Chapter One

 

Excitement buzzing in the hallway distracted Phoebe from the file opened on her computer. She had three repair requests to send off before she could leave for the day, but the way things were going, she’d be getting out late this evening.

The office door swung open, and Darla Rochon burst into the room then closed the door behind her. “Did you hear the news?”

“What news?” She tried keeping a straight face, but a smile tugged at her lips.

“They’re shooting a movie in Jasper Lake. Rumor has it that Deena Frasier is the lead actress.” Darla’s hands moved in animated gestures. “Deena Frasier, America’s Sweetheart, is coming to our little town! Of all the towns in the Adirondacks, they chose us.”

“So, I’ve heard.” Her cheeks hurt from keeping her muscles from grinning.

Darla’s manicured brows shot upward into sharp peaks. She pulled a chair to the desk, sat down and leaned forward with anticipation in her eyes. “You know something. Spill the beans.”

“You can’t tell anyone, not yet.” Phoebe pressed her palms against the desk and leveled her gaze at Darla.

“Tell what?” Impatience poured out of Darla, who tapped her nails against the lamp base.

Phoebe adored Darla, her good friend and coworker, but the girl lived for celebrity news and gossip. She’d been shocked when Ted, her boss, offered her the Chatham Studios account when Darla had more experience, but now she understood the wisdom behind that decision. Darla, for all her wonderful qualities, never would have kept the secret this long.

She opened her mouth to answer but thought twice and reconsidered. Would Darla be upset with her? She had to tell her something. “I like Mac.”

“That’s old news. Everyone except Mac knows it, and you could have at least told me something related to Deena.” Darla leaned back and crossed her arms, pinned Phoebe with her stare. “Your weak attempt at a subject change further convinces me that you know something.”

“First, you have to promise not to get upset if I tell you.”

Suspicion mixed with curiosity in Darla’s eyes. “I promise?”

“Since the cat is unofficially out of the bag, yes, Deena Frasier is coming.”

Darla’s squeal pierced the room. “I can’t believe it. When?”

“The filming begins in two weeks, and she’ll be here a few days before that.” Phoebe’s gaze darted to the computer screen where she had a post-it with the date. Although she knew the exact day, she couldn’t give out that information. Even confirming the rumor pushed the boundaries of confidentiality.

“How do you know?”

“We’re handling all the accommodations.” She held her breath until she saw Darla’s response.

Confusion danced across Darla’s suddenly somber face. “We as in…”

Phoebe cringed. “Jasper Properties.”

“Oh.”

“Are you mad?”

Silence permeated the air.

Darla shrugged after twenty uncomfortable seconds. “No. Not really.” A humble smile flared into a chuckle. “If I’m honest, I would have made the same choice if I were Ted and not told me either. I doubt I could have contained my excitement enough to keep it a secret.”

“Only Ted and I know, no one else in the office. The studio has a strict non-disclosure agreement.”

“What else can you tell me?” Darla’s knees bounced until she jumped to her feet and blatantly stared at the papers on Phoebe’s desk.

“You won’t see anything there.” Phoebe smirked and stacked the papers. She knew Darla well enough to know she wasn’t really trying to read the papers. Darla might be nosy and curious, but she was a good friend and coworker who respected boundaries. Most of the time.

A dramatic sigh pushed through Darla’s lips. “My best friend knows how much I adore Deena Frasier, and she won’t even give me the scoop.”

“I promise you’ll be the first to know as soon as I get the clear to say more.” She wiggled her brows. “Plus, I’ll have a few special assignments for you.”

Darla’s bright blue eyes widened. “I knew you’d have my back.”

“Of course.” Phoebe leaned back, stretching her arms behind her. “To be honest, part of me wished Ted had assigned you this project. It’s been overwhelming, and you’re better than me at working out all the details.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.” Darla slunk back into the seat. “You’re an amazing rental agent.”

“Thanks.” She shot Darla a grin and winked. “I learned from the best.”

“Do you ever miss your days at the front desk?”

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t want Ted’s job, though. He’s stuck in his office behind the computer most days. I enjoy getting out of the office and meeting people.”

“Me too, girl. I’d go crazy sitting at a desk all day.” Darla stood. “Speaking of, I need to get going and verify the progress of the Ponderosa Cabin. The new floors are a week behind schedule, and it’s booked solid through March. I already had to maneuver the reservations for this weekend.”

“That’s what Ted gets for not contracting a local company.”

“I said the same thing.” Darla scowled. “There are plenty of companies in the surrounding area that could have done it.”

“You would think he’d have learned after the deck fiasco this summer. Jane in Accounting let it slip that the expansion doubled its projected expense.”

Darla grimaced. “Ouch. Although, when I was reviewing upcoming renovations on several properties this morning, I noticed he gave locals the winning bid.”

“That’s great.”

“He’s a good boss, even if a bit hardheaded at times.”

Phoebe broke out in laughter. “A bit?”

“Okay, a lot.” Darla stepped toward the door and held her hand to her ear mimicking a phone. “I really have to go but call me as soon as you can give me more scoop.”

“I will.” She watched her friend leave then shifted her focus to work.

A knock on the door distracted her before she could absorb herself in work. She groaned under her breath. Today had been full of disruptions. They didn’t typically bother her, but she’d promised Jessa she’d make an appearance at the booster club auction tonight.

She lifted her head and saw Mac Banfield standing in the doorway. Suddenly, she didn’t mind the interference. He hadn’t shaved in a few days, a look she loved on him. Several strands of his chocolate brown hair stood out of place, and his tie hung loosely around his neck giving him an adorable, disheveled appearance. “School’s out for the day?”

He nodded. “What a week, and it’s not over yet.”

“Saturday school duty?”

“Worse. Auction duty.” The corners of his rich cocoa-hued eyes crinkled as he cringed.

“I thought you loved the auction.”

“I did until they assigned me the role of teacher liaison.” He stepped into the office and walked toward her desk. “Do you know how tedious it is to make sure thirty students are all in their proper places at the right time, doing the job they were given?”

“Gotcha.”

“Are you going?”

“Yes. Jessa will be participating as the chamber of commerce representative, and I told her I’d be there.”

He scrunched his face and gave a half smile. “Any chance I can convince you to help me out since you’ll be there already or does your sister need your help?”

Her heart fluttered. Don’t go reading into things that aren’t there. He’s only asking as a friend, same as it’s always been. “What do you need me to do?”

“It’s pretty simple, just annoying.” He sat down in the chair Darla had occupied minutes earlier. “I circle around the event and make sure the students stay on task. They’re not allowed on their phones or to get tied up in conversation with friends.”

She raised a brow. “Simple but tedious, huh?”

“Exactly.” He shrugged then ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not all bad, but not my idea of a fun Friday night. It’s for a good cause, though, so I shouldn’t complain.”

“I can help. What time do I need to be there?”

“Six.”

“All right.” That meant she’d have to leave the office once Mac left in order to be ready in time, which also meant she’d have to work a few hours tomorrow to finish all her reports. She smiled to herself. Coming in tomorrow would be well worth it for a few hours spent with Mac.

Pleasant surprise reflected in his dark eyes. “Want to ride together? Parking always gets tight at these events.”

“Sure. I need an oil change, so any miles saved helps.”

“How many miles overdue are you?”

“Two-hundred miles.” She scrunched her nose and braced herself for the lecture.

Rather than a reprimand, he chuckled. “Some things never change.”

“In my defense, Dad usually does it for me, but he and Mom went on that much needed month-long cruise after Trixie’s wedding. Landon said he would, but then he got called out on an unexpected long-distance haul.” She held up a hand. “And before you ask why I didn’t take it in the shop, I have no valid reason other than I hate to sit there and wait.”

“Why don’t I swing by tomorrow and change it for you?”

“You don’t have to do that.”

He cast her a wide grin. “Consider it payment for your help at the auction.”

“Fair enough.” Her heart skipped another beat, but Mac would have made the same offer for anybody. Regardless, it meant seeing him again tomorrow.

“Do you have the oil?”

“It’s still in my trunk from when I bought it a few weeks ago, thinking Dad or Landon would change it, but I put off asking them until too late.”

His gaze shifted to his phone. “I have an appointment at ten in Farthington, but I should be back by noon if that’s good.”

“Perfect. That gives me time to put in the few hours I need for tomorrow.” She barely gave her next thought consideration before it slipped off her tongue. “I’ll make you lunch afterward if you’re not in a hurry.”

“That reminds me.” He rose to his feet and reached in his pocket. “Mom asked if I could drop this off to you. It’s the final menu and billing for Deena’s catering order. She tried emailing it this morning, but the internet went down, and she had to get Dad to his appointment.”

She reached for the paper and gave it a cursory glance before setting it aside. Thelma Banfield’s work ethic wouldn’t allow her anything but perfection for the catering order that would greet Deena Frasier in her cabin. “How is your dad? I pray for him every day.”

“He’s Dad, but not.” He released a heavy sigh and slumped his shoulders. “He’s always been so independent, and he’s frustrated that he hasn’t regained full mobility and speech which is making him cranky.”

“It’s only been three months since his stroke.” Tenderness filled her heart for the man who’d been a role model for much of the Jasper Lake community. “It’s going to take time.”

“We keep telling him that, plus we remind him how far he’s come in that time, but you know Dad.”

“Yes, I do.” Her lips twisted upward in a bittersweet smile. “Maybe I should stop by and remind him of the advice he gave me years ago when he coached my little league team.”

Mac’s eyes lit up. “I’d forgotten about that. You should. Even if he doesn’t listen to the advice he gave us, he’d appreciate the visit.”

“I’ll call your mom and arrange a time next week.”

His full smile beamed at her. “You’re a gem.”

Oh, how she wished he meant that as more. “This catering gig isn’t too much on your mom, is it?”

“Not at all. The distraction is good for her, and she loves doing it.” He lifted a shoulder. “Besides, the whole reason I moved back into the house was to help her with Dad. The school board has been great at letting me spread my paid time off, so I can have a four-day work week and give Mom time away.”

Even more reason to love, er, like, him. “You’re the real gem.”

It might have been the lighting, but his cheeks turned a pale shade of pink. “Any son who was able would have done the same thing.”

Phoebe wanted to tell him it wasn’t true, but he would continue to insist he hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary. “Fifty-forty-fiveish tonight?”

He blinked in confusion. “Tonight?”

“The auction.”

“Right, the auction.” He rubbed a finger across his upper lip. “I’m sorry, I got distracted for a minute.”

Compassion washed over her. She left her desk and laid a hand on his arm. “Watching someone you love in a diminished capacity isn’t easy. It’s okay to admit it.”

“You grow up and you see other families going through it, but it’s their family, not yours.” His jaw twitched. “Then it happens to the strong man you’ve looked up to your entire life, and he’s now confined to a wheelchair. I’m grateful he survived and is doing well, but it also made me look at life in a fresh way. I’ve taken it for granted.”

“Life definitely can change in the blink of an eye.” She thought about her brother Hunter and other sister, Trixie. Where they had been and where they were now. Her own family had experienced their fair share of problems the last several years, and only now was life settling down.

Their eyes locked, and she witnessed his pain and longing for his dad to heal completely.

He abruptly cut his gaze. “Anyway, I need to go if I’m going to be on time tonight. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

“See you soon,” she whispered as he rushed out of the office.

Her dear, sweet Mac, so afraid to show any sign of vulnerability.

Only he wasn’t hers, and all the willing in the world on her part couldn’t make him so.