So, here we go--Katie Lost and Found (Welcome to Walnut Lodge Book One)
The day had been uneventful, the morning cool enough
to work in the garden, the afternoon warm without too much wind, a rare thing
in this part of the country. The kitchen and housekeeping staff arrived on time
to perform their tasks efficiently and without complaint. Even the cluster of aging
buildings comprising the Walnut Lodge Inn and Suites held off any sort of
emergency for another day.
As she stood behind the registration desk—an
imposing example of fine woodworking salvaged from an older and grander hotel—scanning
the evening’s reservations, Tess Weldon almost breathed a sigh of contentment—almost because too often letting down
her guard provided an irresistible opportunity for the fates to throw her a
curve. And the day wasn’t over yet.
“Can you handle this?” she asked the desk clerk on
duty, a woman as small and dark as Tess was tall and fair. Tess and Cami
Mitchell, her closest friend as well as the Lodge’s assistant manager, were opposites
in temperament as well as looks. While Tess took every aspect of her job, which
was her life, far too seriously, Cami
approached both work and life with a unique blend of quirky humor and intense passion.
Together, they were the ideal combination to meet the challenges of operating a
bed and breakfast filled with character, charm and, on occasion, chaos.
“Why? You looking for some way to get out of your
date?”
“Are you kidding? You know I wouldn’t stand Chad up.
I hear I’m in the lead for Soccer Aunt of the Year.” Running a fingertip down
the list of dinner reservations, she faked a worried scowl. “I just don’t want
to come home to find you raiding the wine cellar. Or in the pantry with Lucas.”
“You stay out of our therapy sessions. We’re making
great progress.” Cami’s brown eyes twinkled and a grin spread its way across
her heart-shaped face.
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Moving
on to the row of guest reservation cards on the desk, Tess threw a little smirk
over her shoulder. “Just do us all a favor. Try to confine those sessions to
after-hours, please.”
Ten out of sixteen rooms booked, most for the
weekend. Fridays, gateway to the weekend getaway, were normally busier in the
fall. Cooler weather, kids in school, the promise of a romantic fire in the
elegant bedrooms and wine on the torch-lit terrace lured more couples her way
to fill the rooms vacated by weeknight business travelers. Tess examined each
card, studying the names. “The Mulveneys. Is it that time again already?”
“Yep. She said they couldn’t wait for fall so they
could come back. Cute couple.”
“In their sixties by now, aren’t they? Texas cattle
ranch? Nice big Lincoln?”
“That’s them. He’s a sweetie, very romantic, I
remember.”
“Right. What’s this one? The one nighter?” She picked up the card, reading under her
breath, “Direct bill to CentAir?”
“Oh, yeah. I meant to mention that to you. Ariel
asked specifically for the carriage house. This guy may be staying long term
and she thinks he might like something more private.”
Tess mouthed the name, a frown drawing down her finely
arched brows. “Peter Kosten.”
“Ariel said he’s the architect who designed the new
terminal and office complex.”
Turning the card over, she studied it more closely.
“Did she say anything else about him?”
“Like what?”
“Where he’s from. If he’ll be bringing a wife with
him.” She tucked the card carefully back in its place, hoping Cami hadn’t heard
the catch in her voice. “If he’ll pay full rate for long term.”
“No. Just that he’d be here tonight, might want to
extend a day or two and might be back in a few weeks for as long as six months.
Oh, and that we’re going to love him,
of course.” Cami reached to answer the switchboard, giving Tess a hard stare.
Coincidence. Cruel coincidence, but surely nothing
more. Forcing down the flutter of panicked butterflies, Tess tucked her hands
in the pockets of her jeans. Cami’s sharp eyes and sharper tongue wouldn’t let
it pass if she noticed they were trembling.
As soon as Cami ended her call, Tess backed toward
the door leading to her office. “So, I’ll hit the road if you’re sure you’ll be
okay. I’ll probably have a bite to eat with the team after the game, and I may
stop at the garden center in Andover. I should be back by nine.” Tess knelt to
stroke the graying Pomeranian who’d been watching expectantly from his basket
behind the desk. “Sorry, Cyril old man, you can’t come this time,” she said
softly.
Catching her arm, Cami halted her escape. “You okay?”
“Of course I am. But I need to get going. I don’t
want to disappoint Chad by showing up after
he scores the first goal.”
“Right. And you don’t want me to guess what’s got
you going all pale one minute and blushing like a guilty teenager the next, either.”
“You spend too much time analyzing people, you know
that?” Resting her hands on Cami’s slender shoulders, she buzzed her cheek.
“I’ll see you later. Don’t forget to let Cyril out. And keep your hands off my
chef, okay?”
That wouldn’t be the end of it, but the last thing
Tess wanted was a forced heart-to-heart with Cami while her defenses were so
shaky. Who’d have thought the sight of a name could rattle her so thoroughly?
Ridiculous, since it wasn’t remotely possible that CentAir hired a Dutch architect
to design its corporate headquarters in Middle of Nowhere, Kansas. It wasn’t
possible that he was headed for her B and B at the same moment she was
jumping in her aged van and rattling down the driveway in a cloud of dust as if
the hounds of hell were nipping at her tires.
Nice opening, nice set-up! I hope the next previews are consecutive.
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