Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Anna
Months ago, when Ava and I had chosen not to host another New Year’s Eve bash at the inn this year, we couldn’t have known how good that decision would end up being.
If we’d had three hundred people in the ballroom tonight, it would’ve been a disaster.
As it was, the inn was at capacity even without an event to draw people in, which was great news—until you considered that our entire network had gone down a few hours ago. The outage affected our phones, our reservations system, Wi-Fi, practically everything.
“I don’t even want to think about what would’ve happened if we were hosting a party,” Ava said as we sat in my upstairs office minutes after our rep from the tech company finally fixed the problem and left. “Thanks for coming in so fast.”
“I’m sorry you had to get involved,” I told her. “You and Cash didn’t have plans?” She wore leggings and a sweatshirt, so I didn’t think they’d been anywhere fancy when everything crashed just before seven p.m.
She brushed her short hair out of her face, smiling tiredly. “We decided to stay in this year. It’s easier with Bronte.”
I glanced at the time on my phone, noting there were still no messages from my brother, even though I’d called him a dozen times and texted him daily since he’d stormed out of my apartment last weekend.
“You’ve got thirty minutes left to get home and kiss your hubby at midnight.
And I’ve technically got thirty minutes to get the rest of my belongings out of my apartment.
” I stood, my panic shifting from the inn to my personal situation. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Wait, what? You’re moving?” Ava asked.
“I guess I haven’t had a chance to tell you. It happened so fast. I’m moving into Kemp’s.”
When I saw the question on her face, I quickly added, “As roommates. He needs someone to be there for the baby on nights when he gets called out.”
“That’s nice of you to jump in.”
“It’s not selfless,” I told her, pulling my coat on. “I’m getting free rent out of the deal. And fewer stairs.” I wasn’t going to miss climbing to the third floor multiple times per day.
Ava laughed. “That’s a double bonus. But I’m sure Kemp is grateful.
Being a new parent is hard. And wonderful, of course, but oh, my God, the learning curve and the worries…
” She cringed. “Kemp’s obviously a jack of many trades, but a baby can send a person over the edge.
I don’t know if I could do it without Cash. ”
“He’s so good with Oliver,” I said, checking any tendency to gush extra about Kemp, “but he’s stubborn as a mule and refuses to give up firefighting. I don’t know what he’s thinking, going for the lieutenant position.”
“And he still plans to stay at the brewery?”
I nodded as we exited my office and I locked up. “He loves the brewery.”
“They’d be lost without him,” Ava said. “Cash said Kemp has a spring brew that’s raspberry based. He’s planning at least two dishes that highlight it.”
“I’ve sampled it,” I said as we went down the stairs to the lobby.
“The beer, I mean. It’s called Shore Thing, and it’s delicious.
They’re featuring it and a stout called Stout of Your Leave at the Ode to Love and Beer next month.
” Kemp told me he’d had me in mind when he’d come up with the recipe.
Even though he’d not meant anything by it, I loved that he’d thought of my love of raspberries.
“We’ll be there,” Ava said. “Kemp is so creative with flavors from what I hear.” She wasn’t a drinker, I knew.
“Hey, Sadie. Is everything still good?” I asked at the front desk.
“So far so good,” she said, gesturing toward the computer. “Thanks for coming in so fast.”
“I’m literally fifty feet away,” Ava said.
“And I’m not much farther.” I’d be even closer after tonight’s move. “I’ve got to hurry. I’m supposed to be out by midnight. Fortunately Viola’s not showing up to clean until eight a.m.”
“Does Morris already have a renter lined up?”
I nodded as we waved at Sadie and went out the main door. “Someone’s moving in after five p.m. tomorrow.”
“How much do you have left to move?” Ava asked.
I blew out a breath. “Pretty much everything but the furniture. Thank God we did that first while we had a truck and Levi’s help. The rest is in boxes, bags, laundry baskets, and suitcases.”
“Do you want me to come help you?”
“Oh.” I stepped toward her and hugged her. “You’re a doll, but no. Get home to your family. I’ve got this. Just going to take a couple of trips. Thanks for offering.”
“If you change your mind, text me.”
“I won’t,” I told her as I headed toward the parking lot and she veered to her cottage.
When I got to my car, I plugged my phone in to the dash and sent Kemp a message.
I’m done at the inn. Heading to the apartment to grab a load. I’ll be quiet when I get to your place.
Just come home. To my place.
As I steered down the inn’s winding drive toward the road, I switched to phone mode and called him, only realizing I might wake up Oliver as the first ring sounded.
I was about to hang up, but Kemp answered quickly.
“Did I wake the baby?” I asked.
He chuckled, sounding relaxed instead of annoyed. “He’s right here, finishing up his bottle. I’ve got my volume low, and he didn’t even blink.”
“Thank God. Sorry about that.”
“No worries. Just get here. I’ll have food for you.”
My stomach growled at that. “I’ll eat when I’m done.”
“Anna, everything’s here. Your apartment’s empty.”
“What? What did you do?”
“I got everything out. I checked every drawer, closet, and corner. I got it all.”
My mouth gaped open as I drove down the dark, mostly deserted road, trying to wrap my head around that. “How…? What…? Where was Oliver?”
“Mrs. Simeon came and stayed with him,” Kemp said.
Alberta Simeon lived two doors down from him. We’d both known the seventy-something woman all our life. She was the sweetest lady, and I knew she’d been lonely since her husband passed away a year or so ago.
I swallowed and tried to speak. “Wow. That’s so kind of her.”
“She’s the best,” Kemp agreed, “and she’s in love with Oliver.”
“Kemp.” I swallowed down on the emotion that surged through me.
Instead of turning right on Main toward my apartment, I kept going toward his house.
“Come on home,” he said again. “I need to burp this guy.”
“On my way,” I managed and hung up.
I debated running by the apartment anyway, just to make sure he hadn’t missed anything. I was worn out and hungry though. And I trusted Kemp. He was a responsible, thorough guy. If he said he’d gotten everything, then he had.
I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve such an amazing person in my life, but I was so flipping grateful at that moment that my eyes teared up.
I pulled into his driveway, killed the engine, and took a minute to let my emotions settle before I went inside.
By the time I did, the house was quiet. The living room was a disaster, with most of my spare furniture moved in here for the time being, and boxes that hadn’t been here earlier towering to the ceiling.
We planned to store most of it in the basement, but we’d been in a hurry to move it in while Levi could help us, so we’d only taken it this far.
Faint noises came from the back of the house, and I guessed Kemp was putting his son to bed. I tiptoed into Natalie’s room, where I’d be sleeping, to assess.
When I flipped on the dim overhead light, I froze, stunned. Natalie’s bed had been made and was ready for me to collapse into. He’d even added a blanket I’d crocheted and given to him a few years ago. A path had been cleared to the bed.
The rest of the room was a mess of boxes, trash bags of linens and clothing, suitcases, and laundry baskets stuffed full.
I glanced around for my crochet bag and found it near the head of the bed, as if he’d known I’d want access to it soon.
Crocheting got me through stress like nothing else. It was meditative for me.
It would take me days to figure out where to put everything and which items to put into storage. But thanks to Kemp, I didn’t have to do anything more tonight.
While I’d started out trying to be organized as I packed, that had quickly gone out the window once Morris had told me, two days ago, that he had a renter for January first. Although it had required me to move out fast, it also saved me from paying another full month’s rent.
Olivia and Maeve had helped me pack for several hours last night, so it was no exaggeration to say I had no clue where three-fourths of my stuff had ended up. I had, however, made a point of packing my peacock-blue suitcase with pajamas, toiletries, and clothes for the next few days.
I ventured toward the piles of my belongings, searching for that suitcase.
It was near my crochet bag, easily accessed.
I’d never been so happy to see my favorite luggage.
Thanks to Kemp, I had everything I needed to go to bed.
I’d planned to have tomorrow off for the holiday, and as long as the inn’s network remained stable, I could dig in to my moving chaos then with renewed energy.
I kneeled in the cramped space between my belongings and the bed, opened my suitcase, and removed my pj’s and toiletry bag.
“Hey,” Kemp whispered from the doorway. “Welcome home.”
“Thanks,” I whispered back. “Is he asleep?”
He nodded and held up crossed fingers. “Is everything okay at the inn?”
“All fixed,” I said and held up my own crossed fingers.
“Are you hungry?”
I nodded as I stood.
“Get comfortable, then come out. I’ll make you a sandwich.”
“Thanks. I’m going to rinse off the dust in the shower. Give me like ten minutes.”
He nodded and disappeared from the doorway.
I put my hair up to keep it dry and took a speed shower in the hall bathroom. I pulled on flannel pants, a sleep cami, and an oversized hoodie, then padded out to the kitchen.
“The dogs must be outside,” I said.
“Yeah, I’ll let them in after you eat,” Kemp said.
“It smells divine in here.” I eyed the stove.
“Gourmet grilled cheese,” he said, grinning. “And Emerson brought some baked potato soup over.”
“That was sweet of her.”
He shook his head in wonder. “Those dads… Chance got me to agree to go to their get-together this Saturday. I’m not even in the group yet, and they’ve all reached out over the past week, asked what they can do to help.
Max and Harper volunteered to take Oliver for a few hours sometime so I can nap.
West dropped off a baby swing he had in his basement from his girls.
Emerson said she remembered how hard cooking was as a single parent, so she made a double recipe and brought us the extra. ”
The microwave beeped, and he removed a steaming soup bowl.
“The single dad group still meets even though nobody’s single anymore?” I asked.
“I guess so. Just a dads’ group now. They’re meeting at Max’s this time. They normally say no kids allowed, but Chance said I could bring Oliver this once.”
“It’s Saturday evening?” I asked. When he nodded, I said, “I can stay with him.”
“I’m on call starting Sunday morning,” he said, as if that would change my mind.
“I’ll be here then too.”
“Anna, that’s too much for me to ask. Our agreement’s only for when I’m on call, and even that’s negotiable. You have a life.”
I laughed quietly. “Not too much of one. Half of our friends are married now. It cuts into the social life.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” He took out the soup bowl, stirred the contents, and put it back in.
“I’ll be here unpacking all weekend,” I said. “No other plans. I’m happy to take care of your adorable son Saturday evening.”
“You sure?” he asked.
“Kemp. You moved all my crap for me.” I swallowed, overcome again with gratitude that I wasn’t at my apartment, hauling boxes down three flights of stairs into the wee hours of the morning. “I owe you big-time. But I’d happily do it even if I didn’t owe you.”
“Okay,” he said as he flipped my sandwich onto a plate. “Thanks, Anna Bobana. Hey.” He pointed at the microwave clock with the spatula. “It’s twelve o’clock.”
“Happy New Year,” I said.
He pivoted and opened his arms for a New Year’s hug. Without hesitation, I stepped into them, wrapping my arms around him. We held on for a few seconds as if to say, We made it through a long day, a trying week, a challenging month.
I clung to him, breathing in his masculine scent that was so familiar, like home to me, and thanked God I had him in my life, even if it wasn’t in the exact role I longed for.
Kemp shifted, then peered down at me and said, “Happy New Year, Anna.”
He leaned down to kiss me, a short, friendly kiss, but as it ended, we hovered and gazed at each other.
I don’t know what came over me next. Gratitude? Stupidity? Desire? All three? Whatever it was, I found myself stretching up and pressing my lips to his again. He caught me, didn’t pull away, so neither did I. This kiss wasn’t just friendly as we lingered, nipped at each other, explored, teased.
Until the microwave beeped, and Kemp pulled away and averted his gaze.
My mistake was immediately clear. My heart raced with anxiety and regret.
“I’m sorry,” I said in a rush. “My bad. I’m overtired and…” I shook my head, feeling my face burn. “Just grateful for everything you did tonight. I got carried away.”
“It’s okay,” he said as he took a step backward. “We’re both exhausted and not in our right minds.”
“Blood sugar crash,” I said with a nervous laugh. “No blood in my brain. Nothing good can come of that.”
He cleared his throat and opened the microwave. The lightness I forced didn’t seem to reach him.
“Just a New Year’s kiss,” he said, as if it was nothing.
And that’s exactly what it had to be. Somehow I needed to forget what his lips felt like and how it felt to have my body pressed against his. Now that we were roommates, that had never been more critical.