Ransom didn’t want his time with Evan to end, but he understood that it cost Isabelle a lot just to leave them be for a few minutes. He’d take what he could and savor any time he would have with his son for now. “Um, it’s almost lunchtime,” he said. “Silke’ll be expecting us.”
“If you can grab his food, I’ll run upstairs and get his diaper bag. Is it far?”
“Naw, but we’ll take my truck.”
Minutes later, they were on their way to the lodge. Ransom made a mental note to thank Cross for insisting on taking the car seat as now Evan was happily strapped in the back while Isabelle rode in the passenger seat. Soon, they pulled into the parking lot and were headed inside the lobby. Silke was already at the reception area with Sabrina and Arlene, who helped her run the lodge and also happened to be Bo’s old lady.
“There you are!” Silke’s face lit up as they drew nearer. “I was just telling Arlene all about you and Evan.”
“I’m Arlene. It’s lovely to meet you Isabelle,” the older woman said. “Oh, and aren’t you precious? Silke was right, you are Ransom’s spitting image! Are you sure you gave birth to him?”
“That’s what I said,” Silke joked. “The resemblance … it’s startling.”
“Isn’t it?” Sabrina added. “I knew I’d seen that scowl somewhere.”
Isabelle, to her credit, chuckled as she handed Evan over to Silke. The boy was reaching out for her, and the moment Silke took him, he grabbed fistfuls of her red locks. “Looks like you’re all ready to pull on girls’ pigtails in the playground,” she said. “He’s adorable.”
“And those eyes!” Arlene slipped out from behind the reception table for a closer inspection. “They’re so beautiful. Just like you, sugar,” she said to Isabelle. “I can see why Ransom’s had his panties in a twist for the last year or so.”
Isabelle blushed prettily and said nothing but avoided his gaze.
“So, lunch?” he asked. “I’m starving.”
“You always are,” Silke said wryly. “But c’mon, let’s go get some food.”
They walked into the dining room just off the main lobby. The hostess sat them at a table in a corner, and Isabelle secured Evan in a high chair a member of the waitstaff had brought over.
“This is a lovely place,” Isabelle said.
“That’s what I thought,” Sabrina said. “By the way, Silke, I have my paints and canvas ready. I’m going to get started on that painting of the lake for you today.”
“That’s wonderful, and sweet of you, sugar.” Silke beamed. “Thank you.” The Seven Peaks Lodge and Cabins were Silke’s pride and joy, her true love, as she called it. “It was my mother’s family’s business, and she left it to me when she passed. I was a baby then, but Pops, Bo, and Arlene ran it while I was growing up.”
“I can’t imagine what it’s like running this place with just you guys,” Isabelle remarked. “My mother used to run our family restaurant in Jersey when her mother and grandmother passed.”
Silke leaned forward. “Oh, so you’re experienced in the restaurant business.”
“She works as a hostess at a restaurant in New York,” Ransom said.
“I also work as the manager. Well, almost the manager,” she corrected, raising a brow at Ransom. “I’ve been doing it for a couple of months now.”
“But the restaurant business is in your blood,” Silke said. “Maybe you can give me some pointers? I mean, the lodge is profitable, but this place”—she glanced around surreptitiously—“I can’t turn a profit. I mainly have it so I can serve breakfast, however, as you can see,” she gestured to the mostly empty dining room, “no one wants to eat here.”
“Hmm.” Isabelle scratched her chin. “I’d like to see your operations and kitchens, but I’m not experienced enough to give you solid advice, so I might have to ask my Uncle Dante or Mama for help.”
“Really?” Silke looked at her hopefully. “That would be amazing. Thank you.”
“Hey, at least I’ll have something to do and won’t be bored out of my mind while in captivity,” she said as she casually glanced at the menu.
“Captivity?” Silke asked.
“Yes.” She smiled sweetly at Ransom. “Didn’t you tell your sister that you kidnapped me? Dosed me with a sleeping potion and had me and Evan brought here without asking me?”
“Goodness!” the redhead exclaimed. “Is this true, Ransom? Did you kidnap them?”
“When you put it like that, it sounds really bad,” he said. “I prefer to think of it as keeping them safe.”
“Ransom,” Silke warned.
“What?” he shrugged. “Someone tried to hurt my son last night. And I know they’ll be safe here, where I can keep an eye on them.”
His sister frowned at him. “I was under the impression you two were ‘together’ which was why you agreed to come here.” She looked at Sabrina suspiciously, but the human suddenly found the paint job on the ceiling interesting.
“We aren’t,” Isabelle said quickly.
“Yet,” he added saucily which earned him a scowl from Isabelle.
“Oh, my.” Silke smirked at Arlene and Sabrina. “This is going to be interesting, isn’t it?”
“Can we order? I’m hungry.” He signaled for the waiter to come over, and he took their orders.
“I’ve decided something,” Silke said. “I’m going to close the deck outside tonight so we can have a party.”
“Another party?” Ransom asked. “Didn’t you just have one when Sabrina came?”
“Yeah, but I’m going to be asking everyone to work harder the next couple of days just to get everything ready for our new guests,” Silk reasoned. “It’ll be a good way to thank them in advance. It’s just burgers and drinks, nothing fancy.”
“A party sounds nice,” Sabrina said.
“Well, my party days are over,” Isabelle said. “You guys have fun.”
“But Isabelle, I want to throw this party for you too,” Silke said.
“Silke, no,” she protested. “Please.”
“C’mon, it’ll be fun, and you’ll get to meet the rest of the guys,” she said. “They’re all dying to meet you, and that way, you won’t be surprised if they decide to just pop up to get
