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He glanced around. “You can just leave me off here. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”
“I don’t mind driving you.”
“No.” His voice was gentle but firm. “Just stop.”
She did as he asked, and he got out. Without a good night or goodbye, he walked off into the evening. She was left returning the cart to the inn alone. All the while she wondered what she’d said to make him climb out of the cart before it’d fully rolled to a stop.
There was so much she didn’t understand about Lane, and she was beginning to think she would never truly know him. There was this wall he’d built around himself that was so high and so thick she doubted anyone could get past his defenses. What awful things had happened to him to make him such a lone wolf?
The weekend flew by in a blur.
Lane took a bunch of photos of the inn and evaluated a fair price for the property. While the physical structure could use some updating, the land was in a prime spot. He sent off the information to his assistant, Sylvia Matson, who was going to work on getting the listing up.
When he’d told Sylvia he wanted the inn under contract in two weeks, she told him it was never going to happen. To him, he heard a challenge. And he thrived on challenges.
When people told him he’d never amount to anything, it was meant to put him down. Instead, it drove him to work harder and strive higher. People had underestimated him since he was a scrappy kid on the streets. Later, in high school, his mother told him not to waste his time on books. They’d never get him anywhere. But he continued to read every book he could get his hands on.
Eventually, that knowledge won him a full-ride scholarship to college. He’d ended up graduating at the top of his class. And now he was a millionaire with his own successful business. After all he’d overcome, he wasn’t going to let one beautiful innkeeper hold him back. He would sell the inn.
It was now Monday afternoon, the first day of the bicentennial celebration. Jo had been so busy with decorating and final details that they’d hardly had a chance to speak since the dinner with her family. It was fine with him because he’d made a miscalculation when he’d agreed to join them.
To his surprise, he found that he liked the Turner family. He couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to grow up with parents who truly loved each other and five other siblings. Wow! It was lightyears from his childhood.
And then he’d found himself beginning to open up to Jo on the way back to the inn. He never talked about his parents with anyone. Why had he suddenly started to peel back the scars?
He gave himself a mental shake. He needed to stay focused on finalizing his aunt’s estate. The sooner he got things wrapped up here, the sooner he’d get back to his life—one that was far from this quaint little town.
When his phone buzzed, he glanced at the caller ID. It was Jo. He knew what she wanted—for him to join her for the time capsule reveal. He’d already messaged Jo to let her know something had come up so he wouldn’t be able to attend. He didn’t want to get caught up in the sentimentality of this whole bicentennial event. It was best to keep his distance so he could maintain his objectivity about the inn.
He returned to his work and soon his phone buzzed again. It was Jo once more. He ignored it. She would soon get distracted and not even notice his lack of presence.
Knock-knock.
He sighed. Or maybe she would track him down. He saved the worksheet he’d just created on his laptop and headed for the door.
When he opened it, Jo stood there with a big sunny smile. Even her eyes were twinkling with happiness. He resisted the urge to smile back.
He leaned against the door jamb. “Do you need something?”
“I called you. Why didn’t you pick up?”
“I have my phone silenced.”
At that particular moment, his phone rang. He sighed.Really?It had been quiet most of the morning. What were the chances it would go off now?
Jo arched a brow. “Aren’t you going to get that?”
“It can wait.”
“You’re right. It can. It’s time for the time capsule to be dug up, and we don’t want to be late.”
He shook his head. “I’m not going.”
“Of course you are. After all, this inn is part of your heritage. Everyone is expecting you to be there.”
“Those people weren’t my family. I didn’t even know them. And none of them, including Sandy, wanted to know me.”
The light went out in Jo’s eyes. “That can’t be right.”
