Page 45 of The Cinnamon Spice Inn (Maple Falls #1)

THIRTY-EIGHT

MADISON

“So, have you hooked up with the sexy carpenter yet?” Jo asked on a call two days later as Madison was getting ready.

“Funny you should ask,” Madison said, tugging on a pair of jeans and tossing an oatmeal knit sweater over her white tank top.

“Ha! I knew it!”

Madison glanced at herself in the mirror and saw the blush creeping up her cheeks.

Jeez Louise, she couldn’t even reference Zach without turning red.

Flashes of the cabin, of the late night around the campfire, of the way their bodies fit together.

How her mind had gone from trying to forget their history to daring to hope about their future.

And yet, when she had some distance from Zach, she had to question what she was doing.

He’d forgiven her for the way she’d left years ago, and that meant the world to her.

He’d said he loved her, words she’d never thought she’d hear again.

But it was too late. She wasn’t staying in Maple Falls, was she? She’d just told Mrs. C. that to get the woman to shut up. She and Zach both knew her life was in New York.

Even if it felt more and more that her life was here. Or at least it could be.

The only thing Madison knew for sure was that she wanted Zach.

One thing at a time , she told herself. Focus on the inn.

“Hello?” Jo interrupted her spiral. “Are you fantasizing about Mr. Tool Belt over there?”

“Maybe just a bit,” Madison replied with a grin. She twisted her hair into a messy bun and pocketed her Chapstick.

Her plan was to head to the bakery and grab a coffee.

It was quickly becoming her morning routine: caffeine, catching up with Emily, and maybe casually running into Zach outside the cabin.

Seeing him shirtless taking in the view was the best way to start the day.

Those broad shoulders, tight pecs, solid abs…

Madison changed her train of thought before she decided to skip the caffeine and head right down to the cabin. Coffee was too important. A woman had to have priorities.

“I actually have you and your creative texts to thank for interrupting us the first time,” Madison added, shaking her head as she wrapped an orange wool scarf around her neck.

“Excuse me? Moi? I thought you’d appreciate the artful placement of Mr. October’s gourds,” Jo said with zero shame.

Madison laughed. “Oh, I appreciated it. Except Zach saw it and thought it was from some guy named Jo—thought it was your gourds on display.”

“Shut up. He did not.” Jo cracked up.

“Oh, he did. He definitely did.”

“Oops, sorry. My bad.”

“It’s not your fault. Mr. October was rather… impressive.”

Jo’s grin was practically audible.

Madison snickered. “And for the record, Zach and I did talk, I told him you were a she, and everything’s good now.”

“Oh yeah? How good?” Jo asked playfully.

“Like I’ve had more orgasms in the past two days than the past two years good.”

“Love it. That’s what I want to hear. Go get ’em, tiger!”

Madison shook her head. “I’ll keep you posted.”

“You better. Catch up later, alright?”

“Promise. Take care, you.”

When Madison reached the front desk, she found Gram chatting on the phone with a potential guest and Zach walking through the front door all flannel-shirted and beard-y like a scene straight out of a fall romance.

“Good morning,” he greeted, his voice lower and huskier than she remembered. Or maybe she was just imagining it.

Their eyes locked.

She had to fight the urge to shiver.

“I’m going to the bakery,” Madison blurted, desperate to put some distance between them before they combusted in front of her grandmother.

Zach opened his mouth, but Gram cut in, hand over the receiver. “Zach, why don’t you go with her? Bring me back one of Emily’s apple spice lattes, and grab something for yourself while you’re at it.” She gave them both a knowing wink.

Madison swallowed hard.

“Mind?” Zach asked Madison, eyes searching.

“Mind? No, not at all.” She was already halfway to the door.

They walked side by side down the sidewalk. Shop owners were sweeping their sidewalks, rearranging their potted chrysanthemums and adding extra pumpkins here and there. Madison tried to look anywhere but at Zach.

She was hyperaware of him, of the heat radiating from him, the faint scent of his cedarwood cologne, the way she fell in step with him, like no time had passed. When his hand brushed against hers, she curled her fingers around his.

She stole a look at him and didn’t bother hiding the smile that tugged at her lips.

Mrs. C. and Mrs. Bishop eyed them the moment they walked through the door. The bakery’s delicious aroma made Madison’s mouth water. She could really use an extra-large coffee right now, and one of Emily’s cookies.

“Hey, you two,” Emily said while restocking the sugar cookies. “Your usual?” she asked, standing.

“That would be great, thanks, Em,” Zach replied.

Madison caught the look that passed between the siblings and knew Emily was just itching to ask them questions.

Zach shook his head ever so slightly, his eyes shooting his sister a knowing look.

Emily just paused, smiled, and then said, “Coming right up.”

“Thanks.” Madison turned away before Emily could change her mind.

“You two made quite the pair on Friday,” Mrs. C. said, calling out from her table, angling for gossip.

“Always knew you’d find your way back together,” Mrs. Bishop added.

“No, you didn’t. You just tried fixing him up with that Alyssa girl. I’m the one who said they’d get back together,” Mrs. C. insisted.

“I’m the one who lost fifty bucks when she left town. Maybe I can get it back now,” Mrs. Bishop added.

“Maybe you will,” Zach replied with easy charm.

“Oh, say, Madison, you’re coming Tuesday afternoon, aren’t you?” Mrs. C. asked while stirring her coffee.

Madison wasn’t sure what the older woman was talking about, and that must have been clear on her face.

“Crafting club. Your grandma said you volunteered to bring the leaves,” Mrs. Bishop supplied.

Madison narrowed her eyes. “She did, did she?”

“Course I wouldn’t blame you if you had a hot date.” Mrs. Bishop lowered her chin in Zach’s direction.

“I’ll be there,” Madison replied before the exchange could get any more awkward.

“Perfect. See you then,” Mrs. Bishop said with a knowing smile.

Madison turned to scan the menu board, trying to ignore the heat blooming across her cheeks, when Mrs. C.’s voice floated behind her.

“And that mystery letter writer thought we needed to intervene,” she was saying with a huff. “Shows what they know.”

Madison’s ears perked up. She turned to Zach. “Did she say ‘mystery letter writer’?”

Zach raised a brow, just as intrigued.

Madison spun back around. “What’s this about mystery letters?”

Mrs. C. and Mrs. Bishop exchanged glances and then Mrs. C. finally spoke, setting her coffee cup down. “Well, if you must know, I received an anonymous letter. Told me to help out at the inn. Said you’d be in town, and I should encourage you in any way I saw fit.”

“And when did you get this letter?”

“Let me think… I guess it was this past Tuesday,” Mrs. C. replied. “So, a few days ago.”

Madison’s mind raced. She’d returned to town ten days ago, so the letters were still going out.

Whoever the mystery writer was, they were still at it. But why?

“Do you still have the letter?” Madison pressed.

“Not on me,” Mrs. C. replied, taken back.

“Was it handwritten? Typed? Was there postage?”

The older woman chuckled. “Typed. Not sure about the postage. And don’t you worry, it sounds like you have everything under control.”

Madison replied with a tight smile. That might be true, but she still wanted to find out who had so effectively pulled the strings in her life, and was still pulling them. “Will you bring it with you Tuesday? To the crafting club?”

Mrs. C. looked unsure.

“I know it might have said to keep it a secret. But it’s important,” Madison pleaded. She stared at the woman, heart in her eyes.

“Alright, dear. I’ll put it in my purse tonight.” Mrs. C. nodded.

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Madison said before looking back at Zach.

Big mistake. The man was trying to look innocent but failing miserably. She could swear he was undressing her with his eyes. Piece by piece until she felt completely exposed.

The electricity simmered between them, alive and reckless.

“Here you go,” Emily said, interrupting their silent fireworks. She glanced between them, eyebrows lifting slightly, but—bless her—she said nothing. Just gave them their coffees.

“Come on. Let’s go before you get us both into even more trouble,” Madison said, handing Zach his coffee.

“Not my fault. You keep looking at me like that,” Zach said under his breath as he fell into step beside her. His hand closed around hers again, and something switched on inside her.

She hadn’t said it to him yet, but Madison knew. She couldn’t run away from it anymore.

It was as unstoppable and as inevitable as the seasons turning.

She was in love with Zach.