Page 15 of The Cinnamon Spice Inn (Maple Falls #1)

“Oh, I’m sure you need Tommy for other things.”

“Trust me, he enjoys being out and about. Expect to see him sometime after one.”

Madison thanked him and tried to tip Mr. Alders a twenty.

“Not necessary. Happy to do it. And happy to see you back in town.”

She smiled, grabbed her receipt, and headed for the door.

After a brief pop-back to the bakery, Madison headed back toward the inn, feeling better than she had when she’d left it. Maybe the caffeine had finally kicked in. Maybe it was the endorphins from catching up with old friends. Or maybe it was the high from checking things off her list.

Whatever it was, Madison had a smile on her face, her third cup of coffee in one hand, a box of fresh baked goods in the other, and the day was just getting started.

There was a lot to do, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, she felt energized.

It was time to get things done. The wind lifted her hair, blowing it back, and she breathed in deep.

She’d missed this—the rhythm of a small town, the way people stopped to chat, how every street and storefront held a memory.

It had been so long since she’d let herself slow down and just be. She’d been so afraid of coming home. But now she felt something shift. Perhaps because she wasn’t here to wallow in the past. She was here to rebuild.

There was still a bubble of nerves pressing at her ribs. Would she be able to pull this off? Could she really transform the inn and successfully avoid her ex even while he worked on the roof and lived just yards away?

She only had until November 1st. She couldn’t stay away from the city for very long after giving everything to build her carefully curated New York self. Her career was at its peak; she didn’t want to mess it up now.

She pushed the doubt down. Of course she could do it.

She was Madison Kelly. She thrived under pressure.

And then, of course, there was the letter. She hadn’t let herself dwell on it much, not yet. There had been too much to do.

But as she neared the inn, she felt that letter nagging at the back of her mind. Who had sent it, and why now?

A dozen faces swam in front of her eyes—Anita, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. C., even Mr. Alders at the hardware store. The truth was, a lot of people cared about her dad—about her whole family, really.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn was more than just a place to stay. It was a piece of the town’s history. And people around here tended to look out for their own.

Still… something about the letter tugged at her.

It wasn’t just the words themselves; it was the feeling behind them.

Like a thread deep inside. Madison wanted—no, needed—to know who had sent it.

Because whoever it was hadn’t just asked her to come home.

They had known she would. And she couldn’t shake the feeling that if she found out who it was…

she’d also find the part of herself she’d left in Maple Falls all those years ago.

That was the last thought she had before she slammed into something tall, firm, and unmoving.

“Oof,” she said as the air left her lungs. The lid of her cup popped off, sloshing hot coffee over the rim and straight onto a broad, flannel-covered chest. The bakery box she’d been carrying completely smashed between them.

Madison’s eyes went wide as Zach steadied her with one hand while the other grabbed the crumpled box before it could hit the ground.

Zach’s jaw tightened, and his grip remained firm. “Madison,” he said, voice low and unreadable. He let go of her arm and handed her the box.

Madison stared at the mess—the crumpled box and the stain spreading across his shirt. The pastries were squashed beyond saving and forget her coffee.

Fantastic. Just fantastic.

She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. Not yet.

“That makes two catches in one day,” Zach mused. “Must be some kind of record.” He chuckled.

Her eyes darted up.

There it was. The smirk.

As if this was all some great, hilarious joke.

Madison narrowed her eyes. “Listen, I’m sorry. I obviously wasn’t looking where I was going.”

Zach shook his head. It was that infuriating, silent, dismissive shake of his head he’d mastered.

Like she was ridiculous. Exactly the same girl he used to know—the one who rushed headlong into things without thinking.

And that annoyed Madison to no end.

Her fingers curled around the mostly empty coffee cup.

Madison straightened her spine, determined to salvage whatever was left of her dignity.

“I’ll replace the pastries,” he offered, motioning back to the bakery.

“Don’t worry about it. I can do it,” she fired back. She did not need his help.

“Just let me fix it, Mads.”

Madison clenched her teeth. That name again, as if they were still both who they used to be.

Like she hadn’t left. Like he hadn’t let her go.

She stepped back, needing space. Needing to breathe. “I have to go.”

She turned on her heel, but before she could take two steps, Zach called after her.

“You always have had a habit of running away, right, Mads?”

Madison froze, just for a second. So what if she had a tendency to run? She was here now, wasn’t she? Facing him, despite how much he’d hurt her and how angry she still felt.

Madison forced herself to keep walking. To leave before she did something she’d regret.

Like throw the rest of her coffee in his irritatingly handsome face.