Suddenly Last Summer

This wasn’t trapped.

Something dark unfurled inside her.

She’d been trapped and it had felt nothing like this.

“I don’t miss Paris.” When she thought of Paris now, she thought not of strolling along the Jardin des Tuileries or of the light playing over the surface of the Seine, she thought of him. She thought of the ugly side of love and relationships. She lifted her hand to her short, styled hair and felt suddenly cold. “I love it here. Even though I wasn’t born at Snow Crystal, I’m sure I love it as much as you do.”

“Well, that’s lucky for my family. You’re an exceptional chef. Before you arrived our taste buds had never really lived. Whatever Jackson did to persuade you to come here, we’re all grateful.”

Jackson hadn’t persuaded her. He’d offered her a lifeline. She’d messed up her life through a series of bad choices and Jackson had given her a way out. Without him—

She didn’t want to think about that. But she was never going to let him regret his decision. She was going to make sure that Snow Crystal was known for its food as well as its other charms. She was determined to do her bit to make the place a success, but she was already failing, wasn’t she? She’d promised the Boathouse Café would be open in time to make the most of the summer tourist traffic and now it wouldn’t be. The delay would harm them, there was no doubt about that.

Frustrated and upset with herself, Élise stared at the glassy surface of the lake, barely visible in the darkness.

This place felt more like home than anywhere she’d ever lived.

Sean leaned back in his chair, watching her. “You look as if someone just killed your pet rabbit. Is this about my grandfather or is it something else?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just tired.”

“Don’t lie to me. I’m a doctor. I spend my entire life talking to anxious patients. Tell me what’s wrong.”

She stared at the water and shrugged. “I am upset because I’m letting him down.”

“Who? Gramps?”

“Jackson. He is working so hard to save Snow Crystal. The Boathouse Café is part of that. The launch wasn’t just an excuse for a party, it was supposed to be a way of showing important people how far we’ve come. How much the place has to offer. I wanted to make it happen for him.”

“So it will happen a bit late. No big deal.”

“It is a big deal! I owe him so much.” Seeing the question in his eyes, she realized she’d said too much. “I mean, I work for him and I love it here. It’s in my interests that this place survives and thrives.”

“Lucky Jackson, having staff as loyal as you.” He was silent for a moment. “How did the two of you meet? I don’t think I’ve ever asked either of you that.”

“We met in Paris.” She phrased her answer carefully. “He ate in the restaurant I once worked in.”

“Chez Laroche? I know you worked for Pascal Laroche. I read that you were the only woman in his kitchen.”

He knew that? Somehow, she kept the smile fixed on her face. “That’s right.”

“Major career achievement. I ate there once. He’s brilliant.”

And controlling, unscrupulous and, as it turned out, violent.

“He taught me a great deal.”

It wasn’t a lie. Pascal had taught her, not just how to make a perfect soufflé but that love was a gift that, once given, left a person exposed and vulnerable. He’d taught her that love could be obsessive, narcissistic and sometimes dangerous. He’d taught her that and more and the lessons had been well learned and never forgotten.

She’d graduated from his school of life with honors.

Pascal hadn’t killed her belief in love. You only had to look at Walter and Alice or Jackson and Kayla to know love existed. No, he’d killed her belief in herself. Her belief in her ability to judge people, her ability to know where and when to trust. Passion had blinded her. Impaired her judgment. She wasn’t going to let it happen again, no matter how attractive the man.

Wishing she hadn’t started the conversation, Élise rose. “Would you like cheese?”

“No, thanks. How are you feeling? Dizziness gone?”

“Yes.” All she was feeling was sick, but thinking about Pascal always did that to her. “It was a stressful day. Thank you for listening.”

“Exercise is good for stress.” Sean stood up. “I’d suggest sex, but I’m guessing you’d say no, so why don’t we go for a walk instead?”

Distracted by the mention of sex, Élise stared at him. “Walk?”

“You’d prefer sex?” His lazy gaze was loaded with humor and she felt some of the tension ease.

“I should go to bed.”

“You won’t sleep with all that adrenaline rushing around your veins. Show me what you’ve done with the boathouse. Last time I saw the place it was nothing but splintered planks and cobwebs.”

“Now? It’s dark.”

“I’ll be fine if you hold my hand.”

It was impossible not to smile. “All right.”

Why not? Deciding that fresh forest air might stop her from thinking of Walter and her past, she walked back into her lodge and picked up a thin sweater and a flashlight.

It was just a walk. Just two people enjoying some fresh air.

Where was the harm in that?

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_3504c489-cd6c-5d89-ad67-d2320d43a9d6)

HIS PLAN HAD been to give her a report on his grandfather and leave. What hadn’t been part of his plan was lingering and eating a meal, but when he’d arrived she’d looked so shocked to see him he’d thought she was going to pass out at his feet.

There was no way he was leaving her on her own until he was sure she was all right.

“I’m ready, but I warn you it isn’t finished so you’ll need to be careful where you tread.” Switching on the flashlight, she took the steps to the lake path that wound through trees to the almost finished café. “We’re finishing off the interior over the next few days but opening will be delayed because of the deck.”

He wondered why she was so agitated about it. “What difference does a few days make? It’s a café, not a matter of life or death.”

She turned, almost dazzling him with the beam of light. “It could mean life or death for Snow Crystal. Don’t you care?” In the seconds before he was temporarily blinded, he saw the blaze of anger in her eyes.

It didn’t surprise him.

Élise was emotional and passionate about everything. He’d witnessed the intensity of that passion once before, on that night when both of them had ceased to pretend their mutual attraction didn’t exist.

“This place has been in my family for four generations. Of course I care.” His emotions were much more complex than that simple statement suggested, but he had no intention of sharing that.