“No, you really don’t have to,” he argues. “I’ll figure something else out. I’ll just have to help in the kitchen myself.”

A sharp laugh punches out of me. Ignoring the eye daggers he aims my way, I say, “You can’t cook. That’s why you’re always here.”

His jaw drops. “How very dare you!” he says in mock offense. “I can so cook. Bagel bites and mozzarella sticks totally count as cooking.”

“Nothing frozen counts.”

“But I always get the cheese to that perfect gooeyness-without-melting-over quality!”

I do my best to look unimpressed, rather than charmed, but I think I fail. “Seriously, I don’t mind helping. Benji can cover for me. He’s always happy for more hours, and I trust him. I’ll still have to pop back and forth to take care of some stuff, but it’s doable.”

Brenden looks up at me now, immense gratitude painted all over his face, and I know I’m making the right decision offering to help. Even if it’s going to be a pain in the ass sorting everything out.

There’s not much I wouldn’t do for this man.

Luckily, I don’t think he realizes that.

CHAPTER THREE

BRENDEN

In my office, leaning back in the cushy desk chair I splurged on for myself and flipping through some paperwork about the incoming retreat, I’m much less frazzled than I was two days ago. I’m actually starting to believe everything will work out fine.

Because Travis Reed is a godsend.

Asking him to help was my only option. But I hate being that person—the one who can’t seem to handle things on his own. Who always goes running to a bigger and stronger man for help. Travis never seems to mind, but still.

My pride can’t get in the way of keeping the inn running though. I love this place. But more than that, I love my daughter. I’ll do anything necessary to ensure I can provide a stable life for her.

One of the last things I said to April was, I promise May will grow up surrounded by love and joy and everything she could ever need.

Thinking about April, even for a second, causes my eyes to well up with tears. Fuck. I blink them away and shake my thoughts clear, because I’m at work. Even in the privacy of my office, I need to stay the happy-go-lucky Brenden Sanderson everyone in this town expects me to be. I can’t reveal all the sadness that hides under the surface. No one wants to be around that guy.