The Innkeeper's Sister--A Romance Novel by Linda Goodnight

Author:Linda Goodnight
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2017-09-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Present Day. Honey Ridge

She’d never heard music as lovely as the baby grand beneath Grayson Blake’s long, skilled fingers.

Valery sat on the bench beside him, enjoying an excuse to be close to a man for whom relaxation was a dirty word.

But no one worked at the mill on Sunday afternoons. Even she had gone to church this morning. Her mother had nearly passed out from the shock. Valery had ignored her, choosing to sit in the back pew where she could close her eyes and pray in earnest.

Last night in the cemetery with Grayson had shaken something loose inside her. Half the night, she’d ruminated, seeking answers and finding none. Attending church had been...refreshing. The roof hadn’t fallen in. Lightning had not struck.

After the service, she stood outside the white frame church with the Riley women listening to Carrie’s wedding plans.

“Carrie asked me to be in her wedding.” She didn’t realize she’d spoken out loud until Grayson stopped playing to look at her.

“I met her at the mill with her fiancé, the writer,” he said. “She seems nice. They both do.”

“Carrie’s the sweetest.”

“Are the two of you good friends?”

“We used to be before—” Before Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s had become her preferred pals. Before partying with user men became more important than a true friend like Carrie. “I don’t want to...mess up and spoil her wedding.”

What she really meant was, she feared she’d get blitzed on the wedding champagne and make a fool of herself.

Grayson put his hand over hers. “Do you want to be in the wedding or not?”

“Yes. Of course. I adore Carrie. Plus, I love the bridesmaid parties and showers and all the girly things we get to do. Nikki—that’s Carrie’s sister who runs the boutique in Honey Ridge—has booked a spa weekend for all the women in the wedding party. Facials, massage, spray tans, pedicures.” She pressed her hands to her chest in faux excitement. “Girl heaven.”

“Can’t miss that.” His voice was amused. “You and Julia work seven days a week. How often do you take off for a whole weekend?”

“Really?” Valery tossed her hair and laughed. “You, of all people, are asking me that?”

His grin was sheepish. “We’re talking about you, not me.”

“Oh, so my work issues matter, but yours don’t?”

“Absolutely. I’m a guy. Guys are different.”

“Thank the good Lord.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him and was thrilled when he laughed. Laughter looked good on him. Real good.

“I don’t see the problem,” he insisted. “Say yes.”

“Well.” She tapped her bottom lip. “The Mountain Lodge Spa is on my bucket list.”

“There you go. Problem solved.” He made an imaginary check mark in the air. “One less bucket list item. What else you got on there that I can help you with?”

I want to hold my daughter and tell her I’m sorry. But she didn’t say that one out loud. No one could help her with that. “Italy.”

“I could treat you to Olive Garden, but I don’t think that’s what you have in mind.

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