Levi studied her as they neared her door. She didn’t know? “Um, you booked the whole inn.”
She stopped so suddenly he almost ran into her. “I what?”
Levi flinched. Her turd of a fiancé had obviously handled all the arrangements. He tried for diplomacy. “You have the inn all to yourself this week.”
Hurt flashed in her eyes as if she just remembered the broken engagement. But she quickly blinked it away and gave a wry laugh.
It sounded so jaded he had the absurd notion to pull her into his arms and comfort her. What kind of a jerk asked a girl to marry him, planned a honeymoon and a wedding, then dumped her?
“Well, I guess that works in my favor now, doesn’t it?” She unlocked the door and slipped inside, letting him pass. “Roses, champagne, flower petals, room service, chauffeur, and a rented-out inn. Any other little surprises I don’t know about?”
He gave her a dry grin. “I think that about covers it.”
“Thank you for your help. And the ride.”
“That’s my job. Let me know if you need anything. I can recommend some places for dinner if you’d like.”
“Thanks, but... I think I’d better just order takeout—assuming you have that here.”
“Of course. And I can intercept it at the front desk for you.”
“That would be great. Thank you. And if you wouldn’t mind, I think I’d rather come down in the mornings for breakfast.”
“No problem. I’ll let the others know.”
Somehow even after he left her room he couldn’t forget that flash of pain or the mocking tone she’d used to mask it. Mia Emerson was much more than a pretty face. She was a woman who’d been hurt. A woman with her guard up. He felt a sudden desire to tear down all those walls.
Then he gave his head a hard shake. He had quite enough people to take care of at the moment, thank you very much.
When he reached the main floor, Molly silently took his arm and dragged him through the living room into the dining room.
“Don’t you have something productive to do?” Levi asked. “Like helping Adam with his research?”
Once inside the dining room, Grace pushed the French doors closed.
“What is it now?” Levi asked.
“Shhhh!” Molly hissed.
Levi rolled his eyes. “Can we just handle this like mature adults, please?”
Grace lifted her index finger. “I’d just like to point out that the youngest one here is not the one who lost her cool with our celebrity guest.” She fixed Molly with a superior look.
“Duly noted.” Levi’s gaze drifted to Molly. “You’d never know you’re dating a famous author.”
“Hey, I really liked that movie!”
Grave waved off her words. “Back to the subject at hand... I have the lowdown on Mia, and I think you’re going to want to hear this.”
Molly glared at her sister. “She wouldn’t tell me until you got here.”
Levi gave Grace a tolerant look. “Please tell me you didn’t Google our guest again.”
“There’s a scandal, Levi. You know Jax Jordan from the spy series you like?”
He had the absurd urge to cover his ears. “I don’t want to hear any more.”
“You don’t want to hear why she came on her honeymoon alone? Why she had no luggage? Why she’s hiding out in Bluebell, North Carolina, where she literally knows not a single soul?”
