Page 38 of Inn To You

“Isaiah duped you, too.”

My breath hitches. “That he did. Only that was my heart. This might be worse.” I can live with a broken heart, but now I have no place to live.

I don’t see any other choice than to sell the inn to strangers and come up with a new life plan for my son and me.

+ + +

When Noah returns two days after the bank debacle, I still haven’t sorted everything out in my head. And I’ve returned to absentmindedly placing things here and there. I never learned the bookkeeping portion of the inn, trusting Isaiah with yet one more aspect of my life, and now I’m thoroughly lost. I can’t make heads or tails of anything. Thankfully, Zack recommended an accountant. The next issue was finding receipts that didn’t seem to exist.

“Hey.” Noah greets me with a sheepish smile and a tan face. Unfortunately, the spark in his eyes is only a reminder he’s leaving like Isaiah did. He’s stepping away from the issues at hand like Joe. I’m left to fend for myself, and I’m drowning. “What’s wrong?”

He rounds the corner of the front desk and slips into the office that feels suspiciously bare of the paperwork I need.

“Nothing.” As a temporary employee, this is not his concern. “How was the resort?” I don’t really care, but the question tumbles from my lips. I continue to flip through a file, uncertain of what I’m even looking for among the papers.

“Good.” Noah steps closer and places his hand on my arm. “What’s going on?” When I don’t answer him, he adds, “Do you need a kiss?”

What I need is someone to help me. What I need is someone to see through this mess. What I need is someone beside me for once in my goddamn life.

“I don’t think kisses can solve this,” I mutter without glancing up at him. “And this is nothing a temporary employee needs to concern himself with.”

“Temporary employee,” Noah snarks. “So we’re back to that?”

My head snaps up. “Were you ever not that?”

Noah stares at me. “We slept together.” The reminder is almost like a slap in the face. Yes, we did, and he didn’t contact me once in four days. Then again, what did I expect? Him to stay?

“I’m certain it’s a common occurrence for you.” The words are cold and bitter and unnecessary. I’m lashing out at him because I’m stressed, and I’m hurt.

“You got what you wanted.”

The comment has me narrowing in on his eyes. “I got what I wanted?” I snort. “That’s rich. I can’t remember the last time I got what I wanted.”

“You used me.”

My mouth falls open.

“Everyone uses me, and you’re no different.”

My heart races. “How did I use you?”

“Fixing your inn and playing babysitter to your kid.”

I stare at him. Is he serious? “You offered to take care of Jonas. I was sick.” This isn’t happening. I cannot be fighting with him. I don’t have the energy or the time.

“You just wanted me to fuck you.” His voice drops, and he steps closer to me, crowding my space in the tight office.

I stare at him, my fingers itching to slap him. How dare he? “You’re fired. Enjoy your life in the Caribbean.”

His expression remains still. His eyes are unwavering as they narrow in on me. I turn away first.

“Yeah. Have a nice life, little bird.”

Ha. I would… if only I had a nest.

And as soon as Noah leaves, I slam the office door and fall to the floor, scattering the papers in the file, and burst into sobs.

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