Page 56 of The Cinnamon Spice Inn (Maple Falls #1)

FORTY-NINE

ZACH

Zach hadn’t heard from Madison since she’d left the morning before, and it gnawed at him like a loose nail catching on everything.

He told himself he was giving her space.

She needed time. She had a lot on her mind.

He didn’t want to push her. But deep down, fear beat in his heart like a steady drum.

The sun was hiding behind the clouds when he stepped into the inn, toolbox in hand. The scent of cinnamon and coffee lingered in the air. Zach had been getting used to going back to the cabin, smelling of the inn, after a long day’s work. It used to comfort him. Now, he wasn’t so sure.

Zach spotted Madison right away behind the front desk. She was hunched over a stack of order forms, studying them, while Gram worked through the new computer software.

“Do I click here or there?” Gram asked, squinting at the screen and pointing with one finger like she couldn’t remember to save her life.

Madison looked up and spotted Zach. She startled.

Zach tried to let it roll off his back. He smiled in return, trying to smooth her nerves.

It didn’t work. Madison returned the smile, but it felt flat. Practiced.

“Computer training?” Zach asked, trying for lightness as he moved closer.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with pencil and paper. It’s done me good for decades.” Gram sighed and crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.

“You click here first,” Madison said, for probably the fifth time, “then you input the client’s information,” she continued, tapping the screen gently, “and then you click here to save it.”

“I keep telling her I’m a lost cause, but she insists I’ll get it,” Gram added, picking up her coffee.

“You’re not a lost cause,” Madison replied, her voice softening in a way Zach wished it would’ve for him.

“Whatever you say, dear. I’m going to scoot out of your way and take my break.” She winked and disappeared toward the office.

Zach caught the flash of panic in Madison’s eyes before she ducked her head, and it hit him low, like a punch he hadn’t braced for.

Zach shifted his weight and leaned forward, casually, trying to act like he hadn’t noticed.

“Busy morning?”

Madison barely looked up this time. “Too busy. With the reopening coming up next week, there’s still too much to do.

I need to finish updating the branding. The designer I hired flaked on us.

The website’s a mess. And I haven’t posted on social nearly as much as I should.

I really need to schedule posts. It’s a lot,” she said, her pencil nervously tapping against a folder.

“Do you want to grab a coffee later? I just need to finish that second coat of stain out back…”

“I’m sorry, I wish I could,” she replied quickly.

“But I really need to focus on things here.” Madison snapped her fingers, thinking of something.

“Shoot,” she said to herself before apologizing to Zach again.

“Sorry, I just remembered I need to order towels and linens today or they won’t be delivered on time.

” She gave a quick shrug but didn’t meet his eyes.

“Alright then, maybe later.”

“Yeah, sure.” Madison feigned excitement. Zach hated that he knew her well enough to know that.

Zach nodded, jaw tight, and grabbed his toolbox. Madison excused herself and walked off in the opposite direction, files in hand.

Zach could practically feel the space between them widening with each step.

His stomach twisted. No matter what he told himself, she was slipping away.

A huge part of him wanted to go after her. To tell her that this time, he’d leave everything behind if it meant keeping her. That if she asked, he’d follow her anywhere. Even to New York. Even if it broke his heart to leave Maple Falls behind. That nothing mattered more than her.

But he couldn’t go after her. Because if she loved him back, wouldn’t she at least be trying to find a way to give them a chance?

So, he just stood there, in the gray zone once more. Praying that she would reach out, terrified that she wouldn’t.