Page 11 of The Hot New Bachelor in Town

Two Hearts Inn.

The lawn could use a mow, but I can’t deny that it’s as nice as the waitress said it was.

I take my time climbing the front porch, admiring the wood. It’s well preserved, with hand carved trims. The porch wraps around to a garden exit, leading to a forked path. The left path heads toward a neighboring two-story house across the lawn while the right path points at Deep Lake just north of town. To boats, a sign says.

The exterior of both buildings is periwinkle blue. They have white window shutters, decorated with lush flower pots brimming with sunflowers and bright yellow daisies.

I nod in approval before walking inside.

I scan the silent space. A long blue carpet rests on hardwood floors, leading me toward the front desk. To my left is a sitting area with a large fireplace and bookshelves. Very cozy.

Above my head, there’s a modern-looking chandelier, but it’s turned off, the room illuminated by nothing more than the natural sunlight coming in through the windows.

When no one greets me, I walk to the desk and ring the service bell. “Hello?”

Upstairs, I hear the creak of feet on the floor and a few moments later, an older man in blue jeans and a red flannel shirt descends the stairs. He’s tall and thin with light grey hair that’s still thick and healthy for his age.

“Ah,” he says, briefly pausing at the bottom to dab the sweat off his brow and catch his breath. “Good afternoon, young man.”

“Hello,” I say. “Do you have a vacancy?”

“As a matter of fact, I do,” he says, smiling widely as he approaches the desk. “Welcome to Two Hearts Inn. How long will you be staying with us?”

“Just for tonight,” I say.

“Just passing through, eh?” He opens the guest ledger on the desk.

“Yes.”

“Well, please avail yourself of our long list of amenities during your brief stay,” he says as he offers me his pen. “Sign here, please.”

I take it, happy to sign his guest book. “Oh, I’ll just need the bed. Thank you.”

“Credit card?”

I fish it out of my wallet and hand it to him. He finishes up, quickly printing off another page for me to sign. I do, and he nods, his smile wide and... strangely familiar.

“Right, then,” he says as he turns and pulls a key off the wall, the first in a line of ten. “Let me escort you to your room. Is that your only bag?”

“Please don’t trouble yourself, sir,” I say as I grab my suitcase before he can. “Just point me in the direction, and that’ll be all.”

He hands me the key and points at the stairs. “Room 1. End of the hall. Very fancy room.”

I nod, then head in that direction. On my way upstairs, I once again take my time, admiring the place with trained eyes. A weird habit to have, but it’s necessary for my work. At the top of the stairs, I continue forward down the long hallway of doors and enter Room 1 at the end.

It’s a large room, too large for just one person, with a fireplace across from the bed and an en suite bathroom. The furniture is obviously antique but well-kept. Big windows with lace curtains. Floral wallpaper.

Bit fancy for my tastes.

But it’ll do.

I set down my suitcase and plop down on the edge of the bed, the weight of today sitting heavy on my shoulders. Good bed, though. Not too soft. Not too firm.

I bounce once to test it out. As I do, a scent drifts beneath my nostrils. Nice and familiar. That waitress’ perfume.

“Hm,” I murmur.

After sending a series of apologetic emails, I decide to sleep the rest of this day away. Unfortunately, I wake up just after ten at night, unable to fall back to sleep.

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