Page 41 of The Cinnamon Spice Inn (Maple Falls #1)

THIRTY-FOUR

MADISON

The next morning, Madison woke, her senses slowly coming back to her.

She felt safe and warm, cocooned against Zach’s chest. His arm rested across her, caging her in.

Protecting her. Madison lay there, feeling the weight of him and listening to the steady rise and fall of his chest as he continued to sleep soundly.

For a second, Madison could almost pretend it was years ago—that nothing had changed. That they were still that young couple who could barely keep their hands off each other, wrapped up in the small world they’d created in this very cabin.

But they weren’t. And everything had changed.

She blinked the room into focus. Sunlight streamed through the cottage’s lace curtains.

Dust motes danced in the air. The air smelled faintly of cedar and smoke from the small wood-burning stove.

Outside songbirds chirped in the cold October air, but inside, the room was nice and toasty.

She’d forgotten how hot Zach slept. He was like her own personal furnace.

Madison carefully turned in Zach’s arms so that she was now facing him.

Here, he was just Zach. Tousled hair, stubbled jaw, and those lashes that should have been illegal on a man.

Seeing him so relaxed stirred something deep in her chest. It hit her hard, knowing just how much she missed him.

How much she missed this. How no one else could ever come close to him.

Here, she felt safe. Here, she felt like she was home.

She hadn’t felt this grounded in years, not in New York, not with anyone else.

God, how many nights had she lain awake wishing for exactly this?

Last night had been magic. But now the morning sun felt like a harsh wake-up call. Her heart wanted nothing more than to linger, to lie in bed and have a lazy morning as if that were possible. But Madison’s brain was already running in overdrive.

Today was the Pumpkinfest.

Today the entire population of Maple Falls would be out in full force, buzzing around town, snapping pictures with the pumpkins, gossiping over cider donuts and spiced lattes.

If anyone found out what had happened between her and Zach—if anyone even suspected—the news would spread faster than frosting on Kit’s cinnamon rolls.

She could already imagine Gram’s sly winks, Mrs. Bishop whispering behind napkins at the Maple Leaf Café while Anita proudly looked on.

It would be a lot of pressure, especially when she still wasn’t sure what their future could look like.

Madison in New York, Zach in Maple Falls. How could it possibly work?

Madison frowned. Now was not the time to worry about the future or about what other people thought. Let them talk, let them watch. She wasn’t going to hide away anymore.

Zach came to with a sleepy smile on his face and pulled her closer, wrapping her in a hug.

“Morning. You sleep okay?”

“Better than okay,” Madison confessed. “But I should get back to the inn, we have a big day ahead.”

“Five more minutes,” he mumbled into her hair.

Madison melted, momentarily giving in and burrowing deeper into his chest. “I wish,” she murmured. Because five more minutes sounded dangerously good. Five more minutes could turn into forever, and they could have every morning like this. They wouldn’t be borrowed. Or secrets. Just theirs.

He kissed the top of her head before rolling onto his back, stretching his arms above his head. The blanket fell to his waist.

Madison couldn’t help but like what she saw, and Zach noticed.

“Sure you can’t stay?” His voice was groggy but amused.

“Not that it’s a bad plan,” Madison said, propping herself up on one elbow so she could look at Zach, sprawled out bare-chested.

She remembered everything that had happened between them the night before, and it took every ounce of strength to stop herself from going back for more.

“I really should get going,” Madison groaned, but she couldn’t resist leaning back and planting a trail of kisses up his arm to his shoulder and to the side of his neck.

Zach’s breath hitched, and she could practically feel the tension crackling between them. She saw the hunger in his eyes, and she knew it mirrored her own.

“Later, Pumpkinfest time, inn,” she mumbled, getting up reluctantly. She grabbed her jeans and yanked her sweater over her head backward before realizing and quickly fixing it.

After one last slow kiss, Madison slipped outside into the fresh morning air. The ground was muddy, the grass wet with dew. She tugged her sweater straight and picked up the trail curving around the lake.

It would be fine. She’d go back to the inn all innocently, pretending she’d been out for a casual early stroll. All she had to do was channel Zach’s calm energy. She could pull that off, right?

Then, even though she knew everyone would find out soon enough, they could at least keep their steamy night in the cabin to themselves a little while longer.

All was good until she rounded the corner of the inn and spotted Kit standing at the kitchen window, grinning like a fox.

Madison’s face instantly flamed.

Kit stood on her tiptoes and pushed open the window with her wrists. “Late night at the cabin?” she teased.

Madison shot her a look. “Keep it quiet,” she whisper-yelled.

“Sure, but it’ll cost ya.” Kit winked.

Madison slipped into the kitchen, her heart still racing. The kitchen smelled of roasted apples, biscuits, and sausage gravy.

Kit leaned against the counter, arms crossed, wearing an amused expression.

“Not now, Kit! I swear if you say one word…” Madison warned, pushing up her sleeves and heading to the coffee pot.

“Oh, I don’t have to say anything. Your hair is doing all the talking.” Kit pointed to Madison’s tangled mess. “That’s a rode-hard-and-put-away-wet look if I’ve ever seen one.”

Madison stood up straight and ran a hand through her curls, trying to brush them out with her fingers. “Please. I just… overslept.”

Kit plated a piece of apple tart and slid it in front of Madison. “Oh sure, overslept. In the honeymoon cabin with Zach. Dudes have never done it for me, but a man like Zach? He might make me change my mind!”

Madison tossed a damp kitchen towel at her new friend. “Kit!”

Kit just laughed and caught it. “What? I said with a man like Zach. It’s a good thing you scooped him up when you did—he wasn’t going to stay single forever.”

Madison reached for her coffee. “I’ll tell him you think he’s such a catch after Pumpkinfest today, or it might have to wait until after the reopening. There’s so much to do.”

Kit softened. “Don’t worry about the inn. It’s coming along.”

“I know. It’s just…” Madison sighed. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Kit knew they were no longer talking about the inn. “You love him.”

Madison stared down into her coffee “I guess I always have.”

Kit leaned in, dropping her voice. “So… are you two, like, officially…?”

“We haven’t talked about it yet.” Madison absently picked at the tart. “I’ve got a lot of thinking to do. But I need to focus on the inn now.”

Kit lowered her voice as if she was imparting a secret.

“You’re allowed to have something for yourself, Madison.

This inn will still be here tomorrow.” She gave her a knowing look before standing.

“Okay, now that I’ve delivered my daily dose of wisdom, I need to peel some more apples.

And you”—she pointed at Madison—“are going to take ten deep breaths and remember you’re allowed to be happy. ”

Madison watched Kit tackle a fresh bushel of apples, leaving her alone with her coffee, her thoughts, and a restless heart.