Take a Chance on Me(17)

There is nothing between Darek Christiansen and me.

And there wouldn’t be. Because she didn’t need darkness and trouble in her life. Especially if there was some kind of crazy ex-wife in the picture.

Except . . . well, it wouldn’t hurt to give him another chance, would it? Especially since she doubted very much that his name would ever land on the assistant county attorney’s desk.





These were exactly the type of guests Evergreen Resort needed. A young family with four rambunctious children—three boys and a toddler daughter all under the age of eight, not old enough to miss cell phone service or Facebook. Sure, they piled out of their SUV with handheld gaming gadgets, but their smart father ordered the hardware left in the car while Darek checked them in and showed them around the resort.

“There’s a playground of sorts by the house. A sandbox and a tire swing, a basketball hoop,” Darek said, pointing to the ancient recreation area. “And horseshoes, bocce ball, and a badminton set in the shed.”

Overhead the sky had turned into watercolor glory, reds and golds and lavender painted across the horizon. “There’s a restaurant down the road, or you can always fire up your barbecue.” He had put them in the largest cabin, a three-bedroom with homemade quilts, a tiny kitchen with a retro Formica table and chairs. “There’s a canoe down by the shore; feel free to take it out. The life jackets and paddles are in a corral nearby. And of course, a paddleboat available at the swimming area down by the dock. We also have a floating raft with a slide on it, but there’s no lifeguard, so you’re on your own.”

“No problem,” the man said. “We came here to spend time together as a family.” He eyed the oldest son, who seemed to be pining for his gaming console. But the boy smiled back at his father.

“There’s a booklet of all the nearby hikes and activities in the cabin, and if you want to add a fishing trip, I can arrange that.”

“Fishing!” one of the other boys exclaimed. “Cool.”

Darek smiled at that. Once upon a time he lived for the hours on the lake with his father and brothers, pulling in walleye.

He walked the family back to the lodge, a towering building that anchored the property, built from hand-hewn logs his great-great-grandfather felled. “You can buy essentials at the canteen.” He pointed to a tiny alcove of supplies and snacks, including a small freezer with pizzas and ice cream, next to the resort check-in counter. The front office was actually just an extension of the main lodge, where guests could come and enjoy the view of the lake from the expansive deck or read a novel in the public living room. Darek’s family had their own private quarters on the other side of the living room wall, the stone fireplace linking the two sides, their bedrooms upstairs.

“Honey, we should pick up a pizza or two for the kids,” the man’s wife said, her daughter perched on her hip.

They were leaving outfitted with pizzas and ice cream sandwiches just in time for Tiger to race in from where he’d been helping his grandfather clean fish. The smells of the lake and fresh air lifted off him and stirred a childhood longing in Darek.

“I caught a fish this big!” Tiger said, eyeing the guests and holding his arms open.

“Already mastering the art of the whopper,” Darek said, glancing at the bandage over his son’s eye. Seemed soiled but intact.

“Looks like the fish took a bite outta you,” the father said, and Tiger laughed.

“We had a little mishap with a bunk bed,” Darek said.

Tiger grinned up at him. “Don’t forget about the Muffin Man, Daddy!”

The Muffin Man. Right. “Let me get these guests settled, and we’ll head out.” He picked up the keys to the family’s cabin. “Can I help you with your luggage?”

The man shook his head. “That’s why I have sons; right, boys?”

The three towheaded boys nodded and scampered outside. Their father took the keys from Darek. “You have a beautiful place here. I came here once with my parents. Best week of my life. I’ve been looking forward to coming back for years.”

“Let me know if you need anything,” Darek said as he spotted Tiger helping himself to an ice cream sandwich. “Not yet, sparky. Let’s go.”

Tiger made a face but hustled out to the Jeep.

“Mom, we’re taking off,” Darek said, popping his head into the private quarters.

Ingrid looked up from where she stood in the kitchen, making bread. “Are our guests settled?”

“Looks like it.”

“I might wander down later and check on them.”

Of course she would. With a fresh batch of sticky buns. One of the secret touches of Evergreen Resort—the homey extras.