Page 54 of Come to Me

“I bet I’ll so such a good job, you’ll offer me a job. That would take care of my problems.”

Micki hated how much she liked that idea. It was silly. “We can only afford penance pay.”

“I imagine I’d have to work for years to pay penance.” Again, his eyes shone with regret. “I am truly sorry, Michaela.”

The way he said her name did things to her that shouldn’t be going on. “I’ve got to get back to…” She couldn’t remember what was on her list.

“See you at four.” He picked up the supplies and went to the front door.

She watched him until he disappeared into the cabin. What happened during his trip today? Whatever it was, she liked the fact that he was in better spirits. It would make these last weeks go easier if she wasn’t walking on eggshells around him.

She returned to the lodge to help her mother with afternoon chores. Lori bustled about, as she always did whether they had guests or not. Her father sat at the table, going through their Fourth of July decorations.

“What’s Dr. Andres up to now?” Lori asked as she looked out the window toward the cabin he was cleaning. “Is he moving into another cabin?”

“He’s paying penance.”

Lori arched a brow. “Oh?”

Micki realized she was on the verge of revealing too much.

“What for?” her father asked.

“He was a little rude after the four wheeling. He apologized and offered to help. So, he’s cleaning the cabin.”

“I don’t understand that man.” Her mother looked out the window again. “He’s here for R and R. Why is he working? Why does he care about being rude? It’s not like we haven’t had rude guests. None offered to work because of it.”

Michi shrugged innocently. “I don’t know. He’s probably bored. He doesn’t do anything.”

“Well, I'm impressed with how much he’s helped out around here," Joe remarked. “Most men of his ilk would look down on hard labor. I’m wondering if he’s taken a shine to you, Micki.”

A flush creeped up her neck, suddenly self-conscious. "Why would you think that?”

“Why else would a young man of his stature want to clean? To impress you.”

She shook her head, even as the thought of Patrick trying to impress her boosted her ego. “He's just trying to make himself useful.” She hoped her tone sounded casual.

Lori paused in mixing more cookie batter, wiping a stray strand of hair from her brow. "You’ve been spending an awful lot of time with him, Micki."

Micki shifted uncomfortably, her gaze darting between her parents. "He's a guest. I'm just making sure he feels welcome and that he has what he needs to enjoy his stay."

Joe took a sip of his tea. "Well, he's certainly got a good work ethic, even if he is a little out of his element."

She had to agree. The awkward, reserved man she had first encountered had slowly begun to shed his layers, revealing a man burdened by guilt and duty, certainly not something she’d expect from a man of his ilk, as her father would call it.

"I think being here has been good for him." She still couldn’t be sure what this new incarnation of Patrick meant or if it would last. But maybe, just maybe, she’d be interested in enjoying the last few weeks of his stay.

At four, Patrick arrived at the desk for his tea and cookies. Micki served him, but because she wasn’t quite ready to accept this new version of him, she excused herself to take care of other resort chores. That didn’t mean she didn’t occasionally look out the window to see what he was doing. Each time, he was talking affably with her father or Tate.

Later that evening, after dinner, Micki headed to her room, looking out over the moon’s glow on the lake. The door to Patrick’s cabin opened, and she watched from the shadows as Patrick emerged. At first, she was taken in by the fact that he wasn’t wearing a shirt. What was he doing?

He strode to the end of the deck and dove into the water. When he surfaced, he shook the water from his face and then lay back, floating in the water. A part of her yearned to join him, to feel the cool caress of the water and the heat of his body against her skin. But Micki held back, her gaze transfixed on the man who remained an enigma to her.

The following day, he again helped her around the resort. She started to feel like Princess Buttercup and Patrick was Wesley, who’d look at her with knowing as he accepted his task. The only thing missing was him saying, “As you wish.”

That evening, she found herself drawn to watch his cabin, her eyes searching the darkness for any sign of movement. Sure enough, Patrick emerged, and without hesitation, he slipped into the lake once more. Micki started toward the path, but stopped, chastising herself for her growing attachment to him.

On the third night, Micki could no longer ignore the pull. As Patrick dove into the water, she made her way to the dock. She perched on the edge, dangling her feet over the side and watching as Patrick surfaced, his dark hair slicked back from his face.

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