Page 31 of Fifty-Fifty

“I’ll be sure to do that. And don’t forget about the peach pie at the bakery. It’s the best thing you’ve ever tasted, I guarantee it.”

“I”ll be sure to try that. Thank you for the recommendation. And thank you for the cookies earlier today, too. This place has the best customer service I’ve ever seen!” she gushes.

Beau blushes at the compliment before shrugging her shoulders.

“Well, thank you. It helps when we have the best customers to deal with. Y'all have been great! Make sure you come back soon, ya hear?”

Bridget laughs. “We definitely will.” She grabs her purse from the check-in table before meeting the rest of her family on the front porch with a smile on her face. Her approval of the inn is oddly satisfying. I didn’t think I’d really care what people thought of it, but I’ve decided my competitive nature must be coming out, because I suddenly have the strong desire to be the best bed and breakfast in the state.

And then Shane’s call comes to the forefront of my mind.

I shake my head, taking the rest of the stairs two at a time until I hit the foyer.

“Is Mac all right?” Beau asks with her bright blue eyes shining over at me.

Damn. She’s beautiful.

“Yeah.”

“Good. Thank you. It seems Mrs. McMenomy and her family had to check out a little earlier than expected, so it was good I could help them all out.”

“I saw that.” I motion toward the front door. “Need help with anything?”

“Nah. I’m gonna strip the bed and clean the sheets, but I’ll wait to clean the bathrooms ‘til tomorrow.”

She goes to step past me when her chest brushes against mine, halting her escape.

Beau’s sharp intake of breath causes my ears to perk as my gaze lands on those same mesmerizing eyes that were captivating me only a moment before.

“You’re good at this,” I note.

She peeks up at me through her thick lashes. “Good at what?”

“Making people feel at home.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah. It is.” I lean a little closer, getting into her personal space. I’m surprised when she doesn’t back away.

That same smell of peaches floats off her, making my mouth water.

Beau licks her lips as her attention drops to my mouth for a split second. “Well, I’m glad I can help people feel comfortable.” She swallows before practically deflating right before my eyes. “Until they go back to where they came from, anyway.”

Her comment breaks the spell as soon as it slips past her cherry colored lips.

“I best be gettin’ to those sheets.” She walks past me as if in a trance, moving on pure adrenaline when the rest of her wants to stay with me and finish what we could’ve started.

But she’s right. I will be going back to where I came from. I’m not sticking around. And after her little story time during brunch today, I can see why that would freak her out.

She’s been burned before, and she doesn’t want to risk it happening again.

And I’m an asshole for even entertaining the idea.

Shane might be a dick, but he was right about one thing. Beau has a lot of baggage, and I don’t think I’m the one to carry it for her.

I know I’m not.

I just need to figure out if this place is profitable or if we need to sell it, then I need to convince Slater that I’m good for whatever he needs from me to get my dreams off the ground.

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