Page 42 of Falling Inn Love
Allie: We’re all good. Mom’s already bought groceries, cooked breakfast, and is cleaning.
Evan: You know Mom. She loves to help and doesn't have an off button.
She starts typing back before I even hit send. It’s not only our mom who doesn’t have an off button.
Allie: She’s a godsend. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends with getting Caleb to his appointments and taking care of him while working into the late hours of the night to get my work done.
It pains me that she’s stretched so thin and so alone. I’m so happy our mom’s there with her to give her a much deserved break.
Evan: You can’t do it all alone, you need help. I’m so glad she’s there. Any word from the transplant team?
Allie: Yeah, just waiting to get him to a place where he can do the surgery. They said they’d be in touch, but it might be a quick turnaround.
Evan: I’ll be ready.
Allie: Thanks, Ev. I love you.
There’s not much I can do until I hear back about when we can do the transplant, so I get to work. I’m shocked to discover we’ve already booked out the next few months and that people have been calling to be put on a waiting list for cancellations. That hasn’t happened before.
I run our numbers. We’re already doing so much better than this time last year. I spend the morning setting up new business accounts for the inn and transferring money away from Hamilton’s bank. I can’t have that guy seeing our finances.
Beth comes by with her bags and stops in my doorway. “I got my stuff out and I’m going to move it all into your cottage, if that’s still okay. Thanks again.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Come here,” I say, meeting her at the door and shutting out the rest of the world.
I kiss her deeply and urgently. I lift her, wrapping her legs around my hips, and push her up against the wall, kissing her until we're both out of breath. I want to take things further, I know I’m ready for more, but I’m not going to go there until I know for a fact that she’s ready, too.
It takes everything in me but I pull back to take her in. Her eyes are glazed and heavy. She looks like a hot mess, emphasis on the “hot”. Definitely not suitable for work, but I can’t help myself around her. “You might want to take a minute to get yourself together,” I tell her, but I don’t want to release her just yet. I hold her in my arms and never want to let go.
I’m trying to silently convey that this is what it would be like if she stayed. We’d run this inn, day in and day out, sneaking make-out sessions where we can, making each other smile and laugh, just doing life together. She makes my life better; I want her to feel the same.
She peers up at me, her face filled with desire. “Am I safe in here or are we going to keep doing this?”
“Probably just keep doing this,” I say confidently, then claim her mouth again. I feel a jump of excitement when she leans in and claims me back.
Just as I go in to deepen our kiss, a knock at the door makes us both jump.
Mellie’s there, arm poised to knock again. “Hey, I was just checking in. I can’t find Beth. I was going to see if she wanted to eat lunch with us. Have you seen her?” I feel Beth’s hand close over my wrist and squeeze, as if telling me not to give her away.
“Haven’t seen her. She might be moving into the cottage. I’ll tell her we’re all eating together.”
“Okay,” she says, picking up her cleaning caddy and heading toward the kitchen. I don’t miss her eyeroll, letting me know that she knows exactly what’s going on in here.
I shut the door and Beth snorts. “Thanks. I was worried she’d catch us and—”
“And, what? You think they all don’t already know?”I gather her in my arms and pull her close. “No one will be surprised, trust me.” I kiss her on the top of her head.
She leans into me and hugs me back.Then she takes a deep breath and pulls away. “I’ll go out the front and around to the cottage.”
She picks up her stuff as she heads out the door, and I give her a sly look. “Maybe…”
She grins. “Maybe…”
I go back to work for a little while until Kase pops his head into my office. “My mom says to tell you Beth made your food again.”
“I’m coming, buddy.” I follow him to the kitchen. It feels nice to have Beth do things for me. It makes me feel like she wants me. I love to see that nurturing side of her starting to come out the longer she’s here. I didn’t know how much I needed her until she was here, and now that I’m used her to her being around, I can’t imagine life without her. If she leaves, it’s probably going to devastate me.
I watch them for a while before they know I’m there. Sasha, Beth, and Mellie, all chatting animatedly and looking happy as Kase climbs onto the stool at the counter. These people right here in this room are mywhy. Why I will give everything I have to save the inn and make this right.
