“The inn is historic,” Erik told them. “I don’t know much about it, but I think it’s been in the owner’s family forever, so she can probably tell you more.”
He pulled into a gravel lot and turned to Jenny before he cut off the engine.
“Listen,” he said softly. “A few of my crew arestaying here, so it may be a little awkward for me to explain to them why Lydia isn’t with me.”
“It’s fine,” Jenny said. “We don’t mind, right, Gael?”
“We don’t mind,” he echoed.
“I guess we’ll see how it goes,” Erik said.
He hopped out and Jenny was amazed to see him heading for her door. The man took chivalry to a new level, and she was here for it.
He opened her door and she let him help her down this time. Maybe it was her imagination, but a spark seemed to dance between their hands when they touched, just like old times.
She let go right away and followed him back to grab the suitcases as Gael hopped out to join them.
“Here we go,” Erik said, swinging down the two carry-on suitcases as well as their backpacks.
“I can get mine,” Gael offered.
“No, no,” Erik said. “I’ve got them already—least I can do.”
The least he could have done was leave them at the airport to figure out how to get to the train, but that wasn’t who Erik was. It made Jenny smile to think that exploring the wide world hadn’t changed the big-hearted young man she had loved in secret.
Gael darted ahead of them, up the steps to open the door, which was hung with a pine wreath.
Warm light glowed in the windows, and Jennyinstantly felt at home, even though she had no idea what to expect from their stay.
“Welcome, welcome,” a friendly voice called out from inside as the door swung open, releasing a warm breeze and delicious smells.
Jenny followed Gael, with Erik bringing up the rear, hands full of their suitcases. She was still holding the bouquet of flowers, but she figured she could trade them back for her suitcase once they found a place to set everything down. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t just left them in the car, but for some reason, she didn’t want to put them down yet.
The lady who had welcomed them scurried behind the little counter—she had to be Trudy.
Just past the entry hall, which was decorated with red ribbon-wrapped evergreen boughs, the table in the open dining room was covered with fragrant dishes. A man and woman seated at it were on their feet in a heartbeat, all smiles. Jenny figured they must be the veterans Erik had told them about.
“Whoa,” the man said. “Hey there, Cap. Hey, little lady. I’m Tom.”
“We’ve been so excited to meet you,” the woman said to Jenny at the same time. “I’m Angie.”
Her smile was so warm and welcoming that Jenny found herself smiling back before she could stop herself.
“Flowers and all,” Tom said, nodding knowingly at the bouquet she was still holding. “Cap’s a romantic, but we knew that already. So, this is your fiancée, huh?”
There was a terrible pause, and Jenny suddenly wished that she could disappear.
“Yes,” Gael said brightly.
Jenny was too shocked to say anything.
“Hey, Fallon get over here,”Tom yelled over his shoulder.“Meet Goldilocks in real life.”
Jenny looked to Erik, and he only gazed back at her, apparently as speechless as she was.
“We got here on an airplane,” Gael told Angie excitedly. “It was really fun.”
“No offense,” Tom said, turning to Jenny. “But why are you calledGoldilocks?”
