The Time for Us

Chapter One

Meradeth

"Y es, we are America’s most romantic hotel." I roll my eyes at having to repeat the line for the fourth time today. Crystal Cavern is listed in every vacation guide as a top honeymoon and couples’ vacation spot. Love seems to hang thickly in the air of the posh hotel. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a good love story as much as the next person. Today is just a particularly tough day for me. I finish taking the reservation and hang up the phone.

What’s wrong with you? Amanda asks, nudging me with her elbow as she straightens the sign on the check-in desk.

Nothing. Nothing that I want to talk about at least. I’ve practically been a mute since seeing Peter’s name on the reservation list for today. Peter Lowell. The guy who stole my heart in high school and ruined me for anyone else. High school sweethearts aren’t meant to last. That’s what everyone told me when Peter left Sapphire Springs to go to school in New York City and become a lawyer. Not that New York is far from the Poconos. Many people do the commute daily. But Peter never came back. We didn’t actually break up. We never said those words. He kissed me goodbye and gave me his famous half-smile. Then he walked out of my life for good. Or so I’d thought.

Miss? A woman in her thirties wearing a black jacket removes her gloves and places—well, more like throws—them on the desk in front of me. I said I’d like to check in. She speaks slowly as if I won’t understand her otherwise. The bitter look on her face means she’s either here alone—we do get singles on occasion—or she and her boyfriend got into a huge fight, ruining their romantic weekend.

I can get you checked in, Amanda says, coming to my rescue. Meradeth is actually on her break at the moment.

Yeah, a mental break.

The woman shakes her head and glares at me before turning to Amanda. I repress the urge to tell the woman her personality might have something to do with the fact that she’s alone. Instead, I step out from behind the desk and walk over to the fireplace. At fifty degrees outside, it’s not chilly for February, but as usual, I’m cold. My nail beds are bluish, reminding me I never took my iron supplement this morning. Having always struggled with anemia, I keep iron tablets on me at all times. I pull one from the pocket of my pants and take it without water. It scratches my throat as it descends, and I focus on the discomfort instead of Peter’s impending arrival.

According to my watch, it’s 3:05. Peter’s usually fashionably late for everything—at least he was—so he should be arriving at any minute. I shake my head, dismissing the thought. I should have asked to leave early, pretended I was sick.

Meradeth?

I’d recognize that voice anywhere. I turn my head to the right ever so slowly and take in Peter’s form. The past ten years have been good to him. All six foot two of him. He’s dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that shows off his form, and his dark hair is combed immaculately. The only time I’ve ever seen him this dressed up was when we went to prom. But he’s a lawyer now. He has to fit the part.

He reaches for me, studying my face. "It is you. I can’t believe it." He wraps me in a hug, and I will my knees not to buckle.

I breathe deeply, inhaling his cologne. It’s strong, but I can still detect his usual scent mixed in. I’ve never been able to describe what Peter smells like. It’s a scent I’ve learned to just call Peter.

He pulls back enough to look into my eyes, his hands still firmly on my arms. You’re freezing. Did you take your iron today?

My heart skips that he cares enough to remember. I nod, but then I realize I haven’t spoken a word to him. I’m standing here like an idiot. Just now, I manage to say.

His hands trail down my arms and find my hands, clasping them. His eyes take in my uniform. I had no idea you worked here. I thought you’d moved away after college.

I shake my head. I’ve always—

Loved this town. He nods. I should have known.

How is it that he can still finish my sentences as if no time has passed at all?

You look good. His fingers brush across mine, and I get the impression he’s feeling for a wedding ring. He smiles. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you.

You too. I glance down at his left hand. My heart skips again when I notice his bare ring finger. It’s been too long. I want to smack myself for saying that out loud. I clear my throat and quickly recover with, I should get you checked into your room.

Right. He releases my hands. My bag is in the car. Let me go grab it. He reaches for my hand again, squeezing it before saying, Have I mentioned it’s good to see you?

My cheeks warm, and suddenly I feel like I’m eighteen again. You might have.

He smiles. Be right back.

I head back to the concierge desk in a fog. Underneath the power suit and perfect hair, he’s still my Peter. Or at least being around me is making him act like his former self.

Who’s Mr. Tall, Dark, and Only Has Eyes For You? Amanda asks, stepping so close to me our shoulders are touching.

Someone I went to high school with, I say, trying to act as though my heart isn’t in my throat.

Right. Her perfectly plucked brows pull together. And my last date was with Chris Hemsworth. Cut the crap. Who is he?

The guy I base every guy I meet off of. The guy who made me fall in love with him the first time we kissed. The guy I always secretly hoped would come back to Sapphire Springs and sweep me off my feet.

We were high school sweethearts, but he moved away for college and I haven’t seen him since. I force a shrug as I pull up Peter’s reservation.

Hmm. Old flame, Valentine’s Day is two days away. Very interesting. She bumps her hip into mine. Is he single?

Is he single? Just because he’s not wearing a wedding ring doesn’t mean he’s not seeing someone—or even engaged. Or maybe he is married but doesn’t wear a ring. Lots of married men don’t wear wedding bands. I don’t know.

But you want to know, ri—? She grabs my hand and abruptly stops talking.

I raise my eyes to see Peter walking in with a suitcase in hand. He smiles at me, and the warmth in his eyes makes me melt. Peter’s gaze lowers to Amanda’s hand on mine, and a peculiar look washes over his face. Oh God. What if he thinks I’m a lesbian now? I yank my hand from under hers, which makes her laugh.

You must be Peter, Amanda says as Peter steps up to the desk and places his suitcase on the floor.

Peter gives me a knowing look, probably assuming I’ve told Amanda all about him. Only I haven’t. She just likes to meddle in other people’s love lives. Not that there’s anything going on between Peter and me anymore.

Don’t mind her. She saw me pull up your reservation, I say, trying to recover from my embarrassment. Amanda likes to make the customers think she’s psychic. She tells them all she sees them living long happy lives together. I wave a hand in the air, knowing I’m taking this lie way too far but unable to stop myself. I’m surprised she hasn’t been sued yet. There’s no way some of these couples haven’t divorced by now.

The corner of Amanda’s mouth tugs up in a lopsided smile. I’ve had a lot of practice recovering from her attempts to humiliate me, but this isn’t my best performance by a long shot. I know she thinks she’s doing me a favor always meddling in my life, but I really am happy with my career and where I am. Besides, Peter is only here for three nights. After that, he’ll walk out of my life again. There’s no use thinking this reunion is anything more than two old friends catching up. If even that. I might not see him again until he checks out. The thought makes my stomach sink to my black heels.

So, what brings you here for Valentine’s Day? Amanda asks Peter, leaning over the counter and resting her chin on the palm of her hand, her red curls framing her face.

I shake my head at her, which makes Peter laugh. He must be thinking exactly what I am. Amanda is a lot like our old friend Rebecca from high school. She was always prying and trying to play Cupid.

I had a few vacation days and realized I hadn’t been home in quite some time. Peter’s eyes meet mine. I was curious to see if anything had changed.

What does he mean by that? The way he’s looking at me—but no, he couldn’t have known I work here, right? He said he didn’t. Unless he lied. He could have asked someone who still lives in town. His old friend Leo still lives here. He and his fiancée ate at the Crystal Cavern Steakhouse right here just last month, so he knows I work at the hotel. Does Peter still talk to Leo?

Mer? Amanda nudges me with her elbow.

What? Both she and Peter are staring at me, and I realize they’ve continued to talk while I was lost in my thoughts. Oh. I hand Peter his room key. Sorry. You’re all set.

So is that a yes? Peter asks.

Is what a yes? What did I miss? I look back and forth between Amanda and Peter, hoping one of them will fill me in.

Yes, Amanda answers for me. She’d love to.

Love to what? Before I can ask, Peter smiles and squeezes my hand, which is still grasping his room key. For a moment, I can’t move or breathe.

I’ll meet you at Tea For Two at six. He winks at Amanda. Thanks for the restaurant suggestion. It’s been a while since I was last here.

Dinner. He wants to have dinner with me. I manage a nod, and his hand releases mine. I watch him grab his suitcase and walk away. He pauses once to look back at me and smile.

Wow, Amanda says. I’m not sure which one of you has it worse.

What do you mean? I’m still staring after him, unable to look away.

That. That right there. She takes me by my shoulders and turns me toward her. Her gaze seems to look right through me. It’s obvious you both still feel something for each other. Something intense.

Really? No. I can’t think like that. It doesn’t matter. He’s only in town visiting. Nothing can happen. Nothing that would last anyway.

She lets go of me and narrows her eyes. So you’re not even going to see where this could lead?

And get my heart broken all over again? I don’t think so. I barely survived losing Peter the first time. I know I won’t survive it again. It would hurt twice as much, and I’m pretty sure that would leave me to become a crazy cat lady. Besides, I couldn’t handle the conversation with my mother. She’s already on my case for being twenty-eight and single. If I have to hear one more time that she wants grandchildren...

You’re going to dinner with him though, right? Amanda’s face is a wash of compassion, which means my true feelings are probably coming through loud and clear. I want Peter back more than anything.

Yeah. I’ll go. But I doubt I’ll see him much after that. I can’t. I won’t put my heart in that position.

Chapter Two

Peter

On the walk up to my room, I can’t do anything but think about Meradeth. She has no idea I did my homework and found out she works here. She has no idea the real reason I came back this weekend. It’s a secret I plan to keep for now. First, I have to see if my instincts are right. That my feelings for her are still what they used to be.

For the past ten years, I haven’t been able to commit to anyone. Not a single woman. In college, I had my share of dates, but none of those girls lasted for one reason: they weren’t Meradeth. Plain and simple. I knew nothing would come of continuing to date them, so I cut them loose. I thought I was doing the gentlemanly thing, not leading them on. But college girls can be sensitive, not to mention catty. After a few months, I had a reputation for being a date and ditcher as they called it. One date and done. The rumors grew, and girls all over campus thought I was only after one thing. It wasn’t true, but I couldn’t convince them of that. So I stopped dating, unless a new student arrived and asked me out.

Then I got so caught up in graduating and working for Uncle Will that my dating consisted of random hookups at bars every few months. I’m not proud of that, but I find solace in the fact that I always told the women upfront that I wasn’t looking for anything more. I never looked because I’d already found the perfect woman for me. She’s been here where I left her before college.

Sir?

I shake my head, realizing I’m still in the elevator.

We’ve stopped at every floor, the woman says, eyeing me like I’ve had a few too many drinks for this early in the afternoon. Are you not sure where your room is?

Sorry. I think the air in the plane did me in.

She nods. Always gives me a headache. There’s no proper circulation in that cabin. You’re just breathing in other people’s germs. She smiles at me. Where are you coming from?

New York City. I know it seems odd to take a plane when I could have taken a train, bus, or car, but the law firm I work for has frequent flyer miles to use up and I figured I could get a little shut eye. Truthfully, I’d never flown before and Uncle Will said I better get used to it. He suggested I take a short flight like this one to break me in, so to speak.

Well, take some aspirin and lie down for a bit. You’ll be fine in a few hours. She gets off the elevator as it stops in the main lobby.

I duck behind the door, not wanting to risk Meradeth seeing me and thinking I’m a complete idiot—even though I clearly am. A couple gets inside the elevator, groping each other as if they’re alone. I clear my throat, which makes the woman jump back and then laugh.

Sorry. Didn’t know anyone else was in here, she says.

Her husband, judging by the sparkling ring on her finger, presses the button for the fourth floor, and I realize I haven’t hit