"It's not kicking me out if it's your inn and not mine."

"You know what I mean."

"Actually, um, I don't. It doesn't take two of us to run an inn, Eric." Before he gave her another glare, she continued. "And please don't think that I'm upset with you. Because I'm not. Anymore." Oh, why was she telling him everything on her mind? It was as if she'd just swallowed a pint of truth serum. Eric did not need to know everything she was thinking.

He rubbed a hand across his mouth, as if he was attempting to hide a smile, which didn't make sense. Then, at last, he spoke. "Beverly, I'm really glad you're not mad at me. Anymore. But, uh, what I've been trying to say is that I'm going to get an apartment or a condo or something in Sarasota." He shrugged. "I might rent or lease a place. There are a lot of vacation properties available."

"You aren't going to move in here?"

"No. At the moment, I don't intend to move in here."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "I'm not ready. And honestly, after the excitement of inheriting a place in sunny Sarasota wore off, I started thinking about how running an inn would change my life. I don't know if I'm ready to put myself at everyone's mercy twenty-four-seven."

"It's not like that. Most people are not much trouble," she blurted, then wondered yet again why she couldn't just keep her mouth shut.

"It's close to that," Eric said. "Listen, I should have called you. I should have told you what I found out from the lawyers as soon as I knew. And I should have told you my decision as soon as I made up my mind. I'm sorry. It was unfair of me to leave you hanging like this."

She agreed. He should have done those things. But at the moment, she was glad he was telling her face-to-face. She didn't think she would be feeling the same way if she'd been sitting alone and merely listening to his voice over the telephone. "What's done is done."

"Is it? Is it, really?"

He was speaking cryptically again. "Eric, I just want to know where I stand and what you want me to do."

"I want you to keep your same job. But in addition, I want to help you as much as I can when I'm here."

"With what?" She couldn't really see him making beds or blueberry m.u.f.fins.

"First, I want to make sure our work relationship is taken care of. I've asked the lawyer to visit with us in a day or two so we can draw up a contract."

"Contract?"

"Salary, days off. Benefits. She is also going to take care of all the accounting."

"So I'll only have to worry about the guests."

"Yes. Then, after we get that settled, I want to talk to you about improvements. This is a pretty inn, but it looks like some of the rooms and such could use a little TLC. I thought I could handle that part."

Beverly's hands started shaking. Her financial worries would be eased, but she'd still be able to do her job. She wasn't even going to have to move. As far as most people would be concerned, nothing would change. She was going to be okay.

It was so incredible, so much better than her worst fears, her eyes watered.

"Are you crying?" He got to his feet, true panic in his voice. "Please don't start crying on me, Bev. I'm no good at tears."

Now, there was a story. He sounded so adorable, she grinned at him through her tears. "Seeing a woman cry distresses you that much?"

"Absolutely. I hate when Amy cries."

Amy? "Who's Amy?"

"My girlfriend."

"Ah." Her throat felt tight as she fought to hold back an unwelcome wave of jealousy. He had every right to a girlfriend. For that matter, how in the world had she imagined that he wouldn't have someone special? He was handsome, self-a.s.sured, and rather kind.

And funny, too.

Who wouldn't want a man like him?

Hoping she didn't sound too fake, she said brightly, "I, um, didn't know you had a girlfriend."

"We've been off and on for a couple of years." Looking satisfied, he said, "Currently, we are back on."

"That's good." Frustrated with herself, she shook her head. "I mean, that's great, Eric. I'm happy for you."

Now she felt like crying for a whole different set of reasons, reasons that didn't bear thinking about. Turning away from him, she walked across the room and pulled a tissue from the box and dabbed her eyes. Took a deep breath. When she faced him again, she had almost completely regained her composure.

"Everything sounds good, Eric. You know what? The inn is fairly quiet right now. Why don't you simply walk around a bit and inspect some things? Then later I can answer any questions."

A line formed between his brows. "Did I upset you again?"

"Not at all. Knowing I'll get to stay here made me happy. Actually, I might be the happiest woman in Pinecraft."

As his gaze drifted over her face, his expression grew thoughtful. For a moment, it looked like he was going to say something, but instead, he smiled. "Good. That's real good. Great."

Before she could comment on that, he turned away.

PENNY TOOK THE LONG way home from the Orange Blossom Inn. She didn't know why, exactly. She was in no hurry to face her parents, but other than them, she had no one else to see.

But what a day it had been! All day she'd felt deliciously decadent, going off to the beach with Michael Knoxx. Of course, her adventure had brought forth a myriad of feelings, too. She'd had moments of giddiness and depression. She'd been hopeful and scared to death. Worried and sleepy and so blissfully content, she wasn't even sure there was a way to describe it.

Now, her nose was surely sunburned, her dress was full of sand, her feet were sore, and she was tired. But also so happy.

It had been a wonderful-gut day. The best.

Still, she knew that the moment she walked into her house it was all going to take a turn for the worse. Her parents were going to be angry and worried. Sullen and obstinate. They were going to want answers and she was afraid that she wouldn't have any for them.

She was so lost in her thoughts, she hardly heard Violet Kaufmann call out to her. When she turned, she saw Violet, her brother, Zack, and his fiancee, Leona, all sitting on the front steps of the Kaufmann house.

"Hi," she said awkwardly. "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying any attention."

"That's okay," Violet said with a smile. "We were just wondering if you'd gone to the beach today."

"I did." Glad for a reason to delay the inevitable, she walked closer. "It was wunderbaar."

Leona smiled. "I bet. Zack and I might go sometime this weekend."

"Who did you go with?" Violet asked.

"Um, one of the guests at the inn."

Violet's eyebrows rose. "Really? You went with a stranger?"

"Not really. He's staying there for a month, and one of my duties is to look out for him."

Violet frowned. "That sounds awkward. Is he old?"

"Nee. He's um, about my age. One year older."

Zack grinned. "So it was like a date."

Though she tried hard to hide it, Zack's playful words made her feel even more awkward than she usually did. She was starting to wish she hadn't taken the long way home. "Not that at all. I mean, a man like him wouldn't date me."

"Why not?" Leona asked. "Is he English?"

"Mennonite."

"I'm dating a Mennonite man," Violet said, as if she had all the answers to Penny's problems. "My parents weren't exactly thrilled about me seeing him, but they came around."

"It's not that."

"Then what is it?" Violet asked.

"You don't have to tell us if you'd rather not," Leona said quickly. "Or is it that he's not nice?"

This game of twenty questions was making Penny's head spin. Realizing that someone might have seen them together anyway, she said, "I was with Michael Knoxx."

All three of them looked stunned. "You mean the Michael Knoxx?" Violet practically whispered. "Of the Knoxx Family?"

"Jah. He's staying at the inn. We've become friends."

"Why's he staying here in Pinecraft?"

"I'm afraid I can't say. That's his story, not mine." She braced herself, ready for them to argue, but instead of pushing her, Leona and Violet merely nodded.

Zack, on the other hand, just looked at her as if she'd said something amusing. "Why would you think he wouldn't be interested in courting you, Penny?"

She blinked at him. Was he teasing her? "You know."

He shook his head. "You're pretty. And though no one really knows you well, it's obvious you're kind."

"Zack's right," Leona said. "Why, I'm sure any man would thank his lucky stars to spend time with you."

"Um, I had better go. My parents are surely upset with me for being gone all day." Taking a chance, she confided, "Putting it off isn't going to make it any easier."

Violet got to her feet. "Penny, didn't they get mad at you and not let you eat supper on Monday?"

"Kind of. I mean, they, um, decided to go out for pizza and didn't bring me anything to eat. That's when I stopped by your house." As soon as she said the words, she wished she could take them back. Not because they weren't true, but because they revealed too much about how things had been. "I'll be all right tonight."

"How about I go with you?" Violet offered.

She felt like she'd already shared too much about how uncomfortable her home life had become. The last thing she needed was for Violet to actually witness her parents giving her the silent treatment. "Danke, but-"

"Penny, I'm starting to realize that you don't like to ask for help. Why don't I go with you so if your parents are upset with you, you can come stay at my house?"

"I couldn't."

"Sure you could. My parents love to have company," Zack said. He got to his feet, too, then pulled Leona up by the hand. "Hey, why don't the three of us go with you?"

Ack, but this was getting awkward! "I think having Violet with me is enough. Thank you for the offer, though."

Violet picked up Penny's tote bag and started walking down the sidewalk. She was smiling, but other than that, she didn't let on a thing.

Which made Penny realize that Violet couldn't have planned this better if she'd orchestrated it herself. Now, instead of facing her parents alone, she had Violet by her side. Which was exactly what Violet had suggested in the first place.

CHAPTER 15.

By the time Penny and Violet reached her house, the sun was beginning to set. Its rays sent out a spectacular glow, casting the usual blue sky into shades of pink and rose. The cooler temperature had brought out many of her neighbors. Snippets of conversation and laughter lit the air.

The lovely sunset, the chirping of birds, and even the faint perfume of blooming rosebushes created a wonderful atmosphere. Penny would have remarked on the beauty of it all-if she hadn't been worried about what would happen when she arrived home.

It turned out that her suspicions were correct.

Her parents were not happy. As a matter of fact, they were so eager to discuss their disappointment in her-their words, not hers-that they looked completely flummoxed seeing Violet walk through the door by her side.

"What are you doing here?" her mother asked her the moment they walked in the front door.

Penny grimaced. Her mother was practically glaring at Violet! "Mamm, I invited her here."

Instead of looking intimidated, Violet merely stood by Penny's side and smiled politely. "My brother Zack and I started talking to Penny when she walked by. When she told me that she wasn't sure what she was going to do for supper, I decided to accompany her on the off-chance that you both had already eaten." She smiled again in a winsome way, practically daring Penny's parents to argue with her reasoning.

Of course, what Violet had alluded to was the fact that the kitchen was completely neat and tidy. No meal was waiting for Penny.

Her father rested his closed fists on his hips. "If you will excuse us, we need to speak with Penny in private."

But instead of apologizing and scurrying off-which was absolutely what Penny knew her parents wanted Violet to do-Violet looked her father directly in the eye. "Before she eats or after?"

"She missed supper."

"How about I wait for you in your room?" Violet asked Penny. "Then when you're done, we'll go get something to eat."