Christmas Due Date

by Moyra Tarling

• ISBN13: 9780373196296
• ISBN10: 0373196296
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: Silhouette

Excerpts

"You're too late. David's funeral was last week," said Eve Darling, recognizing the striking, dark-haired man from the photograph David Kingston had kept on his desk.

"I'm here now," he said, his expression guarded. Even so, Eve caught a hint of sadness in his gray eyes. David's death had hit her hard; he'd been her boss and her friend. How much harder must the loss be for David's brother?

"When you didn't answer my call, you left me no choice but to go ahead with the funeral arrangements," she said.

"I understand," he replied evenly. "What I need from you is the name and address of my brother's lawyer. The sooner I get his estate settled, the sooner I'll be able to leave."

At his words, shock rippled through Eve. No doubt David had left everything to his adopted brother. Could Mac Kingston have no interest in running the Kingston Inn, his brother's pride and joy?

How could two brothers be so different? David had been a warmhearted, generous man, loved by his staff and his neighbors in Cypress Crossing, a ski resort town in the interior of British Columbia.

The man gazing at her, dressed in a sheepskin jacket and blue jeans looked as if he'd walked off the cover of GQ. Was he really as unfeeling as he seemed?

David had always spoken proudly of his brother, but Mac Kingston had yet to live up to the glowing reviews, especially if his sole reason for coming to Cypress Crossing was to collect and dispose of his inheritance-the quicker the better.

With some effort, Eve clamped down on her anger. As much as she might want to tear a strip off the man, she had nothing to gain by making her feelings known.

Eve pushed herself to her feet and felt the baby, nestled beneath her heart, kick several times in protest.

"David's lawyer is Debra Graham. Her office is on Chestnut Drive, three blocks from here. She's been on holiday for the past three weeks."

"When is she expected back?"

Eve glanced at her desk calendar. "Today or tomorrow I believe."

"Would you call her office and find out?"

"Of course," she responded. Eve picked up the phone and punched in the number. After the third ring, much to Eve's surprise, Deb answered.

"Deb? Hi! You are back," she said. "Did you have a good holiday?" Eve listened to Deb's reply and felt her skin prickle with awareness of the man standing nearby, his impatience barely held in check.

"Listen, you've probably heard about David's death," Eve said. "Yes, it was a great shock," she acknowledged. "I know you must be busy catching up, but I wonder if you have a few minutes to spare. Mac Kingston, David's brother, has just arrived, and he's anxious to see you.

"Would it be all right if he came by your office now?" Eve asked, careful to avoid eye contact with the man on the other side of the desk.

"Sorry?" Distracted, she frowned, surprised by Deb's suggestion that she accompany Mac. "I can't at the moment," she said, unwilling to spend any more time with David's brother than she had to. "He'll be right over. Thanks, Deb. Talk to you soon."

"So Ms. Graham is back," Mac stated as she replaced the receiver.

Eve nodded. "And she can see you now."

"Did you say her office is on Chestnut Street?"

"Chestnut Drive," Eve corrected. "I'll write down the address for you."

Reaching across the desk, she retrieved a pad and pen. As she wrote, the fear and worry that had been her constant companions since David's unexpected death threatened to overwhelm her.

David had been a great boss and a true friend, agreeing to let her work right up until the birth, then return to her job as soon as she could make arrangements for day care.

She'd known David felt partly to blame for the predicament she'd found herself in. With no family of her own to turn to, he'd been the one who'd insisted she move into the basement suite of his luxury town house across from the inn.

Straightening, Eve held out the address. As Mac Kingston took the slip of paper, his fingers brushed hers. The contact sent a jolt darting up her arm. Her gaze flew to meet his. Had he experienced the same strange sensation? she wondered. If he had, she could see no evidence of it in his eyes.

"I left my bag downstairs," he said. "The desk clerk told me the inn's full, but I believe my brother has a condo nearby."

"Yes, he does."

"Do you have a set of keys I can use?" he asked.

"They're right here." Eve opened the top drawer of her desk and brought out David's key ring.

"Actually, I should probably -" she began, about to tell him that for the past three months she'd rented the small suite of rooms in the basement of David's condo. But he didn't let her finish.

"Could you point me in the direction of the condo? I'll drop off my bag and continue to Ms. Graham's office."

"Of course." Mac Kingston moved to open the office door. He stood waiting for her and, as Eve crossed the carpeted room, she was all too aware of his assessing gaze.

"How long had you worked for my brother?" he asked as they walked side by side to the stairs leading to the inn's main floor.

"Six years," she replied. "I've been the assistant manager for the past two years."

As they descended the stairs, the scent of pine from the eight-foot Christmas tree in the foyer mingled with the sweet smell of cinnamon and cloves.

The array of miniature, multicolored lights decorating the tree danced and flickered merrily. The festive feeling was enhanced by the familiar tones of a well-known Christmas carol being played on the piano in the lounge.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Christmas Due Date by Moyra Tarling Copyright © 2002 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.