So Inn Love by Catherine Clark Read Free Book Online

said.
    “Besides, then people would say things like ‘Hey, Hay,’ which would be annoying,” I pointed out.
    “That’s already happened. Way too many times.” Hayden rolled his eyes. “So don’t start, okay?”
    I pointed to the paperback thriller he was reading. “I read that a couple weeks ago. It’s good, don’t you think?”
    “Yeah, I kind of can’t put it down. That’s why I escaped here to read on my lunch break.Do you read a lot?”
    “Tons,” I said. “But not as much as Claire, I don’t think—you should see how many books she brought.”
    “Good, I’ll know where to go to borrow some then,” Hayden said.
    I smiled, thinking of the chick-lit novels Claire had unpacked. It was weird. A bunch of people were snobby, but Hayden didn’t appear to be, which was cool considering he could be. He was the one who’d worked at the Inn three summers straight, and he seemed to sort of call the shots around the place.
    “How did you know about this place?” he asked.
    “My family used to vacation here, remember?” I said. “Why, did you think you discovered it?”
    He laughed. “Kind of. This is my hideout. Not that I need to hide. I’m just saying, I come here to get away from the Inn. To read. Anyway, how’s it going?”
    “That depends.” I took a sip of coffee. I knew I should be having herbal tea, to soothemy frazzled nerves, but that just isn’t like me. Once I get totally frazzled, I tend to like to stay that way. Being mellow and laid-back is overrated, anyway. “Is getting talked to by the housekeeping supervisor on your first day a good thing?”
    “Oh no. Tell me you’re not working for Uptight Knight,” Hayden said.
    “Perfect nickname,” I murmured. “And I don’t know if I’m still working for him.”
    “Did you know he’s in the family?” Hayden said.
    “He is? You mean, in the Inn family?” I asked. “Is that redundant?”
    He laughed. “Yeah, he’s some Talbot cousin or other. He’s not Mr. Talbot Junior’s first cousin, I don’t think, maybe he’s one of those twice-removed-type deals.”
    I sighed. “Great. I think I’m about to be twice-removed, then.” Was it too soon to call my grandfather and ask him to put in another good word for me?
    “No, don’t worry, nobody likes him,” Hayden said.
    “Good,” I sighed.
    “Not even Mr. Talbot Senior,” Hayden added. “Supposedly he had to give him a job because he was in the family, so they stuck him with housekeeping.”
    I raised my eyebrow. “Is that where they put all the people they don’t like?”
    Hayden laughed. “No! Well, at least I don’t think so. I don’t know.”
    “Great. Thanks. So you’re the lifeguard?” I asked.
    “One of them,” he said. “Plus I drive the Inn shuttle van, usually in the evening, unless something different comes up. You know, we pick up guests at the train station. There’s a train that gets in around seven—at least it’s supposed to—from New York, and one from Boston that gets in slightly later.”
    “I love taking the train,” I said.
    “Oh yeah, me, too,” Hayden said. “That’s how I got here. See—” Hayden’s cell phone rang, and he pushed his chair back from the table. “Sorry. I’ll see you around, okay?” Then he went outside to take the call, which I have to say was kind of rude and kind of polite at the same time.
    We were under strict orders never to use phones while we were on duty, not even to check our voice mail or e-mail. They were strictly for downtime, which meant I was planning to call my friends at home during my breaks and lunch hour. I took my phone out of my pocket and just as I did, it started to ring. I didn’t recognize the number on my caller ID, but I picked up anyway.
    “Hey, Liza? Miss Crossley was just here looking for you,” Claire said.
    I nearly choked on my coffee. “You’re kidding.”
    “No. She wants to talk to you about something. I’m really sorry, but I gave her your number—I had