Page 41 of Falling Inn Love
Evan
It’s just for a couple of days, then she can have her room back. I know she’ll understand that we can really use that income, and she can always stay in my mom’s cottage if she’s wary of staying with me.
I shoot Mellie a quick text, letting her know what we’re doing.
I head into the kitchen and grab two plates from the buffet which I fill with eggs, bacon, toast, and fried blueberry muffins.
If Sasha notices me taking two plates, she thankfully doesn’t say anything. I just want to get back over to Beth.
I head back to my cottage to find Beth sitting on the living room floor playing with the puppies. Her hair is pulled up in her typical messy bun.
“Hey,” she says and smiles at me, then takes one of the plates. We sit together at the kitchen counter and I pour us both coffees.
“Thank you,” she says as I set hers down in front of her and kiss her cheek.
“You’re welcome,” I say, now feeling nervous about telling her I need to kick her out of her room for a few days. After some small talk, I clear my throat and say, “Beth…”
She puts her fork down and eyes me cautiously. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, no, nothing like that.” I sigh. “Okay, I might have jumped the gun, but I gave your room away today.”Her eyes widen but I continue, “One of the neighboring inns was overbooked and they needed five of our rooms. We had four vacancies, and then your room. I know this seems presumptuous, but I was wondering if you’d like to stay here, in my second bedroom. Or, if you want, you could stay over at my mom’s cottage. I know she wouldn’t mind, either. I’m sorry, but we could really use the money.”
“It’s totally fine. You letting me stay here is a favor, Evan. I will go wherever you guys want to put me. I’m just thankful for the room and board. So, should I stay at your mom’s?” she hedges, biting her lip and trying not to smile.
“Oh, you’re staying here,” I say, my tone empathic. “It makes sense to stay with me.”
“Oh, it does?” she teases, covering her mouth as she shakes her head, laughing.
“This way you’re close by for me to kiss you anytime I want.” I gauge her reaction to see what she does and am pleased when her eyes widen and she smiles. “Seriously, though. Your comfort matters to me. When you first got here, we had plenty of vacancies. Now, with your help, we are filling up. I’m so thankful for you, Beth. Stay wherever you feel most comfortable.”
She puts down her fork and hugs me, laying her head on my chest. I breathe her in before she peers up at me and says, “Don’t fall in love with me.”
I deadpan back, “Of course not. Maybe you shouldn’t fall in love with me, either,” I tease.
“Too late,” she mumbles.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Nothing,” she says nonchalantly. “Nothing at all.”
I take our plates to the sink and rinse them, giving her a moment to believe I didn’t hear her. I turn around, smirking, and whisper conspiratorially, “You’re already falling in love with me.”
She bends down to pick up Bossy. She holds her close and kisses her head. “It will be hard to leave them.”
Hearing this come out of her mouth, I wonder if she’s thinking about us and leaving me, as well. We have something here; I know it and she knows it. I’m just running out of ideas on how to convince her to stay, that this is where she belongs, here at the inn, with me.
“You mean me? It’ll be hard to leaveme? A simple way to fix this is to not leave,” I say as I stack the plates and silverware. “Besides, you said maybe…”
I know she’s been through stuff and I’m trying to be patient, but I know what I want. I want to see where this goes. Beth being here gives me hope for the inn and my future—ourfuture.
She stares at me for a long time, then says, “What would it look like if I stay? What if we do this and it doesn’t work?”
I take her hands in mine and look deeply into her eyes. “Every minute I get to spend with you is worth the risk.”
* * *
Later that morning, I text Allie from my office to see if everyone’s okay.
She writes back right away.
