Skye knocked lightly on the already ajar door. “Not that I was eavesdropping, but just to let you know…word’s out about the breakup, and three women—three,and it’s barely noon—have already called, wanting to get on your calendar for ‘lunch.’” She air-quoted lunch and waggled her eyebrows. “Also, Coop’s right. You work too hard. Go prance around in the woods for a while.”
“It’swarriorcamp, Skye,” Logan said. “There would be no prancing.”
“Yes, of course. That’s what I meant.”
Logan mulled it over as the two stared a hole in him. “A trip would have to be soon, so we can make a decision on whether to make this offer.”
“I’ll book everything,” Coop said quickly. “Just go out there, get the lay of the land, check out the site, and then stay a week to reconnect with nature.”
“All right. Fine.” Logan shut his folder and stood. “You can also buy me lunch. I’m starving.”
Two weeks later, Logan found himself in a rental car on Main Street in Green Valley Falls.
Storefronts were decked out for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. Lampposts laden with hanging baskets of petunias, red, white, and blue bunting, and American flags lined the street. Sidewalks bustled with people.
He had to admit, the town was charming. And tiny. It only took a few minutes to find The Three Bears Inn.
The place looked like it had seen better days. The weathered entrance sign and battered outdoor paint job suggested either quaintness or neglect. Either way, according to Cooper, this was all that was available on such short notice.
The run-down look didn’t stop at the front door. Logan guessed there hadn’t been any updates or upgrades in thirty years. At the check-in counter, a man about his age welcomed him.
“Hey, I’m Max,” he greeted.
“Logan Fox. Checking in?”
Max pushed a few buttons on a keyboard. “Looks like you booked two nights now and another next week?”
“Yeah,” Logan said. “I’m camping for the week, but wanted to stay again on the backside. Is that okay?”
“You bet. And if you want to leave any of your belongings or a car or something, that’s no problem. Just let me know.”
“Daddy, daddy!” A little girl holding a piece of paper ran to his side, and he swooped her up. “Wook what I drawed.”
“It’s wonderful, honey.” Max beamed at the girl. “Give Daddy just a sec, okay?”
She nodded and turned curious blue eyes to Logan. It was odd that a man would have his daughter at his place of employment, but Logan didn’t say anything. Maybe it was a small-town thing.
“Sorry about that. I own the place, and we live here,” Max explained. “Lilly, say hi to Mr. Fox.”
The little girl waved and then buried her face in her dad’s shoulder.
“Hi, Lilly,” Logan said. “How old are you?”
Lilly snuck a peek at Logan, finally raised her head, and held up four tiny fingers.
“I have a niece just that age.” Logan smiled. “Her name’s Bailey.”
“Whas a ‘niece’?” Lilly asked.
“Baily is my brother’s daughter,” Logan said, feeling silly, knowing she probably wouldn’t understand. Lilly nodded solemnly.
“She’s adorable,” Logan said, and Max smiled.
“And heavy. Did you eat rocks for lunch?” Lilly giggled as Max shifted her to one arm while he retrieved a key with his other. It was an actual key, which Logan found charming. “Goin’ retro,” he said in jest.
“Yeah.” Max sighed. “We bought the inn with grand renovation plans, but I’ve been a little sidetracked lately.”
Logan didn’t miss that he’d switched from “we” to “I” and figured there was a story behind Max’s sad smile, but didn’t pry.
