Page 49 of Luke
No answer. She sighed and got to her feet, then headed back into the lodge.
She worked in her office for the next hour, going over the staffing schedule. The part-time summer help would be gone after Monday as they settled into a quieter time of the year. She also went over the books and then reviewed the notes she'd made in preparation for a pitch to Colin Brannigan about repairs and improvements.
She felt a little sad thinking that Colin was gone. She'd been so focused on what his death meant to her that she felt guilty for not grieving him in the proper way. He had been more than a boss to her. She hadn't known him well, but he'd been Luke's father, and he'd saved her ass by giving her the job without any experience. For some reason he'd believed in her, and he'd told her that he liked to bet on the underdog.
She just wished he'd bet a little more on his son. She thought Luke's wandering ways and his need to chase something had to do with his father's absence in his life as well as his mother's death. He'd been close to his brothers, but there had been so many of them, and Luke, at heart, was kind of a loner. He could be funny and loud and the life of the party, but then there were the times when he just wanted to think and ponder, walk and hike, study the stars and contemplate life. That was the Luke she actually loved the most. That was the guy she'd given her heart to. He might not think he liked to be still, but she knew he did.
The door to her office opened, and her pulse jumped. But it wasn't Luke who entered the room; it was Brad.
"Sorry about what happened earlier," he told her. "I should have figured those boys would try to sneak away. I'm usually better at spotting the troublemakers."
"Their parents distracted you."
"Still, it's my responsibility, and I know you want to make a good impression on Luke."
"I don't think what happened today will influence his decision in any way."
"Well, that's good." Brad paused. "I also wanted to talk to you about Shari. She won't like me butting into her business, but I'm worried that she's working too much. I know she's going to cut back after the weekend, but we still don't have a replacement chef, and she seems really tired lately."
"I talked to her about it earlier. She knows we need her input on the chef search, and she's been very slow to give it. Frankly, I don't think she knows what to do with herself if she's not in the kitchen."
"I get it. But I want her off her feet a bit more."
"I will try to make that happen. "
"I know you have a lot on your plate now that Colin has passed away."
"I can handle it."
"I hope Luke leaves things the way they are. I asked him to give us a heads-up if he's going to sell. We all don't just work here; many of us live here, too."
"I don't think he'll shut us down without notice," she said. "He's not that kind of man."
Brad cocked his head to the right. "Is he the kind of man you might give a second chance to?"
She sucked in a quick breath at the question. "I—why would you ask that?"
"I saw him holding your hand. You looked good together."
"I tripped. He helped me up."
Brad grinned. "And that's the story you're sticking to?"
"That's the one."
Brad walked to the door. "We're going to show Luke's latest movie in the living room at eight tonight. I've told all the guests. Shari is going to make three different kinds of popcorn, for what reason, I do not know, but it's happening."
"Really? I didn't know about that."
"You don't mind, do you? It's movie night."
"Does Luke know?"
"I just ran it past him. He said he'd come."
"Okay, then I guess that will work."
"Good." Brad paused. "For what it's worth, Liz, I don't think he's over you. So if you're not over him…"
Brad gave her a second to answer. When she didn't respond, he left.
The door was almost closed when she finally got the words out. "I am over him."
But there was no one there to hear her vow. Just as well, because she wasn't sure she believed her own words.
