Page 27 of Once Upon a Fall

Right. They still care. And now they’re both looking at me with wide, expectant eyes.

Should I tell them he booked for the month and then changed it to a week, leaving me without the much-needed income? No, that’s too much information. I did get another booking for one night next week, so at least I have that.

“I have no idea,” I say.

“Well, you should find out,” says the other one.

“I’m not going to pry into my guest’s personal life,” I tell them. All the information I’ve gathered regarding Dean has been from conversations we’ve had. There’s been no internet stalking on my part.

“We’ll find out for you,” says the dark Edna, and the yellow one nods.

I have no doubt they will. Who needs internet stalking when you’ve got the Ednas?

I escort both of them to the door, and the yellow Edna says her husband will pick her up, so now at the very least I know whose house this is. I wonder if I should start one of those logic puzzles from grade school. Two Ednas, two houses, one clue down.

It only takes me a few minutes to get back to my place, and, after parking in front of my garage, I walk through the door and literally salivate at the smell of garlic and onions.

Following the scent, I go into the kitchen, where I find Dean at the sink in dark jeans and a T-shirt, washing a pan, his back toward the door.

“Hey,” I say, waving at him even though he can’t see me.

He turns his head toward me. “Hey,” he says back.

“Smells amazing in here. What did you make?”

“Just some stir-fry. There are leftovers in the fridge if you want some.”

“Really?” I ask, feeling ravenous but also a little strange that someone I hardly know, who is paying money to stay at my inn, has made food in my kitchen that he’s offering to share.

Still, who am I to pass up a homemade meal?

“Of course,” he says. “I made plenty. Besides, this is your kitchen.”

“It seems like I’m getting the better end of the deal here, though,” I say. “I mean, you also fixed my wall.”

I was impressed by how perfect it looked, the shelf hanging there like it had never fallen off in the first place.

One corner of Dean’s mouth lifts upward before he focuses back on the dish he’s washing. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that half smile, and I feel something swirl in my stomach at the sight.

He turns back toward me when I don’t move, and I realize I’m just standing there, mesmerized by a man doing dishes in my kitchen.

“Do you want me to heat it up?” he asks.

I shake my head, snapping out of my trance. “I can do it. I’m very handy with the microwave.”

I grab a container out of the fridge and scoop some into a bowl with a spoon that Dean offers me, then put it in the microwave.

“How was the game?” he asks, now leaning against the counter, his arms folded.

“My family all came to watch and we won,” I say. “So, it was a good one.”

“Did you ever figure out which Edna was which?”

I grin, surprised he remembered that even though we had the conversation this morning. It didn’t seem like something he’d file away.

“I figured out whose house is whose. But still not sure which one is Edna B. and which is Edna G.”

“The great mystery of Autumn Ridge.”