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I got out of uided ht onto the boards of the boardwalk

I stopped

Lights lined the boardwalk and when I looked right I could see all along it It was dark but not late enough for people to have gone inside for the night Not quite tourist season, yet it didn’t seem to matter The boardas apparently popular with locals It wasn’t heaving, but it was busy enough to feel alive with energy Couples, groups of teenagers, and clusters of friends and faepodge of architecturally different buildings Bright Vegas-style lights glittered in the dark, announcing to the people, and to the ocean beyond, the nas housed on the boardwalk

Waves crashed gently behind me and I turned to look out at the dark sea

Was there anythingin this world than the sound of the surf? My body seemed to melt under its spell and just like that I felt exhaustion hit me

It was only nine o’clock in the evening, but I was ready for bed

On that thought, I turned left and looked up at Hart’s Inn It was a large version of the houses I’d passed—white-painted shingle siding, gorgeous wraparound porch, and blue-painted shutters on the s I knew from the photos I’d seen on the Internet that there was even a alk on top of the building

Rather than a bright neon sign, there was a beautiful hand-painted sign that rose up by the porch A light had been attached to it so that it was lit up in the dark

Lights glowed from behind the s and I felt myself drawn to the warmth of them like a clichéd little moth I was so damn tired

I hauled my suitcase up the porch stairs and pushed open one of the beautiful double doors with its stained glassinset An old-fashioned bell tinkled abovemy arrival

A grand staircase rose ahead ofarea and reception desk lay toarea with a beautiful open fireplace Bookshelves packed with reading material lined the walls on either side of the fireplace Everywhere I looked there were signs the inn was all about quality and comfort, which was one of the reasons I’d decided to stay there rather than at the more contemporary Paradise Sands Hotel just down the boardwalk

Beyond the reading nook area, a large archway led into a dining area, and froht I wondered how long it would take the ht, I i area and its co chesterfield sofa

I’d just rest s and possibly my eyes

“I thought I heard the bell!” a cheery voice called out, jolting me, and I turned from my journey to couch heaven and watched as an attractive redhead hurried toward htly and held out her hand as she reached ton Welcome to Hart’s Inn”

I took her hand and ed a tired smile “Thank you Your inn is lovely”

She beamed at my sincerity and even in my tiredness it nearly knocked me over Bailey Hartas pretty, with deep auburn curls that tureen eyes were tip tilted, giving them an almost feline quality, and she had a cute button nose with a s of freckles over it Pretty Adorable even But her smile was her best feature It was so warm I had no choice but to sht, but in her skinny jeans and tight green thermal I could see she was more slender than me

I curbedthe flare of jealousy ona normal female with insecurities like everyone else Nope Not At All

Bailey’s set you checked in and to your room”

I loved her

“Thank you”

As she checked me in, Bailey informed me, “Breakfast runs from seven to ten areat coffee”

I smiled at that “Sounds like heaven”

S back at me, she took my suitcase from my hands and I hed nothing, considering it was probably heavier than she was

“I’m so excited to have you here for three weeks,” she said as she cli she was hu You’ll feel like fahed and it sounded so musical I started to wonder if maybe Bailey Hartas part fairy

I suddenly pictured her with little glittery wings on her back

“I need sleep,” I muttered

“Sorry?” she said as she came to a stop at a door on the second floor

“Nothing” I shook my head and followed her inside the room

As she put my suitcase by the bed I stared in awe

Decorated in a contemporary style with a nautical theme, the roos, the huge four-poster bed covered in inviting scatter cushions, or the living roo at the French doors that led out to a s the sea

“It’s the best rooht you should have it since you’re staying three weeks I originally had you in another room, but we had a cancellation for this room for the week so I was able to buhts that guided ht onto the boards of the boardwalk