Chapter 8

Hours later, the presents they’d wrapped were under the tree along with the others already there, and then they danced around the obvious the rest of the evening. It was foreplay at its most intense.

A look.

Shoulders touching, and then moving away.

Sharing bites of the snacks they chose instead of an actual dinner.

Country music soft and slow, playing in the background.

As night fell, security lights came on.

Marley locked up the lodge and set the alarm.

The lights were turned off.

The fire burned itself into ashes.

But a different kind of fire had been laid. The kindling was already smoking, just waiting for the spark that set everything ablaze.

And down in the family quarters, the last lock was turned.

Trey picked her up in his arms, kissed the spot below her ear, then asked the question that had been haunting him all day.

“Now?”

Marley sighed. The magic word she’d been waiting for. She turned her head slowly, letting his lips brush against her cheek and then her mouth, and when she felt his breath against her face, she whispered, “Now.”

Her bedroom was in shadows. The king-size four-poster bed was turned back, waiting to receive the weary. But there would be no sleeping tonight.

It was a night for passion, promises, and discovery. It wasn’t the how of it that was at question. It was a test of the intensity that had been building between them.

They stripped in front of each other, one garment at a time, hearts pounding in frantic unison as the image of what clothes had hidden was being revealed.

Perfectly pillowed breasts and a slender, but firmly toned body—final proof of the strength she’d used to save him.

For a moment, Trey forgot to breathe, and then inhaled slowly. “You are so beautiful.”

Marley was speechless at the sight of that much man.

The width of his shoulders. The flat abs and long muscles in even longer legs. A dusting of chest hair as black as his winged brows. And no doubt of his desire.

She shivered where she stood, wanting him—inside her. “I ache, Trey.”

He swept her into his arms, laid her on the bed, then stretched out beside her. “I can fix that,” he whispered, and slid his hand between her legs.

Her eyelids fluttered and then closed. She’d meant to watch his face, wanted to see him seeing her, but all conscious thought left her mind as he began what amounted to a sensual onslaught.

His mouth was on her lips, and then in the hollow of her neck, and then her breasts, and then her belly, while the coil of need within her grew and tightened.

In the hall, the grandfather clock struck once. It was already tomorrow, but time no longer mattered and was being measured by rapid heartbeats and the intermittent shock waves rolling through her.

She never knew when he moved over her until she felt him inside her. Solid muscle within a silken sheath, adding motion to the madness and the ensuing race to catch fire. And then he began to move, and all she could do was hold on.

Over and over. Harder and faster. Minutes that felt impossible to bear. Needing the release, and when it hit, it hit her like a tidal wave, washing her under. She was still trying to catch her breath when she realized it wasn’t over. He was still there. Still inside.

She locked her legs around his waist and pulled him deeper.

***

The first time she came, it took everything Trey had to pause long enough to let her ride it out, but when she locked her legs around his waist, he lowered his forehead onto the pillow beside her shoulder and resurrected the ride until he lost control. When the climax hit him, it was like flying and drowning, and still being able to breathe.

He came to himself slowly. First conscious of her arms around his neck and her hands fisted in his hair. He could feel the thunder of her heartbeat against his chest, and the rapid pace of her breath against his shoulder.

“Have mercy,” she whispered, as she loosened her hold. “I never felt… I didn’t know…”

He raised up on both elbows and looked deep into her eyes. There were tears shimmering, a slight flush upon her cheeks, and a look of wonder on her face that he would never forget. His voice was raspy with emotion as he cupped the side of her face, then gently brushed his thumb across her lower lip.

“It’s just me loving you, and God, how I love you. You fill every empty piece of me.”

Then he rolled her up in his arms, pulled the covers up over the both of them, and held her, letting the thunder of their heartbeats settle into normal rhythm, and thought about what it would be like to live here with her in their own private part of the lodge, making love in this bed, making a family, and growing old together here.

Marley was so still, and so quiet, he thought she’d drifted off to sleep until she said his name.

“Trey?”

“Yes?”

“Would you want to move your clothes and stuff down here with me?”

He rested his chin on the top of her head and smiled. “Yes, very much so.”

She sighed. “I know it’s selfish, but I want all the time I can get with you before you leave.”

“I don’t want to leave you at all,” he said. “I’ll be back if you’ll allow me. I’d stay if you’d have me.”

Marley shuffled around beneath the covers, then raised up on her elbow.

“Would you stay forever?” she whispered.

“Yes, and if you would marry me, I’d stay forever and a day,” he said as he pushed a curl away from her eye.

Overwhelmed by the request and the vow, her eyes welled. “It was that offer of another day that did it. I never could pass up a bargain.”

He threw back the covers as she rolled over onto her back.

Marley shivered as she felt the rock-hard jut of his erection against her leg. After that, all conversation ceased.

***

Marley woke to the weight of an arm across her waist and the warmth of a huge body spooned against her backside and remembered.

Trey.

She’d never slept with a man before.

Sex, yes. Spent the night, no.

It was new, and she was unsure as to what the proper etiquette was, so she lay there, savoring all there was about having a man in her bed. It was early, and yet there was so much to do. And getting out of bed before Jack and Wanda arrived was a necessary goal. But before she had time to worry, she felt the warmth of Trey’s breath against the back of her neck, and then his lips as he kissed it.

His voice was raspy from sleep, but after all the lovemaking from last night, his touch was familiar.

“Good morning, little hummingbird. Before you fly out of my arms for the day, I need a good-morning kiss.”

Marley rolled over within his arms and gave herself up to the blood rush of his touch. He got the kiss, and so much more, before she could bring herself to abandon him and the bed.

Still reeling from a rather mind-blowing climax, she headed for the bathroom on shaky legs, leaving Trey flat on his back with a smile on his face.

He watched her disappear into the bathroom before rolling out of bed. Then he grabbed his clothes and made a mad dash upstairs to his room where he showered and shaved and dressed for the day before he packed up his stuff and carried it all downstairs.

Marley was putting on her shoes when he returned with his things. She was wearing blue jeans, running shoes, and a white Christmas sweatshirt with a sequined red cardinal on the front. She had pulled her hair up on the top of her head and fastened it with a hair clip decorated with a little red ribbon and a sprig of mistletoe.

He immediately recognized the mistletoe and smiled.

“Now, that’s a handy little piece of Christmas you’re wearing in your hair.”

She smiled.

“Does that mean I have free rein to steal a kiss whenever I want?” he asked.

“You don’t have to steal anything. I’m all yours, my beautiful man. Oh…the top drawer of my dresser is empty. I never use it. It’s too tall for my comfort. There is room for you to hang your clothes in the walk-in closet, and you can put your toiletries in the bathroom. I’m not starting a fire this morning until after Jack cleans out the ashes, but I am going to start breakfast. Come when you’re ready.”

Then she jumped up, blew him a kiss, and flitted away.

Trey carried his things into the bedroom to settle in, then quickly checked his messages.

He had an email from his mother. It was full of drama and excuses and apologies. Nothing new. Just more of the same. She wanted peace between Trey and his father, but in Trey’s mind, there wasn’t even a war. The problems were nothing but his father’s opinions and wishes not being met. What else was new?

He had an email from his agent, Meredith, that set him back on his heels. She’d turned down the low-ball offer from the film company wanting a script about Finding Cinderella, and had received a far more interesting offer that had to do with Chapel Hill and his mysteries.

A major motion picture group wanted to option the film rights to the entire library of Chapel Hill novels. All twelve of them. He was stunned. The option offer was five million for ten years. If they began production on any one of them, there would be additional money per book, plus a small percentage of the net profits in all formats.

The hitch was…they wanted to promote the author as well as the stories. The fact that the identity of Chapel Hill was unknown would make the revelation of his identity part of the selling point. He would then be part of the promotional advertising.

Meredith ended the email with a question.

Do tell me your thoughts? Oh…and FYI…I’ll wring your gorgeous neck if you don’t accept this. It’s time, Trey. No more hiding.

He didn’t know what to think, but he knew he needed to talk to Marley. The last secret between them was about to be revealed. He knew she loved his writing, but she didn’t know it was him. Was she ready to be in the middle of whatever this would unleash if he finally revealed he was Chapel Hill when she had her own business to run? There was only one way to find out.

He sent a quick message to Meredith, telling her he’d get back to her before the day was over, and then headed for the kitchen.

Marley had bacon already cooked and biscuits in the oven. She was making gravy when Trey walked in.

“Hey, honey, I smell chocolate. What are you making?” he asked.

“Chocolate gravy. It’s one of the recipes I brought back with me from Arkansas.”

“Oh yes! I remember you talking about it.”

“Good. We’re having it this morning, and I’ll make you eggs afterward if you don’t care for it.”

“What’s not to like about biscuits and chocolate? I’m gonna love being married to you. Think of all the foods I get to taste test first!”

She laughed, and kept stirring. As soon as the food was ready, they sat down to eat. Trey’s first bite was tentative, and then he rolled his eyes.

“Oh man, this is good! And the salty bacon just adds to the whole bite! I give it two thumbs up.”

She beamed. “Good deal.”

He finished his plate, then set it aside and reached across the table and clasped her hand.

“I had a message from Meredith. There’s a really big opportunity ahead for me, but it’s a bit complicated, and I want to talk to you about it first before I respond. It has to do with my work.”

“Your writing?”

He nodded. “You’ve very politely never grilled me about what I write and just accepted the fact that I did. But Meredith has been approached by a major film production company about optioning all of my work to date for possible films.”

Marley gasped. “Oh my gosh! Trey! How wonderful for you! Congratulations!”

He nodded. “I’ll be honest. It’s been a dream of mine ever since I began writing. But there’s a hitch. Part of the company’s request is that the writer will be part of the pitch they make to fund the first film.”

“So, you’ll travel some, right?” she said.

“Likely, yes, but that’s not the hitch.” He took a deep breath. “Meredith’s been at me for years to come out of hiding, so to speak, but I do not write under my name.”

“I don’t understand the problem, Trey. Lots of writers use pseudonyms.”

“Yes, but people still know who they are.”

She was watching his face when a thought occurred. “What genre do you write in?”

“Mystery.”

“Oh my God, Trey. Are you Chapel Hill?” The look on his face said it all. “You are, aren’t you?”

He nodded. “You think being the guy looking for Cinderella was crazy. You have no idea how this is going to blow up in the publishing world, never mind the thousands of fans who hold yearly contests trying to guess the identity of Chapel Hill. What if it gets so crazy that it interferes with your business and your guests?”

She circled the table and sat down in his lap.

“It will more likely cause an influx of reservations with fans wanting to sleep under the same roof as their beloved writer. This is wonderful news for you, and I’m so proud of you. You were born into money. You had all the money in the world to grow old doing nothing but living a life of ease, and instead you followed your heart and created your own path. You absolutely do not hesitate because of me. Understand? We do life together, not apart. My job will be to make sure you have all the peace and privacy you need to continue to write your wonderful stories. We’ll even set up a tiny corner of the front desk with a display of autographed copies for sale. You’ll be the star of the lodge, whether you like it or not.”

“Marley, you have no idea how important your acceptance of who I am and what I do really is.”

She frowned. “I know a day will come when I come face-to-face with your parents, but you need to know I will be your strongest advocate. One derogatory word about you and they’ll get an earful.”

He grinned. “The image of that is quite delightful. Like siccing a Chihuahua onto a pit bull.”

“So, I’ll be the ankle biter,” she said.

He burst out laughing as he hugged her. “God, woman, how I love you.”

“You better. I ruined a good pair of shoes pulling you out of that car…but you were definitely worth it.”

His dark eyes narrowed. “And I spent weeks of my life looking for your pretty little ass…and you turned out to be the woman I’ve been looking for all my life. So, I let Meredith know I accept?”

“Absolutely! You can’t turn down opportunities like this.”

“A five-million-dollar opportunity, as it turns out, with a ten-year option for all twelve books, with more money to follow if they begin production.”

She gasped. “Five million?”

He nodded. “I do okay in the writing department, but this will change everything.”

“So, go give her your answer! Do what you have to do.” Then she looked up and out the window. “Oh wow! Look! It’s snowing! The roads are going to be impossible again.”

He shrugged. “Being snowed in with you sounds like heaven, and I have no need to go anywhere except to bed with you every night.”

Marley wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in for the kiss she saw coming. It might be snowing outside, but as she closed her eyes, all she saw were stars.

“Message received. Hold that thought. I’m going to let Meredith know it’s a go,” he said.

She watched him leave, shivering at the thought of making love to him again. He was her Rochester—a dark, brooding man of mystery. Only she was a far cry from Jane Eyre. She was too opinionated and nowhere near poor.

***

Trey wasted no time in calling Meredith. The phone rang a couple of times, and then she answered.

“Hello, and give me some good news,” she said.

He smiled. “I bring tidings of great joy. It’s time to unmask Chapel Hill. Have the paperwork reflect we’re optioning the titles to date, and no more. I’ll agree to doing whatever promo they want to publicize my identity, and I’m changing residence shortly, so no Phoenix address on the paperwork. I’ll text you the new address, and I can e-sign the paperwork as usual.”

“Wonderful, but where are you going?”

“I’m already here with Marley. I’ll go back to Phoenix long enough to get my house set up to lease, and then I’ll be calling Colorado Springs home for the rest of my life.”

Meredith squealed. “I don’t believe it! The perennial bachelor has caved! So, your little Cinderella stole your heart! It’s so romantic I can’t stand it! You better invite me to the wedding!”

He laughed. “First name on the list. Count on it,” he said.

“First billing above the parental units? Marvelous!”

“You earned your place in my heart,” Trey said. “I treasure your friendship.” There was a moment of silence, then he heard her sniff. “Are you crying?”

“Of course I’m not! Don’t be absurd,” she muttered. “Now, I’m off to do agenting things. Just don’t get sidetracked from the delivery date for your next book.”

“Yes, ma’am. No, ma’am. I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, and then smiled as she hung up in his ear.

After that, Trey began making a list of things he needed to do when he went back to Phoenix, while Marley was clearing away the breakfast dishes.

After she was finished, she walked past the Christmas tree in the lobby and stood at the front entrance, watching it snow. Even when it sometimes caused issues later, she never got tired of the sight, remembering the days when she was young, and the snowball fights with her dad, and the hot chocolate her mother had waiting when they finally came inside, fingers numb, noses running, and the rosy spots on their cheeks so windburned they were just shy of frostbite.

Good times.

Times long gone.

But she could resurrect those times again when she had babies. Raising them beneath this roof and hoping a fifth generation would live on to keep the dream alive, but at the same time accepting they might all choose other paths—like their father had with his own family.

She smiled at herself. Me and my long-range plans, right? One night in bed with the man and I am already seeing us as the elder generation. I know. I know. Slow down, Bug. Slow down.

She turned around, remembered the fire needed tending, and went to take care of business.

***

Marley had mostly forgotten about Jared Bedford, but he had not forgotten about her. What Marley didn’t know was that while she was gone, Jared had been spending his days off at the lodge with the reno crew, ripping up carpet for the men to lay new flooring, spackling and patching Sheetrock to ready for painting. He knew the layout of the entire place, except for the family quarters, which had been locked. He had plans for Bug Corbett, but today he had bigger problems. He was a little short on money.

When the boss wasn’t watching, he slipped a twenty out of the till and then went back to the flat he was changing. The boss’s wife was always coming down to the garage and getting money before she went shopping. He was confident it would never be missed, and when he got off work, he was going to drive up the mountain and do a little reconnoitering.

He couldn’t just drive up in the dark because of the motion lights and security cameras. But he knew the camera’s blind spots and knew he could come in from the woods on foot.

He finished fixing the flat and was getting ready to put the next car up on the lift when he saw it was snowing again, and coming down heavy. There would be no mountain drives tonight or stomping through the woods. From the looks of it, he’d be lucky to get home tonight.

His visit to Marley Corbett would have to wait.

***

Anders and Gloria weren’t speaking.

They weren’t even sleeping in the same bed.

This was the biggest crack their marriage had ever suffered, and Anders was afraid it wouldn’t heal.

He’d apologized to her again and again, and her only answer was, “You don’t mean it,” and she’d walk away.

He had nightmares of a divorce court and losing half his holdings. Of million-dollar alimony checks and trying to hold his head up at board meetings. It never occurred to him that his biggest fears had nothing to do with what her absence in his life would mean. Only what it would cost him to set her free.

One day came and went, and then another, and then another, until it was less than a week before Christmas, and he hadn’t even bought her a present.

That day, he left the ski lodge and took an Uber into Lucerne. His first stop was a jewelry store, but the longer he looked at the most expensive pieces, the more certain he became that these would only make things worse. To her, it would appear that he was hoping to buy his way back into her good graces, and she’d already accused him of being interested only in how much money he could make.

So, he left the jewelry stores and began walking the streets. Up one and down another. He even stopped at a coffee shop for a sweet roll and a coffee and sat at a table by the window, watching couples walking past arm in arm.

He felt lost. Like he’d walked into the wrong room and couldn’t find his way out. It was the most frightened he’d been since his childhood.

After a while, he paid and left, then resumed the search for the perfect gift. He was passing by a little shop tucked in between two very large ones when he saw the window display and stopped.

He read the sign on the building:

LOETSCHER’S

The name rang a bell, and without hesitation, he turned around and went inside.

The first sound he heard was ticking all over the store. There were cuckoo clocks all over the walls, in the most unique chalet designs. He walked the length of one wall, and then down the other, eyeing the detailed work, and listening to the sound the little cuckoos made on the half hour and the hour.

But it wasn’t until he saw one called Heidi’s Farmhouse that it felt like he’d come to the right place. He was immediately taken back to the first time he’d seen Gloria at her parents’ home and knew this was the one. Little hand-carved pigs. Little chickens, flowers, pots, garden tools, and a two-story chalet in vivid primary colors.

A clerk appeared at his elbow. “Have you finally made your choice, sir?”

Anders nodded. “Yes. That one,” he said, pointing.

The clerk wrote down the price on a piece of paper and handed it to Anders.

“This is the cost, sir.”

Anders barely glanced at the number. $3,499.00. At this point, the price was no object.

“That’s fine,” he said. “Could you wrap it as a Christmas gift?”

The clerk nodded. “Certainly. Follow me, sir.”

A half hour later, Anders walked out of the shop with his present in a gift bag and, for the first time in years, felt like he’d done something for all the right reasons.

He called for an Uber back to the ski lodge and sat back with the bag in his lap as he rode.

***

Gloria had awakened to a note on her pillow.

Back later. Save a seat for me at lunch. I really, really, really, really love you.

She clutched the note against her breasts and cried, and then glanced at the time and flew out of bed. She needed to get dressed and run down to the apparel shop in the lodge to pick up the present she’d bought for Anders.

It was a Capranea ski jacket—the finest Switzerland had to offer, but the style she’d wanted was a Badus, in the color red, and they didn’t have one in stock. However, they had promised it would be in their shop today, and if it suited, they would gift wrap it for free, for the trouble they’d caused her.

Gloria had money, but she’d grown up without luxuries, and she’d never gotten over the joy of a deal. Scoring free gift wrap made her happy, and she couldn’t skip giving him a gift. She was heartbroken by what he’d said, but she still loved him.

She dressed in haste, then headed for the lobby. To her delight, the ski jacket was exactly what she wanted, in the right size and color.

“Yes, I’ll take it,” she said, and paid for it as another clerk took it away to wrap. She thought nothing of the $1,400 she’d just spent, and it never occurred to her to spend a dime on Trey. Someone else had always done the shopping for him when he was growing up, and since he’d been out of their lives for so long, Gloria was an out-of-sight, out-of-mind kind of woman.

She brought the gift back to their suite and put it under the Christmas tree near the window—a perk of the hotel—then ran to get dressed for lunch.

***

Anders came back to their room while Gloria was dressing, saw his present under the tree, and thought, There may be hope for me, yet. Then he slipped his present toward the back of the tree and went down the hall.

“Gloria! I’m back. I made reservations for half past twelve.”

***

Another four inches of snow fell during the next two days before it quit, but during that time, Trey and Marley had adapted something of a rhythm to their days. Marley told Jack and Wanda that they were fine, and to stay home and enjoy a few days off.

Trey worked on his manuscript by the fire and became the keeper of the flame since he was sitting right beside it.

Every time Marley walked past the jigsaw puzzle, she added a piece here or a piece there. And if she wasn’t dusting or mopping, or answering phones, she was nose deep in a book or in the kitchen making something for them to eat.