Seducing the Innkeeper (At First Sight Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

showed me. They thought they were funny.”
    “Half aunts.” Mark held in a laugh.
    The boy stood with the boat in one hand and the control in the other. “They’re Mom’s half-sisters so that makes them half aunts. When my grandfather and their mother died Mom had to take care of them.”
    Mark sucked in a breath. Was that the reason Christa had left school so suddenly. That didn’t explain why she hadn’t told him about the pregnancy. “I can see why you call them that. Very inventive.”
    “I’m glad they’re only half. They’re always bothering Mom for money and things, especially since Peggy finished college and they came here to live. Mom does all the work.” He started up the path and turned. “If you’re not a ghost, who are you?”
    “Mark Blakefield.” Though he wanted to identify himself as the man in the picture he couldn’t. Not until he and Christa talked.
    “See you.” The boy ran off.
    “Wait.” But his son had vanished. Did the boy suspect the truth? What was his son’s name? The encounter made the talk with Christa imperative. He turned and strode to the inn. A green Jeep pulled out of the lot.
    When he entered the lobby the elderly woman seated behind the counter looked up. “Can I help you?”
    “I’m looking for Christa.”
    “You just missed her. Do you want to leave a message?”
    Matt shook his head. “I’ll catch her later. He turned from the desk and returned to the cottage.
     
    * * *
     
    Christa and Davy returned from their run to the bank in time to eat dinner at the inn before the place was crowded by guests and locals. Her son’s silence puzzled her. Usually the trip to and from town was filled with stories of his friends, school and anything popping into his thoughts. Since he’d returned from the lake he’d been thoughtful.
    Her stomach roiled. Had he met Mark? Had Mark made a threat or an announcement? She needed to know but was afraid to ask.
    After the waitress brought their food Christa reached for Davy’s hand. “Is something bothering you?”
    He looked up. “Sort of. I know there are no ghosts but he isn’t one.”
    Christa’s hand tightened. “Tell me what happened.” She released her son’s hand when fear flashed in his eyes.
    “There’s this man I saw by the lake. He looked a lot like the picture the half aunts showed me last month. They took it from your wallet. They told me he was my dad and I thought he was dead. Did he have a brother?”
    Christa drew a deep breath. The time had come. How much could she tell him? “Would you like him to be your dad?”
    Davy shrugged. “Never thought about having one. Might be fun. He said he was Mark something.”
    “Did he say anything else?” She hated the sharp edge to her voice.
    “Just that he wasn’t a ghost. He didn’t touch me or anything. He stared a bit. Didn’t even ask my name. I ran off ‘cause I didn’t want to miss going to town.”
    Relief washed through Christa. Mark had behaved in a way she hadn’t expected. She needed to tell her son about the events of the past but she had to know Mark’s intentions. She would fight any move on his part to take Davy away. “Do you need to talk more about this?”
    He shook his head. “I need to think if I want a dad or not. I don’t want to live without you.”
    “I won’t let that happen.”
    “Okay.” He lifted his fork and attacked the food.
    Christa smiled. Davy would be fine. Would she? Until she spoke to Mark she wouldn’t know what he intended to do. “Mrs. Lowry will take you home. Peggy and Stella are working tonight. I have to check on them.”
    He nodded. “That’s good. They’re nosy and always acting like they know secrets.”
    And they did. About Mark. And their thefts. Now about Davy. Though she hadn’t denied his claim the pair could use their knowledge to hurt her and Davy.
    Christa tasted the Yankee pot roast and sighed with satisfaction. The dish was perfect. She only wished her appetite was equal to the