"You'll have to send me a picture," my mom says.
"I will, although a picture can't really capture how beautiful it is here. The fall colors are amazing."
"Then maybe it's nice you'll be able to spend some time there."
"It would be if I didn't have to worry about work." I watch as Aiden's car pulls up beside me.
"It's too bad Macie couldn't be there. It's such a shame you girls didn't get your weekend together."
"Mom, I have to go," I say as Aiden gets out of his car. "Aiden is here."
"Who?"
"Aiden. The guy who also got ticketed for littering. He had court today too."
"Is he heading back to New York?"
"No, he's staying the night. We'll probably have dinner together."
"Didn't you say he has a girlfriend?"
"Yes. She was going to come with him but something came up."
"She doesn't mind you having dinner with him?" she asks in a tone that implies it's not right to have dinner with a man who isn't single.
"Mom, this isn't a date. It's just dinner." I open my door as Aiden approaches. "I have to go. Bye, Mom."
"How's Mom?" Aiden says as I get out of the car. The way he says it like he knows her makes me smile.
"She's fine. I told her what happened."
"And?" he asks, shutting the car door.
She told me to come home."
"Like to visit?" he asks as we walk to the inn.
"No. For good. She wants me to move back."
"Why?"
"Because I don't belong in the big city, according to her, and pretty much everyone else from my hometown."
"Why is it up to them to decide?" he asks as we go in the inn.
"It's not, but that doesn't stop them from telling me I should move back."
"It's just my opinion," he says, stopping at the check-in desk, "but I think you should stay."
I do too, but I don't know if I can. Last week when I asked Bianca about my promotion, she said it's on hold until I prove I can do the job. I thought I'd already proven that, but she said Beverly, the owner, wants me to handle an event on my own, without Bianca's help, before she'll promote me.
I wish she'd told me this sooner. I'd love to manage an event on my own. I did it all the time at my old job. I haven't at the new one because Bianca's such a control freak she hasn't let me. She keeps insisting I'm not ready.
Without that promotion I won't have money to keep living in New York. I did a budget last week and even if I never go out, and live on peanut butter sandwiches, I still won't have enough money to pay my bills.
"Look who's back," Tom says, coming out of the office to behind the counter. His kind smile instantly makes me feel better. I really love this place, and I love the owners. Tom and his wife remind me of the people back home. Maybe that's why I like it here so much.
"Hey, Tom," Aiden says, shaking his hand.
"Any news?" Tom asks, raising his bushy white brows.
"Not yet."
"News about what?" I ask.
Tom looks at Aiden, then shakes his head. "Nothing." He opens his check-in book. "Just one night?"
"Yes, but please, let me pay for it." I get out my wallet.
"Put that away," he scolds. "I told you it was on me, and I don't go back on my word. As for you," he says to Aiden. "Pay up."
Aiden laughs and hands him his corporate credit card. Why is he using his business card instead of his personal card? Does he get to charge personal expenses to his card as a perk for dating the boss' daughter?
I can't believe Aiden works for Celine's dad. I didn't find that out until I overheard Celine telling Bianca that at their initial meeting. Aiden never mentioned it. The night we had dinner, he talked all about his job but left that little detail out.
"You're all set," Tom says, handing us each a key. "Too bad your girlfriend couldn't join you," he says to Aiden. "But this one's not too bad for company." He looks over at me and winks.
"She's definitely not," Aiden says, smiling. "In fact, I'm looking forward to spending more time with her."
Why does he keep doing that? Making comments that sound like he's flirting with me? Or am I just imagining it?
"I'm going up to my room," I say to Aiden. "What time should we meet for dinner?"
"Maybe around six?"
"The restaurant's booked until seven," Tom says. "The leaf peepers made reservations months ago and they tend to eat early."
"Is seven okay?" Aiden asks me.
"Yeah, see you then." I turn and head to the stairs, noticing Aiden right behind me.
"I'm on the second floor too," he says.
We continue up the stairs and down the hall to my room.
"Looks like we're neighbors," Aiden says, opening the door next to mine.
"Guess so." I struggle with the key, unable to get it in the lock. Knowing Aiden is staying in the room next to mine is making me nervous. What if something happens? Wait—what am I saying? Nothing is going to happen. We're just friends.
"Let me help," Aiden says. As he takes the key from me our hands brush. We pause for just the briefest moment, but long enough for us to recognize there's somewhere there. Something neither of us is willing to acknowledge, at least not to each other, but it's definitely there.
