“No. Not even a sink, except the one in the bathroom.”
“In that case, I guess it’s too much to hope that it has a washer and dryer.”
“Way too much to hope.”
“But you’d allow me to wash my clothes at your house from time to time, right?”
“That doesn’t matter since it’s not available—”
“It’s small and simple and old, but you’ve also kept it very clean. Why is it in such good shape if you’re not planning to rent it?”
He worked his back molars together. “At some point, I’m going to put furniture in it and rent it out to people wantinga holiday. I’ve been busy with everything else and haven’t had time.”
“You’ll be able to make a mint off that thing,” she said with assurance. “It’s full of charm. It has excellent potential, in fact. All you need is someone with good design sensibilities to come in and decorate the cottage—”
“Guesthouse.”
“—cottagewith a sofa, chairs, rugs, art, a mini kitchen.” She tilted her head. “Someone like me.”
“No.”
“Aren’t you interested in hearing my offer?”
“No.”
“If you’ll let me live in it, I’ll make it farmhouse chic. No one will be able to resist it when I’m through with it, and when I go, you’ll keep everything in the cottage, which will be worth well over a few thousand dollars.”
He didn’t understand her. “Don’t you live in Nashville?”
“I do, but I’m going to be researching and writing for the next few months. I want to spend an extended amount of time with my family, but I don’t want to beon topof my family, if that makes sense.” She gestured toward his land. “Your cottage is peaceful, but it’s also close enough to town to be convenient. This setting is inspirational.”
“You seem like a city girl to me.”
“Who wants a country getaway. The cottage is just what I need.”
“My answer’s no.” He moved toward his front door.
She stepped into his path. “Did you hear me say that I’m going to leave the cottage move-in ready for your guests? I’ll also work in your garden and at the farm stand. I’ll pick apples. If you need someone to update your website or strengthen your social media presence, I’m your girl.”
“No thanks.”
She didn’t back down. “I saw online that you and the otherleaseholders will be organizing a series of National Park Fall Fun Days. I can help with that. I’m good at event planning, and I’m good with people. You can delegate a lot of that responsibility to me so that you won’t have to worry about a thing.”
“If you’re staying in my guesthouse, I’ll have to worry about you. You’re an addict.”
Her expression cracked a little.
“I know exhaustion wasn’t to blame for the night you spent in my guesthouse.” He had at least seven inches of height on her, so he had to incline his head down to look her in the face.
He sensed what it cost her to maintain eye contact with him, but she managed it. “You’re right,” she said. “Exhaustion didn’t play a role in what happened the other night. If I’m sleeping in houses that don’t belong to me, which I am, then obviously the pills I’ve been taking have become a huge problem. I took my last pill yesterday.”
Did she expect him to be impressed? He wasn’t. She should have figured out that the pills were a problem right after her surgery and quit then. He regarded her cynically. “Withdrawal is tough.”
“I know.”
“And quitting cold turkey isn’t the best way to go. You’d be better off checking yourself into a rehab center.”
“If I did, I’d have to confess my issue to multiple people.”
