Page 5 of The Cinnamon Spice Inn (Maple Falls #1)
Zach wouldn’t have it any other way. Maybe it was because of the way he’d been raised, or rather, the way the town had stepped up after his dad left. He’d been nine—old enough to understand the heated conversations and slamming doors, but too young to do anything about it.
Zach had learned quickly that family didn’t always mean blood.
Sometimes it was the people who showed up without being asked.
It was the ones who mowed your lawn, dropped off casseroles, or taught you how to fix a broken furnace because you were the man of the house now. Those were the lessons that stuck.
The whole town had raised him and Emily.
His grandparents had helped, but they had their work on the farm, running the apple orchard.
After they passed, it was Mrs. Bishop, Mr. Jensen at the hardware store, and half the church ladies who made sure Zach and Emily never went without birthday presents or winter coats, especially those first couple of years. He owed them everything.
Which was why leaving Maple Falls had never been an option for him. Not like Madison.
So, yeah, Zach was happy to help even the most infuriating clients, like Mrs. Bishop. But right now, they were waiting for her latest order to arrive before he could keep going.
“Good, I was hoping to hear you had some time,” his mom said, pumping her arms as she marched in place.
Zach unscrewed the top of his water bottle. “You were?”
“I heard about the roof at the Cinnamon Spice Inn.”
Zach narrowed his eyes. “How? It happened—what—five hours ago?”
His mom smiled. “I have my ways. You going to fix it? See, the thing is, I got a letter.” Anita looked around as if making sure they were alone.
“An anonymous one, asking if I could help out with the inn. Sounds like it’s from a concerned local, you know how we are.
Just like you know George isn’t going to take charity, and that inn hasn’t been bringing in any money. ”
The Cinnamon Spice Inn had always just been there. It was as much a part of Maple Falls as the town square. But everyone round here knew how much George had been struggling since Madison’s mom, Meredith, had died. The inn just wasn’t the same as it used to be.
“Anyway, I wondered if this roof might be a way to get George to accept some help. You could start with that, then see what else needs doing. Plus, they’ve got that extra cabin on the property…” she continued.
Anita was talking about the honeymoon suite down on the lakefront—a rustic cabin with one bedroom, a kitchenette, and a bathroom. He and Madison had snuck off there more than once in their early twenties. Not that he was about to tell his mother that.
“That cabin needs work, like the rest of the place,” she continued. “And you need somewhere to stay?—”
“What? How do you know that?”
“Betsy called me from the electrical company. She put in an order for breakfast sandwiches for the call center,” she said as if that explained everything.
“Of course she did.” Zach knew what it was like living in a small town. He didn’t usually care unless it was his business everyone was talking about.
“Well, there you go. You need a place to stay, George has an inn that needs fixing up. So he won’t think it’s charity. Problem solved.” Anita beamed while still marching in place. Her face was brighter than the sunrise.
Zach exhaled, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.
Staying in the inn’s cabin made sense. It had power, running water, and more privacy than his mom’s apartment. It would put him close enough to the inn to get started on the roof first thing.
And, if he was being honest, it was the only way he could help without George insisting on shelling out money he didn’t have. A full roof repair job would normally cost more than the Cinnamon Spice Inn had to its name these days.
Still, it irritated him that his mom had maneuvered him into this.
“And you think sticking me in the cabin is going to fix all the inn’s problems?” he countered.
“I think,” Anita said, stepping forward and poking him lightly in the chest, “that you’re the best shot they’ve got at buying time, without George feeling like he’s taking a handout. And Madison…” She trailed off, her smile softening. “Madison can’t fix everything on her own.”
Before Zach could say anything, Anita kept on going.
“I’m going to do my part, too. Once the inn’s been fixed up, I’m going to offer a free meal at the café for every two-night stay at the inn.
Just for the first month,” Anita amended, seeing the look on her son’s face.
“We’ll advertise it at the café and online, pull in some tourists. Every bit helps.”
She didn’t wait for a response, just waved a hand dismissively and started back on her power-walk. “You’re welcome!” she called over her shoulder, already moving ahead.
Shaking his head, Zach took another swig of water before capping the bottle and tucking it under his arm. He didn’t need his mother meddling in his life, even though this time she had a point.
But how would he get used to being so close to Madison Kelly again?
The girl who once made him forget every reason he had to be careful. The woman who still made it impossible to think straight.
He shouldn’t have noticed the way her wet, red hair tumbled down her shoulders. Or the fire behind her eyes, making his mouth go dry. Or how her voice, low and exasperated, had settled back under his skin like an itch he couldn’t scratch.
Madison would hate him being around. Which only made Zach smile.
Not that it meant anything. Not a damn thing.
Zach picked up his pace, setting his sights on finishing his run in record time.
He no longer noticed the falling leaves or the light wind that blew off the lake.
He tuned out the birdcalls and the sound of a boat motor in the distance.
The sooner he got started on the work, the sooner he could put all this—his mother’s scheming and Madison’s flashing eyes—out of his mind.
And maybe, if he ran fast enough, he could outrun the memory of Madison too. Outrun the way she smelled faintly of apple and ginger when she curled into him, the heat of her body against his, the way she used to say his name as she fell asleep.
Zach clenched his fists and ran harder.
He needed to keep Madison out of his head.
Fix the inn. Stay the hell out of trouble.
And under no circumstances fall for Madison Kelly all over again.