Page 10 of Forty, Flirty & Fall Inn

Mira emerges fully, clutching a stapler like a weapon.Her eyes widen when she sees me.

"Oh my god," she whispers."You're Lukas Sterling."

I look at Sage, who shrugs."How do you?—?"

"TechCast magazine, last month.'Seattle's Most Eligible Tech Billionaire.'There was a whole article about your new cybersecurity platform."

"You read TechCast?"I ask.

"I study hospitality management at UW.Tech integration in tourism is my specialty."She pauses, then pulls out her phone."Can I get a quick photo?My business ethics professor will never believe I met you."

"Mira…” Sage starts.

"It's fine.Just...maybe don't post it anywhere?"

“Oh.I already posted it.”Snap.“Tagging the inn and everything.You’re welcome.”

Sage groans softly.

“What?”Mira says.“Free press.”

A long moment of silence stretches between us, broken only by Buttercup's contented bleating.

"Well," Sage comments dryly, “that was…”

“Unexpected,” I finish.

“I was gonna say ‘a shit-show,’ but sure.Let’s go with your version.”

“Well, this has been enlightening.”Brushing off a mound of goat hair, I sling my damp laptop bag over my shoulder.“I should probably go?—”

“Stay.”

The word lands like a challenge.Sharp.Unfiltered.

“Sorry, did you just?—?”

She shifts, weight rocking to one hip, lips twitching.“Yeah.Stay.It’s late, the roads suck, and Mira’s already put your face on the internet.Might as well sleep here.”

"Room twelve is available," Mira volunteers from behind the desk."It has the best view of the falls.And blackout curtains.”

“I’m sure.”I look at Sage, who's still holding Buttercup and watching me.“I mean, I could.Long as you don't mind having a paranoid cybersecurity expert as a guest."

The second the words are out, I know I’ve made a mistake.

I’ve got a business to go back home to, a product launch.

A thousand tasks and even more emails, but it’s hard to remember why any of them are important when a small smile curves on Sage Winters’s pink mouth.

“I think we can accommodate that.”

Her lips say “yes.”

But there’s something in the eyes of the mysterious inn owner, that feels like a “no.”

Whatever it is, worry, or guilt, or maybe just exhaustion…I suddenly get the feeling that maybe my ‘catfish’ might be hiding something after all.

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