Page 35 of The Candlemaker

“Frankie…”

“Collins said he was going to sleep at the inn to prove there weren’t any ghosts,” I blurted out, watching her eyes really grow wide this time. “I said that his…assessment couldn’t be trusted.”

“So, you offered to go instead?” She gaped, and I wished it were the truth.

“Not exactly. He dared me.”

“What?”

“Chandler—Collins.He said that since I was the expert, I would have to stay, too.” I shrugged and popped another gummy lobster into my mouth.

This time, I thought for sure Lou was going to lose it. That I was going to have to leap across the counter and hold her up from collapsing. But maybe I needed to start giving my twin a little more credit. She was shocked. Of course. But she didn’t waver.

“You’re staying in an abandoned inn with a stranger?” she asked in a choked whisper.

“It’s not like the building isn’t sound.” Before the whole musical chairs of ownership debacle, Mom, Lou, and Jamie’s wife, Violet, had a construction company come in and assess and then repair the foundation structure of the building. They’d just finished the repairs when we learned the inn wasn’t really ours.

“Frankie…”

“And he’s not a stranger.”Not the way I’d kissed him.But Lou didn’t need to know about that. Not when telling her meant having to explain why I hated that I wanted it to happen again.

“Frankie.”Her shoulders slumped, and creases worried her brow. “It’s too much. This is too much. You don’t have to?—”

“Lou, I’m not going to let Collins swoop in and throw away centuries of history and a decent offer just to prove he’s a ruthless businessman.” Nor was I going to let butterflies from one kiss turn me soft on a man.

Sure, there were good men out there, my two brothers and two cousins were proof enough of that. And I knew life-changing love did exist. Again, my brothers’ relationships evidenced it. It wasn’t that I didn’t think there could be someone out there for me to love or to love me, I just didn’t want to.Not after what my father had done to Mom. Used her. Abandoned her. And after everything, she’d risen back up. Stronger. More successful.

But I wanted that from the start. Which was why I focused solely on my business and matchmaking for everyone else in my life. Because then, no one looked too closely at why the only flames I let into my life were the ones I created for myself.

“But it’s his property.”

I jammed my finger down on the counter. “And this is my town,” I said with a little more force than intended. “I’m sorry. I know you’re worried, but I didn’t have a choice, Lou. I know you think I did, but I didn’t. And one day, I promise you, you’re going to end up in a situation where you only have a split second to decide how life—your future—is going to play out. There won’t be time to sit and think, to worry or rationalize. There will only be a single second to either go after what you want regardless of what you have to risk…or to let the dream go.”

She chewed on her bottom lip, silent for a moment. “Well, I hope that day is far, far away for me.”

“Me too.”

Whenever it came, I knew my sister would act—would fight—no matter how strongly she thought she’d cower right now.

Lou tugged the bag of gummies across the counter and plucked one for herself. “So, Chandler is staying there to prove it’s not haunted, and you’re going to be there to show him it is.”

I wish she’d call him Collins, too.

“Yup.”

“How are you going to prove it’s haunted when it’s not?”

I frowned. That was the least of my problems right now. “I’ll figure something out.”

I had another six hours before I had to be back at the inn.Nine p.m. sharp.Maybe I could call Nox again. My cousin had been happy to borrow his brother’s truck and lend me a blockade earlier when I told him I needed traffic held up on Maine Street; it wasn’t like it affected anyone other than tourists passing through.And Chandler on his way to the meeting.

“You’re sure you’re going to be okay there…alone with him?”

My heart stumbled, and air knotted in my lungs. I knew this question was coming from the start, and still, I faltered on the answer.No, I wasn’t sure…butnot in the way she meant. I’d agreed to six nights with Chandler Collins. Six nights alone withthe man whose kiss made me want things that I’d decided not to have an interest in long ago.

“I’ll be fine?—”

“Lou?”

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