The Inn At Shadow Lake

“Let me grab that for you,” Zach offered. He reached for the overturned carton on the floor. “It looks heavy.”

“No!” Julie and Beatrice exclaimed in unison, exchanging frantic glances.

Zach’s eyes narrowed. “You sure?”

“Yes.” Julie cleared her throat. “I can manage it.” Brushing remnants of cobwebs from her ice-pink cashmere sweater set, Julie gave her friend and coworker a warning look.

Beatrice raised an eyebrow in response. “You should take some time off.” She stole another glance at Zach and the pictures she held in her hand. “After all, you are the owner. You certainly deserve a break. Especially after everything that’s happened around here the past few weeks.” She eyeballed Zach again.

“I’m fine…really,” Julie croaked. She bit her lower lip. “No need to take the day off.” Surely, Beatrice knew not to utter a word about the murder or that Zach was the man in the photos. How embarrassing. Didn’t she have any sense of privacy?

Though the lodge couldn’t afford the extra cost, Julie had insisted on paying a security guard for the safety of the guests. Besides the police, she and Beatrice were the only ones who knew about the crime.

Beatrice just happened to be there when Julie came stumbling into the office in her bloodstained sweats early on that awful morning. Blood on her hands, too, from when she tried to awaken Paul, in vain.

Soon after, the police had discreetly arrived, not wanting to alarm the guests, yet questioning several of them. The detectives said that maintaining a low profile was vital to the ongoing investigation. But keeping the brutal slaying quiet weighed heavily on Julie’s nerves. She didn’t like it.

Still holding the snapshots in a death grip, Beatrice placed both hands on her hips again. “I shall speak with you later,” she added in her very proper British accent. She turned and started down the long corridor.

“Wait!” Catching up with her, Julie gently took the photos of Zach from Beatrice’s hands. “I’ll take those.” Whispering lightly she added, “Not a word!” and marched back to the troublesome box before Zach could get a look at its contents.

“Well then,” Beatrice said after a moment. “I guess I’ll leave you to your…guest.” She gave Zach a fleeting glance, turned on her heel and stalked away.

Julie and Zach faced each other. A silent moment that seemed to stretch into eternity. The storm and the murder weren’t the only mystifying elements causing her pulse to race. His tall, powerful physique, black leather jacket and well-fitted jeans added several extra beats to her already fluttering heart.

Her mind drifted back eight years. She saw herself riding with him on his motorcycle, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist. Memories of his clean, masculine scent—flashbacks of Zach wearing the very same leather jacket he wore today—filled her senses. Julie felt the distinct memory of his lips against hers. Images of their private picnic spot at Hurricane Ridge filled her mind with thoughts she should have forgotten, even as a chill of awareness prickled her spine.

She’d been so young. Only twenty-one. Yet she’d loved Zach with all her heart. Julie forced herself to breathe. The deserted hallway suddenly seemed much too small, too narrow. Chestnut-brown hair fell across his eyes. His slow, crooked grin released a stream of remembrances to flood her mind—the way his eyes darkened with emotion when he kissed her, his tender touch.

Did he end up in California on his impromptu adventure, the one he had asked her to go on with him the day he proposed? Surely he couldn’t have expected her to leave her family and friends on a moment’s notice and ride off with him into the sunset. She’d never even had the chance to tell him about her grandmother’s death the night before. He’d always been too adventurous for her. Too impulsive.

She told him “no,” yet watching him speed away on his Harley without her left an ache, an emptiness deep in her heart. There had been many sleepless nights when she relied on God’s strength, wondering if she’d made a mistake in not going with him.

But she couldn’t leave her family. Julie needed time to grieve over the passing of the beloved grandmother who had always made life fun for her and her brother. If only she’d had the chance to tell Zach. She drew a shaky breath. She’d never heard from him again. Until now.

“What were you doing up there alone?” Zach asked, nodding toward the attic. Slowly his gaze drifted down the length of her body. His hands fisted inside the pockets of his leather jacket. His intense gaze returned to meet hers.

“Nothing, really.” Zach was the only person she ever told about her claustrophobia. Had he remembered? “What are you doing in this section of the inn, Zach? This corridor isn’t open to guests. It needs to be renovated. Didn’t you see the sign?”

“Sign?” Zach glanced down the hallway. “Must’ve missed it.”

“I guess so.” Taking a quick breath, she reached for the box and slowly turned it upright being careful not to let the albums or any other photos slip out for Zach to see. She lifted it from the wooden floor. “I’ll just put this away.” Far away.

“I can’t let you do that,” Zach said grabbing the carton.

“What? Wait, I—”

“It’s way too heavy. Good thing I happened to wander by.” He easily lifted the cardboard container from her arms. “You might’ve fallen off that ladder if I hadn’t been here.” He raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the stairs at the other end of the hall. “Lead the way.”

“Fine.” Several minutes later, they reached the main floor and Julie opened the door to her private office. I should’ve duct-taped that box shut. Permanently.

“Where do you want this?” he asked, hovering in the doorway.

“Thanks, I can handle it from here.” Julie took the box from his arms, walked to the far corner of her office and then lowered it onto the carpet. She turned to face him. “See, it wasn’t that heavy.”

“If you say so.” Zach leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his broad chest. His blue-gray eyes filled with a familiar longing and a lazy smile eased its way across his face. “So, how are you, Julie?”

“I’m fine.” She took in a much-needed breath. Zach’s sudden presence in her life was taking its toll on her already frazzled nerves. The pleasant aroma of vanilla almond coffee brewing in the Capresso machine in the corner of the room gave her the sense of normalcy she so desperately needed. Beatrice always made her a fresh pot of coffee at this time of day. At least something was going according to plan. Julie curled a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s been a while, Zach,” she said, leaning one hip against the top of her desk.

“Yeah.” Zach scanned the office before his penetrating gaze returned to meet hers. “About eight years, Jewels.”

He called her by his old nickname for her. The one she hated. Yet, hearing it now brought forth a rush of precious memories. She forced the sweet thoughts from her heart and mind. “Has it been that long?” Though she knew all too well exactly how long ago it had been.

“Yeah. So, what have you been up to?” he asked.

Julie smiled. “Running the lodge, for one thing.”

His gaze locked on hers. “You really own this resort?”

“Yes.” She nodded and took in another quick breath. It was good to see him. Zach had meant the world to her once. “My husband and I bought it and—”

“Right.” His sudden, cool gaze confused her. “You look great. You haven’t aged a day.” He pushed off the doorway and backed up a step.

“Thanks.” Why was he deliberately making her uncomfortable? It wasn’t like him. At least not like the Zach she used to know. She lowered her gaze so he wouldn’t notice the moisture in her eyes. “I’d…better let you go,” she said once she composed herself. She lifted her gaze to meet his.

“Yeah, I’m off to do some exploring.” He ran a hand through his hair. “You know. Take a drive around the lake, find a couple of places to fish.”

Julie ached to do a little exploring of her own and run her fingers across the roughness of his jaw. It was good to hear his deep, familiar voice. She had to get a grip on the overpowering emotions coursing through her. Seeing him again, old feelings resurfaced, stronger than ever.

A strand of hair fell across his forehead and she fought the overwhelming impulse to smooth it back, as she used to. “How long are you staying, Zach?” Surely, he couldn’t be their “mystery man,” the one who had insisted on main level accommodations with a view of the lake. But the way her day was going…

Julie wished she’d made more time to be involved with the lone guest who had mysteriously booked a room for an extended stay. If she’d seen his name, she would’ve had some warning. “Are you with your family?” she asked, hoping he would say yes.

“No. It’s just me.” He smiled, but it wasn’t real.

Julie studied his face. Something was wrong. He was their “mystery man,” all right, in more ways than one. “Is your room okay? We wanted to make sure that you’d be comfortable. You know, for such a long…vacation.”

“Yeah. It’s great.” His distant gaze held hers. “You and your husband must love it here.”

Julie walked to stand at the open door with him. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the lobby, she surveyed the silvery lake and the tall evergreens of the densely treed property.

Her heart felt as heavy as the thick morning mist that rose from Shadow Lake. The steely gray presence curled up the vast, manicured lawn near the back of the lodge, lingering at the tall windows until it enveloped the building in a translucent cocoon.

Eerie, yet beautiful. Peaceful, but lonely.

Just like her heart.

Dragging in a deep breath, and wondering about her sudden case of melancholy, she turned to face Zach. “My husband…Tim—” she blinked and cleared her throat “—he…he died suddenly. Three years ago.” She still found it hard to discuss Tim’s death and the virus that had weakened his heart in a matter of weeks.

Zach reached out and gently lifted her chin so her gaze would meet his. “I’m sorry, Julie.” His words, so sincerely spoken, revealed the tender man she remembered. The gentle touch of his long fingers brushing her cheek stirred emotions she’d tried to bury along with their past.

He took her hands in his. His gaze connected to her soul this time and a glimmer of sunshine filtered into the fogginess of her heart. His strong, warm hands felt so good around hers. They stood only inches apart. “You sure you’re all right?”

Thoughts of their past raced through her mind and she wondered what it would be like to kiss him again. Clearing her head, she pushed the thought away. “I’m fine.” In Zach’s strong arms, she felt like a college girl all over again. Could he feel how her hands trembled in his?

“Okay. I’m off to do some sightseeing.” Gently, he released her hands from his.

“Thanks for saving me from an embarrassing fall.”

“Yes. Catch you later.” Zach chuckled. He winked and for a split second, his teasing gaze held hers.

She’d always loved his sense of humor. In seconds, he was out the door with no plans and probably no map. He hadn’t changed at all. But something in his life had left the emptiness she saw in his eyes. After all these years, why would God bring Zach back into her life now? Circumstances at the lodge couldn’t be worse.

Zach would never admit it, she knew, but he looked as if he could use a friend.

Placing a hand to her heart and reeling from the deep emotions swirling inside, Julie suddenly realized, so could she.

Especially since…the murder.

TWO

Zach pulled his vehicle into the small parking lot across from Shadow Lake Inn after having spent the last four hours mapping out the perimeter around the lake and meeting with team members on the case.

Senior Agent John Castlerock hadn’t been at the rendezvous point as planned, and none of the other agents knew his whereabouts. Zach didn’t like the troubling thoughts running through his mind.

Was John keeping something from the team? From him?

He’d never worried about John’s loyalty before. So why was there a sudden feeling of apprehension creeping its way through his gut? Why wasn’t John here yet?

He crossed the narrow road to the inn and his thoughts turned to Julie. Zach hadn’t expected the sudden rush of affection he felt when he held her in his arms again. He thought he had braced himself for the impact of seeing her when he studied the pictures the Bureau had shown him. Blue eyes, silky blond hair, her killer smile—it was enough to bring a man down. Her slim, well-toned body and feminine curves didn’t help matters, either.

Muttering a curse, he mentally repaired the protective wall he’d built around his heart and forced his concentration back where it belonged.

On his assignment.

Julie—the suspect.

He made his way along the hallway leading to the business section of the inn. The door to her office was slightly open giving him a perfect opportunity to sneak a quick look at her books and gather more information on the nosy Brit. Checking to make sure no one saw him, he quietly slipped into the room.

The suspicious box still sat in the corner. Obviously there was something inside that Julie didn’t want him to see. Heading toward it, he came to an abrupt halt when he noticed a small figure sitting in the brown leather chair. He could hardly see her over the top of the desk.

“Hello.” She jumped from the seat and scooted around the desk to face him. “Are you the misty man?”

Zach swallowed. “Uh, the what?”

“You sure look like the misty man to me.” The little girl tilted her head, placed her hands on her hips and gave him a quick once-over.

What in the world was a misty man?

Light blond hair, combed into a neat ponytail, bounced with every move she made. One strap of the denim jumper she wore slipped over her shoulder and the white turtleneck underneath the dress. Tennis shoes, laced in red, had matching frilly things centered in the bows. One of the laces was untied. She could trip and fall.

Without warning, she grabbed Zach by the hand and led him to the leather chair behind the desk. Her warm, small hand wrapped around his fingers as she tugged him toward the desk. “Want to see my picture?”

His heart stopped at her innocent touch. Who was this kid and what was she doing in Julie’s office? Inwardly, he muttered an unspoken oath. It was too late to hightail it out of there. “Yeah, sure.”

“You sit here,” she instructed. Smiling up at him, a familiar blue-eyed gaze met his.

His heart almost stopped. There was no denying the uncanny resemblance. Julie had a daughter, a little girl about the same age as Ashley would’ve been.

Zach almost stopped breathing. Why hadn’t this minor detail been in the report he’d studied?

Suddenly she was sitting on his knee, showing him the drawing. “See? This is Mommy. And this…is Prince Charming.” She turned to gaze at him again and her sweet face touched Zach’s heart in a way he’d known only once before.

The kid squirmed on his lap. Instinctively, he placed an arm around her so she wouldn’t fall. He waited for the heartache, the pain to grip his soul.

“Do you like it?” she asked hopefully. “Hey. He looks just like you!” She turned to study his face. “See?” She touched the image of the man she had drawn then pressed her fingers to Zach’s cheek.

Zach sucked in a breath and glanced at the stick figure. “It does kind of look like me, huh.” Maybe this kid had the answers he needed.

“And this—” she pointed to the stick figure woman in the picture “—is Mommy. Isn’t she pretty?”

“Hmm.” Zach lifted the drawing from the desk and held it close so they could both examine it together. He whistled. “She sure is.”

She giggled and rested her head on his shoulder. The top of her ponytail brushed his cheek and Zach’s eyes grew moist. But this time he didn’t feel the usual anguish. This time, his heart filled with something good.

Pure. Sweet.

Was it possible, after all he’d been through and seen, there was anyone truly virtuous still left in the world? He steadied the little girl on his knee. “Uh, your shoelace is undone. Let me tie it for you.”

“Okay.” She stretched out her leg and lifted her foot.

Fingers trembling with memories of other little shoes, Zach fumbled with the red laces and tied a double bow. “Here you go,” he said, his voice breaking.

“Thank you.” Her sweet round-eyed gaze reached into the depths of his soul with her little girl innocence and trust.

“You’re welcome,” he managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Emmie,” Julie said quietly, standing in the doorway. “Honey, what are you doing?”

The little girl jumped from Zach’s knee and ran to her mother. “Mommy, it’s the misty man. He’s here! See?” She nodded in his direction and smiled.

“Emmie, sweetheart, I don’t think that—”

“Yep. Here I am. In the flesh.” Zach leaned back in the chair and grinned. “Misty Man.”

Julie’s gaze met his and she smiled. Kneeling, she hugged her daughter. The tender sight, mother and daughter quietly laughing together, overwhelmed Zach. He didn’t welcome the unexpected current of emotions he felt charging through his body. He didn’t want to think about families and little girls.

Not now. Not ever.

Julie sighed inwardly and rose to her feet. Seeing her daughter sitting so comfortably on Zach’s knee had touched her deeply, reminding her how much Emmie needed a father in her life. And how much Julie longed to fall asleep every night in the arms of a man who loved her. Hand in hand, she led Emmie to where Zach sat at her desk. “Zach, this is my daughter, Emmie.” She turned to her little girl. “Sweetheart, this is…Mr. Marshall.”

“I showed him my drawing.” She smiled up at Julie, a proud look of accomplishment in her sweet eyes.

“Oh, you did?” Julie glanced at the picture on her desk and turned to Zach. He smiled and Julie’s heartbeat quickened. Did she still have feelings for him? That was ridiculous. He was just an old friend. That’s all.

“Mommy,” Emmie whispered turning to Julie. “He’s the misty man.”

She really needed to watch what she said around her daughter. Julie turned to Zach and offered a rueful smile. He raised an eyebrow and flashed a slow, crooked grin.

“You of all people should know that, Julie.”

She blushed at the hint of intimacy in his words. “Zach, I—”

“Oh, there you are. I’ve been trying to warn you all day. The myst—” Beatrice marched through the open door into the already crowded office and stopped abruptly to stare at Zach. Placing a hand to her heart, she stammered, “Oh, h-hello, Mr. Marshall. Hmm, quite nice to see you again. Was there something you needed?” A pink blush flooded her cheeks and she drew in a quick, shaky breath. “I…trust the room is to your liking?”

“Yeah. It’s fine.” Zach’s eyes narrowed. He rose to his feet. “I’d better get going.”

“No need to leave on my account. I only came to ask if Emmie wants to taste test our new chef’s chocolate chip cookies,” Beatrice added, lifting her chin.

Julie detected the slightest twinkle in her friend’s eyes. She was probably trying to warn her that Zach was their “mystery man.” It was what they’d come to call him from the time he made his rather mysterious reservations. Apparently, they’d referred to him by that name in front of Emmie too many times.

She knelt down, eye level with her daughter. “Cookies sound good. What do you say, sweetheart?” Julie smiled and affectionately caressed Emmie’s pretty face.

“Yummy. Chocolate chip’s my favorite.” She gave Julie a kiss on the cheek and a quick hug. Running back to the desk, Emmie grabbed the drawing and skipped over to Zach. “You can keep this,” she said, proudly smiling up at him.

Zach crouched down beside her and accepted the drawing from her outstretched hand. “Thanks. It’s a great drawing, Emmie.” He winked and gave her a quick smile.

Slowly, Julie stood. Having witnessed Zach’s tenderness with her daughter, her heart unexpectedly filled with longing. If only Emmie could have a good family man to be the father she so desperately needed. A man who would be home every night to tuck her in and read her a bedtime story. Who would share in the wonderful joy of raising her daughter. But now was not the time for silly sentiments. She had a crime to solve. A business to run.

Emmie skipped over to Beatrice and then reached for her outstretched hand. Beatrice gave Julie a knowing glance then closed the door after them. An endless moment ticked by.

“You have a daughter.” Zach’s eyes filled with tenderness. “She…looks just like you.”

“Thanks. She’s a real blessing, especially after losing my husband.”

In an instant, Zach closed the distance between them until he stood only a breath away. Curling his fingers under her chin, he lifted her gaze to meet his. “Can you get a sitter? I’d like you to have dinner with me.”

Julie smiled despite how her heart danced recklessly inside her chest. It would be fun to share a meal with someone. With Zach. She would have the chance to ask him all the questions that had her mind spinning. Why was he here?

“Tonight,” he whispered, pulling her into a light embrace. “We’ll catch up on all the years.”

His deep voice and tender touch awakened feelings in her heart from long ago. A wave of awareness pulsed along her spine. The feel of his warm breath against her cheek, the pulse of his strong, steady heartbeat beneath her fingertips—it was all too familiar.

Gazing into his steel-blue eyes, Julie swallowed hard and opened her mouth to say something.

Anything.

Zach dropped his hands from her arms and took a step back. “You already have plans,” he stated.

“No, it’s all right,” Julie managed. “My parents live only a few minutes away. Emmie will love staying over. Tomorrow’s Saturday. No school.”

One corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. “You want to eat here or go somewhere else?”

“Well, I need to sample the cuisine my new chef has prepared. Do you want to join me, Zach? We’ll have a taste testing of our own.”

“What time?” he asked, reaching for her hand as if a lifetime hadn’t passed since they’d seen each other.

“Seven?”

“Okay, seven it is.” Zach gently pulled her to him and encircled her in his arms. “It’s good to see you after all this time,” he whispered, his breath warm against her cheek. After a moment, he released her and held her at arm’s length. “I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

“Okay.” Her knees felt as if they would give out on her. Why was she reacting to him as if they’d never been apart? It didn’t make any sense. Julie ran a hand along the spot on her arm still charged with electricity from Zach’s tender touch. At twenty-nine, she had no right responding to him like some love-crazed teen. But her body seemed to have a mind of its own where he was concerned.

“See you later.” He started to close the door behind him.

“No, wait.” Julie curled a strand of hair behind her ear. “Keep it open. I love these late-October afternoons with the sound of the fire popping.”

The pleasant aroma of Yule logs burning in the large, brick fireplace made her think of Christmas. That time of year always brought happy childhood memories to mind, chasing away any sign of loneliness.

“Sure thing.” He winked.

“Thanks.” Julie glanced through the office door into the massive lobby, and smiled at the clerk at the reception desk. The flames in the brick fireplace crackled, providing welcome warmth to another chilly, overcast day in Washington State.

The mantel, a large western red cedar beam placed across the curved top of the brick firebox, highlighted wooden sculptures and candleholders crafted by various Native American tribes of the Olympic rain forest. Several guests brought their coffee with them and sat on the comfortable forest-green sofas grouped near the massive fireplace.