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Chapter 68
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The Misfit Inn Chapter 69
It was nearly two in the afternoon by the time Maggie got back to the inn.Porter glanced up at the house. "I'd offer to pull around by the old bodock tree, but I'm not sure you can shimmy up it in those shoes." She hadn't thought to pack others when she'd shoved clothes into a bag, so she was still wearing last night's heels. "Sneaking inside in broad daylight seems like a pointless endeavor anyway. Nobody's under any delusion about where I've been."He rolled to a stop in front of the house and parked. "Regrets?""Never." Hooking a hand behind his neck, she drew his mouth to hers for one last kiss and hummed with pleasure as his tongue snaked out to tease hers. When she found herself sinking into a fresh haze of lust, she pulled back. "Okay, this time it's really goodbye. We can't get derailed like we did before we left the house." There'd been two failed attempts that had ended with them both sweaty and naked. If she could even walk tomorrow, it would be a miracle.His face sc
The Misfit Inn Chapter 70
"The Artisan Guild project would be good for not only the town, but for all of Stone County and the surrounding region. With the Memorandum of Understanding and preliminary contracts with our investor, we only need your blessing to get started. Thank you for your time."Maggie sat down to a small round of applause from the group of artisans who'd shown up for tonight's county commissioners meeting at the courthouse. She held up both hands with her fingers crossed in their direction, then settled back in her chair beside Porter. His fingers laced with hers as the board members huddled up to discuss in low voices. "You did great," he murmured."We'll see." On paper the whole thing should have been a slam dunk. But there had been a weird tension in the room all during her presentation, and she couldn't put her finger on what the problem was. Maybe it was simply the difference in presenting to high-powered players of the business world versus people who'd been around to witness her gre
The Misfit Inn Chapter 71
"I don't care. Not anymore. I'm done with this."The shock of his words had Maggie flinching back, as if he'd struck her. Because she heard what he wasn't saying. I'm done with you.She stumbled, grabbing for a chair. But he didn't turn back. Didn't even glance her way as he walked out the door and, quite possibly, out of her life.Porter Ingram, the man who'd been there for her through the worst stretch of her life―Her friend. Her confidant. Her lover―had finally had enough and left her.Maggie wanted to go after him, wanted to beg him to listen. But to what? She was still bound to silence, as she'd always been. And it was more than obvious he was too angry to listen to her reasons. Him knowing about Bradley was only part of the whole. Bradley Danforth. His half-brother. Maggie just sank into the chair as the reality of that crashed over her. Bradley's seduction was never about her. Never about attraction. Never even about wanting some form of entertainment while away from his
The Misfit Inn Chapter 72
The porch light cast a welcoming glow over the inn's front door. Somehow it did nothing to thaw the cold knot that had set up in Maggie's gut. What exactly was she about to get into with Claudia Samson?"Do you want me to come in with you?" Kennedy asked."No. I don't know what this is about, but I doubt I'll get a chance to talk to Porter before tomorrow. He probably needs the time to cool down anyway." Maggie hoped by then she'd have figured out what to say. "I'm done with this."What if he meant it? Kennedy reached across the console to squeeze her hand. "You two are going to get through this. I have faith.""I've never been great with faith." "You can borrow some of mine. I love you, sis.""I love you, too. Thanks for coming for me." Maggie leaned over to wrap her in a hug."I'm really glad I could be here for you this time."Maggie's throat went thick. This was the sister she'd lost all those years ago. The sister she hadn't let all the way back in until tonight. She
The Misfit Inn Chapter 73
Porter didn't hear from Maggie by morning. He stared at the blank screen of his phone. No notifications. No voicemail. No texts. No email. Nothing to indicate she hadn't taken him exactly at his word last night. He'd said he was done, that he didn't care what she had to say. He didn't have a right to be disappointed that she hadn't made the next move, that she hadn't pushed him to hear her out. Maybe he should've gone over to the inn last night. But it had been late when he'd left Mia's, and part of him was still fucking terrified that she'd hate him as much as he hated himself for putting her in Brad's crosshairs.All the site visits he'd put off while prepping for last night's commissioner meeting now demanded his immediate attention and kept him from tracking her down first thing. But it was hard to focus on the progress of the jobs, the next steps, the foreman's reports, as he thought constantly about calling or texting―something to make first contact and gauge her level of pissed
The Misfit Inn Chapter 74
Maggie couldn't put off the call any longer. Of everything she'd dealt with since the assault, she'd dreaded this the most. Shutting herself into her room, she sank into a chair and dialed."Well, if it isn't my favorite Southern belle. I guess you finally took that edict to check out seriously. It's been ages!""Hey, Genevieve.""God, I've missed you. Tell me you're feeling like a functional human again.""I am. You may officially leverage the 'I told you so' I rightfully deserve.""Not even necessary. I'm just glad you're feeling better. How is everything?""Good. Crazy. My sister's getting married next week.""Wait, which one?""Athena. The chef.""Did I even know she was engaged?""That only happened three weeks ago." It felt like three months. Bradley hadn't been released on bail, and with the evidence of his involvement with Claudia, along with the additional assault charges, he hadn't been able to wiggle out of anything. His attorney had recommended he take the offer
The Misfit Inn Chapter 75
Nearly fourteen months after Maggie first laid eyes on the mill, it rose before her, all decked out for the holidays and looking like a Christmas postcard. She leaned forward in her seat, trying to see if there was space left in the parking lot, and feeling a punch of pride as she took in the finished Stone County Artisan's Guild and Education Center. "Looks like a good turnout for the open house.""I'm still not sure you two should be out among all those people. That's a lot of germs. And you know there's already been flu going around."Maggie laid a hand on her husband's arm. "Porter, honey, I gave birth. I don't have a compromised immune system. Besides, I had my flu shot.""But Faith―""The baby will be fine. Your wife will not be if she doesn't get to leave the house." Having been ordered to bed rest the last two months of her pregnancy, she'd accepted Porter's overprotective streak. But she'd fully expected him to dial it back once their healthy baby girl had arrived. Inste
The Misfit Inn Chapter 1
VOLUME ONE: WHEN YOU GOT A GOOD THING"WELCOME TO O'LEARY'S PUB. What can I get you?" The greeting rolled off Kennedy Reynolds' tongue as she continued to work the taps with deft hands.The man on the other side of the long, polished bar gaped at her. "You're American."Kennedy topped off the pint of Harp and slid it expertly into a patron's waiting hand. "So are you." She injected the lilt of Ireland into her voice instead of the faint twang of East Tennessee. "You'd be expectin' somethin' more along these lines, I'd wager. So what'll it be for a strapping Yank like yourself?"The guy only blinked at her.So she wasn't exactly typical of County Kerry, Ireland. Her sisters would be the first to say she wasn't exactly typical of anyone, anywhere. It didn't bother her. But there was a line stacking up behind this slack-jawed idiot, and she had work to do."Can I suggest a pint of Guinness? Or perhaps you'd prefer whiskey to warm you through? The night's still got a bit of a chill."
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