“Well, that’s good, because I hate to impose, but these two are my responsibility until they’re adopted. I can have Elle watch them for me sometimes, but if you want me to sleep over often, it would make things a lot easier if I could bring them with me.”
“Fine with me if it’s okay with you guys,” Jake said to the dogs. The shaggy black one gave an excited bark in response. “I’ve never had a dog, but I’ve been around plenty of them in the barns where I’ve worked.”
“These guys are pretty easygoing,” she said. “Barnaby—the light-colored one—is really shy. You’ll barely know he’s here. Chandler is pretty enthusiastic, but he doesn’t really get into any trouble. As long as we close them in the bedroom with us so they don’t wander, they should be fine.”
“Okay, then.”
“Do you think I should go check on Bug?” she asked, her brow wrinkling.
“Nah, she’s fine. The dogs just startled her.”
She gripped his T-shirt and pulled him in for another kiss. “I’ll see you tonight, then?”
“Yep.” He watched as she gathered her dogs and headed out the front door, wondering yet again why the house felt so empty every time she walked out that door.
* * *
On her wayback to the castle from Jake’s house, Megan bumped into Elle out walking her own foster dogs. “Hey! How was your charity thing last night with Theo?”
“It was great,” Elle said brightly. “I think I’m getting the hang of this future-wife-of-an-earl thing.”
“You never didn’t have the hang of it,” Megan told her. “But I’m glad you’re feeling more confident about it now.”
“I heard I missed quite an exciting night for you.” Elle raised her eyebrows. “Or the recap of it, anyway. So, things are going well for you and Jake?”
“Yeah.” She felt herself smiling. “I still feel kind of irresponsible for sleeping with him while he’s our tenant, but, well…here we are.”
Elle laughed. “You know who that sounds like, right?”
“You, last year with Theo.” Megan shook her head. “But just because it worked out for you guys doesn’t make it a good idea for me and Jake.”
“Doesn’t make it a bad one either,” Elle said with a meaningful look. “I’m just glad things are good, and hopefully we can all get together for a girls’ night soon.”
“Definitely,” Megan said. “If we don’t hurry up, our next girls’ night will be your bachelorette party.”
“Yeah, oh my God.” Elle rubbed at her forehead. “It’s all coming up so soon.”
Megan rested a hand on Elle’s arm. “Are you feeling better about the wedding? I mean, about getting married at the Langdon family estate?”
She blew out a breath. “Yeah. It’ll be nerve-wracking, no way around it, but you guys made me feel a lot better about things. And expect me to lean on you pretty heavily while we’re there.”
“Totally what we’re here for.” Megan leaned in to give her a quick hug, which was interrupted by leashes tugging them in various directions as their dogs started tackling each other, rolling around in the grass.
After chatting with Elle for a few more minutes, Megan brought Barnaby and Chandler inside. She spent a few minutes doing obedience exercises with them before settling them in her room. It was her afternoon to run the inn.
She brought Jake’s book—the one she’d taken from the library yesterday—downstairs with her to read in her downtime. She’d started it last night after she left Ruby’s room, and then she’d accidentally stayed up way too late reading. It was good. Really good. She didn’t often make time to read, but right now she was dying to know what happened next for Derrick the PI as he tried to track down a missing horse trainer. The missing woman’s boyfriend had been found dead right before Megan finally gave in to her drooping eyelids last night.
Downstairs, she tabbed through the reservation software on the tablet in their office to familiarize herself with today’s schedule. They had three couples scheduled to check in. She ran through their daily routine, answering emails and updating their social media. Today, she uploaded some photos she’d taken of the new blooms in the garden, inviting people to come and experience spring at Rosemont Castle.
Once that was taken care of, she wandered into the library and settled with her book to wait for their guests to arrive. Derrick the PI had just been overtaken by an intruder when the guest doorbell rang. Megan reluctantly put down the book and went to greet their new arrivals. A couple in their fifties stood just inside the castle’s front doors, looking around with awestruck looks on their faces.
“Hi,” Megan said as she approached. “Checking in?”
“Yes,” the woman replied, tearing her gaze from the elaborate chandelier overhead. “We’re the Westmores.”
Megan consulted the tablet in her arms. “Mary and Art Westmore. Staying for two nights?”
“That’s right,” Mary confirmed. Her eyes locked briefly on the left side of Megan’s face before sliding away.
