Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“You don’t have to leave, you know.”
Liz’s fingers paused on the button of her jeans, and she leveled Carson with a knowing look. “Yeah, I do. As opposed to other people I know who can afford to lounge around all day, I have work to do.”
“Do you typically work on a Saturday?”
“Sometimes. Kind of comes with the entrepreneur territory.” She raised an eyebrow. “Somebody took up most of my working hours yesterday and then all of my evening.”
Carson’s eyes heated. “Sounds like that somebody should pay you overtime.”
“I don’t know if he can afford me.”
Carson laughed then winced as he pulled himself higher in bed.
“How’s it feeling this morning?” she asked, gesturing to his leg.
“Awesome.” The way he sucked in a breath as he shifted position said otherwise.
“Carson—”
He cut her off with a look. “Liz. I’m fine. Really.” Narrowing his eyes, he added, “Unless you want to stay. Maybe see if a massage will help…”
“I think we both know what happens if I stay and give you a massage.”
“Yeah.” Carson grinned. “Hopefully a happy ending.”
Liz rolled her eyes and huffed a laugh. “I’m not sure Marie or her plant nursery’s five-year business plan would appreciate our happy ending.” Especially not if Liz didn’t have it finished and ready for their Tuesday meeting.
“Marie can get her own happy ending.”
Shaking her head, Liz shoved her feet into her shoes.
“That’s what they pay me the big bucks for.
To get them their happy ending.” Hands on her hips, she gave him the shrewd, powerful-businesswoman stare she’d practiced over the years.
“But if you play your cards right, I might be persuaded to help you out later.”
Carson mimicked her stare, and goosebumps surfaced on her arms as her nipples pebbled. Damn. Nothing like a taste of one’s own medicine to stoke the fires. “We’ll see who helps who out,” he muttered.
Liz gulped, one hundred percent sure she needed to get out of his room right this absolute minute before her panties burst into flame, while simultaneously wanting to stay and see how he made it happen.
She toyed with the idea of running back to her place and grabbing her computer, then coming back to work at the inn.
But Marie deserved her full attention, and she didn’t trust she’d be able to focus with Carson in the room.
Steeling herself, she quickly finished getting dressed. “Okay. I’ll see you later.”
“Promise?” Carson’s steely-eyed stare morphed into something else. Vulnerability shone on his features, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed several times. “I mean, you’re not pushing me away again, right?”
“No.” She wasn’t, was she? No. Definitely not.
Was she a little scared about this rather sudden turn of events?
Absolutely. A little confused? Of course.
But was she running? No. Crossing the room, she perched on the bed next to him.
“I really do have to work. But I do want to see you later.” Shit. Would there be a later?
A bout of nerves made her stomach feel like a bag of worms. She took a breath and tried to calm the wriggling. “So, uh, how much longer are you planning on staying?”
Carson twined his fingers through hers. “In light of recent events, I think it would be prudent to extend my stay through the weekend. If that’s okay with you?”
The wriggling subsided, and something that felt like a combination of peace and comfort spread through her body. “It’s more than okay.” She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips, then withdrew her hand and stood up before things took a turn for the hot and heavy again.
“Let me know when you’re finished, and we can get some more overtime in.” Carson winked. “But seriously,” he added, “we should get together later and have another strategy session. We can be even more diabolical with the betting pool, and we can work on Uncle Arnold’s business, too.”
Liz eyed him shrewdly. “Totally professionally, I’m sure.”
Carson smirked. “Clothing may or may not be optional. We’ll see.”
With a roll of her eyes and reassurances that she would text him later, she made her way out of his room.
And stared down the hallway of the Misty Meadow Inn.
Crap.
She neglected to consider the morning after. What were the chances that she’d manage to avoid Maya and Clem not only on the way in last night but also on the way out this morning?
Head on a swivel, Liz crept down the wide staircase. So far, so good. Maybe she’d get lucky. Maybe everyone was in the kitchen or the dining room. It was breakfast time, after all.
Plus, so what if someone saw her? She wasn’t a teen sneaking in after curfew any more. She was an adult, and adults could damn well sleep wherever they pleased.
It just so happened that sleeping with Carson pleased her very, very much.
Warmth flowed through her as she recalled how much. How his touch soothed something in her. How much she enjoyed getting to know this older Carson. How much she missed him.
Liz practically floated down the last few stairs, her mind still on the man upstairs. Counting down the hours until she would see him again. Until she could touch him again. Until he touched her again.
“Liz!”
She froze, all thoughts of being a carefree adult who can sleep anywhere she damn well pleased replaced with thoughts more akin to a mouse being trapped by a cat.
“Morning, dear!”
Make it two cats. Two cats who sounded a lot like Clem and Maya.
She eyed the inn’s front door. Five feet from freedom. She told Carson she wasn’t running, and that was true. She wasn’t running from him. But running from these two meddlers? That was a whole different story.
Although who was she kidding? She’d have to face them eventually.
It wasn’t like word of her and Carson getting back together wouldn’t be all over town by the end of the day anyway.
Hell, isn’t that exactly what they wanted?
Wasn’t that why they were at Flurry Fest yesterday? To confuse the betting pool?
With a deep breath, Liz turned and offered Clem and Maya her best Oh I’m surprised to see you there smile. “Morning, ladies.”
“Hello. You’re here early.” Maya’s smirk made her look like the Cheshire Cat who’d just eaten a canary. “Or late.”
Liz gave her watch a pointed look. “As a matter of fact, if I don’t get out of here soon, I will be late.” For all they knew, Liz had a Saturday client meeting.
As if toying with their prey, Clem and Maya circled her. “Phew,” said Clem, wiping her brow of invisible sweat. “For a moment there I thought we’d forgotten about a committee breakfast meeting.”
Dammit. Why hadn’t Liz thought to play that angle?
“I trust you had a good night?” Clem asked, the innocence of her expression at war with the twinkle in her eye.
“It was good.”
“Good?” Maya raised an eyebrow.
Liz straightened her shoulders and forced herself not to fidget. “Yes, good.”
She recoiled as Clem leaned in and sniffed her. “Ah. I thought so,” the older woman said, a satisfied smile blossoming on her lips. “I smell sex.”
Liz darted a glance at Maya, who looked as freaked out as Liz felt. “You can smell it?” Maya whispered.
Laughter burbled from Clem, and she shook her head. “Of course not, dear. Don’t be an idiot.” With a shrug, she added, “The Major filled me in.”
Liz sucked in a breath, nearly choking on her spit. “That pervert was spying on us?”
Maya, eyes wide, shushed her, her head rotating like an owl to see if anyone heard Liz’s outburst while Clem waived her accusation away.
“No, he was not spying on you,” the older woman said.
“And he’s not a pervert.” Her cheeks flushed, and she bit her lower lip.
“At least, not with guests. Sometimes when we’re alone though—”
“Aaand that’s enough of that,” Maya interjected. Studying her friend, she asked, “But seriously, did he pop in on you?”
“No.” Thank God. Liz wasn’t sure what she would do if she saw that jackass again.
“Haven’t seen him since I took that ice up to Carson.
” Liar. Now that she thought about it, she actually hadn’t seen the Major since the night of the murder mystery.
Huh. Did his absence since then mean they really weren’t soul mates?
“Aha!” Clem jammed her finger toward the ceiling. “You admit that you have seen him!”
“Uh…” Crap. Liz’s mind raced as she tried to sort through the outcomes of her possible answers.
“Oh, she’s definitely seen me.” The Major winked into existence next to Liz.
Liz barely muffled a scream. “It’s too early for this shit,” she muttered, hand over her racing heart.
The Major tilted his head from one side to the other. “While I’d argue that it’s better late than never.”
“In the morning, dear” Clem said to the apparition. “I think she means it’s too early in the morning.”
“Oh.” The Major nodded in understanding. “You’ll have to pardon me. Time doesn’t hold quite the same meaning as it once did.”
Clem gazed at the Major, something that looked suspiciously like hearts dancing in her eyes. “No, it does not.” She reached over and smoothed away a wayward strand of hair that had escaped his hat.
“Wait.” Liz’s brain cells bounced around like bingo balls being spun. Took in the way the ghost and Maya’s aunt were gazing into each other’s eyes. Replayed Clem’s words. “You two aren’t—”
“In cahoots with the whole matchmaking thing?” Maya cackled nervously. “Absolutely.”
Liz’s narrow-eyed stare bounced around the room as Maya’s words took root. “So, does that mean you guys are the ones behind the betting pool?”
“Oh, no.” The Major held a hand over his heart. “That would be Davis.”
As if summoned by hearing his name, the bell over the front door jingled, and Davis walked through it, a puff of chilled morning air accompanying him. He froze as four sets of eyes landed on him. “What?”
“Is this your fault?” Liz asked.
Davis looked like a caged animal, his eyes wide as they darted around the lobby, searching for safe harbor.
Definitely not the response of an innocent man. “This,” Liz pressed, circling her finger around the room for emphasis.
Davis inched back toward the door. “Uh…”
Maya’s exhale was one of resignation, and she shot the Major a look of disgust as she crossed the room to join Davis. Linking her arm through his, she said, “It was all of ours.”
“What was?” Davis’s tone was a mix of confusion and exasperation.
“The betting pool,” Maya answered.
“Ohhhhh.” Davis winced then nodded. “Yeah. Phew. For a minute there, I thought you meant something else.”
Liz took a step closer. “What else?”
Davis raised his hands in defense. “Nothing! I just didn’t know what was going on.”
“Not always the sharpest blade in the army,” the Major muttered.
Liz snorted as Davis shot the Major a look of disgust. “Hey. Wait.” His eyes bounced between Liz and the Major. “Does this mean—”
“Yep.” Maya grinned. “Liz admitted that she can see the Major.”
Davis pumped his fist. “Yes.”
“Look,” Liz said, confusion swirling through her brain, “the only thing I can see is that you all are a bunch of meddling busybodies—”
“Thank you,” Clem said, preening.
“Not a compliment,” Liz continued. “And what did or did not happen upstairs is nobody’s business but mine.”
“And Carson’s,” Maya added.
Something that sounded like a growl rumbled at the back of Liz’s throat. “And I’d appreciate it very much if you would all fuck off and mind your own damn business.”
The Major leaned closer to Clem and murmured, “It’s like she doesn’t even know us.”
With a small shriek, Liz left them all with one last murderous look and stomped out the front door. She wasn’t sure who she was pissed at more—them for their meddling, or herself for falling into their trap.