It wasn’t just looks. She understood why her aunt had hired him. He was considerate, intelligent, and kind. He was even looking after Fern’s place while she was on her quest. Definitely a nice guy. When was the last time she’d met a truly nice man? She couldn’t even remember and it wasn’t likely she’d meet one at work in their all-female office.
“I think you miss the inn more than just a little. I hear the wistfulness in your voice.”
Heat rose in her face. She stuffed a cookie into her mouth to keep from answering before she had time to formulate a proper response. She had barely started realizing the strength of her yearnings to come home; she wasn’t ready to share them with a near stranger.
Of course, if felt like she knew him. For the past few years, her aunt was always rattling on about the new handyman and all he’d accomplished. Or how they’d gone to a movie together. Somehow, she’d imagined a man closer to her aunt’s age. A thought hit her.
“When did she hire you? I mean, I’ve never seen you here when I came home to visit. I’m here every summer and every Christmas. This is the first time I’ve run into you.”
“I’ve worked here since I was twenty-five. Five years now. The first four were part time. Just a few hours here and there that morphed as Jim reduced his hours and then retired. I was always here; we just didn’t bump into each other.”
“That’s so weird.”Like he was avoiding her weird. “Well, I’m glad you’re here now. I’m not sure I’d want to be stuck here in a blizzard alone.” She might not know him, but she knew of him, and he was a familiar face amid the total strangers who were guests. Besides, he had Auntie O’s trust and that was good enough.
“Technically, you wouldn’t be alone if I wasn’t here. You do have paying guests. Guests we’ll have to feed until this storm passes. Any ideas on meals for tomorrow?”
She might not have any ideas on what to serve, but she could think of a few things she’d like to do to and with Owen.
Chapter Six
The next night, Owenlay on the bed in the apartment’s spare room. Ophelia had asked him to stay in the inn proper to keep Amaryllis company. The suite over the garage was finished and he’d moved in his bed, thinking he’d stay out there, but when she asked him to stay in the inn, he’d agreed.
Ophelia was always singing Amaryllis’s praises, and he was intrigued to see who she’d become since leaving Snowy Hollow. He wondered what made her tick. Apparently, she’d moved from job to job, changing careers every few months. Not because she was let go, but because she’d chosen to try something new.
She’d always been smart in school. Part of the brainy crowd. They hadn’t interacted much as he was considered a bad boy. Lord, if only people had seen the hurting boy beneath the skin, his life would have been much different. A little caring and concern might have straightened him out.
He’d seen Amaryllis around town, but she was too young for him back then. She had to have been fourteen when he first noticed her. He’d been sixteen and from a poor, less respectable family. He was attracted to her, but dating Amaryllis had never seriously crossed his mind. Instead, he’d stuck to girls with less solid reputations or less involved families. Girls from backgrounds like his. Snowy Hollow was a small town; there was still an unwritten class structure. While he had dated ‘better’ girls, it was always in secret. Something about Amaryllis had made his steer clear, despite his attraction for her.
That attraction was back in full. Smart, kind, talented, she had a lot going for her, and he was grateful that Ophelia trusted him with her niece. Sometimes, when she was singing Amaryllis’s praises, he wondered if she was trying to bring them together. But that was crazy. He shook his head and fluffed his pillow. He wasn’t going to get any sleep if he kept thinking of Amaryllis.
Funny that she called herself Rill. Was it because it was shorter, or did she have an aversion to her full name? He preferred Amaryllis, it was pretty and floral. She reminded him of a flower. Beautiful and fragile, yet she had an inner strength that impressed him. He rolled his eyes at his own fanciful thoughts. If he said anything like that in front of his friends, they’d laugh him out of the house.
He had so many questions he wanted to ask. Did she love her new job? Would she ever consider moving back to Snowy Hollow? Did she have a boyfriend? He didn’t think she did because her aunt had never mentioned one, and she kept him in the loop on every little thing going on in Amaryllis’s life. Mostly, that was work. It seemed she devoted her entire time to work and didn’t play much.
He could never do that. He loved his job, but he also liked to be outside, to visit his friends, to create metal sculptures in the inn’s workshop. Life needed to be about more than work. Family was important too.
If only he still had a family.
