The Lakeside Inn by Leeanna Morgan (ebooks children's books free .txt) 📗

your sisters, there’s no way she won’t be happy. She’s probably rearranging everything your granddad got ready for her.”

That made Penny smile. “That sounds exactly like the sort of thing Grandma would do.”

Wyatt sat on a concrete step and stared at the sky. “After my wife died, I couldn’t think straight. Everything reminded me of her. I’d hear a noise and think Anya was coming in the front door. When I walked through a mall, I’d smell her perfume and think she was there. At one point, I thought I was going crazy.”

“You missed her.”

“More than I thought possible. But after the bone-numbing grief went away, I was left with nothing except my painting. Focusing on that gave my life purpose. It helped me get out of bed each morning and put one foot in front of the other.”

“Do you still find it difficult?”

Wyatt’s gaze connected with hers. “Before I came here, I did. My friend, Ethan, thought living in Sapphire Bay would be good for me. He was right.”

The warmth in his eyes sent goose bumps along Penny’s skin. “It must be the fresh mountain air and the amazing scenery.”

Wyatt reached for her hand. “I think it’s more to do with my neighbor. She makes me smile and talk about things I’ve never told anyone.”

She held her breath as their hands touched. “I’m glad I could help.”

“You’ve done more than help.” Wyatt’s fingers tangled with hers. “If I asked if you wanted to go out to dinner with me, what would you say?”

Penny’s heart pounded. “I’d say I have to be careful. You’re leaving in a couple of months and not coming back.”

“I haven’t decided what I’ll do after I finish in Berlin. You could always come with me.”

Her eyes widened. “To Germany?”

“Why not? If you open the Bed and Breakfast, your sisters can run the business while you’re gone.”

“I can’t do it. Grandma wanted everyone to stay here.”

“If Berlin’s out of the question, what about dinner?”

Penny smiled. “Has anyone told you you’re stubborn?”

“Not recently, but it’s for a good cause. Dinner?”

So many thoughts rushed through her mind. She liked Wyatt a lot. He was kind, patient, funny, and one of the most talented men she’d ever met. But he was still grieving for his wife. And after losing her Grandma, she was just as vulnerable. It would be so easy to fall in love with him, to look into his blue eyes and tell him he could be the center of her world. But then he’d leave and she would stay here, trying to put her life back together.

Wyatt lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “One step at a time,” he whispered.

“It’s not that easy. My life has turned upside down. I don’t know what we’ll do if Katie doesn’t come home and—”

Lips as soft and sweet as a spring breeze silenced the words tumbling from her mouth. She leaned forward, meeting Wyatt halfway as their kiss deepened, leaving her breathless and needy, and a whole lot of other things she hadn’t felt in years.

He groaned and Penny forgot all the reasons why this wasn’t a good idea. Wyatt was an amazing man, and that’s all that mattered.

When their kiss ended, she rested her forehead against his. “I like the way you kiss.”

His sigh settled some of the butterflies jumping inside her tummy.

“I like the way you kiss, too. What are we going to do with each other?”

Penny smiled. “Have dinner?”

“Tomorrow night?”

“Okay.” She cuddled into his chest and enjoyed being close to him.

Wyatt wrapped his arms around her. “If you don’t want to go to a restaurant, you could come to my place. I make a pretty good spaghetti sauce.”

“I love spaghetti.”

A rumble of laughter echoed against her ear. “Are you saying that to be nice or because you really like spaghetti?”

“A little of both.”

“That’s good.”

As the stars shone overhead and a cool wind drifted off the lake, Penny closed her eyes. She couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment than to be sitting here, wrapped in Wyatt’s arms.

For now, this was all she needed. Tomorrow would look after itself.

Chapter 11

The following day, Penny drove to the old steamboat museum building with her sisters. Wyatt was following in his truck in case they wanted to stay for longer.

When she was a teenager, the Steamboat Museum closed its doors for the last time. Even at that stage, the volunteers who ran it were only using a small part of the huge red-brick building.

She had wonderful memories of following her granddad around the museum, examining old pieces of machinery and discovering lots of collectibles. It was a treasure trove of memories, and her grandfather seemed to have a story for everything she saw.

Before the museum moved here, the building had sat empty for decades. Originally, it was the center of all activity in Sapphire Bay. Built at the height of steamboat travel, dances were held here each Friday night. On Saturdays, the land surrounding it became one of the first farmers’ markets in Montana. Inside the building, rooms were dedicated to repairing parts of the steamboats. Her granddad had told her there were upholsterers, carpenters, welders, and many other people all working to keep the steamboats on the water.

On one of her visits back to Sapphire Bay, Penny had been thrilled to see the beautiful old building once again being used. Pastor John had created a workshop in the main hall to build the tiny homes he was creating.

The town was one hundred percent behind the tiny home village. The number of vehicles in the parking lot showed there was no shortage of volunteers to help on the project.

“Mom wasn’t exaggerating when she said we might not find a parking space,” Barbara murmured as she stared through the windshield.

“It’s because of the new contract,” Diana said. “The church has to build thirty tiny homes and take them to Missoula for another tiny home village.”

It surprised Penny that her sister knew about the contract.

“Is that