Twice the Temptation

Blue Eyes was just walking out the lobby door. As she ran her gaze over the broad shoulders, the narrow waist and those long, long legs, she felt a pull. For an instant, she was so tempted to run after him that she nearly pulled her arm out of Avery’s grip.

Then he was gone. And this time, she couldn’t deny it was disappointment she was feeling.

“Reese? Is something wrong?”

She glanced up at Avery and managed a smile. “No.”

Holding her at arm’s length, he let his eyes roam over her. “It amazes me that you can always manage to look elegant in jeans and a T-shirt.”

Reese made a snorting sound. “Don’t you start in on me. Now that Jillian has influenced Naomi into dressing more stylishly, they’re both telling me I need a new wardrobe. And I don’t. Why bother when I practically live in a chef’s coat, anyway?”

“Because you’re a bit of a workaholic.”

Reese’s eyebrows shot up. “And you’re not?”

“The difference is I know how to play. And you need to do more of it. Molly Pepperman, who runs the boutique in the village, is going to be a guest this weekend. I asked her to talk to you about clothes designed more for play. Just a few special pieces.”

“Molly’s coming as a guest?”

“Yes, she is. She’s talked her grandmother into coming and taking over the store for the weekend. Miss Emmy Lou Pritchard, our local librarian, is also a guest. She and Molly each want a shot at making a secret fantasy come true.”

Nerves danced in Reese’s stomach as the image of Blue Eyes filled her mind. If anyone fit the description of a boy toy, he did.

“People are coming from all over for this Singles Weekend. In fact, there’s even someone who’s come a long way to see you. He claims he’s an old friend.”

“Who?”

“Can’t spoil the surprise,” Avery said as he drew her along through the archway into a courtyard that served as extra dining space when the weather permitted.

“There he is over by that pillar.”

When Reese glanced over to where Avery was pointing, she saw a tall man with his back toward her and a shorter woman in a wide-brimmed straw hat. “Who is it?”

“Charles Dutoit,” Avery said. “He claims the two of you were very tight five years ago in Paris.”

Charlie? Nerves tightened in her stomach. Could it be? But as the man began to turn toward them, recognition trickled in. He wore his hair close cropped to his head now. When she’d known him in Paris, he’d had to tie it back from his face with a leather thong. His face was leaner, too, the angles more pronounced, his jaw more firm. Her eyes dropped to his mouth. He had the same charming smile he’d had five years ago when she’d fallen in love with him.

She wanted to hold back when Avery drew her forward. But she made herself put one foot in front of the other and murmured in a low voice, “Of all the gin joints in all the world—”

Avery’s crack of laughter turned heads and gave Reese the courage to meet Charlie’s eyes as he moved to take both of her hands.

“Reese. You’re as lovely as ever.”

Relief streamed through her. It was Charlie all right. There was that same intent look in his eyes that had captivated her in Paris, but whatever spell he’d had over her when she’d been nineteen had been broken. She felt nothing but a vague curiosity as she returned his smile.

He kissed the fingers of one hand, then the other. It was a practiced gesture that had made her heart flutter in Paris. No flutters today.

“Charlie, it’s good to see you,” she said. And she meant it.

“He goes by Charles now. To match his restaurant and cookware brands, Avec Charles.”

Reese shifted her attention to the deep-voiced woman at Charlie’s side. She couldn’t see much of her because of the wide brimmed hat and sunglasses. When the woman held out her hand, Reese pulled hers out of Charlie’s to grasp it.

“I’m Annie Thornway, Charles’s publicist.”

“Nice to meet you.” Then Reese turned back to Charlie. “Congratulations. Your own restaurant and a cookware brand. That’s amazing.”

“And I’m thinking of expanding.”

“He’s checking out locations for a restaurant in the North East,” the woman said. “Someone we ran into raved about your cooking and—”

Charlie waved a hand to silence her. “I don’t want to talk about business. I wanted to see you, Reese. I need to talk to you. I made a huge mistake in Paris, and I want to do what I can to make amends. Join me for coffee. We can catch up with each other.”

Reese managed to step on Avery’s foot before he could agree. “Later, perhaps. Avery and I have business to discuss. We have a big weekend coming up.”

“A Singles Weekend that will fulfill your secret fantasies,” Annie Thornway said. “Charles picked up one of the brochures. You even have a matchmaking ghost on the premises.”

Reese had time to catch the annoyance in her tone before Charlie said, “Reese, can’t you see it’s fate that we’ve met here in this time and this place? Please, join me for dinner.”

Fate? Reese felt a ripple of something close to panic before she forced herself to get a grip. She was not going to let herself be pushed into anything. “I can’t, Charlie. Avery and I are working tonight.”

“Since you’re here, you might consider getting in on the fun,” Avery said smoothly to the couple. “We’re having a big kick-off mixer tomorrow night. Everyone who’s registered at the hotel this weekend is invited.”

Then taking Reese’s arm, Avery drew her toward a table in the shade of one of the porticoes that framed three sides of the courtyard.

“Sorry, my darling girl. He led me to believe that he was an old flame.”

“He was, and the flame went out a long time ago.”

Avery flicked a glance over Reese’s shoulder. “The way he’s looking at you I’d say the flame has never died for him. Hard to believe he came all the way to Haworth House because someone raved about your food. He came to see you, my darling girl.”

“Well, he’s seen me. And five years ago, his flame definitely went out. He made that clear when he dumped me.”

“He dumped you? Silly boy.” Avery signaled a waitress. “Bring us some champagne.” Then he turned to Reese. “He was your first love?”

She nodded. “First and last.” Turning her head slightly, she glanced up at the tower windows. “And not even Hattie has a blowtorch strong enough to reignite it. So if she has any intentions in that regard, I’m giving her fair warning. Charles Dutoit is history.”

When she turned back, Avery handed her a glass of champagne and touched his flute to hers. “I’ll drink to that.”

2

WHY WAS REESE BRIGHTMAN at Haworth House?

Mac Davies circled around the side of the hotel and headed down one of the garden paths. According to her agent, she was supposed to be in L.A. working on the cookbook they would launch with her new cable TV show. That was why he’d thought it safe for him to check out the place she called home.

In spite of the fact that he’d sold thirteen episodes of her show, he wasn’t completely satisfied with the product yet. It was still missing something. So he’d flown across a continent hoping that Haworth House would provide the answer. It had.

The instant he’d seen the gray tower rising into a cloudless blue sky, he’d felt it—that special feeling he always got when something just clicked. And the moment he’d entered the lobby of the hotel, he’d experienced it again.