Free The Christmas Inn by Stella Maclean Page A

alone.”
    “I’m sorry, Marnie. I had no choice. They’d only take the
booking if I made the reservation under both our names. Is that a problem?”
    She nearly choked on her anger. “No, not at all, if you don’t
mind being told by the manager that you can’t stay unless you pretend to be his
assistant so no one will see a single person here during the Christmas Getaway
event for couples—only couples. But the most fun of all is that I have to lie to
people about who I am,” Marnie yelled.
    Someone knocked at the door. “Is everything all right?” a man’s
voice inquired.
    Damn! All she needed was for someone to go down to the desk and
complain about a crazy woman screaming on the third floor. “I’m fine,” she
called through the door, summoning the voice she used to calm unhappy
clients.
    “Who are you talking to?” Scott asked.
    “You. I’m talking to you. I’m not spending the next three days
here under these circumstances.”
    “Point taken. But calm down a little while I think.”
    “There’s nothing to think about! I’m coming back tomorrow. You
and your questionnaire are history. Don’t ever ask me to do anything for you
ever again.”
    There was a long silence, giving Marnie time to catch her
breath and settle onto the bed, being careful not to hit her head this time.
“Did you hear me?”
    “I did. I did. But look, I really need this survey done, and
you’re the only person I can call on at such short notice to do it.”
    “But why do you need it if they’re simply going to sell the inn
anyway?”
    “I told you. They have this buyer who’s interested, but he
doesn’t want any problems on the operational front. He’s looking for a turnkey
operation, and Angus McAndrew is determined to sell him one. That’s where you
come in.”
    “And if I find a problem?”
    “Just get the forms filled out and get them off to me. Angus is
calling daily to hear if there are any problems, and I need to know the minute
you find anything, understood?”
    Scott never allowed anything to get in the way of what he
wanted. He’d been like that since the day he found out he stood to qualify for
the Olympic swimming team. He’d not only practiced with the best coach
available, he’d driven himself and the rest of his family nearly crazy in his
quest to achieve his goal, and he had succeeded. He was a champion athlete—the
pride of the McLaughlan clan. “I’m not sure if this will work.”
    “I’m depending on you, Marnie. Don’t let me down.”
    She didn’t know what to say. She was here, and she’d promised
to do this for him. She owed him a lot, and this was the first time he’d ever
asked her for a favor. “I wish I hadn’t agreed to this.”
    “Look, I know you can do it, and I’ve kept my side of the
bargain. Mom thinks you’re away with no cell-phone access, so we’ve both had to
tell little white lies.”
    “And your little white lie will also get me in trouble with Mom
if she finds out the truth. She’ll never blame you. She’ll blame me for putting
you up to it.”
    “No, Marnie. If it ever comes out, I’ll take full
responsibility. I promise.”
    “Then take responsibility now. Call the inn and tell them the
truth.”
    “What? That you’re there under false pretenses? That not only
are you not married, but that you’re there to check up on the inn’s operations?
What would that accomplish?”
    “I don’t know.... You can’t tell them why I’m here, but you
could tell them we’re not married, that you made a mistake. With the way my life
is going at the moment, they’d probably ask me to leave.”
    “Why? You’re a paying guest.”
    But how could she have any relationship with Luke that wasn’t
based on honesty? As long as Luke believed she was married, and she didn’t tell
him the truth, there would be no chance for anything with him beyond the
occasional cup of coffee.
    “The manager has offered me to pose as his assistant for the
duration of my stay, and