Page 20 of Mountain Dreams

“I guess I’ll call one of my sisters,” she said and reached for her purse.

“Wait.” He placed his hand on her arm. “I know you don’t want to stay here, but you’d be doing me a favor.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “How so?”

“If you go somewhere else, I won’t get any sleep because I’ll be up all night worrying about you.”

She shook her head, the corners of her lips twitching. “Go on.”

“I have to work tomorrow, making some repairs on the cabins. If I don’t get a good night’s sleep, I might fall off a ladder and break something. I don’t think you want that on your conscience.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, and since you’re already here, why go somewhere else? I have two extra bedrooms, a pull-out couch, and—”

“There’s more?”

“I bet you didn’t know that Mountain Dreams doubles as a bed and breakfast.”

She giggled. “You’re right. I didn’t know that.”

“Why would you? You’ve never stayed here before.”

“True.”

“We offer complimentary coffee, eggs, bacon, pancakes, waffles—”

She held up her hands. “Okay, okay. I get it.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes, but only for tonight. Tomorrow I’m going apartment hunting.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“I thought you had to work.”

“I do, but not all day.”

“Cody.”

“Maddie.”

She sighed. “Fine, but you don’t have to do this. I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself.”

“I know that, but this is what—”

“Friends do. Yes, you’ve already said that.”

She still looked doubtful, and he wanted to rid her of the idea that she was a burden.

“It’s not just about friendship.”

“No?” She eyed him curiously.

“I like spending time with you. I always have. In recent years, we haven’t been as close, and I missed you.”

She swallowed hard, and her eyes misted over. “I missed you too.” She leaned in and put her arms around him.