Unraveled by Heidi McCahan Read Free Book Online Page A

eyes to meet his. Blake arched one eyebrow. So that explained the questions. Lifting the carafe in the air, she flashed her most hospitable smile. “My grandfather built it, actually. Can I get you some more coffee?”
    “That must have been quite an adventure,” Todd said, covering his cup with his hand. “I’m okay, thank you.”
    “I’ll take another half cup, please.” Melissa smiled and raised her mug toward Lauren. “What do you think sets your place apart from that of the competition?”
    Lauren poured the coffee and wracked her foggy brain for a witty comeback. Did Melissa know the Inn was struggling this season? Or was she merely making conversation? “I think it’s tough to compete with cruise ships and their all-inclusive packages. But for those guests who desire a truly unique and authentic experience, I believe we offer exactly that.” She reached for the empty pancake platter. “Can I get you anything else?”
    “I think we’re all set, thanks.” Melissa said.
    Lauren returned to cleaning up the kitchen, hoping her response wouldn’t come back to haunt her later in print. Maybe she shouldn’t be speculating about the state of the family business when she hadn’t even been home twenty-four hours yet. While she second-guessed her response to Melissa’s question, Blake kept the conversation flowing with a story about one of his many recent adventures on the river.
    Before long, chairs scraped back and silverware clattered as the Bairds shrugged into their fleece-lined outerwear. Lauren wished them well and walked with them to the front door.
    Blake followed them out but turned back, studying her for a moment.
    “What?” she asked.
    “You’ve got a little something on your face. Right here.” He pointed a finger at his cheek. “Looks like pancake batter.”
    She rubbed her hand quickly across her cheek then studied her fingers. How embarrassing.
    “Lauren?”
    She sighed and looked up at him.
    “You’re welcome.” He winked and reached for the door knob.
    She balled up her fists, stomped her foot, and growled as the front door clicked shut.

    Blake smiled as he drove the newlyweds away from the Inn. The pancake batter on her cheek, mass of fiery red curls piled on top of her head, half and half dripping off the counter; it took every ounce of self-control he could muster not to laugh out loud. She still tried to handle everything on her own. Some things never change.
    Blake glanced in his rear view mirror as the Bairds huddled in the van’s middle seat. If he was supposed to dazzle Melissa Baird the travel writer, he had better get busy. Although snuggled up against her new husband, she didn’t appear too interested in the scenery. He could squeeze in a quick drive-by of some popular attractions before dropping them off for their helicopter ride.
    Melissa met his eyes in the mirror. “Do you know much about the Inn?”
    “A little. What else would you like to know?”
    “I’d like to hear more about the family’s history, the building, how it became a bed and breakfast. I didn’t get to ask a lot of questions. Lauren seemed too distracted.”
    Blake spotted a black bear and two cubs frolicking on the rocky beach and pulled the van over for a closer look. While the Bairds scrambled for their camera, he turned the question over in his mind. The Carter family’s bed and breakfast, once the reigning favorite in Southcentral Alaska, had faltered in recent years, something Lauren had definitely alluded to. His parents told him the increase in cruise ships making port calls put a significant dent in the Inn’s reservations. Granny’s health issues probably weren’t helping the situation. He couldn’t air the Carters’ dirty laundry to a stranger, particularly a travel writer and also his customers for an afternoon of sea kayaking.
    “The Carter family has a rich history here. The bed and breakfast evolved out of a desire to share their unique location with others. I’ve heard it