Page 44 of Made for You

I ignore Alex and walk behind the front desk, placing the plate with a fresh cranberry orange muffin on it next to his guest book.

“What’s this for?” he asks me with a ghost of a smile on his face.

“They just came out of the oven. I usually bring one to Emma.” I shrug like it’s fine, I do this all the time no matter who is out here.

“Sure. Is it a coincidence that it’s one of my favorites too?” He winks.

Ugh. I didn’t even think about that. I must have made them subconsciously after thinking about him everyday, all day. This is going to be harder than I thought to stay mad at him.

“Hello, Violet. It’s lovely to see you again this week.” Alexander grins at me as he places his bags by his feet to check in.

Liam actually growls under his breath at the interaction.

This reignites my anger for him. Maybe staying strong won’t be that hard.

I stare at Liam as I speak to Alexander. “I just pulled a batch of orange cranberry muffins out of the oven. When you check in, make sure you come in to see me and grab one.”

I wink at Alexander just to piss off Liam for good measure. Except now I’m going to be stuck in a conversation with Alexander. Which doesn’t exactly make me happy. He’s very self-centered and only wants to talk about himself and all the businesses he’s dismantled over the years for his company, claiming he helped these Mom and Pop shops out by taking over and giving them a big chunk of money.

I have half a mind to find the company he’s looking at nearby and tell them to run away and find a different avenue for help.

Alexander unfortunately latched onto my invitation and spent a solid hour in the kitchen talking to me about his weekend in New York and all the important people he met and hung out with.

I remember when I was little my Gran would tell me that if I rolled my eyes too much, they would get stuck like that. I tested that theory today with how much Alexander was talking about himself and hishigh-upfriends.

I can’t wait to tell her when I see her for lunch today that all those years I believed her, she was wrong.

We are meeting at Emerald Roasters with Esther to do some Valentine’s Day planning and then we’re going to meet Hunter to check over the bakery’s progress.

As much as I love working at the inn, I know Gran misses being in the bakery, even if she is happy to sleep past five in the morning.

Plus Liam could kick me out at any minute. If he wanted to deal with Emma’s wrath. Emma might be the tiniest Keaton, but she has every one of those boys under her control.

I finish drying the last dish from this morning and place it in the cupboard. Putting my apron on the hook and walking out to find Liam, I let him know that I’m leaving for lunch.

“Hi,” he states simply when he sees me.

“Hey, I’m going to meet Gran and Esther to do some planning and get lunch, then we’re going to look at the bakery with Hunter.”

He looks at his calendar, “Did I miss putting a planning meeting on my calendar?”

“No. This is kind of informal. I’m teaching them how to use technology to put together a video of love stories from Balsam Cliffs. Emma has been collecting them on social media for me too.”

He reaches up and rubs his neck, “Oh right. I remember seeing those come in. That’s a great idea.”

“Thanks. It was inspired by Franklin and Esther’s story. They were friends when they were little and fell in love.” I shift on my feet, realizing their love story is familiar and kickingmyself for saying this to Liam when I’m supposed to be angry with him.

“Sounds like the best kind of love story.” He gives a half smile. “Well, have fun at lunch. I’ll probably be in the barn when you get back. No one else should be checking in or out but I’ll put the sign up with my number so no one bothers you in the kitchen.

“Right. Thanks.” The urge to go to him, hug him, lean into his arms, it’s strong. But instead of caving I turn and walk to the door where I gear up for a walk in the winter winds.

The fresh powdery snow is beautiful, at this point, though, it’s just cold and wet, no one likes it anymore. We’re ready for spring.

I trudge along to the coffee shop, happy for the blast of heat on my face when I enter. Gran sits in the back with Esther, the two of them cackling at something. Or someone.

Draping my jacket over the back of the chair I ask them, “What is so funny?”

“We were just talking about when you and Liam were little, and you’d come in here and try to order coffee, but you were only six, so I’d give you hot chocolate and you two would sit here like you were little grown ups with yourBrown Bear, Brown Bearbooks and you’d swap when you finished like an old married couple.”

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