Page 11 of Pure Seduction (Chamberlin Brothers 1)

It was quiet and peaceful, perfect for the lounging area off to my right, where the only sound was the running water of a fountain that was lit up through one of the side windows.

I looked around, trying to spot an employee or maybe a guest who was staying there. It wasn’t until I heard a loud crash followed by someone muttering, “Shit,” that there was any indication someone else was here.

A few more rumblings came from behind a wooden door at the far end of the room, and then it swung open and a frazzled woman I’d never seen before appeared. In jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black apron splattered with something she’d clearly been cooking, the woman reached for her earbuds and cursed a second time, before she glanced up to see me standing by the desk.

Her dark eyes widened a fraction, and then she immediately plastered on a smile. “Hi. I’m sorry. I had my music on and didn’t hear you.”

She rushed over to the desk and was about to hold out her hand when she glanced down at it and grimaced.

“Sorry—again. I was cooking.” She held her palm up to show it was still covered in a fine sheen of what I assumed was flour, then she quickly brushed it off on the apron and moved to stand behind the desk. “I’m usually more organized than this, but I got caught up today at a—”

When she cut off her words and quickly looked away from me, I knew exactly where she’d gotten caught up. Harry’s funeral. This woman might’ve been a stranger to me, but she clearly knew who I was.

“A funeral?”

“Yeah, uh, again—”

“I know, you’re sorry.”

A sheepish expression crossed her face, and I couldn’t help but take pity on her.

“It’s fine, really.”

“It’s not. Oh God. What a horrible first impression I’m making. I’m Willa, and despite all appearances to the contrary, I own and run this place. Usually much more smoothly than this.”

I chuckled and flashed a smile her way, hoping to ease some of her obvious embarrassment. “I’m not judging, I promise. I’m just looking for a room, if you have one.”

“You’re not staying with your family?” The second the words were out of her mouth, she looked as though she wanted to take them back. But…too late.

“Have you met my family?”

“I have.”

“Then there’s your answer.”

She let out a quick burst of laughter and immediately seemed to loosen up as she typed something in on the keyboard in front of her.

It was weird. Here I was coming back to my hometown, and yet this woman I’d just met probably knew more about me and my family than I did. But that had been my choice. Not at first, but definitely in the end.

“Actually, your brother Ryan helped me renovate this place.”

No shit. I took another look around, even more impressed than when I first arrived. “Really? How long did that take?”

“Five years.”

I whipped my head back around so I was facing her. “Five years?”

“Uh huh. Your brother’s a busy guy. I had to get him on his downtime.”

“Some downtime.”

“Eh, he likes it. Says whacking things with a hammer relaxes him.”

That sounded like Ryan, but seriously, five years?

“So you and Ryan, you’re close?” I asked.

Willa grinned as she leaned her hip up against the desk and crossed her arms. “Close enough to know that he’s really happy to have his brother back home.”

“I’m not back home. I’m visiting.”

“Same thing.”

“Not really.”

“You’re here, aren’t you?”

“Only because Harry died.”

“Yeah, but there’s no love lost there. So there must be another reason.”

Willa eyed me as she pondered, and it was amazing how comfortable I suddenly felt around her. All day I’d been on edge around my family and the locals. Then there was that moment in the wine cellar with Laurel. But that was a whole different kind of edge. The kind I wanted to feel again, as soon as possible.

“I came back because of my mom.”

“Ah. Well, maybe you’ll stay for a different reason.”

“I’m not staying.”

Willa clicked several buttons on the computer then asked, “Then how long should I book you in for?”

“Don’t you need my name?”

“It’s Noah, right?”

I opened my mouth and then shut it again. She really did know my family. “Right.”

“That’s what I thought. All I need now is a credit card and the length of your stay.”

I fished out my wallet and handed over my card. “Can we leave it open-ended for now? Or do you need a definite date?”

Willa picked up my card and began typing in the numbers. “We can leave it open.”

“Okay, good.”

“Mhmm.” She went back to filling in the rest of my details, and once she was done, she ran through the times that breakfast and evening coffee were served, along with what was and wasn’t available for guests in the way of rooms in the house.

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