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  “She’s renting it?”

  “Yeah.”

  Jon arched a brow. “She’s not interested in buying it?”

  “Nope.”

  Jon thought about that for a moment. “So she completely redid the whole place?”

  “Yeah, you wouldn’t even recognize it now.”

  Jon glanced over his shoulder and in the far distance he glimpsed the B&B. His gaze went to the widow’s peak overlooking the ocean and he noted that the light was still on. He swallowed hard, because he could almost picture his mother in that room. It was a place she’d retreat to and stare out over the ocean as she waited for Jon’s father to return from one of his many fishing trips.

  Jon turned back to Errol. “Maybe I should just check in with Aunt Annette and Uncle Pete.”

  “Can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  Errol frowned, and poked Jon in the ribs with his cane. “Well, I ain’t supposed to say nothing, and you know I’m real good at keeping secrets, but those two have been having some marital troubles. Need time alone to work things out.”

  Taken aback, Jon stared at his uncle. “Really? I had no idea.”

  “’Course not. But don’t say nothing to no one. I was sworn to secrecy.”

  Jon nodded. “I understand. I just…I’m just surprised. They always seemed so happy. Is there anything I can do?”

  “No, they just need quiet time. I’m sure they’ll work it out.”

  Jon looked out over the snow-covered streets and considered his next course of action. Here it was late at night and he was smack dab in the middle of his childhood town with nowhere to stay. Once again his gaze strayed to Sleepy Cove. If Lila Sheppard had completely refurbished the place, then perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe it wouldn’t evoke childhood memories and remind him of what he’d loved and lost.

  “You’d best get your keister on over to Sleepy Cove. It’s late and Lila’s probably fixin’ to lock up.” He clucked his tongue. “Besides, Delilah’s waitin’ and you don’t want to keep a catch like her—”

  “Okay, Errol.” Jon spun on the balls of his feet. He shook his head and grinned. “I really don’t need to hear the details.” When he reached the SUV he turned. “I’ll see you in the morning then?”

  Errol winked. “Not too early now.”

  Grinning at his feisty great-uncle and hoping to get away before he divulged any more details of his relationship with Delilah, Jon hopped back in his vehicle. As the engine turned over, he wondered more about Errol’s termite infestation, as well as Pete and Annette’s marital troubles. It was true that he hadn’t been around in three years, but he’d kept tabs on his friends and family and knew Errol well enough to know that he’d been acting kind of strange. First he’d pleaded with him to come home, only to turn him around and insist he stay at Sleepy Cove, which had Jon wondering… What the hell was his uncle really up to?

  Chapter Two

  Lila Sheppard took one look at the gorgeous man standing on her front porch and wondered if Santa had delivered her Christmas present early. And if so, when could she start unwrapping him?

  “You must be Lila,” Mr. Gorgeous said, flashing perfect white teeth as his piercing blue eyes met hers.

  Lila nodded and instead of politely shaking his hand, she continued to stare at him, her manners completely forgotten. As she took pleasure in his thick, dark hair, fine, chiseled face and well-dressed body, she didn’t miss the way his deep, sexy voice played down her spine or the sexual awareness prowling restlessly through her bloodstream.

  Fully aware that she was gazing at the hottest guy she’d ever set eyes on, a guy who made her think of sex—wild, steamy, up against the wall kind of sex—Lila continued to gawk at him in frank appreciation.

  As her libido kicked into high gear, Mr. Gorgeous stood there watching her in return, like he was waiting for something, but for what she had no idea, considering her brain was preoccupied with other things at the moment.

  Looking a bit restless, he shifted on his feet and high overhead the snow fell harder, matting his hair to his head. He brushed it back, but that didn’t distract from his good looks one tiny bit. In fact, watching the fat flakes melt on his warm skin and drip down his chiseled face made him look sexy—downright delicious—and had a bevy of fantasies rushing through her salacious mind.

  But when he looked past her shoulders and asked, “Do you have any rooms for rent?” she realized just how hard she’d been staring, drooling, hoping her wish to Santa had come true.

  “I’m Jon Carver. Errol Wilson sent me. He said you’d have a room.”

  Ah, so that’s what he was waiting for—a room. Disappointment settled in her stomach. Since Errol was no Saint Nick, it meant this man wasn’t an early present for her personal enjoyment. Too bad, really, because this stranger was hot enough to melt the ice sculptures in the town square.

  Working to tamp down the desire zinging through her veins, and realizing just how long it’d been since she’d crawled between the sheets with a man—clearly the lack of orgasms was playing havoc with her mind—she remembered her manners. Offering him a warm greeting, she widened her door to welcome him into her beloved B&B.

  “You bet I do,” she said, as she marshaled her libido and gave herself a hard mental shake to get her head on straight. “The place is pretty quiet this time of year.”

  Jon stopped to rub his wet boots on her doormat, and that small, thoughtful gesture surprised Lila. Not only was he gorgeous, he also had manners, a unique combination indeed. The city boys she knew never concerned themselves with such trivial things—which was one of the reasons she’d left that life behind—and she had to admit, she kind of liked that he cared.

  She studied him for another second and that’s when she felt a brief moment of recognition. Had she seen him around town before? His name didn’t ring a bell, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a local. Then again, everything from his expensive leather boots to his wool coat and designer scarf gave the impression that he was a polished city boy. And if he were a local, wouldn’t he be staying with family or friends?

  Wondering who he was and where he’d come from, she hurried behind the counter to sign him in. But when she looked up and caught the storm brewing in his translucent blue eyes as he perused her front lobby, she thought more about the stranger who studied his surroundings like he was trying to orient himself.

  “So what brings you to Whispering Cove?” she asked, more than curious about the gorgeous man who’d landed on her doorstep six days before Christmas.

  “Just some things to take care of,” he mumbled under his breath, but she didn’t miss the melancholy in his voice, nor did she miss the way he quickly blinked the emotion from his bedroom blues.

  “I’ll be checking out on the twenty-fourth.”

  “You’re not staying for Christmas?” Lila stole a quick glance at his ring finger, only to find it empty. “I guess you must have a family to get back to?” she probed, even though it was none of her business. But Lila never was one to skirt around an issue, and the truth was, this man intrigued her in so many ways.

  At the mention of family his entire body stiffened and he swallowed hard before saying a second time, “I just have some things to take care of.”

  Lila knew some people struggled with the holidays and from his reactions, she could tell he was one of them. But getting to know the people who stayed at her B&B and making them feel warm and welcome, especially this time of year, was important to her. Since he was going to be here for five long days that gave her plenty of time to make him feel special and figure out who he was and what made him tick. He might be a tough nut to crack, but she was up for the challenge. Besides, it wasn’t like she had anything else to do. The place had been empty until he arrived, and her folks, two sisters and three brothers weren’t flying in until Christmas Eve, which meant she had lots of free time on her hands.

  “I’ll put you in the Captain’s room right at the top of the first landing. It h
as a great view of the ocean.” She paused, wrapped her arms around herself and gave a mock shiver. “Plus it’s cool tonight and that room has—”

  “A fireplace,” he said, finishing her sentence. “I know.”

  Lila’s head came back with a start. “So you’ve stayed here before?”

  “Something like that,” he answered.

  Angling her head in thought, Lila gave him a once over. “Do I know you?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Lila nibbled on her bottom lip and watched the way his gaze dropped to her mouth. Something passed over his eyes, something that sent a little rush through her blood. Her hand went to her hair, which undoubtedly looked like it had been combed with a blender. As she smoothed the wild curls that had a mind of their own in this damp weather, she glanced at her bedraggled state. Honestly, with an icing-covered apron tied over comfy old yoga pants and a sweatshirt with a flashy Christmas tree on it she undoubtedly looked like a sorry sight to him. A hot guy like Jon, one who was put together very nicely, was probably used to well-dressed, sophisticated women who doused themselves in perfume and makeup.

  Getting her thoughts back onto the conversation at hand she said, “I’m sure I’ve seen you before.”

  “Have you ever been to Miami?”

  Ah, so he wasn’t from around these parts after all. Such a shame really, because he was all kinds of yummy. But Lila had sworn off fast-talking city boys with even faster hands. She wanted a small-town guy, one who enjoyed slow-cooked meals and lazy Sunday afternoons. Except, thanks to Errol, Byron and Harold and their matchmaking antics, the single guys were getting snatched up quicker than the catch of the day at the Seafarer restaurant.

  “Nope, never been to Miami.” She narrowed her eyes. “Have you ever been to Palmer’s Hotel in Chicago? I was the sous chef in their restaurant before coming here.”

  “Can’t say as I have.”

  When he bent to pick up his small duffel bag, Lila handed him his key, and that’s when she noticed how cold and tired he looked. “We can do the paperwork in the morning. Breakfast is served between seven and nine. Do you have any allergies that I should know about?”

  When he stood back up and his eyes met hers, Lila sucked in a breath. There was something so mesmerizing and hungry in his gaze as it moved over her face that it had her heart racing and her pulse jumping in her throat.

  She watched the way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he lifted one hand toward her face. Then, as if reconsidering his actions, he quickly pulled it back again. “You…uh…you have….” His voice fell off and he rubbed his hand on his cheek. That’s when Lila’s palm went to her own.

  The second she felt dried icing on her face, she gave a breezy laugh. Okay, so maybe he wasn’t looking at her like he wanted to eat her alive. The man was hungry, but it wasn’t for her, it was for the gingerbread men she’d been baking for tomorrow’s Whispering Wonderland skating festivities at the outdoor rink.

  “I was baking.”

  “Is the kitchen still open?”

  She hesitated for a second and glanced at the clock. “Yes,” she lied. The truth was the kitchen had been closed for hours, but not only did this man look cold, tired and famished, Lila loved cooking for others and loved when people appreciated her homemade meals. Plus, with no guests, she’d been a bit lonely lately, and with Christmas just around the corner she was beginning to feel a little homesick.

  His brow furrowed as he followed her glance to the clock. “It’s late,” he said. “I can order in.”

  Lila laughed at that. “You’re in Whispering Cove, not Miami. No one is doing delivery this late.”

  “Right,” he said. “My mistake.” When his mouth curved up in a sheepish yet sexy grin, Lila swallowed a breathy moan and didn’t miss the way her body trembled with need.

  By God, he was good looking.

  “I’ll make you something.”

  He raked his fingers through his wet hair, and there was something so boyish, and so vulnerable in his look when he said, “I don’t want to put you through any trouble,” that it had her thinking about all the trouble she’d like him to put her through.

  Okay, she really needed to get herself together. Either that or finally find herself a man to settle down with so she could get her mind off her libido—and off every handsome guest who walked through her door—and on to running her inn.

  “It’s no trouble at all. Go get yourself settled. I have some leftovers in the fridge. I’ll heat them up for you.”

  Grateful eyes moved over her face and his warm, genuine smile did the strangest things to her. “Thanks. I’ll be right back down.”

  He turned toward the winding staircase. As she watched him go she thought more about the stranger who stirred her restless libido and reminded her she was a woman, a woman who hadn’t been with a man in a very long time. But she wasn’t just looking for sex, although a little roll between her silk sheets would be nice. No, she wanted long term, because when it came right down to it, she was tired of going to bed alone and, more importantly, waking up alone.

  Once he reached the top of the stairwell, Lila pushed those depressing thoughts out of her mind and hurried to the kitchen. She glanced at the countertop full of gingerbread men in need of icing. Stifling a yawn, and knowing she still had hours of work ahead, she pulled the pot of chowder from the fridge, placed it on the stove and returned her attention to her cookies.

  The warm gingerbread scent and the recipe that had been handed down from generation to generation had her thinking of her late grandma. Lila missed her dearly, missed the summers she spent in the small Iowa town both her grandma and grandpa had grown up in. Lila’s father had moved to Chicago for work when he was young, but his heart always belonged in Iowa.

  Lila smiled, remembering how her grandmother swore that small-town boys made the best husbands. Cleary she was on to something, considering she’d been married to the same man for forty years while the divorce rate in Chicago was climbing at an alarming speed. It wasn’t easy for Lila to leave her family behind when she’d made the snap decision to move, but she belonged in a small town and wanted to raise a family in a community where everyone cared about each other.

  When she’d heard Katy was looking for an assistant for her daytime show, Cooking with Katy, she’d packed her bags and headed straight to Whispering Cove. As soon as the previous renters turned the B&B back over to their landlord, Errol, and she saw the chance to run her own kitchen, she made another snap decision and jumped on the opportunity. She had no plans to ever leave the place, and because she was hoping Errol would eventually let her buy, she invested heavily into making it her own.

  Lila did a quick count of the cookies and hoped the twelve batches she’d baked would be enough for the party tomorrow. Too bad she hadn’t brought her skates to Whispering Cove. She did, however, recall seeing a box full of hockey gear in the shed out back, likely left behind from the previous owners. So what if they were boys’ skates. As long as they fit her, she was good to go. Heck, maybe she could find a pair to fit Jon. She had no idea what he was doing in town, or how he knew ornery old Errol, but she’d spotted the tension in his posture earlier. Perhaps an afternoon at the rink would help him unwind and forget about whatever it was that had him so tense this holiday season.

  When a Bing Crosby Christmas song came over the radio, Lila punched up the volume and began humming along. She continued to decorate cookies until the delicious scent of savory chowder filled her kitchen. She put down the icing and grabbed a ladle to give it a stir and when she scooped up a big chunk of lobster, it gave her a moment of pause.

  Jon never did tell her if he had allergies, which led her to believe he didn’t. In her experience people with food sensitivities usually jumped all over that question when she asked, but she still didn’t want to take a chance. Honestly, the last thing she wanted to do was serve him shellfish and have him blow up like a balloon. As the only doctor in town, Danica Kent, or rather Danica Mitchell now t
hat she’d taken on her new husband’s last name, was always on call, but with the sniffling season here, she was completely run off her feet.

  Lila took a look at the clock again and wondered what was taking Jon so long. Deciding to check in on him, and to make sure everything was okay, and confirm he had no allergies before she served him chowder, she turned off the gas, wiped her sticky hands on her apron and hurried up the winding staircase.

  She listened outside his door, and her ears met with silence. Could he have fallen asleep? She knocked quietly. “Jon, is everything okay?”

  A split second later the door swung open, and when she caught sight of Jon standing before her in nothing but a fluffy towel tied at the waist it was all she could do to drag in a breath.

  “I’m okay,” he answered.

  Oh, he was right about that. Except he was more than okay. He was downright perfect.

  Desire twisted her insides as her glance moved over him, taking in a long, lean body that instantly filled her libidinous mind with rich, sensual fantasies. As she visualized herself beneath his hardness, her nipples tightened and a shudder moved through her. She sucked in air, a quick breath that filled her nostrils with the heady scent of his freshly showered skin. His rich aroma raced through her bloodstream and had her thighs tingling in a way they’d never tingled before.

  “I went to the airport straight from the office and wanted to get out of my work clothes,” he added. When she didn’t respond he said, “Lila?”

  Okay, so she’d never been stunned speechless in her whole life, and while she’d seen naked before, she’d never seen this kind of naked. Heat moved through her as she soaked in the sight of him, and it took all her effort not to throw herself into his arms, to beg him to take her right then and there. From behind his left shoulder she spotted the bed. As she thought about rolling around on the white sheets she’d personally put on his mattress, his towel slipped an inch. But dammit, he managed to grab it seconds before it fell from his hips.

  She watched his sculpted muscles ripple and her pulse beat quicker. Need curled through her and her womb tightened with want as her glance traveled back to his face. The air charged, sexual awareness leaping between them.