit back a groan. He shouldn’t have told Bobby to stay away from Ari. His brother would follow his usual pattern and go out of his way to ignore Taylor's advice.

  "I think I've seen you riding the 750. It’s bright yellow, right?"

  Bobby smiled and Taylor recognized the self-confident "I've-got-this-one" look he wore around conquered females.

  "That's right. Glad you know your way around motorcycles."

  Ari shook her head. "I used to. My brother was into dirt bikes when we were younger. But it's been a long time." Her voice trailed off and her face lost some of its glow. Taylor sensed a story behind her somber expression.

  "Well, if you ever want to get back into the swing of things, give me a call." Bobby didn’t seem to notice the change in attitude.

  "Thanks, it might be fun."

  That's enough of that. Taylor said the first thing that came to his mind. "I hear your aunt is doing well since her procedure."

  "Yes.” Her face took on that soft glow again. “They placed a microchip in her shoulder that monitors her fluid retention. The chip helps them modulate her medicine. It's worked great. I can't believe how much she's improved in the last month."

  "Maybe having you for company has helped."

  "I hope so. I only know I'm glad to see her doing so well. She's certainly better…kind of like this place. You're doing a wonderful job with the inn. I love the colors and the refurbishing of the furniture. The four-poster bed in room three looks brand new. It's perfect."

  "Thanks. Our sister is in charge of decor, though. She's good at her job."

  "And Taylor does the hands-on stuff. He's a magician with wood."

  Taylor shifted his shoulders. For some reason, Bobby's compliment made him uncomfortable. He didn't like the expression of appreciation it brought to Ari's face. Her eyes shone and that caused a now-familiar blow to his stomach.

  "There is something I'd like to discuss with you, Taylor, if you have a moment."

  "Sure, let’s head over to suite six. I need to drop off these tools. I've taken up temporary residence there. It’s my office for now."

  He gestured toward the door and she moved in that direction. As he followed, Bobby gave him a knowing wink and lowered his voice. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

  Taylor gave him a wry look. "I'll probably do less."

  Ari waited for him on the landing overlooking the conversation area below. She looked on as some of his crew installed durable, wood-style flooring for that old-fashioned look so important to the inn. He gestured to the entry.

  "The new stuff should hold up incredibly well, even with all of the inn's foot traffic. I think you'll be pleased with it."

  She gave a slight smile. "Everything you've chosen is perfect. You and your people are true craftsmen. Paulina made a great decision
going with your company."

  They slowed their steps as Taylor opened the door to his suite and dropped his tools on a table. He gestured back out the door towards the elevators. "Have you told her that?"

  Taylor caught the elevator just as it was about to close and held the sliding portal open for Ari. Her compliment about Paulina surprised him. The manager’s attitude toward the owner's daughter had not improved in the weeks since Ari's arrival. Perhaps the resentment was all on Paulina’s side and he’d just exposed it. He felt the need to cover his possible social gaffe.

  "Paulina is very efficient and concerned with her work. She—"

  "Resents me." Ari flashed him a rueful smile. "I don't blame her. I'd have felt the same if my father had sent someone like me into the midst of this controlled chaos. That's why I've tried to stay out of her way…until now."

  They'd reached the bottom floor and she started down the hall toward the back of the inn. Taylor followed but trepidation crept up his spine. The last thing he needed was to be in the middle of a power struggle between the two ladies and he had the sinking feeling that's where this conversation was headed.

  He halted. "Look…"

  "Relax, Taylor. I've already discussed this with Paulina and my father. He gave me the go-ahead, but made it clear I'm not allowed to use any of the inn's funds or interfere with management—Paulina’s—decisions. I have to do this on my own. I just need you to tell me how much so I can come up with the money."

  Taylor stretched his neck and lifted his shoulders, easing away the tension. Easy. Whatever she wanted, he would price out of her range. He had a deadline to meet. With Christmas just six weeks away and Thanksgiving holiday coming soon, his crew had no time to spare. This job must be completed on time so he could be on his way in January. No way was he saddling Bobby with any leftover duties to manage after the holidays.

  "All right. Let's get to it."

  She smiled and that sucker punch hit him one more time. Maybe he'd made a mistake avoiding the lovely young heiress. What he should have done was spend as much time with her as possible so her self-centered ways would destroy the impact of her near-perfect looks. And they were near perfect. Her dark hair cascaded in long layers down her back. It looked so soft and silky, he had to resist the urge to reach out and stroke it.

  She opened the back door leading to the patio area and they were met with a cool breeze. Her scent swept over him, something musky and sweet at the same time. Light. Not heavy or overly strong. Just…wonderful.

  She pushed hard on the door to open it further and he had to rush forward to help her. She even made him forget his good manners.

  Get it together, Taylor. You're not some green kid like Bobby. You know better than to let a pretty face turn your head.

  But turn it she did and not just because of those picture-perfect looks. He was beginning to suspect Ariana Christmas wasn't the diva he'd first thought her to be. Her genuine regret for her treatment of her aunt was his first clue. His second was her self-assessment about Paulina. Ari seemed perfectly aware of her awkward position at the inn and admitted it was well deserved.

  He couldn't help but admire her humble attitude…and a few other things. He looked away from the gentle sway of her hips as she moved across the wooden deck to the grounds.

  Eyes on the prize, Knox. You have a plan. Stick to it.

  "What do you need from me?" He sounded abrupt, ruder than he needed to be.

  "Well, I know the Christmas decorations had to be removed from the upgrades because of expenses." She turned quickly to place her hand on his forearm and he again noted the whiter skin where her diamond rings had once set. "Now that I've seen the quality of workmanship you've done on the repairs, I completely understand. But frankly, Christmas Inn just isn't the same without decorations."

  He had to agree with her there. The whole focus of the renovations—and the inn itself—was to create the feeling of an old-fashioned Christmas. It seemed rather pointless without decorations.

  "The Hope Creek Senior Crafters have agreed to make a new set of decorations for me and I have most of those costs covered."

  Covered? Wait. Taylor halted as they crossed the walkway leading to the expanse of the grounds. Dan had told him she didn't have enough money to cover her car repairs. She'd traded the beat-up vehicle for towing expenses. Where did she get the money for handcrafted decorations? His gaze shot to her fingers. Had she sold her rings to cover the cost?

  The pesky wind picked up again, blowing her hair across her face. Reaching up, she pulled the long strands loose and tucked them behind her ear. Now that he thought about it, unless his memory was off—and where she was concerned it wasn’t likely—she’d sported some pretty hefty diamonds on those ear lobes. But now they were gone too.

  As they stood, wind whipping the edges of her hair, she looked at him expectantly. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing. How far are we going? It's getting a bit breezy."

  "Come on. What I want to show you is just ahead."

  Taylor suspected they were headed to the small chapel at the back of the grounds. He had the sinking feeling that's what she wanted him to see. Now he knew for sure he’d have to overprice the job. He'd examined the building before and knew it needed new paint inside and out. New carpeting. Many of the pews would require refinishing or replacement. Any other time, he’d renovate that chapel as a labor of love. But he was determined to hit the road come January.

  "So if you have the decorations taken care of, what do you need from my crew?"

  "We need them installed, permanently. They can't just be put in the rooms. Not everyone is honest and we’re liable to lose them if they’re not secured. For instance, there's a lovely garland for the four-poster bed but I wouldn't dream of having anyone attach it to the wood, after you've so lovingly restored it. The wreaths need to be wired and bolted to the walls and the Christmas tree room…well the Christmas tree needs to be attached to the floor. I don't think it will be much but I need an estimate."

  They came to the old white chapel and Ari bent to unlock the chain around the door. The wind kept whipping her hair in her face. She couldn't wrangle her hair and the chain so he took the key from her hands. "Let me."

  The chains slid away and the door squealed as he pushed it open. Once inside, he couldn't get it to shut properly until he put his shoulder to it and jammed. The musty scent of dust assaulted him and he brushed his hands against his jeans. Ari walked down the center aisle, her fingers trailing over the points of the oak pews before she turned to face him.

  Sunshine fell through the long window, bathing her in a golden glow. Her hair shone like molten silk. His heart stopped as he took in the warmth in her dark eyes and the earnest openness on her face.

  Did she know how beautiful she was? Was she standing in the sunlight on purpose just to play his senses?

  Gathering his defenses, he folded his arms over his chest. "Putting up the decorations won't take more than a few minutes each. We can probably take care of those in between jobs while we're waiting for paint to dry. I think you know that. So if you've brought me out here to ask for an estimate on repairs for this building, you're out of luck. We won't be able to add chapel repairs to our contract and still finish by Christmas—and we will finish by Christmas."

  "Oh no, I don't want you to fix the building. I think some spit and elbow grease will have to do for now. I can clean the carpets, shine the pews and paint the walls myself."

  "You'll paint the walls?"

  "What? You don't think I can?"

  "I'd be surprised if you've ever held a paint brush in your hands."

  "I'll have you know my aunt gave me painting lessons and assured me that my skills are top notch."

  Her comment and teasing smile tickled him in ways he didn't expect. A chuckle slipped out. "I think that's a different kind of painting altogether and anyway, your aunt is biased."

  There it was again. That brilliant hundred-watt smile. "She is, isn't she? But honestly,
I think I can wield a paintbrush well enough for a temporary fix. I want to have Christmas Eve service in here. I’m going to contact someone to deliver a Christmas sermon." She faced the altar for a long moment and a slight frown creased her brow. "I don't know if he can make it yet, but I will ask."

  She took a deep breath. "No, I want you to look at the bells. They tell me they're not working and the bells…they're my family's legacy. They make Christmas Inn special. They have to work. They just have to!”

  5

  One very masculine, well-formed eyebrow rose in a quirk. "Your legacy? The bells might get repaired but that doesn't mean they're going to ring. That takes a special couple."

  His skeptical tone didn't hide the soothing notes of his voice. It reminded her of brandy—rich, warm and potent.

  "You know about the legend?"

  "I grew up in Hope Creek. Everyone here knows about the bells."

  "But you don't believe." It wasn't a question. She could tell by his tone he didn't.

  "Let’s just say I haven't witnessed them for myself."

  "I haven't either, but my aunt swears the legend is true. She's a bit of a romantic so I might not buy into her version, but Bertie believes too, and she's as steady as a rock."

  "But you've never heard them ring?"

  There it was again. That skeptical tone. The wind had fluffed his hair so that a lock fell over his forehead. She itched to reach out and smooth the gold-brown curl back…not because it looked mussed. Just because she wanted to touch it. His hazel eyes were a deep forest green today. His navy blue hooded sweatshirt must have had an impact because the color stood out more than other days.

  Ari bit her lip and looked away, refusing to dwell on the fact that even though she hadn't spoken to Taylor Knox more than a handful of times, she knew his daily attire and how it changed the color of his eyes.

  "No. I've never heard them ring for a couple in love. But I believe they do. It has to be the answer because things have changed. Something is missing, not just from the inn, but for my whole family. Christmas here used to be so special, the bells, Christmas Eve services…"