Page 18 of The Magical Bed & Breakfast

She led Ivy on a tour, and it was gratifying to have a friend to ooh and ah and share her excitement at how quickly the inn was coming together. They finished the tour in the kitchen where Ivy made herself at home, bidding Kate sit for a minute and rest.

“It’s amazing what you’ve accomplished in such a short time. This place projected a ramshackle quality all the years I was growing up. It waited, empty and sad, for you to come fall in love with it. You must be working constantly getting this place in shape. You deserve a break. I’ll make you a pot of tea, and you can tell me what you think of the blends I brought for you to sample.”

It felt weird to Kate to just sit and be waited on in her own kitchen, but Ivy waved aside her efforts to help as she set about brewing three pots of tea because that was how many pots Kate had. Kate marveled that she’d brought over six potential tea blends for the inn.

“I’ll serve you my three favorites and you decide.” Ivy then proceeded to produce three kinds of mini scones to try them with.

“I can’t believe you went to all this trouble.”

“Trouble? Fun, you mean.” Ivy laughed, green eyes sparkling. “Making up the blends is so much fun. I will say, though, that naming them is a challenge.” She sat and poured. In silence, they sampled the three options.

“They’re all so unique. This first one brings to mind a spring meadow.”

“That’s the lavender in it. It’s for Mayfield. Here, try it with this scone.”

Kate took a bite and closed her eyes in ecstasy. “I wish I could bake like you.”

Ivy filled Kate’s cup with the second blend. Kate took a delicate sip, reluctant to move on. “Oh, this one is like autumn leaves and holidays.”

“That’s due to the sage and the cinnamon. Try it with the pumpkin scone.”

The combined flavors burst over Kate’s tongue, and she took a moment to process it all. “I know the first combination is for my name, but I think I like the autumn flavors better. They suit the inn somehow. It’s hard to explain and not at all what I expected.”

“Welcome to Hazard. Life is like that. Especially here. Here’s the last one.” Ivy poured again. “And a lemon scone to go with it.”

Kate sipped and sampled and shook her head. “It’s too delicate, I think. I need something more forceful for the inn.”

“The inn is rather energetic, isn’t it? It exudes a definite presence.”

Kate paused to study Ivy, pondering her words. She had sensed a presence too, but…

“What do you mean?”

Ivy tilted her head. “A presence on the block, I suppose. It towers above the buildings around it, even though it’s set back from the street.”

Ivy set aside the third blend and poured a second cup for Kate, allowing her to take turns sipping at the first two.

“I like this one, the autumn one. But it doesn’t seem right to call it the Mayfield blend.” Kate threw Ivy a questioning glance.

“Well, don’t look at me. I struggled to name all the blends I sell in the shop. Think on it a while, you’ll come up with a name.”

“Me?”

“Well, it’s your signature blend, foryourinn. You should name it.”

Footsteps tread along the wood floor of the hallway. Kate leaned around the doorframe to confirm it was Rory before she relaxed. Really, she was too much on edge after their secret passage excursion. She didn’t want to share with anyone what they found. Yes, it was exciting, and perhaps the town should be aware there was a warren of tunnels beneath it. But surely it would be safer to just close up the tunnel entrance at her inn. Block it off. Later she could alert the town council about, as Rory called it, Hazard’s best kept secret.

She feared anyone learning about her secret entrance and sneaking in. Or teenagers daring one another and behaving foolishly and getting hurt. She didn’t relish anything happening like Rory’s misadventure. Not if she could help it. History, however, had a way of repeating itself, as she well knew.

She hated that.

Rory swung around the corner, and Ivy halted from pouring yet another cup of tea to blink up at him. Her eyes brightened, and her mouth formed a silent “O.” She set down the teapotandclapped her hands in delight. “I don’t believe my eyes. Rory Throckmorton? In the flesh? Imustbe hallucinating. You’ve actually deigned to visit our little town. Didn’t you blast out of here at nineteen swearing you’d never return?”

Brow furrowed, Rory frowned and shook his head a little at Ivy, who tilted her head in a silent question.

Kate frowned. What was this? Had Rory given Ivy awarninglook?

Weird.

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