Chapter Six
Hannah
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Hell hath no fury like an inn owner who finds a room trashed.
Everything was a mess.
As quickly as possible, I took stock of the furniture and the floors to see if anything was permanently damaged or if it was all just covered in dirt. There were empty bottles everywhere and plastic cups thrown around the room, boot prints on towels, and who knew what else.
I loved the inn, but days like this one weren't easy. There was no point complaining, though, so I sighed heavily, rolled up my proverbial sleeves, and started cleaning.
I was thankful there was no real damage. I could deal with dirt, but if I had to replace anything, I would probably have a mental breakdown. I could barely afford to pay the property tax, let alone any broken furniture.
I’d checked in the couple myself, but since I wasn’t here when they checked out at lunch today, I simply asked them to put the key in the post box on the outside of the building. Serves me right.
I loved the inn so much. It was a Queen Anne Victorian mansion. It had ten bedrooms, and each of them were almost identical, down to the white drapes and red headboards. The outside was painted yellow and orange, and the tiled roof was gray.
I loved the yard even more than the inn itself. It was much larger than the ones surrounding the nearby homes, and the edge of the property was lined with huge old trees.
The ground floor only had a living room, a bathroom, and the small bedroom I used whenever I slept there. The guest bedrooms and bathrooms were all on the two floors above.
My phone beeped with a message while I was cleaning the windows. Those were the only part of the room that weren't covered in dirt, but since I was deep cleaning every inch of it, I decided to give the windows the same treatment. It was House Cleaning 101 that I learned from my mother.
Mom: Got home safe? I’m still so tired. By the way, the photographer sent some pictures of you and Chase dancing. They are amazing.
She sent me two pictures. She was right. The photographer had captured Chase in all his sexy glory.
I closed my eyes and was instantly transported back to the dance floor. My stomach started with butterflies, and my pulse accelerated. But I was determined not to think about him or that toe-curling, amazing kiss.
My phone buzzed again.
Mom: Everything okay?
Hannah: Yup. Just need to deep clean a room.
Mom: How many bookings do you have for today?
Hannah: None.
Mom: :-(
That about summed up my thoughts right now. Over this past weekend, I'd thought about the inn a lot while I was exploring the hotel.
As I took my mop and the cleaning supplies and went downstairs, I couldn’t ignore the sounds the staircase made or the cracks in the walls. After spending the weekend in luxury, all the inn’s faults were even more obvious.
This place really needed an overhaul. I’d tried to convince myself that if I gave it enough care and love, I could keep it afloat for a while longer.
But I couldn’t.
After putting away the supplies, I sat on the porch with a cup of coffee. I’d been worried the storm we’d experienced Friday at the airport would do damage to the building, but my neighbor Ms. Adams assured me we only had light rain here.
She’d spoiled me with an apple tart today. I loved her to bits. She’d been Gran’s best friend and missed her as much as I did.
Two years ago, Gran passed away, and she left me the inn. My mother and sister inherited the rest of her things, but Loma House was all mine. I took over this place with such high hopes. My ex-husband, Gary, thought I was making a huge mistake, but he didn’t understand how much this place meant to me. I’d spent many summers here as a child, helping out. It was my last connection to Gran.
I’d had a solid plan. As a finance broker, I’d earned well and built myself a nest egg. It would've been enough to restore this place. I gave the notice at my job a year ago so I could dedicate 100 percent of my time to the inn.
Two weeks later, while a crew was here to inspect the roof, part of it collapsed.
That was when I found out that Gran had fallen behind paying some bills—including the insurance.
None of the workers had been badly injured, thank goodness. But their treatment wiped out my nest egg.
Gary left me the next day. Our marriage had started breaking down long before Gran passed, but I’d had my hands full with my job and trying to take care of her.
I’d been in a state of shock for a while. Sometimes I still couldn’t wrap my mind around everything. But sitting here, covered in grime and dust, I simply needed to take action.
While sipping coffee, I browsed job listings. It was time to bust my ass and get a full-time job again. Summer was the busiest season, and it was coming to an end. I’d save as much as possible and start renovations in a year. I’d have to close down for a while, because right now the intake from customers wasn't enough to cover the cost of electricity, let alone every other bill.
It definitely sounded like I was giving up on it, but deep down, I knew I wasn't. This was just a roadblock. I’d get on my feet again.
I promise you that I’m not giving up on Loma House, Gran .
I should be able to find a job quickly; I was qualified and had work experience. I also had a one-year gap in my résumé, but perhaps that would show employers that I had courage and lateral thinking.
I bookmarked three jobs that looked promising, all within an hour of scrolling the want ads. Next, I had to brush up my résumé before sending it. The listings didn’t mention a salary, but I had a good feeling this would work out after all.
I got back to my feet and rolled my shoulders. I had to do one more round of laundry, but I liked this work.
When I gave up my job to run the inn, several of my friends were dismayed. "You prefer to do chores instead of going to an office?"
I did. It brought me comfort. Maybe because growing up, some of my happiest memories were of helping Gran around here. She'd always been so content, like this was all she ever wanted to do. Of course, back then, the inn was bustling with customers. But I was going to get back on track. I was determined.
As I headed to the laundry room, my phone beeped again. I was hoping it was Blair. I was beyond happy with how everything turned out. She'd dreamed of the perfect wedding since she was a little girl, and she got everything she wanted.
Instead, I had a message from an unknown number.
Unknown: Hey, it's Chase. In an attempt to pop the marshmallow cherry, I'm at Target. Do you prefer a specific brand?
I reread the message a few times. I couldn't believe it. When I was about to answer, my screen lit up with an incoming call from the same number.
I smiled as I answered. "Hi. Is this Chase?"
"It depends. Did you lecture anyone else lately about marshmallows?"
I laughed. "No.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say, "I also didn't kiss anyone else lately . "
Why was my brain trying to get me in trouble?
I pushed myself up on my toes and then back on my heels.
"You're really calling about marshmallows?" I asked.
"No, but between us, it was as good an icebreaker as any."
"I have no idea what to say to that."
"Cat got your tongue, Hannah?"
No, you did, you sexy, grumpy man.
"So why are you calling, then?" I asked.
"Are you at the inn?"
"Yes."
"Mind if I stop by? I could bring the marshmallows and everything else for s’mores, and you could introduce me to the art of, what was that, 'roasting the perfect treat'?"
“You remember me saying that?"
"Yeah, you made an impression on me.”
I hesitated. Oh, what the hell? He was Josh’s best friend. Josh married my sister. We were all practically family. It wouldn’t hurt to get along with Chase.
Really, Hannah? That’s your excuse? Not forty-eight hours ago, you kissed him thinking you probably won’t see him again.
I cleared my throat. “Sure, why not? I need to do a few more things, but then we can roast s’mores.”
"All right, I'll be there in about half an hour.”
"I didn't give you the address."
"I found it on the website."
"Wait a second," I said, my stomach suddenly rumbling. "Where did you even get my number? Josh?"
"No," he said a little too brusquely. "I had your mom’s number. It was in the emergency contact list we got from the wedding planner on Saturday. I spoke to her, and she gave me your number."
"Just like that?"
"She happens to like me."
"I can't imagine why," I teased.
"See you in a bit, Hannah."
"See you."
My heart raced. I was a complete mess. Sniffing under my armpits, I realized how much I stank. I’d applied deodorant twice, but I’d worked up a sweat while cleaning.
As quickly as possible, I transferred the bedsheets and towels from the washer to the dryer and headed upstairs, taking a quick shower. I used my lavender-scented shower gel. After I cleaned up, I used a body cream as well.
All right, that's it. I felt fresh and... well, I couldn't exactly say ready, because I was most definitely not. I realized that I still didn't know exactly why Chase was coming here. I knew the marshmallows were only an excuse, but what the hell? I'd had a rough day. If that handsome man wanted to stop by with marshmallows and make s’mores, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Lately, I was starting to learn that it was better to simply take things as they came. Most of my plans didn't pan out anyway.
Hearing a knock at the front door, I realized he’d arrived earlier than expected. I hadn't applied makeup, but it didn't matter. This wasn't a date. I had no clue what it actually was, though.
I ran down the stairs, opening the front door. Chase parted his lips, exhaling sharply, and suddenly I became self-conscious. I looked down at my body. Shit! I had a sports bra on under my clothes, and my nipples were poking out. I quickly arranged my wet hair so it completely covered my boobs.
"You're here with marshmallows," I said unnecessarily. His suit was different from the one he’d worn on Friday and fit him even better. It was a darker navy and snug on his body, and he looked like a god in it.
He held up a bag. "And chocolate and graham crackers.”
“That's just what I needed today." I averted my gaze as I motioned for him to step inside.
I led him through the narrow corridor, past the staircase that went to the upper floors. The floorboards squeaked under every step. We passed the small bedroom and the laundry room on our way to the back door. I felt his presence intensely as he walked behind me. He was close enough that I could hear every breath and smell that same scent from the wedding.
"Do you have any guests tonight?"
"No." My shoulders slumped. The reminder of the inn’s lack of reservations was depressing. "A couple checked out today."
"They were here unsupervised?" His voice was sharp.
“Yes, and you have all the right to berate me. It was a mistake.”
“What happened?"
I detected a protective note in his voice that took me by complete surprise. "They trashed their room. I guess I should be happy they didn't do any permanent damage."
"You can still make them pay for it."
"Nothing was broken. I just had to do a deep clean of the place.”
"Hannah—”
"Nope, let's not talk about it,” I said as we stepped into the backyard. “You came here under the pretense of wanting to roast marshmallows, so let's do that." I pointed to the place where we usually had bonfires, about twenty feet away from the inn. The earth was scorched, and there were several logs around there where people could sit.
"Let me see if I can start the fire," I muttered once we reached the logs.
"I know how to start one," he said.
I grinned at him. "Okay, let's see you be all manly, then."
And sexy , a voice said in my head.
And holy shit, was he sexy.
He started by rolling up his sleeves. His arms were impressive, and although I had noticed them at the wedding, here just before sunset, when it was only the two of us with no one to distract us, things felt different—intimate.
Why is he here?