Page 46 of The Cinnamon Spice Inn (Maple Falls #1)

THIRTY-NINE

ZACH

That evening as the sun dipped into the flaming horizon, Zach was back at his farmhouse.

He told himself it was to get work done, but that was a lie.

After putting in a solid ten hours at the inn, sanding and repainting window trim, his body was still restless.

It was like he couldn’t burn off enough energy even if he tried.

He was trying to play it cool around Madison and not talk about the future, but every time he got too close, he felt like a schoolboy. Zach had spent so many years convincing himself he was over her. That she’d moved on, and he had too. But every minute he spent with her now, he knew the truth.

Madison was it for him. She always had been. All he wanted, all he had ever wanted, was her. He wanted all his mornings with her curled up against him in his bed. Coffee brewed while she sat on his counter, looking at him like he hung the moon.

He wanted the life they’d once dreamed up together, lying on a blanket under the stars when they were too young to know how rare their love was.

Back then, they used to talk about it all the time, building their house, their lives.

Madison wanted a big wraparound porch. And a fireplace, of course.

Something to keep the chill away on those frigid Midwestern winter nights when they’d cuddle up inside.

And a backyard for cookouts when it was warmer.

The kitchen would be at the heart of it.

A space where she could cook anything she could dream up.

He could still hear her voice, clear as day, laughing as she mapped it all out beside him, as certain about their future as she was about the stars overhead.

And now he was building it. Frame by frame. Nail by nail.

Zach leaned back against the kitchen counter, glancing around the half-finished space. The wiring was done, at least. Hot water too. He was proud of the work he’d already done, all the sanding, framing, and painting. Zach was pouring everything he had into these walls.

He was going to order the kitchen cabinets next week. Maybe Madison would like to take a drive with him and pick them out…

Zach cursed under his breath and forced himself to mentally backtrack.

It was dangerous, letting himself hope like that. Because no matter how good it felt when she was in his arms, looking up at him like he was the only man on Earth… there was still a part of him that remembered what it had felt like when she’d left. And Madison had bigger dreams than Maple Falls.

He couldn’t ask her to give those up. Not for him. Not for this house.

Still… staring at the blueprints pinned to the wall, he couldn’t help it.

He could see her here. Standing in the kitchen, barefoot, laughing, maybe stealing hot biscuits straight from the oven.

Madison Kelly-Whitaker.

The thought hit him so hard, he had to steady himself against the counter.

God help him. He was already so far gone.

A familiar voice broke the silence.

“Knew I’d find you here,” Liam said, sauntering in with a pizza box and a six-pack, like he owned the place.

“You keeping tabs on me now?” Zach asked, arms crossed as he turned from the blueprints.

“Nah, it’s just that there’s nothing to do, and I’m lonely,” Liam said sarcastically with a smirk.

He set the pizza box down on a pair of sawhorses doubling as a table. “Take a break, have some pizza. I got it from Pino’s with extra sausage and black olives.”

Zach tried to wave him off. “Seriously, dude, I’m fine. You don’t need to keep checking up on me.”

Liam ignored him, cracking open a beer. “I don’t know. No one’s seen hide nor hair from you. It’s like all you do is work and you know that’s no way to live.”

“Pot calling the kettle,” Zach said, coming over and grabbing a beer.

“Fair.” Liam grinned, chewing.

Zach drank in silence, staring at the blank drywall and scattered tools.

“So,” Liam said between bites. “You gonna tell me what’s eating at you? Or am I gonna have to guess?”

“Nothing’s eating at me.” Zach glanced over at Liam.

Their eyes locked.

That was enough.

Liam jumped up. “Holy shit. You and Madison hooked up!”

Zach shook his head. “I thought you’d have heard by now; it’s all over town.”

Liam grinned. “Here I’m thinking you’re out here nursing a broken heart, and you’ve been off doing the dirty like a couple of teenagers.”

Zach suspected Liam didn’t know if he should be offended or impressed that Zach hadn’t told him.

“Christ, man,” Zach grumbled, taking another swig of beer. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated my ass,” Liam shot back. “You two’ve been complicated since the fifth grade.”

Zach cocked his head and took another drink. He had to give Liam that.

“We’re busy working on the inn ahead of the relaunch.

We agreed to just enjoy each other’s company for now, not think about the future,” Zach supplied after swallowing.

He’d already counted down the days. It wasn’t many.

Madison wasn’t sure she was staying, which meant she probably wasn’t. It ate him up inside.

Liam nodded slowly. “But you think she’ll leave after that?”

Zach didn’t answer, which said enough.

“I thought she was staying in Maple Falls… That’s what?—”

“C’mon, Liam, even you should know not to take gossip as word.” Didn’t matter if Zach might’ve allowed himself to hope just a little. He wouldn’t admit it, not aloud.

Liam exhaled and grabbed another beer. “Look, you’ve never been casual about Madison. And you sure as hell know she’s not casual about you.”

Zach stared at the floor. “It’s not just about me. Her career’s in New York, not here.”

Liam leaned against the wall, studying him. “And you’re just going to let that happen without saying anything?”

Zach’s jaw tightened. “What’s there to say? She’s got a life back there.”

Liam shook his head. “No. She’s got a choice between two lives. And you’re scared she won’t choose you.”

Zach didn’t answer. He just drained the rest of his beer and stared at the empty kitchen. Wishing he knew how to build something that could actually keep her here.