Page 17 of The Inn Dilemma

“Holt? Was that you?”

“No, probably just the sounds of nature.”

“Okay…” Chris says slowly. “So can we join you? Will you be there a little longer?”

I look over at Nova, who’s mouthing “no” and shaking her head vehemently.

“Actually, I was just getting ready to head back. I need to feed the pups and let them out to run for a while.”

“Then we’ll come over to your place,” Chris says, apparently bent on seeing me.

Nova face palms.

“Uh, sure. Sounds good. I’ll be home in an hour or so. I planned on taking the scenic route home.”

“All right, we’ll see you then.”

I hang up, tuck my phone back in my pocket, and drag my gaze to Nova’s. “Can you please tell me why Christian still doesn’t know you’re home?”

She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear and looks everywhere but at me.

“How about you tell me what’s going on?” I say, leaning against the rail and crossing my arms.

She lifts a slender shoulder, then drops it. “I don’t know. I joked about being the prodigal daughter, but after Dad didn’t exactly welcome me home with open arms, I’ve been afraid I’ll get the same reception from Chris. And, I mean, he’s married now. Married!”

“And sort of has a kid, too.”

Her eyes go wide. “What?”

“Yeah, he adopted Roxy’s nephew, Axel, a couple months ago. Chris has taken over as a sort of stepdad.”

Nova stumbles back a step. “Wow.” She turns and faces away from me, and I can tell she needs this time to process. “I’ve missed so much.”

Her whisper barely carries over the distance betweenus. When her shoulders tremble, I can’t hold myself back. Gently, I grab her and slowly turn her toward me.

“I screwed up; I never should have left.” She covers her face with her hands.

I pull her hands down. “You’re back now. Make that be what matters.”

Her pretty brown eyes implore mine. “How?”

“You take it one day at a time.”

Chapter Six

Nova

My heart pounds in my ears as we pull up to Holt’s cabin. Chris and who I assume is Roxy are sitting on the rockers on Holt’s porch.

My entire being screams at me to keep my helmet firmly planted on my head and slink into my cabin, but I don’t think I can get away from it. Not with the recognition in Christian’s expression as he stares at my helmet.

“So who is this?” he asks, casually walking toward us. The slight tightness of his jaw would probably not alert anyone else to his distrust, but even years apart, I believe I can still read my brother.

The woman I assume is Roxy cautiously looks between the three of us.

“I didn’t know you were seeing someone new,” Christian says, then narrows his eyes and cocks his head to the side as he stares at me. “That helmet looks familiar.”

Gritting my teeth, I slowly pull my helmet from myhead, keeping my eyes closed as the cooling air meets my skin.