I almost told him I appreciated it. I almost told him I had an electrician lined up who would be here in a couple of hours. Instead, I turned back to my checklist, muttering, “Thank you for your permission.”
Braxton leaned in from the doorway, grinning. “You two are my new favorite show.”
“Go fix something,” I told him. Although, how I had the audacity to order my former boss’s business partner around when he was a paying guest, I didn’t know.
“Gladly,” he said, though his eyes drifted toward the kitchen where Jane was laughing at something Mom had said. “Actually, maybe I will help Jane with the new countertops.”
That evening, the chaos finally slowed. The lights flickered on, warm and steady. Mom declared it “the most productive day in Bennet history,” which wasn't necessarily saying much. Lydia had set up her camera in the foyer for a “renovation reveal” livestream. Dad was snoring in his armchair. For the first time since morning, I sat down and looked at my list to see what else might be done before the dreaded inspection tomorrow morning.
Braxton entered the sitting room quietly, hands in his pockets. “Lucy, I wanted to ask a favor.”
I looked up, wary. “What kind of favor?”
“Permission to stay another week,” he said. “Just until you pass inspection and get things settled. I can help with final repairs.”
“Or with Jane’s kitchen,” I said lightly.
He smiled, not denying it. “That too.”
I studied him. “You really like her.”
He shrugged, his grin softening. “She is easy to like.”
When he left, I caught sight of Dex leaning in the doorway, his arms crossed. His expression was unreadable. “You are recruiting permanent staff?”
“He offered and we could use the help,” I replied
“Of course." His tone was polite, but something flickered behind it, something almost like tension. He turned away before I could read it.
Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, I found Jane in the kitchen making cocoa. The smell of chocolate filled the air. She smiled when I entered. “Long day.”
“Understatement,” I said, sliding onto a stool. It was also going to be a long night because there were still things to do andI meant to get them done to give us the best chance of passing tomorrow’s inspection.
She handed me a mug. “Braxton told you he wants to stay, didn’t he?”
“He did.”
Jane stirred her cocoa thoughtfully. “He is kind. Maybe too kind. I am not sure if that's interest or just his nature.”
“He’s interested,” I said simply. “Trust me.”
She blushed, smiling into her mug. “You think so?”
“I know so. He looks at you like you are his favorite recipe.”
She laughed softly. “That'sa very Bennet way to describe romance.”
We sat in companionable silence for a while. The inn creaked softly around us. Snow tapped at the windows.
Jane set down her mug. “And what about Dex?”
“What about him?”
She gave me that gentle, knowing smile only older sisters could manage. “You fight with him too much for someone who doesn’t care.”
I sighed, staring into my cocoa. “He is... impossible. Critical. Annoyingly competent.”
“Sounds awful.”
