Page 45 of The Accidental Innkeeper

Her brow furrowed. “Fine like… fine fine?”

“Yeah.”

“Listen…”

I held her gaze. “It’s on me.”

I didn’t know why I said it. The words were out before I could stop them, sitting there between us. What the fuck was I doing?

She hesitated. “I don’t want favors.”

“I didn’t offer one,” I said. “I fixed a problem.”

She studied my face, like she was trying to figure out what angle I was working. “Still,” she said. “I should pay you.”

I shook my head. “Another time.” Which was also not something I should’ve said. I packed the tools away, my mouth tight. “You’re going to want a full inspection,” I added. “Roof, plumbing, wiring. Not all at once. But soon.”

She nodded immediately. “When can you do it?”

You.

I should’ve said I was booked. I should’ve said I didn’t do that anymore. I should’ve protected the line I’d already crossed.

Instead…

“I can come back later,” I said. “If you want.”

She smiled then. “I do.”

That feeling in my chest came back. Stronger this time.

I grabbed the toolbox and headed for the stairs, irritation buzzing under my skin. I was mad at the situation, mad at myself, mad that I cared.

And as I reached the bottom step, I realized something else that pissed me off even more.

I wasn’t in a hurry to leave anymore.

And that was going to be a problem.

10

SARAH

“Move,” I said through clenched teeth.

I angled my body, pressed my hands on Edna’s statue’s face, and heaved as much as I could. The statue didn’t even move one centimeter.

Not a wiggle. Not a courtesy rock. Nothing.

I let out a frustrated breath. “What kind of statue this size weighs a freaking ton!”

The statue stared back at me with Edna’s permanently disappointed expression, chin lifted, lips pursed like she’d caught me doing something shameful. Which, to be fair, she probably would’ve considered existing shameful.

“You need to put your weight into it, darling,” said Lola, sipping what looked like a martini while sitting on one of the couches in the den and watching me sweat.

I glared at her. “What do you think I’ve been doing for the past twenty minutes.”

Lola shrugged. “Lots of heavy breathing and sweating.” She grinned. “That’s also my cardio. But unlike you, I use real males. Strong, glorious males.”