Chapter One
Zane parked his brand-new truck on the street outside Sweet Dreams Bed and Breakfast. The house was enormous. And run down. The entire place needed a coat of paint. What in the name of heaven had he been thinking, booking into an unknown place with an ancient, outdated website?
The building before him had once been a beauty, but it’s elegant, Victorian style face was tired and a little sad, despite the bright Christmas bulbs that wrapped the porch pillars and railings.
He was half tempted to put his truck in gear and return to the city. Too late now. He’d handed over his credit card number weeks ago. Besides, his cousin Riley had sworn this was the best place in town to stay. Apparently, Riley knew the innkeeper well. That had to mean something, didn’t it? Riley would never steer him wrong. It was time to trust his cousin.
Resigned to his fate and holding back his reservations about the inn, Zane climbed out of his truck and stood on the sidewalk bracing himself for what was to come. He’d give the place a chance, but if the inside wasn’t up to par, he was cutting his losses and getting out of here. It was a long drive home, but he’d make it if he needed to. This was supposed to be his sabbatical. A time to work on his personal project, away from the pressures of work. He wouldn’t ruin it by staying in a dump.
For a moment, his mind flashed back to the patches of black ice on the highway between his home in Edmonton and Coyote Creek’s B&B. He might have to beg a place to stay from one of his many cousins in town. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. He wanted to get out of his routine so he could write. This was a far cry from home.
Leaving his bags in the truck, he strode up the snow free walkway to the porch. The wooden steps and deck thumped solidly under his feet. Bonus. The wreath on the front door shone brightly in the dim November afternoon. Its lights were energy efficient LEDs, and it had a cute nutcracker perched in the center opening. Maybe this place wouldn’t be as rundown as it looked on the outside. It was obvious that someone here cared.
He raised his hand to knock, and the most ungodly scream exploded into the air. He jerked back on his feet. “What the hell?”
His heart pounding, he grasped the door handle. It twisted open and he raced inside, through the small entry, toward the high-pitched screaming.
