Wait a minute. What was she— “Oh no, you don’t. You promised you’d finish your college apps this week, and that’s exactly what you’re going to do.”
She’d procrastinated the whole school year, reminding him that her preferred colleges had late application deadlines.
Grace gave him an innocent smile, wide blue eyes blinking. “Have fun chauffeuring.”
“Relax,” Molly said. “It won’t be that bad.”
“Yeah,” Grace said. “They’re honeymooners. They probably won’t even leave their room.”
Levi shot her a look. Maybe she was nineteen now, but he didn’t want to think his baby sister knew much about honeymoons or the things that went on during them.
“What?” She flipped her damp hair over her shoulders. “You know I’m right.”
Their entry alarm dinged, no doubt announcing their guests’ arrival.
“Speak of the devil,” Grace whispered.
Levi wiped off his hands and pushed back. “I’ll get it.” Might as well get used to being at the couple’s beck and call.
***
Mia stepped into the inn and pushed the door shut behind her, cool air brushing over her skin. The foyer smelled pleasantly of lemons, and the plush rug cushioned her steps. Other than the scrape of a chair from another room the inn was silent.
She scanned the small lobby, her eyes going to the grand staircase opposite the door. She wondered if her grandparents had been the ones to restore the railings. Their mahogany tones gleamed under the light from the antique chandelier.
The inn was located on the edge of town. It had been almost dark out as the driver had navigated the windy shoreline, but Mia could see the moonlight gleaming off the water and the silhouette of mountains around the lake. It was hard to imagine that her mother’s childhood had been anything other than idyllic.
Mia’s gaze swept to the right where a living room was situated, a set of French doors beyond it. To the left a darkened hallway extended past the check-in desk.
“Hello?” she called.
Her heavy purse tugged at her shoulder. It was filled with toiletries she’d purchased at the airport. It had been a long day, and she had a raging headache. There was no easy way to get from LA to Bluebell. There’d been a layover in Dallas with Charlotte the final destination. She’d taken a long Uber to reach the inn, and had she mentioned her head was killing her?
She took off the ball cap she’d been wearing all day, dragged the ponytail holder from her hair, and massaged her scalp.Ahhhh. Much better. Now she just needed a soft bed and eight hours of sleep. Maybe more.
At least she’d managed to avoid attention as she traveled. She looked different without makeup, and most fans didn’t expect to see her schlepping through the airport in yoga pants and tennis shoes.
She gave a weary sigh, stepping closer to the desk and scanning it for a bell. She was ready to put this long day behind her. Two long days.
“Mrs. Hughes?”
Mia flinched. A man strode across the living room in slim-fit khakis and a black polo bearing the inn’s logo. He was several inches taller than her five-foot-ten frame. He was also not hard on the eyes, with dark hair and tanned skin setting off his clear blue eyes. He put her in mind of Liam Hemsworth.
He offered a smile and a hand. “Welcome to the Bluebell Inn. I’m Levi, one of the owners.”
“You can call me Mia.”
“Nice to meet you, Mia. How was your trip?”
“It was fine, thank you.”
Fine. A knot tightened in her gut—something about having been called the name that was supposed to have been hers. She’d spent the past two days avoiding people and in frantic discussions with her agent. She hadn’t had time to process the wedding that had never happened, but coming here brought equal parts relief and dread.
She swallowed against the lump at the back of her throat.And now is not the time for that, Mia.
Levi was clicking and clacking at the computer. “If I could just have a credit card for incidentals. Your stay is already paid for, of course.”
She slid her Visa across the desk, hoping he wouldn’t recognize her name.
