Page 55 of The Candlemaker

I knew it was business. I knew business. But this was my family.

And every time he sold a blueberry candle, more of my defenses seemed to melt away.

“Oh, Chandler!”

No.

The curtain smacked against the frame as I flung it to the side.

“Gigi—”

“Oh, perfect.” My grandmother turned with a smile, her hands gripping a cardboard box. “Harper wanted me to give this to you.”

The box landed presumptuously in my arms.

Of course, I knew what it was: beeswax. My newest joint venture with my younger cousin. Beeswax candles made with wax from her honeybees.

“Great. Do you want to come in the back with me?”

“No, actually, I came to talk to Chandler.” She patted my arm and then shooed me away.Shooed me.And Chandler just stood there with a smile on his face.

I bit back a groan, deciding my next-best course of action was to set the box down and get back out here as quickly as possible.

The box landed with a thud, and I immediately pulled out my phone, searching until I found Nox’s number.

Last night was great. We need to step it up.

The dots appeared and then disappeared.

Why were you at the inn last night, Frankie?

Shit.I swayed back, my hip bumping the counter.Double shit.After the noises scared the crap out of me, my next thought had been if Nox had seen anything—had seen me.

Proving that it’s haunted.

My cheeks were on fire as I sent the message and then instantly fired off another.

If you tell anyone, Lou will lose the inn.

What was happening to me? Threatening Nox?It wasn’t like I’d never threatened my cousins to assist in my schemes before, but this was different. I knew how it looked—like I was sleeping with the enemy.

Please tell me you aren’t…

God no!!!

I shouldn’t have sent three exclamation points. Three exclamation points was clearly a lie.

It was a challenge. We both had to stay at the inn. Me, to prove it’s haunted. Him, to prove it’s not.

And it’ll be a massacre if Jamie finds out.

I huffed and rolled my eyes.

It’s only two more nights. One, if you can step up your game.

“Francesca!”

My head jerked in the direction of Gigi’s voice, and I shoved my phone back into my pocket, sending up a silent prayer that Nox kept his mouth shut.

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