I couldn’t remember the last time I’d touched a landline.
“Good morning, Miss Reyes!” A chipper voice sang in my ear. “This is Josie, and I wanted to let you know that I’ll be servingbreakfast in twenty minutes. If that doesn’t work for you, just let me know what time you prefer, and I can have it sent to your room.”
“Oh, no, that’s not necessary. I’ll come down. Thank you!”
The absolute last thing I wanted to do was act like a diva.
“Wonderful, then we’ll see you shortly.” She paused. “Fair warning: I’m a hugger.”
I giggled. “I’ll welcome it!”
I got dressed quickly, still smiling to myself. I was halfway down the main staircase when I realized I couldn’t remember where the dining room was. I’d already embarrassed myself once by barging into Logan’s bedroom in the middle of the night. I wasn’t about to let something like that happen again. I pulled out my phone and dialed him.
“Where are you guys?” I asked him after he answered. “I’m lost.”
“Where areyou? I’ll send a guide to assist.”
“Front hall. Look for the dweeb in flip flops.”
He laughed. “Hardly. Sit tight.”
The sound of feet slapping marble got closer and closer until Noah rounded the corner, out of breath and giggling.
“Hi, Nina! I’m here to save you,” he panted. “Follow me!”
He took off running, and I had no choice but to speed walk to keep up with him as he tore through the place.
We wound up in an airy dining room that I couldn’t even recall seeing the day before, but it was possible my mind had justblanked it out. The house tour had been overwhelming after an already long day. Plus, the house was obviously gigantic and beyond my comprehension. It was definitely intimidating, but I was relieved to notice that it didn’t seem off-putting or untouchable.
If I ever managed to score some real estate, I hoped I could make it feel as homey as this place. His interior designer must be a wizard, because the mix of opulence and warmth shouldn’t make sense. Like the friggin’ twenty-foot-highpillarsthat ran along the far wall. They looked like they belonged in a museum, but I could see a couple of Noah’s stickers on the base of one of them.
“Good morning,” Logan said. “Sleep okay?”
I tipped my head toward him, and we shared a moment of acknowledgment about what had almost happened a few hours prior. “Shockingly, I did. But only after I read for a while.”
“Is that so?” he asked, playing along.
I racked my brain for an Austen quip but was interrupted when a stout woman in a black button-down shirt bustled into the room carrying a tray loaded with plates.
“Ah, there she is!” The woman who had to be Josie said to me. “Welcome!”
She placed the tray on a side table, wiped her hands off on her apron, and walked over to me, beaming.
“I’m Josie, and I’mveryhappy that you’re here.” She did an exaggerated turn to look at Noah. “As is someone else.”
She winked at me, then opened her arms and gave me a smothering hug.
“It’s so nice to meet you!” I said as we untangled.
“I hope you’ve got an appetite, because the little man requested a feast this morning.”
“Yeah,” Noah piped up. “Waffles with strawberries, chocolate chip pancakes, and blueberry muffins!”
“Someone thinks breakfast and dessert are the same thing,” Logan added. “We also have frittata if you prefer less sugar to start your day.”
I joined them at the table, marveling at the spread.
“Do you do this every day?” I asked him. “Eat together?”
