Master of the Inn (7 page)

Just as Elyse took the cookie sheets from the oven, Logan
popped his head in.

“It smells wonderful in here. Is it lunch time?”

“You’re always hungry.” She turned to find him standing
there in his faded blue jeans spattered with paint stains and a worn very soft
looking gray flannel shirt. Her stomach tingled as her eyes crawled all the way
down to his work boots. Her mind wandered back to yesterday’s escapades. They
never made it up the stairs and Logan never made it out of those boots.

“I can’t help it.” His voice pulled her from her wicked
thoughts. “Everything always smells so good in here. You’ve been in this
kitchen all morning. What are you up to?”

She placed the first batch of cookies in a container and
tossed them in the basket. “I thought we could go for a picnic.”

“It’s a little cool outside but if that’s what you’d like to
do.”

“Is that gazebo out by the trail still there?”

He nodded. “You remember that old thing?”

“It had so much character. I used to dream I’d get married
under it.” She laughed, but then stopped and remembered what had brought her to
Pleasure Inn in the first place.
My dream.
The details were vague, but
she’d dreamt of an elaborate wedding to a faceless man. She couldn’t picture
him but she woke up feeling warm and loved. The next day she packed a bag and
headed for Connecticut realizing there was nothing keeping her in New York.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” She looked up at him. “I’m just remembering how
pretty it was.”

“Like everything else here at the Inn, that gazebo needs
some work.” He picked up the picnic basket off the table. “Come down to the
foyer; I want to show you something.”

He took her hand and led her down the main hallway to the
front of the inn. “What do you think?”

“Logan, it’s beautiful! It’s so charming.” She let go of his
hand and moved toward the antique desk that he’d placed at the entrance. “Where
did you find this?”

“In the basement. There are tons of pieces of furniture and
paintings stored down there. When I saw this desk, I thought it would be
perfect for the reception area.”

“It’s wonderful.” She ran her hand along the smooth, cherry
wood. “And it goes so well with the color of the wood of the staircase. The
guests will get such a welcoming feeling when they walk through the doors.”

She looked around the entry way. “If you could get a
companion piece for that desk, maybe something like a foyer table, you could
set it up here.” She pointed to wall across from the desk. “When guests come to
check in you could offer them seasonal drinks or snacks.”

“We could go down to the basement tonight and see what else
is down there.”

“Cool.” She thought for a moment. “Wouldn’t warm apple cider
and homemade caramel apples be the perfect treat after driving up here on an
autumn afternoon?”

“I like it,” he agreed.

“At Christmas, you could have fresh baked gingerbread
cookies and hot chocolate. I bet people would come back every season just to
see what you’re serving upon check-in.”

“I think I’d come back here just to see you.” He pulled her
toward him. “You’re incredible.”

“Me?” She glanced around the foyer. “Look what you’ve done
with this place in the time I’ve been here.”

“You inspire me.” He brushed his lips against hers.

She pressed her palm to his cheek. “Your tender side is so
adorable.”

“I thought you liked my rough side.” He nodded toward the
staircase. “I can still hear you screaming at what we did up there last night.”

Delicious sensations coursed through her landing between her
thighs when she thought about what they had done on the steps.

“I’m beginning to fall for all of your sides. This side,
this side, your back side, your front side…” She touched him inappropriately as
she spoke, but then she took his hand. “Let’s get going.”

He grabbed her jacket from the hall closet and held it for
her to step into. Once they were out back, Elyse realized she had no idea which
direction to head. It had been too many years since she’d been out there.

“Come on.” Logan laughed. “The spot you’re looking for is
down here.”

They walked through the large backyard and down a small
hill. As soon as they were through a patch of trees, Elyse remembered. She took
off toward the gazebo.

“It’s right through there.” She pointed. “I remember riding
a horse along these trails.”

“Oh, that’s right. We did keep horses for a few years. I
learned to ride here.” He shook his head. “I had forgotten all about that.”

She stopped and stared at the large gazebo. The years and
the weather had taken their toll on the once spectacular structure. “Can you
fix this?”

“It just needs to be stripped, primed and painted.” He
nodded. “It’ll probably have to wait until spring, but I can restore it.”

“Good, because I was thinking this is a perfect location for
a couple to have a romantic lunch or dinner.”
Or even a wedding,
she
thought. “Everything could be prepared at the inn and then set up out here. You
could even hire musicians – violins or a harp.” Elyse closed her eyes, as if
she could hear the music, and thought about the menu she would prepare. She
could make four courses with a delicate wine and raspberry cheesecake for
dessert. “Can’t you see people getting engaged here?”

“When do you have time to think this stuff up?”

“It’s Pleasure Inn.” She shrugged. “I can envision couples
coming here for all sorts of fantasies from just a weekend getaway to something
spectacular. There is no other place like it, Logan. You can make this place
into anything you want. I think people would come from all over to stay here.”

He retrieved the blanket from the basket and spread it out.
“You sure have a lot of confidence in me.” He took her hand and pulled her down
onto the quilt.

“Is that a bad thing? I didn’t mean to overstep, but you’re
working so hard on restoring this place that I want it to be perfect for you.”

“I’ve been a screw-up most of my life. The rich kid who
could have anything he wanted. When I got into Yale my family was shocked. They
never expected me to finish my degree. When I couldn’t cut it in the business
world, no one batted an eyelash. I decided to go into the remodeling business.
My mother had a ton of friends who wanted work done. It didn’t take me long to
figure out I was getting so much work because of my looks. And I used that to
my advantage.”

“You were young and having fun.”

“A little too much fun.” He handed her a bottle of water. “I
drank all the time, went through thousands of dollars and slept with most of my
customers. When I got caught with a married woman, it was time to reevaluate.”

Elyse saw the remorse in his eyes. He harbored so much
regret.

 “I thought I’d travel. Maybe go to Paris or Rome, but my
uncle forced this place on me. I hated it. I think that’s why it took me six
months to renovate my bedroom. I had no desire to reconstruct any of this, much
less be an innkeeper. I don’t think my uncle thought I’d actually get the inn
up and running. My family just wanted to keep me busy.”

“Oh.” Elyse hadn’t realized Logan never wanted to make
Pleasure Inn a success. “You must think all of my ideas are crazy. I thought I
was helping you.”

“You are.”

“You just said you didn’t want to be an innkeeper.”

“I didn’t.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Not until
you showed up and started cooking in my kitchen. I love all of your ideas. With
you here, I actually think I could do this.”

“I know you can, Logan. I believe in you.” She leaned in and
kissed his jaw, rubbing her cheek against his stubble. “You have a gift. The
rooms you’ve already tackled are gorgeous.”

“You think so?”

She cuddled closer to him.

“I’m going to start working on the guest bedrooms tomorrow.
I want to refinish the hardwood floors and upgrade the bathrooms.”

“That’ll keep you busy.”

“At least through Thanksgiving. I was thinking maybe I’ll
have the grand opening in June.” He looked through the picnic basket. “Just in
time for summer weekend getaways.”

“That sounds romantic.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Oh really? Just what are
your thoughts on romance in June?”

“June is a big wedding month, so maybe you should target
anniversaries. Market that month as a place to come and rekindle the flame.”

He kissed her head. “I’m so glad you’re here. I could never
come up with this stuff.”

“About me being here.” She bit her bottom lip because she
hated to think about leaving. “I need to go back to New York.”

“What?” He turned her to face him. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. But when I came here, I didn’t intend to stay for
more than a week or two. It’s getting colder and I need to get some of my
winter clothes.”

“You want to stay through winter?”

“You’re talking about remodeling bathrooms. Did you think
I’d leave before seeing that project finished?”

“I guess I can come to the city with you.” He ran his
fingers through his hair. “When did you want to go?”

“You’re too busy and now you’ve got a projected opening
date.” She couldn’t wait to see the inn in full swing. “You can’t leave.”

“I don’t work that well without you.” He stroked her cheek.
“You inspire me, remember?”

“If you really can’t live without me…”

“I can’t.” He smiled. “How would I eat?”

She shoved his shoulder. “Barbarian.”

“Can’t we just go shopping for new clothes? I’ll buy you
anything you want.”

“I don’t think so.” She rolled her eyes.

“As a thank you for all you’ve done here to help me.” He
kissed the corner of her mouth. “Don’t leave,” he insisted.

“I can’t let you buy me a new wardrobe.”

“Sure you can.” He moved his lips along her neck, slipping
her jacket from her shoulder “I want to.”

“No.”

He arched a brow at her. “I don’t like that word, cupcake.”

“Hmm.” She closed her eyes when he nibbled on her neck. “My
friend, Audra…”

“What about her?” He kissed her as he unfastened the first
two buttons of her shirt, slipping his hand against the warmth of her breasts.

“She can go to my apartment and…” she tried to say around
his kisses. “…send me some things… Does that work?” She straddled his lap,
pressing her sex directly on the bulge in his jeans.

“As long as you’re not leaving.” He gripped her hips and
rocked her against him. “I don’t care how you get those clothes here.”

“Are you ready to eat?”

“Are you offering?” He buried his face in the valley of her
breasts.

“Lunch!” She giggled uncontrollably. “I thought you were
hungry.”

“We can eat food later.” Pushing her onto her back, he rested
on top of her. “I want you.”

She reached up, taking his face between her hands. “I’m
yours.” She said, remembering him calling her
his
last night.

Chapter Eight

Logan switched off the television just as the movie
finished. He and Elyse had spent the entire day taking down old wallpaper and
stripping the chipped paint from the windows in the third guest bedroom.

“Hey.” Elyse stretched against him. “Why did you turn the
off the movie?”

“It’s over.” He pulled her into his side. She’d taken to
wearing his pajama shirts to bed. He liked the way she looked in them.

“I fell asleep.”

“About forty minutes ago.” He laughed. “I think I’m tiring
you out with all of these renovations.”

“I like doing them with you. It’s different than cooking. I
never thought I’d learn to be so handy.”

“You’re a big help. I’m getting done much faster than I had
originally thought.”

“I like the time it gives us to get to know one another.”
She kissed his cheek. “I like being your helper.”

“You do talk a lot.” He teased.

She poked him in the arm. “I can’t help it! It’s always been
a bad habit of mine.”

“No, I think it’s wonderful. I’ve been here alone for so
long, I’d started talking to myself.” He turned so he could look into her
beautiful eyes. “I’m not very interesting company for myself.” He kissed her.
“And I love the sound of your voice.”

“I spend so much time in the kitchen that when I get out I
find this incessant need to talk. Phillip hated it. He would tell me to find my
off button.”

“Bastard.”

 During the time they spent renovating the bedrooms, Logan
learned much about Elyse’s past relationship. At first she was apprehensive
about opening up, but once he convinced her he wanted to understand what had
happened with Phillip, she held nothing back. The more she told him, the more
he hated the man who had broken her. “I was young and stupid.” She ran her
finger along his bottom lip.

He caught her hand before she could pull away and placed
soft kisses on each of her fingertips. “He was the stupid one. Any man who
would cheat on you is nothing more than a fool. I promise I’ll never hurt you.”

“I believe you Logan, and that scares me.”

“I respect your honesty.” He understood her apprehension.
He’d been struggling with his own doubts ever since she’d come into his life.
He didn’t know if he was capable of giving her everything she deserved. He’d
never had to be more than a good time for any other woman in his life.

“Things happened between us so fast. When I came here, I
never expected to find someone like you. I was looking for an escape. A way to
forget my past. That first night we were together, I didn’t think it would be
anything more than sex.”

“What’s between us is much more than sex. Do you want to
know how I know that?”

She nodded.

“I’ve never had anything more than sex with anyone else.
With you everything is different. We happened quickly, but it feels right.”
Logan had never put himself out there for anyone, but he’d never experienced
such intense feelings. “Can’t you feel it?”