Page 19 of Reaching Little Robyn

“People who love each other,” Wren said. “Your place is fabulous and is going to bring a lot of people happiness. Love you, but I’ve gotta run and feed some horses.”

“And I’ve got to go too.” Sadie set the plate down on the table. “If you need help tomorrow, just buzz.”

“Thank you.” Robyn gave each girl a sincere hug.

“You’re welcome,” the two chimed and left together, leaving only Hayleigh in the kitchen with her.

Robyn took a seat and picked up one of the small sandwiches from her plate. When it was halfway to her mouth, she pulled her hand back and stared at it. “Where did this come from?”

Hayleigh laughed. “You didn’t think my Daddy was going to let you celebrate without gifting you a basket of his own, did you? He brought over a huge tray earlier today. You might even find a pan of mac ’n’ cheese in the fridge.”

“God, I love you and your Daddy.”

“You just love cheesy goodness.” Hayleigh laughed and bent to give her a hug. “I’m gonna head out and let you get some rest.”

“Wait, don’t you want to stay and just catch up? I mean we really haven’t had a chance to talk. You never told me about the Meet and Greet last night. Was it fun?”

“Oh, believe me, it was definitely entertaining.”

Robyn gave her a long look. “Why are you smiling like the cat who ate the canary? What exactly was so entertaining?”

“I think it would be more accurate to askwhowas doing the entertaining,” Hayleigh said.

“Seriously? You’re going to leave me hanging? Who are you referring to? Wait, you’re not saying a certain?—”

“Gotta strut, later gator!”

Before Robyn could say another word, Hayleigh had waved from the doorway and disappeared. Robyn shook her head, her instincts telling her that Hayleigh was hiding something, but a girl had ways of making another girl spill the tea. With a smile at the thought of hosting that particular type of tea party, Robyn had just bitten into her second sandwich when Hayleigh’s parting statement popped into her head. Well, at least one word of it. She hadn’t said she had to scoot. She’d definitely said she had tostrut.Which could only mean…

The sound of the bell over the front door dinging cut off her thoughts.

“I knew it! Get your butt in here and tell me who was doing the strutting–”

“That would be me.”

CHAPTER 9

Winston

He’d seen that same wide-eyed look of horror on Robyn’s face before and, at the sight of the sandwich in her hand, he was just about to drop his bag and race to perform the Heimlich maneuver again when she said, “What are you doing here?”

“Checking in.”

“Here?”

“Yes, unless somewhere along this road there is a different hill with another cute yellow B&B with enough balloons out front to rival those that lifted the house inUpI don’t know about?”

Robyn’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t remember taking a reservation for you, Roo… from you. And why would you want a room here? I’m sure your suite at the lodge is not only larger, but they offer room service, and have a Dun… well, lots of amenities you won’t find here.”

Winston figured a lot of men would be taking very careful steps backward in order to get away from the daggers shooting from the prettiest pair of blue eyes he’d ever seen. Then again,he wasn’t like most men. He’d stood toe to toe with many a man who’d tried to bully him into backing down in various boardrooms and had always come out on top. Though, in this case, he wouldn’t object to having Robyn taking that position as long as he was beneath her.

“I’ve never stayed at the lodge. I’m having my place renovated and needed a place to stay. If you doubt my word, why don’t you check your reservation book?” he suggested.

“What a brilliant idea,” she huffed. Standing, she shoved her chair aside and them promptly tripped over it, coming down hard on her right foot which immediately caused her ankle to turn awkwardly beneath her.

“Ow!”

This time, Winston didn’t hesitate. He simply dropped his duffle bag to the floor and had her up and in his arms before she knew what was happening.

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