Total due: $0.00
“I…uh…I reserved the room with my credit card, but I thought you still needed…” I frown, trying to make sense of the bill.
“Nope.” She waves a hand and smiles wide, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Bill’s all taken care of. Paid in full last night.”
“Last night? By who?”
She leans in, lowering her voice like she’s about to share the juiciest of town gossip. “I’m not allowed to say. But…” Her eyes sparkle. “Tall. Handsome.Sterlingreputation.”
Her clues land with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
If I didn’t feel like I was ripping out my own heart I’d probably chuckle at her antics.
Declan.
Of course he paid my bill. He already said he felt bad I barely spent any time here—like it was all his fault.
My stomach twists into a slow, aching knot.
He did it quietly without any strings attached. Just because he thinks it’s the right thing to do. More proof of his goodness.
My decision to leave stings even deeper.
“Thank you,” I murmur, forcing a polite smile. “For everything, Mrs. Applewood. The inn is lovely and I had a wonderful stay.”
“You’re very welcome,” she answers. “I hope we didn’t scare you off too badly and you’ll return next year.”
She must not have heard about my epic adventure last night.
“I’d like that.” I force a tight smile, then lift my camera bag. “And I’ll mention the Applewood Inn in my video.”
She flashes an indulgent smile, like free publicity is the last thing her inn needs. “That would be nice.”
I haul all of my luggage onto the back porch, back my car up to the stairs, and load everything into the trunk.
Once I’m behind the wheel, I send Wren a quick text to let her know I’m on my way and plug “home” into my GPS.
There’s only one road out of town that leads straight toward the Thruway. I don’t turn my head as I pass House of Ink & Iron.
At the cemetery, I allow myself one glance.
Sunlight cuts through bare branches, turning frost into scattered diamonds. The iron gates gleam, their sharp curls softened by the brightness of day.
No longer a warning.
The road unwinds toward a large black-and-gold sign marking the line between Crowsbridge Hollow and the rest of the world.
THANKS FOR VISITING THE HOLLOW
I pass it without stopping for a picture.
It hurts too much to look back.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Declan
The engineof my truck rumbles low as I pull up outside the Applewood Inn. Emery said she needed to grab a few things last night. I haven’t heard from her since.
