Beaches and Buckskin-Book 3

Chapter 1

Lacy

Meanwhile, back at the hotel…

Lacy stood under the finished portico and waved a final goodbye to Hannah as she continued her journey across the United States. Tanner put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. She didn’t know why her very first guest leaving filled her eyes with tears, and a pang of longing in her chest. She remembered a teacher confiding in her on the last day of Lacy’s senior year of high school. “You know the worst part of teaching? It’s saying goodbye to the students who have been a part of your life and wondering if you’ll ever see them again.” Lacy wiped her nose trying to abate the tears threatening to spill.

This was silly to react like this. Would Lacy feel that way about her guests when they checked out. Granted, Hannah had been here for less than a week, but she still hated that goodbye this morning. Would it get easier with time when she didn’t get so involved in their lives?

“I hope she finishes her ride safely.” Tanner released her waist and pulled her against his chest. “Alright Ms. Cooper, what are we tackling today?”

“I ordered a new painting for the lobby a few days ago. It should be in by this afternoon.” Lacy hoped her idea of giving the interior a face-lift as well as the outside met with his approval.

“That’s exciting. I can’t wait to see it.” He snuggled her under his chin.

Lacy loved these moments of connection. “I think you’ll love it.” She’d never felt as secure as when she was in his arms. Who would have thought that when she left Los Angeles, she would have found love so quickly? At first, she’d worried about his previous mistakes that landed him in prison, but over the past two weeks, he’d proven to her, he shouldn’t be judged by his long-ago history. A person could change in ten years’ time. Obviously, the Joneses had trusted him, in fact, trusted him enough to have not mentioned it.

He planted a warm kiss on her forehead. “What shall we work on in the meantime?”

Lacy gently tipped his nose. “You sir, need to figure out what is wrong with the plumbing in the laundry room, right after we deliver all those invitations to the charity event.”

Tanner smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”  If it hadn’t been for the pastor’s intervention, Tanner would be out of a job and Lacy out of a handyman. “Anything for the queen of the castle…” He gave her a little salute and released his hold on her.

Lacy playfully tapped his shoulder. “That’s Keeper of the Inn to you.”

He bent to kiss her just as the bell on the front door chimed.  A teen wearing coveralls and a baseball cap entered. “Oh! Should I come back later?” He looked a lot like the pastor. Probably his grandson.

Lacy pushed Tanner away from her and cleared her throat. “Oh, no.” She ran nervous hands down her jeans. They really needed to stop kissing in public. But then if she remembered how the town gossip went, they were already an item. “We were just discussing how to decorate the interior.”

“Oh…” he said, but clearly his expression said he didn’t believe it for a minute. “My grandpa sent me by with these.” He held out a box about the size of business cards.

Tanner took it from the kid. “What are these?”

“You forgot them, so my grandpa asked me to bring them by. He wanted to know if you’d already delivered the invitations yet, and if you haven’t, then he’d like you to seal the envelopes with these.”

More than likely Pastor Williams sent whoever this was to check them out and see what their status was, and he’d probably report that he’d caught them kissing in the lobby…well, about to kiss. There was no mistaking what was about to happen between the two of them. Heck, even Hannah had come in unannounced, while Lacy and Tanner were sneaking a little kiss…or two…or maybe more in the office.

“Thanks. We were just going to go do that.” Tanner opened the box. Inside lay a stack of gold embossed stickers.

“They’re lovely.” Lacy took one out and examined it. Around the outside was a leaf pattern and inside was a pair of angel wings with the words, “Be the Miracle” embossed over the top of them. “It won’t take long to put these on the envelopes.”

“Thanks, Liam.” Tanner waved him out the door.

“Yeah, don’t have too much fun with those.” Liam screwed up his face and looked a bit disgusted by the whole thing.

“Give him another couple years, and he’ll be looking for a hot babe like you.” Tanner took Lacy’s chin between his fingers.

Lacy raised her eyebrows. “Hot babe, huh? Is that all you see me as?”