LITMIR.BIZ

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haven’t heard the request,” Madeline insisted.

      For years Summer had wanted to repay Madeline in some small or profound way for taking her under her wing when she’d first arrived in Orchard Hill. “No matter what it is, I’ll do it.” She studied the mischievous glint in Madeline’s eyes, another quality that had only recently come out of hiding, and posed her next question more haltingly. “What is the favor?”

      Madeline crossed her ankles beneath the sheet, fluffed her pillow and tucked one hand under her head. When she was comfortable, she told Summer what she had in mind.

      By the time Talya returned with Riley and Kyle in tow, Summer and Madeline had everything worked out and their plan in place. Summer gave her best friend a warm hug, told Riley goodbye and skirted around Kyle, who still had time, if he hurried, to catch his plane.

      She smiled to herself as she walked out into the gorgeous May sunshine. Madeline was right. Everything was going to work out just fine.

      Harriet Ferris never did anything halfway.

      When Summer returned to the inn, the sassy redhead was talking to a man Summer didn’t know. She wore violet today, her slacks, her blouse, her earrings, even the broach on her collar, were a shade of her favorite color. Five feet two in her two-inch purple heels, she rested her elbows on the top of the registration desk and cast Summer a friendly smile. “This is Knox Miller checking in.”

      The missing K. Miller was here at last.

      “Isn’t Knox the most masculine name you’ve ever heard?”

      Harriet didn’t flirt halfway, either.

      It didn’t matter that he wore a wedding ring and had a receding hairline and expanding waist. Harriet didn’t discriminate when it came to men.

      For his part, Knox was flattered and kind. He explained that he was a day late due to a family emergency, chatted for a few more minutes and accepted Summer’s welcome to The Orchard Inn.

      After he left to join the crew hired to begin restoration of the old train depot, Summer filled Harriet in on Madeline’s condition. In return, Harriet relayed the messages that had come in during Summer’s hour-long absence. Mentally she calculated the time it would take to launder the guest towels, dust the hardwood floors, pick a bouquet of lilacs for the dining room table and plan tomorrow’s breakfast. In the back of her mind, she thought about Madeline’s request.

      She also wondered if Kyle had managed to catch his flight.

      As if thoughts really did manifest into reality, the front door opened and Kyle walked in. Once again she had the distinct impression that nothing escaped his notice. It reminded her that she needed to stay on her toes with him.

      “I left the inn ahead of you,” she said. “And yet you arrived at the hospital before I did. How?”

      He took his time removing his sunglasses, took his time replying. “I have a genetic predisposition to catch lights green and to bypass construction zones. I guess you could say I always get where I want to go.”

      Summer knew there was no logical reason to believe Kyle was referring in any way to sex, but she had a genetic predisposition to pay attention to innuendo. “I thought you had a plane to catch.”

      “Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asked.

      “You evade a lot of questions,” Summer said.

      “We’re alike that way,” he countered.

      Harriet looked up from the computer where she’d been checking out her new profile online and watched the exchange. Still sharp as a tack, she raised pencil-thin eyebrows at Summer as if concurring. Summer definitely needed to stay on her toes with this one.

      “I didn’t go to the airport because I decided that meeting my future sister-in-law was more important than catching a plane,” Kyle said. “My brother’s a lucky man. I don’t think Madeline’s midwife likes me, though. What’s her secret?”

      He was looking at Summer in waiting expectation, but it was Harriet who said, “Tayla doesn’t like men. That’s not a secret, though. I mean, she dates men on occasion, but she doesn’t wholly trust the lot of you. And for your information, Summer doesn’t reveal our secrets. She’s a saint that way.”

      He met Summer’s gaze. “You have a lot of fans.”

      “I have a lot of friends.”

      “Talya,” he said thoughtfully. “It’s the name of the Greek muse of comedy.”

      “You know the Muses?” Summer asked, thinking of the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology presiding over song, poetry and the arts.

      “As a writer, I’m well-acquainted with the muses.” He leaned his elbows on the registration desk, the action bringing his face closer to Summer’s. “How do you know them?”

      “I studied mythology in college.”

      “What college?” he asked.

      Summer didn’t like answering questions about her past. Luckily Harriet liked to be the center of attention and saved Summer the trouble of trying to reply without revealing anything pertinent.

      Harriet batted her fake eyelashes at Kyle and said, “Give me a second and I’ll tell you what the name Kyle means.”

      Summer could have kissed her.

      While Harriet clicked buttons on the computer, Kyle took out his credit card and slid it across the registration desk toward Summer. “I’m going to need that room for another night or two.”

      “You’re not leaving for L.A.?” she asked.

      He shook his head.

      You have to be kidding me, she thought. But she feigned an apologetic smile and said, “I’m afraid all my rooms are taken.” She could tell he didn’t believe her.

      “Here it is,” Harriet said. “Kyle. It means handsome. They’ve got that right. I handed over the key to Room Seven ten minutes ago.”

      Kyle’s green-eyed gaze was causing an atmospheric disturbance again. In the six-plus years Summer had lived here, she’d adjusted to an entirely new life, different in every way from the one she’d left behind. No more shopping trips to London or yachting on Sunday afternoons or going wherever she pleased whenever she pleased without having to worry about expenses. Now she worked for a living, and she worked hard.

      When it came to friends, she’d taken a giant step up. She liked her new life. She loved her inn, and her friends and neighbors, and she enjoyed her niche in Orchard Hill.

      Men were the only category she had trouble with. It wasn’t that she didn’t have opportunities to date. She went out often and truly enjoyed dinner and conversation. But she hadn’t been wowed by any of them.

      Until Kyle.

      He was doing it again right now with just a look. “Have dinner with me,” he said.

      Peering up at Kyle through her trifocals, Harriet said, “I’d want to be home before seven. I hate to miss The Wheel.”

      Kyle seemed at a loss. Summer didn’t try to hide her grin.

      “Why don’t you put Kyle in the attic apartment, dear?”

      Just like that, Summer was the one at a loss, and Kyle’s smile grew. He rounded the desk and planted a kiss on Harriet’s lined, rouged cheek. “I’ll take it. What time would you like me to pick you up for dinner? I promise to have you home in time for The Wheel.”

      Harriet fairly swooned as she named a time. “Would you like me to show him the attic?” she asked Summer.

      “If you don’t mind all those stairs,” she said to her neighbor.

      “It’ll save me from having to get on the StairMaster.” With a wink at Kyle, Harriet

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