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Chapter 18
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The Misfit Inn Chapter 19
"Pretend you have manners, okay? We're trying to impress these ladies."Oscar plopped his butt down on Misty's front stoop and, tongue lolling, tipped his head back to look at Denver, as if to say, See, I got this. One ear flopped over his eye, making him look a lot more like trouble than a canine gentleman. With a little prayer that the mutt remembered his training, Denver held out the gift bag. Oscar clamped the handle between his teeth and turned back to the door, his baseball bat of a tail wagging so hard, it swept the front stoop. Man, he hoped this wasn't a mistake. He'd wanted to make a good impression. His grandmama had hailed from Georgia, and, during the formative years she'd helped his father raise him, she'd impressed upon Denver proper company etiquette. It wasn't something he'd been called on much to use in his line of work, certainly wasn't something he or Dad had worried about after her passing. But Denver had heard her voice in his head, telling him he'd best not sh
The Misfit Inn Chapter 20
"Well, I guess the lunch rush is over." Norm Barber, the short-order cook at Elvira's, perched one bony hip on a stool in the corner of the tavern kitchen. Denver eyed the half-load of dishes stacked in the commercial dishwasher. "Wasn't much of a rush.""Ain't nobody wants to get out in this slop." The older man wiped down the stainless steel counters in reach of his seat. "This rain doesn't stop soon, we'll all be keepin' our eyes out for animals marching two-by-two."Indeed, the summer thunderstorm had apparently decided to camp out over this chunk of the mountains all day. Denver hoped it would blow out before time to prep for the dinner service. Oscar would go stir crazy without having a chance for a walk or a game of fetch. "Doubt it'll come to that. But why don't you go on and knock off early? Nobody's coming in this last half hour before the kitchen closes."Norm slid off the stool, already tugging at the tie of his apron. "Won't say no to that. I heard they're setting u
The Misfit Inn Chapter 21
I'm fine, but I have a bit of a situation.Tension cranked Denver's shoulders tight as he ordered Oscar into the backseat of the truck. He'd come home for a fast game of fetch when the storm died down, but it would have to wait. The dog leapt in, rubber ball clamped between his teeth, as if he sensed now was not the time to dally. It wasn't. Denver hadn't asked if Misty was injured or what kind of shape the van was in. She'd said she was fine. But his brain readily filled in a multitude of horrors as he drove because he knew better than many that "fine" often wasn't.I'm fine, but there's something weird on some of my tests. That had been what his dad said. He hadn't been fine. Not even close. Denver knew this wasn't the same thing, but he couldn't seem to stop the churn of anxiety in his gut. The leather on the steering wheel creaked beneath the clench of his fingers. What the hell was wrong with him?The van sat half on, half off the road, tipped a bit from the flat, but upright
The Misfit Inn Chapter 22
"I had a to-go order." Across the counter, Crystal Blue, proprietress of Crystal's Diner and current pain in Denver's ass, pursed her lips. "I'm not handing over those sandwiches until you confirm or deny the rumors.""Holding takeout hostage in the name of gossip is a low move, even for you, Crystal.""What is the big deal, Denver? Everybody knows you and Misty have been spending loads of time together this past month. And don't even try to tell me it's just for the sake of Kennedy and Xander's wedding. I want to hear it straight from the horse's mouth. Are you and Misty Pennebaker together?" She fisted her hands on ample hips and stared him down. When Denver just stared back, Crystal stamped her foot. "Is she your girlfriend?""If I say yes, will you give me my sandwiches, while they're still hot?""As long as it's not a lie.""Then yes." Not that they'd talked about it since he'd stumbled out of her house in the wee hours a couple days ago, but Misty didn't strike him as so
The Misfit Inn Chapter 23
Denver opted to do the final assembly of the arbor on-site at the barn of the inn. That way, he could do everything himself and not have to actually talk to anyone. Talking was the last thing he felt like doing. After six years in this town, keeping his head down and out of the local gossip, he'd managed to put himself right, square in the middle. He'd resorted to glaring his employees into silence and otherwise avoided everyone else by sticking to his tiny office in the back, catching up on the books. He thanked God for the fact that he owned a tavern, otherwise he'd have been forced to actually go to the local market and face the masses or starve. In his current mood, starving was the more appealing option.He backed his truck up to the barn doors and quietly dropped the tailgate. There were multiple cars in the gravel lot, among them Kennedy's. But he knew her sisters had made it into town, so he was hoping she stayed tied up with them long enough for him to get in and out. His pla
The Misfit Inn Chapter 24
"I, Kennedy, take thee, Alexander, to be my husband - "From several rows back, Denver bounced his leg. He was a man on a mission, and he just needed this ceremony over so he could get to it. He didn't know a lot about weddings, but he'd been sure that the florist's job was done once the flowers were dropped off. Apparently not. Despite the fact that he'd arrived early - with several gallons of his spiked lemonade for the reception - he hadn't managed five minutes to talk to Misty. He hadn't even managed to get close enough for five words. When he'd left her at Moonbeams and Sweet Dreams the other night, he'd felt better having made his apologies. In telling her the truth, he'd finally been able to set aside the noxious emotional brew that had been eating at him for a week. But as he'd come home to Oscar, who'd stopped wagging almost as soon as he realized Moxie and Misty hadn't been with him, a whole different level of shitty had rolled in to fill that void. He missed Misty. He mis
The Misfit Inn Chapter 25
As Denver leaned into the turn, Misty pressed close, her arms tightening around his waist. He loved feeling her snugged up against his back when they took Roxanne out for a ride. She'd taken to the motorcycle like a duck to water. He'd offered to teach her to ride on her own, but she preferred riding with him, and who was he to complain about any up-close-and-personal time of any kind with his girl? And on a day like today, when the sky stretched out in a ribbon of endless blue and the temperatures held the first hint of autumn, it was perfect. Almost. It would be up to her whether they made it all the way.Denver found himself unaccountably nervous. Under the guise of reassuring her, he reached back to stroke a hand along the outside of her thigh. She squeezed him back. Releasing a breath, he forced himself to relax.Things were great between them - had been great for four months - and he wanted to lock things in. He wanted this woman in his life for the everyday and always, and
The Misfit Inn Chapter 26
VOLUME THREE: THOSE SWEET WORDS"THERE IS NO WAY I'm moving into your newlywed love shack."Pru Reynolds froze, holding in a wince as the object of the current discussion made herself known. Of course Ari had been skulking outside the kitchen. How many times had Pru herself done the same as a child? There never seemed to be another option when the grown-ups were deciding your fate without consulting you. She'd hated it. Hated being at the mercy of a bunch of relative strangers - even well-intentioned ones. But that's what it was to be part of the foster system. That was the fate that Pru and her sister, Kennedy, were trying to save Ari from.Pru turned to face the girl, taking in the dark, stormy eyes and the mulish set to her mouth. "Nothing's been decided, sugar. We aren't going to make that decision for you." It was important to get that out there. To make Ari understand that she had a choice here. Foster kids had so few actual choices, and fighting that sense of powerlessness wa
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The Misfit Inn Chapter 75
Nearly fourteen months after Maggie first laid eyes on the mill, it rose before her, all decked out for the holidays and looking like a Christmas postcard. She leaned forward in her seat, trying to see if there was space left in the parking lot, and feeling a punch of pride as she took in the finished Stone County Artisan's Guild and Education Center. "Looks like a good turnout for the open house.""I'm still not sure you two should be out among all those people. That's a lot of germs. And you know there's already been flu going around."Maggie laid a hand on her husband's arm. "Porter, honey, I gave birth. I don't have a compromised immune system. Besides, I had my flu shot.""But Faith―""The baby will be fine. Your wife will not be if she doesn't get to leave the house." Having been ordered to bed rest the last two months of her pregnancy, she'd accepted Porter's overprotective streak. But she'd fully expected him to dial it back once their healthy baby girl had arrived. Inste
The Misfit Inn Chapter 74
Maggie couldn't put off the call any longer. Of everything she'd dealt with since the assault, she'd dreaded this the most. Shutting herself into her room, she sank into a chair and dialed."Well, if it isn't my favorite Southern belle. I guess you finally took that edict to check out seriously. It's been ages!""Hey, Genevieve.""God, I've missed you. Tell me you're feeling like a functional human again.""I am. You may officially leverage the 'I told you so' I rightfully deserve.""Not even necessary. I'm just glad you're feeling better. How is everything?""Good. Crazy. My sister's getting married next week.""Wait, which one?""Athena. The chef.""Did I even know she was engaged?""That only happened three weeks ago." It felt like three months. Bradley hadn't been released on bail, and with the evidence of his involvement with Claudia, along with the additional assault charges, he hadn't been able to wiggle out of anything. His attorney had recommended he take the offer
The Misfit Inn Chapter 73
Porter didn't hear from Maggie by morning. He stared at the blank screen of his phone. No notifications. No voicemail. No texts. No email. Nothing to indicate she hadn't taken him exactly at his word last night. He'd said he was done, that he didn't care what she had to say. He didn't have a right to be disappointed that she hadn't made the next move, that she hadn't pushed him to hear her out. Maybe he should've gone over to the inn last night. But it had been late when he'd left Mia's, and part of him was still fucking terrified that she'd hate him as much as he hated himself for putting her in Brad's crosshairs.All the site visits he'd put off while prepping for last night's commissioner meeting now demanded his immediate attention and kept him from tracking her down first thing. But it was hard to focus on the progress of the jobs, the next steps, the foreman's reports, as he thought constantly about calling or texting―something to make first contact and gauge her level of pissed
The Misfit Inn Chapter 72
The porch light cast a welcoming glow over the inn's front door. Somehow it did nothing to thaw the cold knot that had set up in Maggie's gut. What exactly was she about to get into with Claudia Samson?"Do you want me to come in with you?" Kennedy asked."No. I don't know what this is about, but I doubt I'll get a chance to talk to Porter before tomorrow. He probably needs the time to cool down anyway." Maggie hoped by then she'd have figured out what to say. "I'm done with this."What if he meant it? Kennedy reached across the console to squeeze her hand. "You two are going to get through this. I have faith.""I've never been great with faith." "You can borrow some of mine. I love you, sis.""I love you, too. Thanks for coming for me." Maggie leaned over to wrap her in a hug."I'm really glad I could be here for you this time."Maggie's throat went thick. This was the sister she'd lost all those years ago. The sister she hadn't let all the way back in until tonight. She
The Misfit Inn Chapter 71
"I don't care. Not anymore. I'm done with this."The shock of his words had Maggie flinching back, as if he'd struck her. Because she heard what he wasn't saying. I'm done with you.She stumbled, grabbing for a chair. But he didn't turn back. Didn't even glance her way as he walked out the door and, quite possibly, out of her life.Porter Ingram, the man who'd been there for her through the worst stretch of her life―Her friend. Her confidant. Her lover―had finally had enough and left her.Maggie wanted to go after him, wanted to beg him to listen. But to what? She was still bound to silence, as she'd always been. And it was more than obvious he was too angry to listen to her reasons. Him knowing about Bradley was only part of the whole. Bradley Danforth. His half-brother. Maggie just sank into the chair as the reality of that crashed over her. Bradley's seduction was never about her. Never about attraction. Never even about wanting some form of entertainment while away from his
The Misfit Inn Chapter 70
"The Artisan Guild project would be good for not only the town, but for all of Stone County and the surrounding region. With the Memorandum of Understanding and preliminary contracts with our investor, we only need your blessing to get started. Thank you for your time."Maggie sat down to a small round of applause from the group of artisans who'd shown up for tonight's county commissioners meeting at the courthouse. She held up both hands with her fingers crossed in their direction, then settled back in her chair beside Porter. His fingers laced with hers as the board members huddled up to discuss in low voices. "You did great," he murmured."We'll see." On paper the whole thing should have been a slam dunk. But there had been a weird tension in the room all during her presentation, and she couldn't put her finger on what the problem was. Maybe it was simply the difference in presenting to high-powered players of the business world versus people who'd been around to witness her gre
The Misfit Inn Chapter 69
It was nearly two in the afternoon by the time Maggie got back to the inn.Porter glanced up at the house. "I'd offer to pull around by the old bodock tree, but I'm not sure you can shimmy up it in those shoes." She hadn't thought to pack others when she'd shoved clothes into a bag, so she was still wearing last night's heels. "Sneaking inside in broad daylight seems like a pointless endeavor anyway. Nobody's under any delusion about where I've been."He rolled to a stop in front of the house and parked. "Regrets?""Never." Hooking a hand behind his neck, she drew his mouth to hers for one last kiss and hummed with pleasure as his tongue snaked out to tease hers. When she found herself sinking into a fresh haze of lust, she pulled back. "Okay, this time it's really goodbye. We can't get derailed like we did before we left the house." There'd been two failed attempts that had ended with them both sweaty and naked. If she could even walk tomorrow, it would be a miracle.His face sc
The Misfit Inn Chapter 68
Maggie couldn't quite breathe on the drive to Porter's house. But it wasn't anxiety snapping in her blood―it was anticipation. Her body fairly sang with it, wanting to touch and be touched and get lost in the kind of heat she'd stopped imagining years ago.She kept waiting for her phone to blow up in response to the quickly fired off text to Athena.Home tomorrow. *rose emoji*Porter glanced at her from the driver's seat "You okay? We can turn around if you've changed your mind.""If you turn around, I might have to kill you." She didn't want to turn around. She didn't want to slow down. She didn't want the chance to get lost in her head and think about all the what ifs and whys and hows. She just wanted to be with him.His low laugh seemed to stroke over her skin like a touch. "Understood. And can I just say, 'Thank God.' But I meant what I said before. You're in control here. If you need me to back off, I will."Sweet, frustratingly patient man."Porter, I love this honorable
The Misfit Inn Chapter 67
The moment Maggie stepped through the door of Crystal's Diner, her stomach twisted into a queasy knot. Not from the scents of frying bacon, home fries, and coffee, but from the almost synchronized stares of the breakfast patrons. She'd thought it wouldn't be this bad at nine on a weekday, but evidently she'd underestimated the senior crowd's desire to linger over crossword puzzles and bottomless cups of joe.I should have asked Dahlia to meet me at the house. Except she'd wanted to get away from the inn for a bit. Athena had the guests covered this morning, and Kennedy was helping out at the spa. They'd all be on duty to clean and turn rooms once she got back, so this was the time she had.A quick scan of the tables showed that Dahlia hadn't made it yet. Maggie was a little early. She considered stepping back outside and waiting on one of the benches intermittently placed along Main Street, but that felt too much like retreat. She hadn't been a coward in high school, and she sure a
