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I turned to her and saw she was looking around at the room with pride and satisfaction “Thank you It’s beautiful”

Bailey grinned and dropped the key in et to know each other” She said it like it was a no-brainer, like all innkeepers set out to uests their best friends

Honestly I didn’t et to know me

At that point I was too exhausted to

“Good night,” she said as she closed the door

“Good night,” I called back

That hen I really noticed the bed

“Coestured to it at the same time I stumbled toward it

When I woke up the next , I was on top of the covers still fully clothed

SIX

Jessica

The first thing I did after I showered was open the French doors in my room I stepped out onto the balcony that overlooked the boardwalk and the ocean beyond and I didn’t even care that it was a cloudy, gray day above me

Instead I enjoyed the wind blowing up off the water because it carried with it the smell of sea and the sound of the surf I closed ainst the beach, the cry of gulls in the air, and I felt a moment of complete peace

I’d been so concerned about what this vacationit Maybe it didn’t have to be this e my life Maybe it would just be a vacation Three weeks of peace and contentment

I reluctantly walked back intoout the sounds of the ocean Digging through my purse I pulled out my cell and sent Matthew a text

You were right I needed this x

Once I was dressed, hair dried and styled, makeup on, I headed downstairs for breakfast It was nine thirty, so I’d just make it

The dining roootten up way earlier than I had, or having slept in even later

I was looking at theopen, revealing a kitchen beyond it The door sla out of the kitchen toward me

Bailey grinned at ”

“Good ” I smiled back at her

“You slept well?”

“Yes, thank you I feel so ht”

“Don’t even apologize I could see you were dead on your feet Will we start you off with some coffee?”

“Please”

“Okeydokey I’ll let you look over the menu”

Bailey was back a few minutes later with my coffee I wanted to snatch it desperately fro so, waiting impatiently for her to take my order so I could descend on the coffee like the caffeine fiend I was

“I’ll have the scras, bacon, and pancakes, please” My sto about it

“Great choice” She cocked her head to the side “I haven’t eaten yet You mind if I join you? And please feel free to tell me ‘hell no’ if you want some peace”

I laughed, surprised by her request but definitely not annoyed by it “I’m happy for the company”

“Great! I think I’ll have what you’re having” She strode back to the kitchen, calling out as she pushed her way inside, “Hey, Mona, two scras, bacon, and—” The door sla the room

Not too long later, I’d had my first shot of heavenly caffeine and Bailey was back with both of ourinto hers

I shoveled a forkful of pancakes and egg into my mouth as soon as the plate was put in front of me

“So,” Bailey said once she’d sed, “I’uests’ breakfast My alar”

I snorted, unable to laugh without spraying my breakfast everywhere Once I’d sed, I said, “I really don’t mind It’s nice, actually”

“Good” She grinned “Tom would say this is so unprofessional”

“Tom?”

“My boyfriend We’ve been together for nine years He’s the yin toa little annoyed with the yang lately I lost er to New York lastaround like a headless chicken while I try to find someone I trust to do the damn job, and Tom is all ‘Slon, Bailey, before you kill yourself’”

I blinked at her ra

She laughed “Sorry He also says I talk too fast sometimes He says it makes me sound twelve I’m thirty-three”

I was surprised She looked younger than e”

“We are? What do you do? Say innkeeper and it’ll freak me out”

S, I shook my head “No I’m a doctor”

Bailey’s eyes widened “Really?”

“Yup”

“A doctor? In a hospital, or do you have your own practice?”

“I’m a physician at a prison, actually A women’s prison”

“No way!”

I laughed “Yes way”

“Well, I was impressed by doctor, but I’m even more impressed by doctor in a women’s prison That is hard-core You know, this town could do with a hard-core doctor You lookin’?” She winked teasingly ned to her and saw she was looking around at the room with pride and satisfaction “Thank you It’s beautiful”