Read Online The Christmas Inn by Stella Maclean - Free Book Online

looked…anxious, a little upset.” His squint was quizzical.
“Are you friends with the Parkers?”
    “No. No, I… We were just talking,” she mumbled, struggling to
remember if either she or Brad had raised their voices.
    She didn’t want any reports going back to Luke about her
behavior at the bar. He was already far too paranoid about her being here alone.
Learning that she’d had some sort of interaction with one of his precious
getaway couples could wreak a whole lot of havoc. And she was definitely not
into havoc.
    Jack hesitated. “Can I get you anything?”
    “No, I’m waiting for Luke. He must have been delayed.”
    Upset and out of sorts over her altercation with Brad, she took
a good big sip from her glass of wine and gave the drink menu the once-over as
she planted a pleasant expression on her face and offered up a prayer that Luke
Harrison would make an appearance soon.
    * * *
    L UKE SIGHED AS HE LISTENED to Jack describing a woman
at the bar, a description that fit Marnie McLaughlan perfectly. Why had he
agreed to meet her there of all places? Why had he agreed to have dinner with
her? “Yeah, that’s her.”
    “Still no indication as to when the husband’s arriving?” Jack
asked, over the din of the bar.
    “None, and I talked to her not that long ago.”
    “And what did she say?”
    “Not much. It’s a long story. I wish her husband would show
up.”
    “Might be a good idea. She just had a pretty heated discussion
with the Parkers before they left for dinner. I can’t be sure what it was about,
but she and Brad definitely knew each other.”
    Luke groaned inwardly. He couldn’t have Marnie involved in
anything having to do with the guests until her husband arrived. He had a lot
riding on the next few days.
    He glanced at his watch. He’d agreed to meet her at the bar and
he was already late. “I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”
    “You don’t have to do that. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
    “I invited her to dinner.”
    “You did what?”
    “You were the one who encouraged me to have her as my guest for
dinner, remember?”
    “True. And maybe that’s the answer…until the husband shows up.
I’ll see you when you get here.”
    Luke got up from his desk, leaving behind his operating-cost
projections for the first quarter of next year, and adjusted his tie. When he
entered the bar, Marnie was sitting by herself, reading the drink menu, her slim
legs creating a smooth, enticing line from the hem of her short skirt to…bright
yellow three-inch high heels. Who wore yellow shoes with a black dress? Who
looked that good in yellow shoes and a black
dress?
    Jack was polishing glasses, his gaze locked on Marnie. A quick
survey of the room showed him that all the men were watching her. The success or
failure of the Christmas Getaway event appeared to rest on one sexy woman who
didn’t seem to notice any of the attention directed at her.
    Steeling himself for any questions she might have around his
earlier behavior and her earlier argument over why she needed a husband here
with her, he strode toward the bar. She caught sight of him, a smile lighting
her face and warmth shining in her clear gray-green eyes. All he could think
about was how attractive she was, how the dress fit her body like a glove.
    A beautiful, sexy woman was waiting for him—Luke Harrison. It
had been three years since anyone had waited for him. He sucked in a breath as
he struggled to remember why he’d been so annoyed with her. “Sorry I’m late,” he
mumbled as he slid onto the bar stool beside her.
    “That’s okay. I’m glad you’re here.” She took a sip of her
wine.
    “Why? Did something happen?” he asked, hoping she’d give him
her side of the story around the Parkers.
    “No. It’s nothing. I’m just not used to being stared at.” She
gave him an apologetic smile as her fingers pleated the napkin under her
half-finished glass of wine.
    With this beautiful woman’s eyes focused solely on