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Authors: Gail Gaymer Martin
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Before moving away, he took Esther’s drink from her. “Let’s find a quiet spot, and I’ll introduce you after you finish your plate.”
She didn’t care one iota about the food, but feeling protected, she drifted along behind Ian as he passed through the dining room and took a hallway to the right. At the first doorway he turned and she followed.
He’d led her to a study. Philip’s, she assumed. The room had character—not leather and dark wood, but a brighter arrangement with windows looking over the resort’s patio grill with flower gardens in the distance.
Royal-blue-and-beige-patterned upholstery looked homey and comfortable. She followed Ian’s lead and sat on a matching chair, relieved to find a place to sit instead of balancing drink and plate. “It’s hardly worth it,” she said, gesturing to the food. “I only took it for something to do. My stomach’s in knots.”
Ian chuckled. “Eat up. It’s good stuff. I think Jemma made some of it.”
“Who’s Jemma?”
“Philip’s wife. She’s a nice woman. A lot younger than he is. In fact…” He hesitated as if thinking better of it. “Someday I’ll tell you a funny story about that.”
A noise at the door caught their attention, and Esther followed Ian’s gaze toward the doorway.
“Philip,” Ian said, rising. He swung his hand toward Esther, motioning. “This is Esther Downing. You asked to meet her.”
The good-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair extended his arm toward her in greeting, a warm smile on his face. “Nice to meet you, Esther. Thanks for coming.”
“Thank you for…having me,” she said. She’d stopped herself from saying “inviting me,” since she still wasn’t sure how she happened to be there.
“I don’t know if Ian’s told you, but I’m very impressed with your proposal,” Philip said.
“Yes, he just mentioned it. Thank you, Mr. Somerville.”
“Philip, please,” he said. “I think you’ve covered all the bases, and I’ve answered some of your initial questions.”
His compliment pleased her.
“Ian said he’d go over the points with you.”
“That’ll be fine,” Esther said, feeling a nudge of eagerness. “I’m hoping I can keep the time line I set, but I’ll try.”
“That’s all you can do.” He nodded as if punctuating his statement, then turned to face Ian. “I see you found a quiet place to talk.”
“Yes, sir, I hope you don’t mind. Esther was balancing her plate and drink—”
“My house is yours, Ian.” He hesitated, then chuckled. “Actually, my place will be somebody else’s soon.”
A frown sailed across Ian’s face. “Come again.”
“Jemma wants us to buy a house. And soon.” He gave Ian a sly smile.
Ian’s frown shifted to a look of pleasant surprise. “Anything you want to tell us?”
Philip eyed him with a sheepish grin. “We’re announcing it before the fireworks tonight, but I’ll let you in first on our secret. Jemma’s expecting.”
Ian’s face brightened with genuine delight. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.” He grasped Philip’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “I’m really happy for you.”
“Thanks. I never expected to be a father. Never in a million years. I think you know how much my life changed when Jemma came to town.”
“I remember.” A faint flush mottled his neck. “Very well.”
Philip stepped to his desk and grasped a leather folder. “My calendar. You’d think these people would just enjoy the evening, but no. One of the city council members wants to make an appointment.” He lifted his hand as he headed for the doorway. “Don’t rush. It’s nothing but noise out there.”
With a smile he vanished around the corner, and Esther sat amazed at the dynamic gentleman she’d just met. “He’s quite the man.”
Ian nodded. “He is. He and his father turned a small hotel into this prosperous resort and made it look easy.”
“His father’s retired?” Esther asked.
“He died a few years
She didn’t care one iota about the food, but feeling protected, she drifted along behind Ian as he passed through the dining room and took a hallway to the right. At the first doorway he turned and she followed.
He’d led her to a study. Philip’s, she assumed. The room had character—not leather and dark wood, but a brighter arrangement with windows looking over the resort’s patio grill with flower gardens in the distance.
Royal-blue-and-beige-patterned upholstery looked homey and comfortable. She followed Ian’s lead and sat on a matching chair, relieved to find a place to sit instead of balancing drink and plate. “It’s hardly worth it,” she said, gesturing to the food. “I only took it for something to do. My stomach’s in knots.”
Ian chuckled. “Eat up. It’s good stuff. I think Jemma made some of it.”
“Who’s Jemma?”
“Philip’s wife. She’s a nice woman. A lot younger than he is. In fact…” He hesitated as if thinking better of it. “Someday I’ll tell you a funny story about that.”
A noise at the door caught their attention, and Esther followed Ian’s gaze toward the doorway.
“Philip,” Ian said, rising. He swung his hand toward Esther, motioning. “This is Esther Downing. You asked to meet her.”
The good-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair extended his arm toward her in greeting, a warm smile on his face. “Nice to meet you, Esther. Thanks for coming.”
“Thank you for…having me,” she said. She’d stopped herself from saying “inviting me,” since she still wasn’t sure how she happened to be there.
“I don’t know if Ian’s told you, but I’m very impressed with your proposal,” Philip said.
“Yes, he just mentioned it. Thank you, Mr. Somerville.”
“Philip, please,” he said. “I think you’ve covered all the bases, and I’ve answered some of your initial questions.”
His compliment pleased her.
“Ian said he’d go over the points with you.”
“That’ll be fine,” Esther said, feeling a nudge of eagerness. “I’m hoping I can keep the time line I set, but I’ll try.”
“That’s all you can do.” He nodded as if punctuating his statement, then turned to face Ian. “I see you found a quiet place to talk.”
“Yes, sir, I hope you don’t mind. Esther was balancing her plate and drink—”
“My house is yours, Ian.” He hesitated, then chuckled. “Actually, my place will be somebody else’s soon.”
A frown sailed across Ian’s face. “Come again.”
“Jemma wants us to buy a house. And soon.” He gave Ian a sly smile.
Ian’s frown shifted to a look of pleasant surprise. “Anything you want to tell us?”
Philip eyed him with a sheepish grin. “We’re announcing it before the fireworks tonight, but I’ll let you in first on our secret. Jemma’s expecting.”
Ian’s face brightened with genuine delight. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.” He grasped Philip’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “I’m really happy for you.”
“Thanks. I never expected to be a father. Never in a million years. I think you know how much my life changed when Jemma came to town.”
“I remember.” A faint flush mottled his neck. “Very well.”
Philip stepped to his desk and grasped a leather folder. “My calendar. You’d think these people would just enjoy the evening, but no. One of the city council members wants to make an appointment.” He lifted his hand as he headed for the doorway. “Don’t rush. It’s nothing but noise out there.”
With a smile he vanished around the corner, and Esther sat amazed at the dynamic gentleman she’d just met. “He’s quite the man.”
Ian nodded. “He is. He and his father turned a small hotel into this prosperous resort and made it look easy.”
“His father’s retired?” Esther asked.
“He died a few years
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