Chapter 14
Journey To The Past
Mara hadn’t expected to get so caught up in the opening of the No Phailed Apples Inn. She’d thought she’d bake her goodies, then show back up to help serve the evening meal.
But Amber’s excitement drew Mara out of her new living space. Or maybe it was the fact that she couldn’t stop imagining Seth in the bedroom with her, and she wanted to seek him out.
He’d sent her flying into the most intense orgasm of her life, and they’d both been wearing all their clothes.
Sure, it had been a while, but she would have remembered an experience like that. Nothing else had come even close.
She hadn’t been able to return the favor. Poor guy. He’d handled the interruption better than she had.
Her body was revved. She played with Fritter for a while, but when he hit a sunbeam for a snooze, she left him and went in search of a distraction.
Amber had turned half of the inn’s front room into a graceful reception area and gift shop, with a cozy seating area in front of the fireplace, using the rest of the space.
Amber had included pieces of fun Phail merchandise from Piper’s Phail Central.
There was a display of Nimii’s moccasins and books by Olivia and Addy Syrette, another local children’s author.
The walls held artwork by other locals such as Josie Ellis, and older photographs showcasing the area and local families.
Mara knew the entire town had scoured their attics for Amber, and the effect was homey and eclectic.
Bottles of the farm’s cider and honey sat on another shelf beside an espresso and latte machine that looked like something NASA might use in the space station.
A refurbished roll-top desk acted as the hub. Modern technology for check-ins and purchases was hidden in the graceful lines of the desk that had to be a hundred years old.
Mara brought a small basket of fresh apples, apple tarts, and mini fritters to leave on top. “I’ve got one of these for each of the rooms. I’ll get them out of the fridge and run them up when the guests arrive.”
Amber smiled. “You’re amazing, Mara. I’m so glad you moved to Vermont with us.”
Mara grinned. “Me too. I never expected to enjoy living anywhere other than a big city, but this is more like home.”
Amber’s eyes twinkled. “I’m guessing a certain sexy chef has something to do with that.”
Mara flushed right down to her toes, the memory of the morning’s orgasm sending thrills along her skin.
Amber laughed. “I thought so. You make a good team. The man can’t keep his eyes off you.”
“I feel the same.”
Amber leaned in. “It’s wonderful to see you’re both enchanted. Gray tells me Seth is an honorable man who’s been through a lot. I don’t know the details, but it’s obvious you and the farm are good for him.”
A soft chime alerted them to the door opening. It was a short version of “Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree” by the Andrews sisters from almost a century before. The song was light and sweet, and it fit the inn perfectly.
Amber grabbed her hand. “Thanks for the song suggestion. It’s going to make me smile every time I hear it.”
Amber controlled the chime from an app on her phone. She’d had a dull ding-dong sound. Mara liked this better.
Feeling extraneous, Mara walked over to the displays as Gray walked into the lobby with a couple in their forties.
Mara listened with half an ear as Amber morphed into her innkeeper mode. She offered drinks from the espresso machine and told the guests to select from the basket of goodies.
The couple, Paul and Lynn Carrington from Albany, exclaimed over the apple lattes and the fritters.
Mara couldn’t contain her grin. Her treats were a success. After hearing the couple was staying in Apple Blossom, Mara ducked into the kitchen. She added two extra fritters to the basket and rushed up the stairs to place them on the dresser in their room.
Feeling a little like a Christmas elf, she scurried down the back stairs as she heard Gray leading the couple up the front.
Mara bounced into the kitchen to find Seth had returned and was stirring what smelled like the soup of the gods on the stove.
His eyebrows shot up as he took in her mood. She didn’t bother to rein in her excitement as she danced his way and reached up to brush her lips over his.
His eyes flared with desire, and she had to kiss him again. “The first guests are here. They loved the fritters and the lattes. They’re sweet, and such a good indicator of the people who are going to love the No Phailed Apples Inn.”
His chuckle warmed her right through to her bones, and then he framed her face and kissed her until her knees wobbled.
“You’re very good at that.”
He barked out a laugh at her breathy words. “Right back atcha.”
So they did it again.
Her phone beeped with an alert from Gray. The Balfours were in the lobby. She grabbed another basket and another kiss. “I’m off to deliver this to Apple Pie.”
Amusement and desire shone from his eyes as she scurried out of the room, and up the back stairs with the treats.
The other guests arrived in a flurry, and Mara hugged Amber when she returned from putting the final basket in Appley Ever After. “They’re all so happy, Amber. You did it. You’ve got guests. Happy guests.”
Amber squeezed her back. “Thanks to you and Seth, they’re going to remain happy. I can’t believe it’s real.”
Gray descended the stairs and took Amber’s hand, spinning her into a dance in the lobby. Her friend’s face flushed, but her smile lit up the space.
Gray leaned down to whisper in her ear, and Amber’s smile widened further.
Mara sensed Seth walking into the room from the kitchen entry. His voice held amusement and affection. “Put up your sign that you’re in the kitchen, Amber. I’ve got soup and quiche for us for lunch. Time to put up your feet for a few minutes.”
“But what if—”
Gray solved the matter by kissing her until she dropped her protest. He leaned over and took one of the signs they’d prepared and set it on the desk.
The signs matched the plaques on the rooms showcasing the room name. These signs let guests know where to find Amber and which number to call with questions or requests.
As they sat down in the kitchen, Ford and Jolie entered from the back door. Jolie grinned. “Well, are they all here? Do they love the place? If not, we can kick them out for you.”
Amber laughed. “They’re all here, and they’re friendly and appreciative. The lattes and treat baskets are a huge hit.”
Jolie hugged her sister. “I knew they’d love it. You make everyone feel welcome, Amber. I’m so proud of you.”
Ford filled two more bowls, then set them at the table where he and Jolie sat. “Tell us everything.”
While they ate, they heard about the rest of the guests. All couples for now, although they had a few singles for the following weekend, and a group of bodyguards training at Midnight Security the week after that.
Seth frowned at that news and then turned the frown Mara’s way. “What’s the name of the asshole who bothered you back in New York?”
The question slammed into her from nowhere. Her joyful, giddy mood disappeared in a heartbeat. “What? Why? It doesn’t matter. He’s in the past.”
“What if he’s not? What if he finds you here?”
She shook her head, trying to dislodge the fear at the thought of Anson following her. “He wouldn’t bother. I wasn’t important to him; he just thought I was convenient and would be compliant.”
Seth’s growl was matched by those from Ford and Gray.
Her brother had stilled, and she could feel the intensity of his gaze without looking up.
She kept her eyes on her napkin. “Seriously, he wouldn’t leave his bakery, and he certainly wouldn’t travel all this way because I told him to keep his grabby hands to himself. ”
Amber reached across the table. “I’m sorry you went through that. We’ve got excellent protection here, but it would help to have a name. A jerk like that doesn’t get to cross our doorstep. I’ll block him.”
Mara sighed, looking from face to determined face, keeping the tremors to herself. “He probably hasn’t given me a thought since I walked out.”
Seth growled again. “He’s an asshole. If you don’t want us all to know, at least tell Amber his name so she can block any reservations from him.”
Mara didn’t want to be the reason her friend kept secrets from her husband. “Fine. Anson Wells. He owns Anson Bakes back in New York.”
Unable to sit with that information out there, Mara pushed to her feet and headed to her rooms. A few of them called her name, but she shook her head and kept moving.
Once there, she closed the door behind her and slumped to the floor. She thumped her head on the door behind her.
Saying his name aloud made it all real again. Made her feel small and weak. A lonely target for a man who figured he was her boss, and she’d do what he said.
She wasn’t weak.
Most of the time.
Fritter stretched and pranced over to jump into her lap. She snuggled the cat to her chest. “Thanks, Fritter.”
She wasn’t alone. Not anymore.
She wasn’t weak. And once she got her feet back under her, she’d go back to work and prove it.
Seth swore under his breath. “Sorry. I should have done that privately.”
Gray shrugged. “She probably would have refused to answer. Having Amber here, someone who’s been through having a stalker, helped push her to share the name. He was her boss?”
Seth sighed. “She told me a man got handsy with her and figured he could do what he wanted. When she refused, he fired her. Although she quit in the same breath.”
Amber rolled her lips together. “Awful man. I’m glad she walked away from him and came here.”
Ford swore and shoved to his feet. He paced the kitchen while more creative cursing fell from his lips. “Do you think the asshole will follow her here?”
Gray frowned and gripped Amber’s hand. “We know that some assholes just don’t quit. Hopefully, he’s a basic creep and doesn’t have an obsession with Mara.”