Page 5 of Can't Fight the Moonlight

Chapter Two

Lizzie drewseveral deep breaths as she drove Justin to the inn. Despite her confident words, she was not feeling that sure of herself, but that's the way she rolled. She believed in faking it until she could make it. She'd spent most of her life finding ways to cover up her deficiencies and look like the success story she believed she would one day be. But even her positive attitude was starting to sag under the weight of one problem after another. And this latest problem…well, her heart was still beating way too fast, and it wasn't just because of the crash she might have inadvertently played a role in; it was also because of Justin.

When Marie and Benjamin Blackwood had said they were booking a room for their grandson, she'd had no idea he would be the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. Justin's dark- blue eyes were the color of the sea, his brown hair was filled with thick waves, and the scruff on his cheeks only made him sexier. But the man was also wound super tight. And his obsession with his work, his phone, and his computer made it clear he was all about his job.

Not that she minded a man with a passion; she certainly had passion for her work. But she tried to keep at least a little balance in her life. She wondered if Justin had any balance. It didn't appear that way. He'd called his vacation an obligation, which seemed strange, because his grandparents were two of the nicest people she'd ever met, and they were fun. They had energy and charm. They liked to dance and eat and talk to people. Coming to their wedding should not have been a chore for him.

"Why aren't you excited about your grandparents' vow renewal?" she asked, the question slipping past her lips before she could stop herself from butting into his life. On the other hand, being a good innkeeper meant understanding her guests—knowing what they needed and trying to meet that need.

"It's not coming at a good time for me. I was supposed to be in London on Friday," he answered.

"For work?"

"Yes. I'm about to close a big deal. The person I had hoped to send in my place is now unavailable, so I have to hand off a very important presentation to someone who probably isn't qualified to do the best job. That's why I need my electronics. I have to help him with the pitch, make sure he can get through the presentation without looking like an idiot."

"What kind of deal is it? What do you do?"

"I own a robotics company."

"Robots?" she echoed, flinging him a surprised look. "How did you get into that? Are you a geek?"

He smiled, bringing warmth into his eyes for the first time, and damn if it didn't make him more attractive. "Maybe. I got into robotics a long time ago, but I'm not the technological genius; that's my partner Eric. I run the business side."

"What do your robots do?"

"All kinds of things from packaging to mobility solutions, food preparation and law enforcement. It's a rapidly growing field, and a global one."

"Which is why you're supposed to be in London and not in Whisper Lake."

"Exactly."

"Well, at the end of the day your presence will make your grandparents happy. That must count for something."

"It's the only reason I'm here."

"It will be fun."

"So you've promised. I hope you don't let me down, but you certainly wouldn't be the first."

The cynical edge was back in his voice. She wondered who'd let him down. She had a feeling it was someone very close to him. "I will not let you down," she heard herself promise, hoping she wouldn't prove to be a liar.

"Tell me about yourself," Justin said, surprising her with his interest.

Up until this point, she'd written him off as someone only interested in himself, but maybe she had judged him too quickly.

"You said you're the innkeeper," he continued. "Do you work for someone?"

"The toughest boss in the world—myself," she said with a smile. "My dream of owning an inn started when I was about fifteen, but it took me thirteen years to make it happen."

"Do you have a partner?"

"No, I'm on my own, but I have investors who need me to succeed, so my success is as much for them as for me." She paused, her gaze narrowing as she saw the swelling on his face. "Your cheek is turning purple, and your eye is swelling."

"It's not a big deal."

"Do you have a headache?"

"A small one," he conceded.

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