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  Erik made a face. “Cheap shot. But seriously, some chick is there on her honeymoon alone? With the whole inn empty?”

  “That’s about the size of it.”

  “What’s she look like?”

  “What does it matter? She’s a guest.”

  “Adam was a guest, and that didn’t stop Molly from going after him.”

  “And I disapproved—for all the good it did me. We need every satisfied customer we can get right now.”

  Erik darted by Levi and went in for a lay-up. The ball sank through the hoop.

  “Money still pretty tight, huh?”

  Erik was the only one he’d told about the financial struggles, although even he didn’t know just how bad things were. “Something’s got to give, man.”

  “Can’t you just borrow against the equity?”

  “My parents took out a second mortgage, remember? All of it was used on the renovations.”

  “Well, I’m sure your marketing plans will pan out. Hopefully you’ll be full up all season.”

  “That would help me breathe a little easier.”

  “You know, you should probably level with your sisters. They’re owners too. They’d be ticked if they found out you weren’t shooting straight with them. And you shouldn’t have to carry this burden alone.”

  Erik tossed Levi the ball.

  Maybe his friend was right. That would at least keep them from unnecessary expenditures. He was getting tired of being the bad guy every time one of them wanted something for the inn.

  Levi took the ball out, moving slowly, catching his breath. But this was his responsibility. He was the oldest. He’d been told from the time his sisters were born that he was the big brother and responsible for taking care of them when his parents weren’t around.

  “Look out for your sister,” his dad had said on Molly’s first day of school.

  “Look out for your sisters,” he’d said when Levi was a teenager and his parents left for the evening.

  Look out for your sisters.

  And just like that, the night of the accident flashed in his mind. The dark night, silent but for the terrible metallic screech the Jaws of Life made on the wreckage containing his parents.

  He’d been home for a vacation when his buddy Erik called. He made it to the scene before the ambulance left. It took a while for them to pry his parents from the car.

  It was too late for his mom.

  That terrible truth still hadn’t sunk in as Levi followed his dad into the back of the ambulance and squeezed in by his stretcher. His dad’s eyes were closed, but there were tears on his cheeks. His face was pinched as if he was in pain. He seemed to struggle just to draw a breath.

  Mom’s dead. It didn’t seem real. He couldn’t think about that right now.

  Levi grabbed his hand. “Dad, I’m right here. Everything’s going to be all right.”

  Levi glanced at his medic buddy who was taking Dad’s vitals from the other side of the bed, but the look on Erik’s face wasn’t encouraging. The ambulance took off, the siren splitting the night.

  “Le-vi . . .” his dad said through a moan of pain.

  “I’m here, Dad. I’m here. What is it?”

  “Love you . . . all.”

  “We love you too, Dad. But everything’s going to be all right.”

  “Take . . .” His Adam’s apple bobbed slowly. “Take care . . . of your sisters.”

  Levi’s stomach bottomed out. A chill swept through his body. His throat closed. “Don’t talk like that, Dad. You’re going to be just fine. We’re on the way to the hospital. They’re going to take really good care of you.”

  Dad’s eyes opened just then, the clear blue of his irises clouded by pain or something worse. Levi tried to brace himself for what might happen. For what had already happened. But his pulse was pounding in his ears. He couldn’t seem to think.

  Dad gave his hand a weak squeeze. “Promise . . . me.”

  He looked into the suddenly old face of his dad. A tear leaked from the corner of his father’s eye and trickled down into his salt-and-pepper hair.

  Levi brushed it away. “I will, Dad. I promise.”

  “Hey, you all right, man?”

  Levi blinked. He was still dribbling the ball. He had yet to make his way back toward Erik and the basket.

  He gave his head a hard shake, dislodging the memory from his mind, but a headache beat in its place.

  “I’m fine. Just fine. Let’s play ball.”

  ten

  Mia had slept horribly. She’d started on her grandmother’s journal before bed, but had quickly given up. She wanted to give it her full attention.

  And try as she might to fall asleep, her phone call with Jax had her keyed up. She tossed and turned all night, his words ringing in her ears. Finally she drifted off in the early morning hours and awakened to a bird tweeting outside her window. The clock read 10:17. She was still on Pacific time.

  A shower rejuvenated her. But she was starting to feel cooped up, and she wanted to get her mind off her problems. A hike might be just the ticket today. She dressed in workout gear—yoga shorts, a long T-shirt. She pulled her ponytail through a ball cap, and after she’d tied her tennis shoes, she was drawn downstairs by the fragrant aroma of something sweet and yummy.

  The lobby was deserted, so she went through the French doors to the empty dining room and seated herself at a table for two by the window. There was a clanging noise in the kitchen, and a few minutes later a middle-aged woman with dark skin and kind eyes peeked out. She had very short salt-and-pepper hair that made Mia think she must be a confident woman.

  “Oh hi, honey. Didn’t hear you come in. You must be ready for some breakfast.”

  “Yes, please.”

  A moment later she reappeared, carrying a tray. “I just assumed you wanted the full menu—orange spice muffins and yogurt with fresh fruit and homemade granola. I’m Della, by the way.”

  “Mia. Nice to meet you. The full menu sounds good, and it smells divine.”

  “Well, I guess I know my way around a kitchen. Been cooking since I was barely able to reach the kitchen counter.”

  “If you made yesterday’s breakfast, I believe it.”

  “I make all the breakfasts around here.” Her smile widened. “If I can get you anything else you just let me know. I’ll be in the kitchen cleaning up.”

  “Do you know if Levi’s around?” Mia blurted. She’d need that hike to burn off all these calories.

  “He had to slip out for a little bit, but he’ll be back soon. I can give you his—”

  A clamor came from the lobby—the sound of the door opening and closing, footsteps on the floor.

  “I’ll bet that’s him now,” Della said as she disappeared into the kitchen.

  Sure enough, a moment later Levi entered the dining room in a pair of basketball shorts and a white T-shirt that clung to his muscular shoulders. His hair was damp, his cheeks flushed.

  “Good morning,” he said when he spotted her. “I see you found breakfast.”

  “I did.”

  “What are your plans for today? Would you like to go anywhere?”

  “Actually, I was thinking a hike might be nice. Something fairly rigorous, maybe a few miles long?”

  “I know just the trail. And the view from the top is amazing. Let me just grab a shower and I’ll be right out.”

  “Take your time. I’m going to enjoy my breakfast.”

  Levi disappeared through the kitchen doors, leaving her to her breakfast and thoughts. Last night’s conversation with Jax still plagued her. She felt betrayed and hurt by his response. She tried to look at it from his side—with the pregnant wife and the marriage to safeguard. But nothing could excuse his deceitful behavior. He’d blamed her for something he’d done.

  She’d called Nolan soon after waking, though it was still pretty early in California, and he promised to come up with a plan to handle this situation. She had a feeling his plan would involve a press relea
se that would publicly pit her against Jax, and she hated that. She’d considered them friends. But maybe she had no real choice in the matter. She had to repair her reputation if she hoped to make it in this business—and keep her role in Lesser Days.

  She finished her breakfast—which was delicious—and Della cleared her dishes away.

  Mia answered Brooke’s text from late last night. She’d filled her friend in on her call with Jax. It was gratifying that she was as outraged as Mia at his response. And a text had come in from Lettie, who reminded her she was storming the gates of heaven on Mia’s behalf. She could always count on Lettie to have her back.

  “Ready to go?” Levi wore a friendly smile and business casual apparel. The light blue polo bearing the inn’s logo matched his eyes and made his shoulders seem even broader.

  “Sure.” Mia pushed back from the table, giving him a smile that felt thin.

  As nice and well-meaning as the innkeeper seemed, she needed to keep her guard up. She didn’t know Levi or his sisters. They could turn on her just as easily as Jax had. She’d only be here a week anyway. What was the point in making friends?

  Once she settled into the sedan he closed her door. She still felt ridiculous sitting in the back, but maybe having some boundaries was smart. Because if she were honest, she felt drawn to Levi.

  It wasn’t just his good looks, though he had those in spades. It was something less definable. He was obviously a leader, professional and competent at what he did. She sensed he was a little tightly wound, but that wasn’t her problem.

  He slipped into the front seat and started the car.

  Mia pushed her sunglasses into place. “Where are you taking me?”

  “There’s a trail on the north side of the lake,” he said as he pulled onto the street. “It goes onto state property and weaves back and forth on the way up to Summit Ridge. It’s 3.4 miles, all uphill, but the trail is well marked. How does that sound?”

  “Perfect.”

  “The more obvious choice is the trail up to Stone Gap Bridge. It spans a gorge and has great views. But it’s also popular with tourists, and on a morning like this you’re likely to find ten or twelve people up at the bridge.”

  She didn’t need that. “Yeah, I should probably avoid the popular trails. Should I call you when I’m finished?”

  “Reception’s pretty spotty around here. I’ll just wait for you.”

  She was anticipating Nolan’s call, but she supposed it could wait a couple hours. “It’s going to take me a while.”

  “No worries. Take your time. I brought some work to do.”

  “Is it a lot of work, running an inn?”

  He briefly met her eyes in the rearview mirror, and she felt the hum of attraction. Just as quickly he looked away.

  “It has its challenges.”

  She wanted to ask what they were. If he’d always wanted to run an inn or if his parents’ death had completely derailed his plans. But she didn’t need to get drawn into Levi’s life. She had enough problems of her own. So she stifled the questions and let silence fill the car.

  * * *

  Levi made himself comfortable on a shaded bench as he waited for Mia to return from her hike. No one had gone up the trail after her, so he hoped she wouldn’t run into anyone up there. The last thing she needed was to be recognized.

  Time to get down to work. He used his phone to look over the proof of an ad he was running in Blue Ridge Country. He noted a few changes, all the while praying the fortune he was spending would pay off.

  Deep South Magazine had a write-up on the Bluebell Inn that was being published in July’s edition. It wasn’t Southern Living, but he didn’t take the free publicity for granted. The inn had a unique and colorful history, and he was glad he’d been able to find one magazine that thought it was worthy of exposure.

  He grabbed his phone to write the editor about the ad proof, and his eyes caught on the email from Thomas at FC. He’d have to write him back today and turn down their offer. The thought hollowed his stomach.

  Couldn’t be helped though. While they’d all stepped up to the plate in running the inn, it was up to Levi to make sure the inn was solvent. Only then would it would be attractive to a prospective buyer. Then they’d have money to invest in Molly’s and Grace’s futures. And then Levi could return to his life in Denver, knowing he’d done his job.

  A long while later Levi’s eyes caught on something red. Mia emerged from the heavily wooded trail. Her cheeks were flushed with a healthy glow, her long ponytail swinging with each step. She’d ditched the sunglasses and was carrying the water bottle he’d sent with her—now empty.

  As she hit the level ground she searched him out and found him on the bench not far from his car. Twigs snapped under her light step as she approached him.

  She seemed invigorated by the exercise. It was fair to say he’d been a little worried about her. He wanted all their guests to enjoy their stay even if, in her case, that might be asking too much. She still looked tired, but it was the good kind of tired.

  He stood, smiling at her. “How was it?”

  “Great. Just what I needed.” She pulled out her phone. “Are you getting a signal out here? I only have one bar.”

  “Like I said, pretty spotty. But you’ll pick up a signal as we get back into town. Ready to head home or is there someplace else you’d like to go? It’s after lunchtime. I could run in someplace and grab food. I was going to fry up some bologna for myself, but you’d probably rather have something else.”

  She shelved her hands on her slim hips, still breathing hard. “You can fry bologna?”

  “Sure can. It’s pretty tasty, too, especially with cheese and a slice of fresh tomato. You look skeptical though, so we can stop somewhere, no problem.”

  “No, no, not skeptical. I just don’t want to put you out. A drive-through is fine.”

  “It’s hardly putting me out to throw a couple extra slices in the pan.”

  “Well . . . if you’re sure. I’d appreciate it. Might as well embrace the Southern way.”

  He tossed her a smile. “Might as well.”

  eleven

  Mia knew something was wrong the moment she got a cell signal, because her phone blew up with texts. From Brooke, from Nolan, from Lettie, and from several other friends and acquaintances.

  What is going on?

  She opened Brooke’s texts and began reading—and gasped.

  “Everything all right?” Levi asked from the front seat.

  Mia continued reading until she’d finished the long line of texts from her friend.

  Then she opened Nolan’s first text.

  As I mentioned this morning, we need to put out a press release ASAP. I’m having one drawn up. Should be ready for release by noon.

  And his next text:

  Jax beat us to the punch! Call me!

  There was a link, but Mia scanned his other texts, dread snaking up her spine.

  You there? We need to get on this, quick.

  Where are you, Mia? This is bad.

  “What now?” she whispered, her heart beating up into her throat. But she knew. All the things Jax had said on the phone last night he’d now said to the world at large.

  “This can’t be happening.”

  “Mia?” It was Levi again. “What’s wrong?”

  She tapped on the link on Nolan’s text, and a celebrity website opened. She read the headline: JAX JORDAN BARES ALL, “MIA WOULDN’T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.” She scanned the article, in which Jax had divulged the details of her so-called unwanted overtures. He painted her as a desperate and pathetic woman who was obsessed with him. He painted himself as a loyal husband, simply trying to protect his family.

  And worst of all—it came off as completely believable.

  “No, no, no.” Tears stung the back of her eyes. She couldn’t believe Jax was doing this to her. But why not? This seemed to be the way of the world she lived in.

  She dashed away a tear, angry with her
self for crying.

  Levi turned in his seat, his arm across the back. The car had come to a stop, she realized. They were in the marina’s parking lot, at the back.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked again. “What can I do?”

  The compassionate look in his eyes drew her in. There was so much sincerity in those blue depths. As though he’d like nothing more than to solve all her problems or at least comfort her. No doubt she could use a hug about now. But she hardly knew Levi. And he was only doing his job.

  “Nothing, I—it’s just business. I have to make a phone call.”

  She didn’t want him to overhear her conversation with Nolan. She looked around the lot. It was empty here at the back, but there were a lot of people up toward the docks, and cars coming and going. She couldn’t be seen here, much less take the chance of being overheard.

  “Just take me back to the inn, please.”

  He was still studying her with that unfathomable expression. As though he wanted to say something but didn’t know if he should. Growing uncomfortable with his scrutiny and the silence, she dropped her eyes to her phone.

  Nolan had tried to call twice, and there was a voicemail.

  “I already know about the scandal,” Levi said softly.

  She sucked in a deep breath as her eyes locked with his. He’d read all those headlines. Not today’s, she was sure. But the others were bad enough. Her face filled with heat.

  But why did she even care about some backwoods innkeeper’s opinion of her?

  She knuckled off a tear. “Of course you do.”

  “Did the media find out where you are? Is that what’s wrong?”

  “No.” She sniffled. “But hey. Maybe you can just tell them and put us all out of our misery.”

  He tilted his head. “I’m not going to do that.”

  “Oh, why not, Levi? You could make a lot of money, you know. One simple phone call and you’d have a nice fat check.”

  He gave an audible sigh. “That’s not my style. I wasn’t trying to pry into your personal business, and I’m not trying to pry now. But I am trying to keep you safe, Mia, and I need your help in order to do that.”