Page 42 of The Cinnamon Spice Inn (Maple Falls #1)

THIRTY-FIVE

MADISON

Madison couldn’t sit for long. Out front, the inn’s yard had been completely transformed into a fun fair with colorful booths, carnival games, hay bales stacked for seating, and a big wooden sign that read: “PUMPKINFEST FUN FAIR—WELCOME!”

It looked incredible.

Madison should have been proud. Instead, she was trying very hard not to look like someone who had just spent the night tangled up in the sheets with her first love.

And what a night it had been. Madison shook her head lest she start replaying it scene by scene, leaving her face as crimson as her sweater.

Act normal. Smile. Don’t be weird.

She adjusted a stack of cider cups at the drink table, sneaking a glance across the lawn.

There he was.

Zach stood near the new fence, talking with her dad, looking disgustingly good in a worn flannel and scuffed work boots. His sleeves were rolled up, his arms crossed loosely over his broad chest, every inch of him relaxed and easy.

Meanwhile, Madison felt like she might spontaneously combust.

It wasn’t just how good he looked; it was the way he stood there. Solid. Confident. Like you could depend on him. Madison had once. Maybe she still could.

Get it together. She tore her gaze away and busied herself setting out caramel apples.

Madison wondered how the whole town didn’t yet know they were together again. Because to her, nothing felt normal. It felt monumental. Like the world had shifted overnight and no one else had noticed. How could Zach be so chilled out?

Within two hours, the inn’s front lawn was packed.

Kids skipped from game to game, screaming and clapping with joy every time they won a prize.

Plastic bags filled with kazoos, yo-yos, and candy dangled from their wrists.

Parents stood around in clusters, watching their kids have fun while drinking steaming cups of cider and catching up with friends.

Madison smiled and soaked it all in. Why had she avoided all of this for so long? She regretted it, she could see that now—letting the distance grow further and further between her and all those she loved.

That was changing now, though. Wasn’t it?

Every time she caught herself glancing Zach’s way—or worse, every time she caught him looking back—her heart kicked into a wild rhythm.

Maybe they could sneak away to her bedroom…

“Madison, hello?” Kit called out, snapping her out of her dirty thoughts. She’d ditched the beret for a red bandana, tying her hair back. She wore a navy chef’s coat and white apron around her waist.

“What? Huh?” Madison asked, turning and giving Kit her full attention.

Kit went up on her tiptoes and spotted Zach over Madison’s shoulder. She tsked and shook her head. “Girl, you need to focus. We’ve got a festival to run here and an inn to promote!”

“I am! I’m focused. What do you need?”

“What I need is more cinnamon rolls, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“You already sold out?” Madison looked incredulous.

“All five hundred.” Kit beamed, hands on her hips.

Wow. Madison mouthed the word.

“I know. I was just trying to tell you that I think we’ll be sold out of everything within the hour.” Kit had set out tasting trays of sweet potato fries with marshmallow dip, maple-glazed sausage bites, and mini butternut squash soup cups.

“That’s incredible,” Madison murmured, watching Kit scribble down feedback on a notepad, already adjusting ingredients in her head.

“Thanks.” Kit shot her a grin. “Consider this my audition for best chef in town.”

“Pretty sure you’ve already won that title,” Madison answered honestly.

“Zoe is also looking for you,” Kit added, organizing the remaining tasting trays.

“Flower shop Zoe?”

“Mmm-hmm. Heard you were partnering up with local businesses for the relaunch. Wanted to see if you’d be interested in fresh flowers around the inn, like in the guest rooms. She said something about discounted pricing. I told her that was all you.”

“Okay, I’ll have to find her because that’s a great idea.”

“And,” Kit said dramatically, “Mayor Bloomfield mentioned his great-niece was coming into town. She’s going to start working for him, handling social media. Elsie’s her name, I think. Anyway, he wanted to chat with you. Thought it might help with the relaunch.”

“He’s right. That would help. I’ll look for him too.” Kit was right; Madison’s head had been too filled with Zach. She needed to focus on the inn, on the community, and making their Halloween relaunch the best it could be.

Madison didn’t find Zoe, but she did find her dad.

George was in his element, giving kids pony rides on Aspen and handing out pellets to feed the goats. He’d also set up a tiny petting zoo, where Honey and Biscuit had become the main attraction.

Madison relaxed a little bit. Maybe she could get through today without obsessing over Zach. Maybe she could enjoy the festival. Maybe she could even broker a few partnership deals for the reopening.

Except, as always, Zach looked ridiculously good. Flannel sleeves rolled up. Jeans that had seen better days, hugging his thighs. That stupid, knee-weakening smirk.

Focus , she reminded herself fiercely. Smile. Act normal. Do not, under any circumstances, climb him like a tree.

Zach was standing near the pumpkin slingshot, of all places. The slingshot and runway had been set up in front of the inn at the end of the street with a plywood backstop, and it had drawn quite a crowd.

Mrs. C., who had somehow appointed herself the official game referee, spotted Madison eyeing Zach and couldn’t help herself.

“Alright, alright,” Mrs. C. called out, beckoning her over. “Who’s up for a little friendly competition?”

“I—What?” Madison said quickly, holding up her hands once she realized the older lady was talking about her.

Zach’s brows lifted, joining them. “You volunteering, Mads?”

“No,” Madison insisted quickly. Absolutely not. She could barely remember how to breathe around him, let alone operate a slingshot.

“What? That’s not the Madison Kelly I know!” Mrs. C. declared.

Mrs. Bishop leaned in. “You scared, sweetheart?”

Madison scowled. Oh, these meddling old ladies are good.

“Yeah, what’s the matter, Mads? Afraid you’ll lose?” Zach’s lips twitched into a smile.

Madison narrowed her eyes. “Lose? To you?”

Zach nodded.

“Ha, please! Lead the way.” If there was one thing Madison never did, it was back down from a challenge.

The surrounding crowd cheered.

The game was simple—three pumpkins, three shots, and whoever knocked down the most targets won.

Zach went first. He pulled back the slingshot, took a calculated aim, and launched a pumpkin straight into a spread of bowling pins. The pumpkin exploded, knocking down the majority of the pins. The crowd whooped and clapped.

He lined up his second shot, eyes narrowed in concentration. This time, the pumpkin hit lower, knocking down the remaining pins on the left side of the lane. A few pins wobbled but stayed standing.

“Finish them off, Zach!” someone in the crowd yelled.

Zach didn’t even acknowledge it, just picked up his third pumpkin, took a breath, and launched it. The pumpkin hit its target; the last pins finally fell with a satisfying clatter.

The crowd roared their approval, high-fiving him as he stepped back with a small, smug grin.

Madison took her turn next. She planted her feet, adjusted her aim, and let her pumpkin fly.

STRIKE!

All the pins went down. The crowd roared.

But it was like the sound was muted, far away. Because Zach was right there and his gaze had caught on hers. It was a charged, knowing look, and for a second, the world shrank to just the two of them.

Normal , she told herself. Normal, normal, normal.

“Alright, tiebreaker!” Mrs. C. interrupted, shoving a ridiculously large pumpkin into Madison’s arms.

Madison struggled with it, adjusting her grip until Zach came to help.

“Here,” he said, stepping behind her.

He was close. Too close.

Madison held her breath as his chest brushed her back.

His arms came around her, steadying the slingshot as she fumbled to get the massive pumpkin in place.

Once in the pocket, Zach’s fingers curled around hers, and it all came flooding back.

The weight of him beside her. The sound of his laugh in the dark.

The thought of asking for more.

Of asking for everything, even if she didn’t know how it would all work out.

“On the count of three,” Zach said. His breath felt hot compared to the cool autumn air.

Madison forced herself to nod.

“One.”

His fingers tightened over hers.

“Two.”

His chin brushed her shoulder, just the faintest touch, but enough to steal the air from her lungs.

“Three.”

They released together.

The pumpkin was so large it stayed in the pocket, shooting forward and then back, falling out and smashing into the cement with tremendous force. It exploded on impact, sending a burst of orange guts and pulp flying in all directions. Including directly onto Madison.

The crowd roared. The kids absolutely loved it.

Madison looked down at her boots, her jeans, and her hair; it was everywhere.

Then she looked over at Zach. He was clean as could be. How was that possible?

A slow, wicked smile curled her lips.

Zach’s smirk faltered.

“Uh-oh. I know that look,” he started to say.

Before he could react, Madison bent down, scooped up a handful of pumpkin guts, and flung them straight at his chest.

SMACK.

The crowd hollered, some cheering her on while others gasped in delight.

Zach stared down at his now pumpkin-covered flannel, blinking like he couldn’t quite believe what had just happened.

Slowly, his gaze lifted to hers, Zach took a step closer, eyes dark with challenge.

The tension crackled like an autumn bonfire.

“Yeah?” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “I guess that means I get a turn.”

Madison’s eyes widened. “Oh, no you don’t?—”

But it was too late.

Madison turned and tried to run.

Zach lunged, grabbing a handful of pumpkin and smearing it across her arm before she could get away.

“Zach!” she yelled, laughing despite herself.

He grinned. “What? I was just evening the score.”

“Oh, that’s how we’re playing?”

“You tell me. I thought that’s how you liked it.” Zach’s voice held a playful edge.

Madison bent down to grab another handful of pumpkin, but Zach was faster.

In one swift move, he grabbed her wrist, spinning her around as if he were twirling her on a dance floor.

Madison yelped, but she was laughing, as her back was now flush with his chest.

“Nuh-uh,” he murmured in her ear. “I think you’ve done enough damage.”

Madison tilted her head back to look up at him.

His hands were still wrapped around her wrist, his grip warm, strong, but gentle.

The laughter lingered on her lips, but her breath caught.

Zach’s thumb grazed her skin, slow and deliberate. Her pulse pounded.

The sounds of the festival faded away.

For a long, stretched-out second, it was just them.

A woman could get lost in moments like this. Madison didn’t care that they were in the middle of the street with dozens of people around them. She only cared about the man looking down at her with eyes so deep she could fall into them forever.

She turned around so that she was facing him, arms around his neck, and kissed him softly, slowly, like it was their first time.

“Alright, alright!” Mrs. C. clapped loudly. “Get a room, you two!”

The moment broke.

“Hey now!” Madison said, stepping back. “You started it!” she said to Mrs. C.

“Don’t you dare throw any of those pumpkin guts on me!” The older woman rested her clenched fists on her hips.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep her in line,” Zach replied with all bravado and no bite.

“You will, will you?” Madison got that playful look in her eyes again.

“On second thought, Mrs. C., you’re on your own!” Zach laughed and ran toward a group of kids, knowing Madison wouldn’t dare follow him.

“Chicken!” she yelled out after him, turning around and running back toward the inn to quickly get changed.

If Maple Falls hadn’t known they were back together before that, well, they definitely did now.