by Annie Rains
Then the doorbell rang. Saved by the bell.
“Maybe that’s the Krespos,” Kaitlyn said, scooting back from the table.
“Great,” Mitch said, following behind her. Instead of an older couple though, she opened the door to two young men wearing ugly Christmas sweaters. One had his arm draped around the other.
“Hi,” Kaitlyn said. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. I’m Nate Trapp and this is Chris Trapp. We were hoping to get a room for a couple of nights,” the taller one said. “Sorry for the late notice but my mom won’t allow us to sleep in the same room even though we’re married now.”
“Don’t worry,” Chris told him, “she’ll come around. I can tell she likes me.”
“Of course she does.” Nate shared a look with his husband. “What’s not to love?”
Kaitlyn smiled at the couple. “Well, you’re in luck. We do have a room for you. And dinner if you’re hungry.”
Nate held his stomach. “Mom may not want us sharing a bed but she had no issues feeding us.”
Kaitlyn laughed. “I’m Kaitlyn Russo.” She gestured to Mitch, who was standing behind her. “This is Mitch Hargrove.”
“Hey,” Mitch said.
“We’re the owners here. Come inside. We’ll get you settled for your stay.”
Mitch took Chris’s credit card and scanned it while Kaitlyn showed the couple around downstairs. Then she took them upstairs to their room. A moment later, she came down the steps and met Mitch in the front room.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, no doubt seeing the lines of distress on his face.
“I would just prefer if people would make reservations. This could quickly get out of hand.”
“Well, like you just told your mom, you want us to make enough money for me to buy you out. A full house is how we’re going to make that happen. We’ll just have to deal with the chaos.” She grabbed his hand and tugged him back toward the dining room. “Now, let’s return to our feast before your mom and Paris eat all the food.”
Hopefully, they had, which would mean the meal was over. He really didn’t want to take the hot seat again and tell his mom he absolutely would not be taking Kaitlyn to the Lights on the Lake event.
CHAPTER TEN
I don’t think I’ll be able to eat again until Christmas,” Kaitlyn sighed as she loaded the last of the plates into the dishwasher.
“Me neither,” Mitch said.
Kaitlyn had insisted that Gina not help with the cleanup, and surprisingly she’d listened and gone home. As Kaitlyn was hugging Gina goodbye and thanking her for all her help with dinner, a newlywed couple, the Jamiesons, walked up the steps. The Trapps hadn’t seen the article about the B&B but the Jamiesons told her they had. They’d visited their family in nearby Shadow Ridge earlier and had made the short trip into the valley in hopes of getting a room here.
The inn only had five rooms, which were now occupied by Mitch, Paris, the Trapps, the Jamiesons, and Missy and Joe, aka the horny college couple, who’d gone off to spend their Thanksgiving afternoon in a nontraditional way at the local movie theater.
“Did my mom look okay to you?” Mitch asked as he wrapped tinfoil over the leftovers.
“She seemed just fine. Full of energy and excitement. She’s probably in bed resting already, so stop worrying.” Kaitlyn laughed softly under her breath. “Your mom is amazing, by the way. I’ve only known her a few days, and it feels like I’ve known her forever. She had so many stories about my grandparents to tell.” Kaitlyn cleared her throat. “And other stories.”
She saw him straighten from the corner of her eye.
“Okay. Let’s have it. How many embarrassing stories of mine did she tell you while you two were in the kitchen?”
“Only a few,” Kaitlyn teased as she closed the dishwasher. “There. All done.” As she was wiping her hands on a dishcloth, her cell phone dinged from the counter. She walked over and checked the screen to see a message from Josie waiting for her.
Missing you today. Hoping you’ve advanced from the sweet kiss to the naughty one. That would give you something to be thankful for.
Kaitlyn tapped the screen quickly in case Mitch decided to look over her shoulder. She usually went to Josie’s home for Thanksgiving Day. Her own parents—who hadn’t called or left a message, by the way—didn’t typically do much. Josie’s mom wasn’t the most domestic but at least she tried. She usually had a turkey that was as tough as jerky and a series of fancy bowls filled with vegetables that she’d warmed from the can.
Kaitlyn put her phone back down and made a mental note to text Josie back later. Maybe she’d call her parents too. She could tell them about the inn’s first holiday event. Not that they’d likely be impressed.
“Okay. Are you ready?” Kaitlyn asked, pushing away her regret and disappointment and turning back to Mitch. It was a day to focus on the good. She didn’t need a naughty kiss from Mitch to be thankful. She had this inn, and she’d just enjoyed a five-star meal with her newfound friends. In addition to that, all five guest rooms were occupied.
“Ready for what?” Mitch asked skeptically.
“Well, now that the inn is booking, we definitely need to get that Christmas tree decorated.” She led the way to the sitting room where they’d set up the evergreen tree on Monday night. Then she turned on the old-fashioned radio inside an antique cabinet against the wall. She’d already loaded a holiday CD, and all she had to do was push Play to fill the room with soft carols.
With that done, she stepped over to a box of ornaments she’d found a few weeks ago and lifted off the lid. “This is a ton of ornaments. It might take us all night.” And despite his frequent surliness, she didn’t mind that prospect at all. Kaitlyn had seen a totally different side of him this afternoon. For a short time, he’d been relaxed and doting. The very image of a tad overly protective son. And he’d made sure his mom and Paris had felt welcome here. He’d done the same for the Trapps and Jamiesons when they’d arrived. He could protest that he wasn’t cut out for hosting all he wanted but he’d been wonderful today.
Kaitlyn reached for the strings of lights and stood. “First, we have to add these.” She plugged one set into a drop cord and retrieved the small ladder that Mitch had placed here earlier in the day.
“I got it.” Mitch immediately took it from her and set it up.
He wasn’t just overprotective of his mom, it seemed, and that sent gooey warmness trickling through her.
* * *
This was a form of torture somewhere, Mitch thought, watching Kaitlyn climb up the ladder for the millionth time in the last hour to hang another ornament. It wasn’t the fact that she wanted to discuss each one in detail. No, it was the curves of her body positioned right in front of him. But he had no choice. What if she fell off the ladder like she had outside the other week? It was his duty to make sure she was safe. So why the hell did he keep secretly wishing she’d misstep and land back into his arms?
“You’re awfully quiet,” Kaitlyn commented, whirling to face him on the ladder. She was only on the second step, so doing so put her eye to eye with him. “What are you thinking about?”
Things I shouldn’t.
“Nothing.”
The corner of her mouth quirked as if she knew that was a lie. She turned back to the tree with her ornament and climbed a few steps higher.
He braced the ladder, just in case, as she reached for the spot she’d deemed worthy of the little heart-shaped decoration in her hand. As she reached, one of her legs came out to balance her weight and plowed right between his legs.
Mitch let out an unexpected cry of pain. Which, in turn, sent Kaitlyn spinning on the ladder again.
“I’m so sorry. Did I just…” Her gaze dropped to his hands cupped over his groin as the music sang about chestnuts roasting over an open fire. His nuts weren’t in such good shape right now either.
Both of Kaitlyn’s hands flew over her mouth. “I didn’t mean to do that. I’m so, so sorry. That�
�s twice in a month. First with Bradley, now you. Although Bradley was intentional. Yours was an accident. I’m going to get a reputation if I don’t stop.”
“Hold on to the rungs,” he bit out, forcing his hands up to brace the ladder again.
She shook lightly as she suppressed a giggle. “I wouldn’t want to put a crimp in your sex life,” she finally said.
“You let me worry about my sex life.”
She gave him a curious look and then turned back to the ladder and descended to retrieve another ornament from the box. “I’ll tell you if you tell me.”
“Tell you what?” he asked.
“About your sex life.” She grabbed a candy-cane-shaped ornament and climbed the ladder once more while tossing a mischievous look over her shoulder. “I’ll start. I haven’t had sex in nine months, and that was with an old boyfriend who came to town. We’d been together before, and we were going through a dry spell. So we decided to be adults about it.”
The distraction of the conversation alleviated the pain in his nether region. “Adults about having sex? So you were just satisfying needs?”
She shrugged. “Trying to. He was satisfied, but…Well, let’s just say I’d forgotten that he had never been great at satisfying me. It’s one of the reasons I wasn’t that sorry we broke up in the first place.”
She traveled down and then climbed back up as she talked. As if this were just a casual conversation between two people who weren’t supposed to be attracted to one another.
“Your turn,” she prompted.
He hesitated but fair was fair. She’d just told him her story so he went ahead with his. “Three months ago. I wasn’t out of the marine corps yet. It was just a small break. I came home, drank too much at the Tipsy Tavern, and hooked up with a waitress there.”
“A one-night stand.” Kaitlyn twisted on the ladder again. “I’ve never had one of those.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it. You probably wouldn’t find satisfaction in that either.”
Her brows drew up. “So you didn’t even know her?”
Mitch had a feeling he was going to regret spilling so many details about his last sexual encounter. “I knew her from growing up here. She was younger than me. We were just casual acquaintances, and that’s all I’m dishing on that subject. A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
Kaitlyn clamped her mouth shut. Then she continued to quietly go about her task for several minutes.
“What’s wrong?” Mitch finally asked.
“Just lost in thought. Maybe I should have a one-night stand,” she pondered, more to herself than him.
He swallowed. “I don’t think a woman like you would enjoy that kind of thing.”
“What does that mean, ‘a woman like me’?”
“Well, from what I see, you’re passionate. You don’t do things halfway. If you wanted to find a good man to satisfy all your needs, not just the sexual, I’m sure you could find one without any problem.”
She stared at him for a long moment, and for some reason, he had a longing to be that kind of guy.
She took one step down, still facing him, leveling her eyes to his, her mouth to his. Daring him to kiss her again.
Her gaze flicked to his lips. His arms, bracing the ladder still, pinned her body almost to his.
“Not a good idea,” he whispered.
“Why not?” Her bottom lip pulled down just slightly.
“Like I said, you deserve more than just some guy who can satisfy the now.”
“Do you protect everyone in your life?” she asked.
Heat pulsed in the space between them. “I guess so. I was a marine corps cop after all.”
“Since when is kissing a crime?”
He swallowed, wanting more than anything to taste her again. She brought one hand up and curled it behind his neck, tugging softly. It didn’t take much to break him. Then his mouth was on hers.
Her hot, wet tongue slid up against his.
Mitch’s hands moved to Kaitlyn’s waist. His quickly waning willpower kept them from sinking any lower.
“That was the last ornament,” she said, when they finally pulled away. “I guess we’re done for tonight.” Something twinkled in her eye, and it didn’t take a cup of Dawanda’s cappuccino to read what she was thinking right now. He’d meant what he said though. She deserved a better man.
“Great. I’m pretty tired,” he said. Which was a lie. After that kiss, he might not get a wink of sleep tonight.
Disappointment shone in her eyes now. “Yeah. Me too,” she said after a long pause. “Thanks for helping.”
“That’s my job, isn’t it?”
“You went above and beyond though. As always. I’m not sure what I’ll do after you leave.”
“You’ll be fine. I have faith in you.” And he did. Kaitlyn had proved herself to be steadfast and strong. She was a fighter, and she’d make this bed and breakfast work no matter what obstacles came her way. He admired the heck out of her.
And if conditions were different, maybe…
They cleaned up and headed out of the sitting room.
“Good night, Kaitlyn,” Mitch said, forcing his feet to move toward the stairs that led to his room and not to follow her down the hall to hers.
“Mitch?”
“Yeah?”
She pulled her lower lip between her teeth.
Anticipation hung in the air. His willpower was already near its breaking point. If she put into words what she wanted, if she made him make that choice, he wouldn’t be able to say no. She could ask him to strip naked and climb Mount Pleasant right now. Or jump into Silver Lake in the dead of winter. His answer would be yes.
“Do you think—”
The doorbell rang behind them.
“Who’s that?” he asked as they both turned.
She shrugged. “We really should invest in a CLOSED sign. I don’t like people showing up after dark.”
He took the lead in answering. Pulling the front door open, he stared back at a short, older couple. The man had a white comb-over. The woman had fluffy bluish-colored hair and sloppy lipstick.
“Good evening. We’re the Krespos.” The old man smiled. “We meant to come earlier in the week but we’re here now. Ready to claim that romantic room you promised us.”
Mitch looked at Kaitlyn, who was now standing beside him in the doorway. They’d been resigned to the fact that the Krespos weren’t coming.
Her eyes were wide and her skin, which had been flushed and pink when they’d been beside the tree together, was now pale as new-fallen snow.
“The Beauty and the Beast room is available,” he said, offering up his own room. “I just need a quick minute to prepare it for you. Please come in. There is water and fruit at the table along the wall if you need refreshment,” he told the couple, gesturing them inside. The old man was frail in comparison to his robust wife.
Mitch offered a reassuring glance to Kaitlyn before heading upstairs to pack his things and change the bedsheets. Ten minutes later, he returned downstairs. “All set. The Beauty and the Beast room is yours.”
“I’m Beauty, and she’s the Beast,” Mr. Krespo joked as he stood from the couch.
Mrs. Krespo jabbed an elbow into his ribs with enough force to crack a few. In return, Mr. Krespo moaned in pain.
Kaitlyn turned to Mitch, a slight crease in her brow.
“I’ll see them up,” he told her.
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” He didn’t mind giving up his room but that meant either he had to head to his mom’s house tonight—and he didn’t like the idea of leaving Kaitlyn alone with so many guests to cater to—or he had to sleep on the couch, which he guessed wasn’t exactly good B&B host etiquette. Not that he’d ever been one for etiquette.
He showed Mr. and Mrs. Krespo upstairs to their room and then headed back down the staircase, where Kaitlyn was waiting for him.
“You can sleep in my room,” she said, giving him a third opti
on for where to sleep tonight.
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”
“Why not? We’re two adults, and I trust you.”
He stepped off the bottom stair and walked toward her. “I’m not sure I trust myself,” he said quietly, in case other guests were in listening range. “Especially after that kiss.”
Her eyes widened, her lips parted, and he wanted nothing more than to keep kissing her.
She took hold of his hand and tugged. “Don’t be silly. You’re staying in my room tonight, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
* * *
Kaitlyn sat on the edge of her bed and watched as Mitch pulled out the old air mattress from her grandparents’ closet and attempted to blow it up. This was not what she had in mind when she’d dragged him to her room.
She was already in her flannel pajamas featuring multicolored snowflakes. She wished she had something sexier to wear right about now. Not that she wanted to be sexy and lure Mitch to her bed.
Okay, that was totally what she wanted. When her hormones were in charge, she didn’t care if he was forever material or not. She wanted him on top of her, underneath her, all over her. Mitch didn’t think she was the type of girl to have a one-night stand but maybe she was.
As if hearing her blaring thoughts, he turned back to look at her. “The pump isn’t blowing this thing up. There must be a leak in the mattress somewhere.” He continued to try for several more minutes and then shook his head.
“This is a king-size bed. It’s big enough for the two of us,” Kaitlyn offered. Even if it were a twin-size bed, it’d be big enough for them. In fact, a twin-size would be far better.
“I’ll just go to my mom’s tonight and return early in the morning to help out.”
“Not necessary. I mean, she’s probably sleeping, and you’ll wake her. She needs her rest, remember?”
Mitch stood just a few feet away. “I can sleep on the floor, then. It’s fine.”
“Will you just stop?” She pulled back the covers on the opposite side of the bed. “You’re sleeping in my bed with me, and that’s final.”