Sophie talks almost the whole way back while I just listen, enjoying the sound of her voice. She has a soft sweet voice that rises when she says something that excites her.
"Wait." I put my arms up, stopping her. We're near the end of the trail and the inn is just up ahead.
"What is it? Why are we stopping?"
"Look." I point to a few feet in front of us. A coyote is crossing the trail, taking his time as if he doesn't even notice us.
Sophie steps behind me, gripping the back of my shirt. "What do we do?"
"Just wait."
We watch as it stops a moment and looks up, like it heard something. Then it runs off into the trees.
"Okay, we're good." I start walking again.
"What if there's more?"
"Then we'll stop and let them pass."
She comes up beside me. "I'm surprised."
"By what?"
"You. I thought a city guy would be afraid of wildlife."
"I live in the city. That doesn't mean it's who I am."
"So who are you?" She stops in front of me. "Who is the real Aiden Mills?"
"Still trying to figure that out."
She stares at me a moment. "I totally get that."
"Meaning what? You haven't figured out who Sophie Chambers is?"
"I think I know but sometimes I doubt myself."
"Nothing wrong with that. We're all a work in progress."
"So true." She turns and continues beside me along the path.
"I need to clean up," I say as we go in the inn. "You want to meet for a drink before dinner?"
She smiles. "I'd love that. Meet in an hour?"
"Sounds good."
In an hour it'll be six and our dinner reservation isn't until seven. I was thinking we'd meet a few minutes before seven. I didn't think she'd want a whole hour for drinks but I'm happy she suggested it. I want more time with her. The afternoon went by too quickly. Soon it'll be tomorrow and we'll be heading back. And then what? When will I see her again?
At six, we meet at the bar. Charlie is there, serving up drinks with a smile. He's one of those guys who doesn't seem to have a care in the world. I'm sure he knows about the situation at the inn but he doesn't seem bothered by it.
The past few months Tom and his wife have been overwhelmed with medical bills and more will be coming in the months ahead. They've been forced to borrow from the equity they've built up in the inn. Combine that with a slow summer tourist season caused by unusually cool weather, and Tom is being forced to consider selling the inn.
When I came here a few weeks ago to meet with Tom, he wasn't ready to sell. He's emotionally invested in the place, which I totally get, but if he doesn't have money to keep the place running, Charlie and the other inn employees won't get paid.
I've been trying to work out a deal with Roger, my boss, to acquire the inn and give Tom the best price possible, but so far nothing has happened. Roger's been tied up with another deal, a much larger investment property that could yield us millions a year in profits if we get it. Until that's settled, I doubt I'll get an answer about the inn.
"Ready to cash out?" Charlie asks, just before seven. "Or do you want it added to your dinner bill?"
"We'll cash out." I get out my wallet.
Sophie searches through her purse.
"You know you're not paying, right?" I say, handing Charlie my credit card.
"Aiden, you can't keep paying." She takes out her wallet. "It's not right."
"Just like it wasn't right for me to let papers fly out my window, blinding the person behind me and causing her to be sentenced to forty hours of trash cleanup?"
She softly smiles. "Okay, you win."
As she puts her wallet away I take a moment to look at her. She's wearing a red wrap dress that fits her tiny body perfectly. When she showed up at the bar I couldn't take my eyes off her. She wore her hair down and straightened it, a look I haven't seen on her before. Usually her hair has a wave to it, which I like, but I like this look too.
Tom appears, forcing my eyes off Sophie. "Your table is ready."
"We're being seated by the owner?" I kid, getting down from the barstool. "That's service."
Tom smiles. "Only for my best customers."
"I'm hardly the best," Sophie says. "I'm not even paying for my room."
"Hey, about that," I say to Tom. "Going forward, when she stays here, it's on me. I'll give you my card before I leave."
"Wait—what?" Sophie looks at me. "You can't pay for my room."
"I'm paying for it. I'm the reason you have to come back." I turn to Tom. "Don't let her pay."
He nods. "Understood. Let me show you to your table."
Sophie keeps her eyes on me as Tom takes us to a small table by the window. It looks out at some shrubs that are decorated in tiny white lights. I don't remember the lights being there before. Tom must have added them to match the downtown lights.
Tom hands us the menu. "I'd suggest the pot roast." He winks at us. "But that's just me."
When he's gone, Sophie leans toward me across the table. "You can't pay for my room."
"Why can't I?"
"Because..." She looks around, then back at me. "What would Celine think?"
"What does Celine have to do with this?"
"I don't think she'd be too happy having you pay for a woman's hotel room."
"It's my money. I don't need to ask Celine's permission to spend it."
"It's not about the money. It's about..." She lowers her voice. "You know what it's about."
"If Celine has a problem with me helping a friend with an issue that I caused, then she'll just have to get over it.
