Page 7 of A Second Chance Christmas Kiss

“Uh, no.” Once again, Charles King’s face flashed into my mind. “Not interested in running into Charles again.”

She frowned. “We need to fill the table. C’mon, maybe you and Charles can start something up.”

“Stop,” I said, a little too forcefully.

Gretchen didn’t. “You know the town is raising money for the new cancer wing. Would you deny raising money for cancer?”

I laughed at her dramatics, though Charles’s sweet sister’s face popped into my mind. “I’m not going.”

We got to the community college, and I paused at the steps.

“I’m reserving space at our table for you,” Gretchen said.

“I told you, that ship has sailed.” I turned away from her, starting up the steps.

She tsked her tongue. “No, you’re getting back into the harbor.”

I shook my head without slowing down. “See you tomorrow.”

“Fine, see you tomorrow!”

Chapter Four

Charles

I took the turn onto the King property and paused to type in the security code. The large gate opened, and I stomped on the gas, going faster than I probably should. I wanted answers, and I wanted them now. The old lady had to know things. She’d ordered that doll from the store; she had to know that Melody … Paine was back in town and had wanted me to run into her.

Not that it had been bad to run into Melody. No. It had been quite interesting to see her beauty again. Her class. Her graceful ways. She was the same, yet so different.

I parked right in front of the house. Most of the staff and visitors usually parked in the garage or along the side of the house, but I wasn’t just anyone.

Technically, I owned the place. According to the law, anyway. Grandmother had turned things over to me a long time ago. My siblings inherited parts of the estate, but I was the sole inheritor of the main house.

I got out of my truck and slammed the door. After a moment of wondering what I was forgetting, I reopened the door and grabbed the doll.

As I walked inside, I ran into Henry. “How was your outing, sir?” he asked. Henry was in his early seventies, but he’d worked here as long as I could remember. His wife had passed away two years ago, and she was buried in the family cemetery. Henry belonged to this place as much as any of my family.

“It was fine.” I took off my coat and handed it to him. I had long ago learned to let everyone do their job. If I didn’t, my grandfather had taught me, then they wouldn’t have a job and there would be no use for them. Letting them do their job was what they wanted.

I began walking down the hallway toward my grandmother’s wing.

I was met by Hazel, her longtime nurse and friend. Hazel was in her late sixties. “Hello, sir. Your grandmother is sleeping right now.”

“Oh.” I knew it was better to let my grandmother get some much-needed rest. Her health had not been the best lately. Which was surprising, because she’d always been in good health, even at her age. When I’d gotten here a couple days ago, I’d been shocked to realize she was slowing down, and that her heart murmur had been acting up. She’d told me she had dizzy spells and was getting tired more easily. “Okay, Hazel. When she wakes up, will you come get me?”

Hazel nodded. “Right when she wakes up, sir.”

With the doll package in my arms, I headed back toward the center of the house. A large greeting area waited for me at the end of the wing, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the backyard.

I paused and looked outside. The weather seemed less windy and sunnier today. This property was not on the beach, but there were horses and stables. I’d loved coming here in the summers, and I had many fond memories of my brothers and friends swimming in the pool and going horseback riding. Maybe it wasbecause I’d just seen Melody, but all those memories rushed back to me.

As if Henry could sense that I was thinking about being entertained with my friends, he emerged. “Sir, would you take lunch today?”

“No, thank you. I will take dinner with my grandmother later.” Even though I’d longed for chocolate muffins only an hour before, I was not hungry at all.

He nodded and headed back for the kitchen.

I moved toward the library and my grandfather’s office—my office now. I opened the double French doors and then closed them behind me. I put the doll on the couch and lit the gas fireplace, and then wandered past the desk and over toward the side window, which looked out on the property as far as the eye could see.

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