Ok so...my husband seems to have fixed my computer....I should be able to get back to writing the end of this story.....pen and paper just don't seem to work the same......on with the show....thank you for the reviews, the mean so much and help my muse. So please keep them coming.
"Some thing about 'Lake Effect'. The whole city is covered in snow and doesn't look like it's gonna stop any time soon." Cal said coming up the stairs to stand next to Gillian, shooting Paul a look, as if to tell him to continue what he was doing…getting away from her.
"What about the seminar?" she asked, sent Paul an apologetic expression for Cal's behaviour, as he nodded to her and left.
"I talked to Corporal Brian Mackenzie, the Mountie, at the hotel, he said we'd reschedule for tomorrow morning, get everyone at the same time and we'll all be heading home as planned." He picked a piece of lint off the hip of her skirt, then looked up the stairs where Paul had disappeared, "So, Paul asking if you'd like a mint on your pillow?" he was eyeing her again.
"Stop it, Cal." She gave him a disapproving look. "If you hadn't interrupted I would have told him I wasn't interested."
"Not what it looked like to me." He was grinning again. She was beginning to hate that grin.
"He's just a boy." She started down the stairs. She caught a whiff of coffee and decided it was too early in the morning for that conversation.
"He's legal." Cal replied and followed.
Gillian followed the scent of coffee through the living room into a dinning room. Tables lined the far right wall that looked out on the almost blindingly white wonderland behind the Inn. The B&B's other guests were already sporadically seated.
A young couple with a small child sat near the bar where Shirley was busy arranging muffins and scones. The woman was trying to get her baby to drink from a bottle while the man was watching the young woman talking to Shirley. The young woman was leaning on the bar, her hip jutting out at an impossible angle and was obviously displeased with something.
Gillian glanced at Cal. She recognised the expression on his face as he looked the other guests over. She suddenly worried he was going to alienate them all by reading them. He might not do it right away, but once he got bored he would, and he was going to get bored.
"Why don't you hack the Lightman Group security cameras from your lap-top and mess with Loker." She offered as she handed him a mug of coffee. She knew the second he looked at her that he knew what she was doing and he put up his hand in a surrender motion.
"I wasn't doin' anything."
"Not yet." She gave him a pointed look over the rim of her coffee mug. He shrugged.
"This isn't Vegas, I can control myself." He offered, paused then waved his hand for her to dismiss his comment. She just shook her head.
"Go call Emily."
"And talk about what?"
Gillian glanced out the large windows to the huge snowflakes coming from the sky. They almost connected together to form a continuous white sheet in front of the woodsy background.
"Tell her how beautiful Canada is." Cal scoffed. He slouched back in his chair, his chin almost touching his chest.
"Naw, I think she'd rather hear about Paul."
Gillian opened her mouth for a snarky reply but closes it when Shirley ambled up, squeezing her large frame through the tables and chairs.
"I'm so sorry again about last night." She's flushed slightly, but Gillian wasn't sure it was from embarrassment or exertion. "I'm also sorry to have to tell ya that the conditions for tonight don't look any different." Gillian wanted to be irritated but the older woman truly looked apologetic.
Cal glanced between them,
"'S alright, I'll just trade rooms with Paul." He was looking at Gillian to gauge her reaction so his missed the surprise and unamused expression on Shirley's face before she smacked him up the back of his head. Gillian almost choked on her coffee.
"Oi, what was that for?" he asked rubbing the back of his head.
Shirley gave him a disapproving look, putting her hands on her plump hips,
"That was for insulting Ms. Foster."
"What, no love for your son?" Cal joked, ducking back slightly, he was grinning and Gillian could only guess he'd had many experiences with mother figures like this.
Shirley sighed,
"Honey, I love my son but he's a dog. And I haven't missed how he looks at you." She said pointedly to Gillian.
Gillian was tired of blushing. She was tired of Cal making jokes about it too. She tried to hide it behind her mug.
"I'm going to get some of the other guest together for a card game, if you're interested." Shirley said, gratefully changing the subject.
"If it's poker, I'm all in." Cal replied, raising his eye brows at Gillian, silently asking her if she would join him. "We could get some strip poker going," he ducked his head, sliding out of Shirley's reach, "Bet Paul would get in on that."
They both gave him a dirty look.
"I think I'll pass." Gillian replied getting up, Shirley took her mug, "Thanks. I think I'll get my book and read by the fire."
Cal shot her a look of astonishment.
"You're going to leave me alone with these people to play poker?"
Gillian reached over and patted his shoulder while she turned to Shirley,
"Cal Lightman is an expert at lie detection. He was kicked out of Vegas because of it. But he would love to play for fun. You'll keep an eye on him wont you?" she asked politely then gave Cal a smug smile.
Shirley nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder,
"Yes, I think I can do that."
To Be Continued…