I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and then bring the phone up so I can look at Kayla. “The Nest Box Inn looking for a room.”
“I thought you were staying at your grandma’s.”
I grimace. “Thought so too. Turns out it’s not ready.”
“Need me to book a flight?” she asks and then curses when she runs into someone walking down the street. “We can stay in the dollhouse together and watch 90s romcoms in our jammies. I’ll bring the wine.”
A smile tugs at my lips. It’s likely the first genuine one I’ve had since I landed. “Everything’s all booked out for BudgieFest.”
“WHAT IS BUDGIEFEST AND HOW DO I SIGN UP?”
Mae chuckles at my friend’s excitement.
“Never mind that,” I grumble. “I can’t stay here and it has nothing to do with the fact I insulted the owner’s son. Who’s the sheriff.”
Kayla stops, eyes wide and glimmering with delight. She brings the camera close to her face. “Nora Everhart. You’re in a Hallmark movie right now. Tell me the sheriff is grumpy. Aww, you’re going to marry him.”
Mae barks out a laugh. “He’s grumpy all right.”
“I have Denver,” I say tightly. “I’m not marrying the sheriff. Plus, he’s like, old.”
“You’re from Colorado?” Mae asks, ignoring my jab at her son. “I thought Goldie said you were a New Yorker.”
“He’s her boyfriend,” Kayla tattles, curling up her lip. “Total square. And I’ll have you know, older guys can be a lot of fun.”
I’m about to hang up on my best friend before she can start talking about the heroes in the books she writes. She’ll go on andon about fated mates or daddies or golden retrievers. Once you get this woman started, she doesn’t stop.
The door to the inn blows open and a man strides in with confident ease. Kayla’s yammering is silenced and that’s hard to do.
“Ahhh, look who it is,” Mae says as Ray flies off her shoulder to greet the newcomer. “I have a drawer that needs fixin’.”
I catch myself appreciating the rugged man with a yellow bird perched on his finger for all of two seconds before I realize it’s just him. My nemesis. Elias Cove.
“That’s the one you marry,” Kayla hisses, pointing at Elias. “I mean, look at that beard!”
I jab at the volume so the beard in question doesn’t overhear. He lets out a grunt as he passes the sofa, pointing over at the desk. “Same one as last time?”
Mae nods. “Always gets stuck.”
“Stop cramming it full of junk, Mae, and it won’t get stuck.”
“Oooh, he’s grumpy, too,” Kayla adds, grinning at me. “I can’t believe you’re in a Hallmark movie. I’m so jealous. Sure you don’t want me to come?”
The last thing I need is my wild best friend adding more flame to a fire I’m desperately trying to put out.
“Soon,” I promise. “Gotta go. Call you later.”
She’s talking when I end the call, but I know she’ll forgive me. I’m frazzled and don’t need any extra stimulation right now.
I set my teacup down and then rise to my feet, eager to make my escape. I’m nearly to the door when a booming voice stops me in my tracks.
“Where do you think you’re going, Everhart?”
I whirl around to glare at my grandma’s terrible neighbor. “Anywhere but here.”
He moves the drawer in and out, after easily having fixed it. “You’ll need a ride then. Get in the truck. I’ll be out in a sec.”
The nerve of this man.
