Page 47 of The Magical Bed & Breakfast

He wished Nolan had gotten more information from the stalker before they booted her out of the bus or before she’d showed up at their show. Oh, he knew her name. She’d been IDed by security after she made it onstage and before they had ushered her out that last time.

Sunny Briscoe lived in the great state of New York, or so her driver’s license read. But Rory knew the address on it was a lie. He was familiar with that part of the city. It was around the corner from his apartment—how creepy was that! Weirder still, he knew that building had been demolished two years earlier and was now a parking garage.

Not for one moment did he believe his prissy stalker-fan slept in a garage. And her name, was it real? Seriously? Sunny? How could someone who darkened his days be namedSunny? Talk about misnomers.

“You really are distracted,” said Kate.

“I’m sorr…”

She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I have lots to do tonight decorating the foyer of the inn. Obviously, you’re lost in thought.”

They arrived at the inn, and Kate nearly skipped up the steps. She unlocked the front door, and Rory held it open as she bustled though with her packages. He glanced around, certain again that he could feel he was being watched. But maybe he was just freaked out. It was the season for it.

Colorful Day of the Dead skulls had plastered the display window of Celestina’s Chocolates as they’d passed by. The bar had gone all out with spider decorations and more of the macabre. He preferred Kate’s colorful pumpkins lining her walkway. He hoped she continued with her theme for the foyer. Somehow, dark and creepy in the inn where so much had happened to him made him tense. One last glance out the door, and he knew. Even through the increasing darkness, his eyes locked with a woman tucked away in the gloom of the trees well away from the streetlight.

Stalker-girl had found him.

*

When Rory dashedoff as soon as they got inside, Kate decided she would decorate the entryway first before trying on her costume again. She tucked her packages upstairs and set about collecting candles from her pantry. What if she set up the foyer as it might have looked in 1776 with only candles for lighting? With this historical theme in mind, she set about rearranging small pieces of furniture and added a basket to keep the candy in. The candy, of course, had to be modern, but maybe…hmm…what if she teamed up with Ivy to buy packaged cookies from the tea shop? Kate gathered lace and table runners and began tackling a recreation of the inn in its earlier days.

She was tempted to make fake cobwebs but decided she wanted the inn to look welcoming instead of spooky. Of course, mystery cat chose that exact moment to wander through, at least with his shadow.

Kate sighed, accepting that the cat was immaterial and not of this world. And, strangely, the thought didn’t bother her. If the cat turned out to be real later, great, but she wasn’t holding her breath. Still, deciding to take one more chance to check on the food, Kate headed out to the back porch only to find another gift.

She located her dustpan and studied the latest tiny, picked-clean skeleton of what this time appeared to be a tiny lizard.

Okey dokey, then. Kate collected them all up very, very carefully and stepped outside to arrange them along the edge of her window boxes, because no one would even believe they were real. Once she had her decorations complete, she headed upstairs to take a bubble bath and then play with her new costume.

*

“I’d be gladto come meet with you,” Quin spoke in his deep, confidence-inspiring tones.

Rory was relieved. This was the service that he’d been promised, the reputation he’d hoped the management firm had, the kind of firm that would come all the way out to Hazard to meet with him. He experienced a moment of intense relief, as he didn’t relish the idea of having to drive into the city. Although that might be better, certainly more anonymous. He didn’t need word to get out about his stalker situation. It would reflect poorly on the band, of that he was certain. So, maybe he should drive into the city, but then what? Leave Kate in possible danger?

“I’ll be able to meet you tomorrow if you like,” the head of QHM said.

Pulling himself out of his reverie and back into the conversation, Rory only took a moment to decide on a location. “Let’s meet at the tea shop on Main.” A spur-of-the-moment decision, it kept him from bringing Kate’s inn into his mess any more than he had to. And he didn’t dare take a meeting at Agate Point. He wouldn’t allow his granddad to get embroiled in his troubles and start fretting over his safety.

The tea shop seemed right somehow. Surely nothing bad ever happened in Ivy Wayland’s little tea shop. He didn’t know why he felt that way but was confident it would be safe there to meet and discuss his stalker situation.

Chapter Twenty

Kate dressed carefullyfor lunch with her father. She hadn’t seen him for nearly six months, not since she made the move to Hazard. They hadn’t parted on the best of terms. And perhaps that was on her. He had been amused—amused!—by her decision to change career paths. When she’d told him she planned to run the inn she’d purchased once it was remodeled, he had actually laughed—hard—saying he couldn’t wait to see it, that she would toss in the guest towel before renovations were even completed, that he could not imagine such a citified professional as his daughter in small town Rhode Island.

Still annoyed by that last exchange, Kate was tempted to show up in her painting clothes just to be contrary. But training ruled. Going out in public demanded a certain style. This might not be the city, but her dad was a big city kind of guy. And when he called and invited her to lunch with his usual confidence—“Meet me for lunch, Katie-girl. I’ll be in your vicinity.”—she knew she would attend. He didn’t leave her an out (he never did, not unless she rebelled) and really, what was the point today? It was just lunch. Nothing to prove.

As far as she was concerned, she had done that already, by quitting her job with his firm. She could still picture the look on his face when she cleaned out her office. The man had been at a true loss for words. And that had been a first.

Kate had reveled in it. She grinned in remembrance and shimmied into her sleek gray pencil skirt, pulling it over her head and down to her hips. Next, she slipped into her low navy heels. She combined those with a simple white button-up blouse and a trim, navy blue Ralph Lauren blazer over the top. All the outfit needed next was a touch of gold jewelry at her ears and wrist to complete the image of elegant professional businesswoman. It actually felt good. Because she was still that. Only now she had her own business instead of working for her father.

She studied herself in the mirror. With practiced ease she grabbed up her brush and set about tackling her long hair. Within moments, she had it in a sleek chignon. Makeup came next to enhance her eyes. She added the slightest blush on her cheeks and lined her lips.

She looked…formidable. It was the look she’d favored when working for her father. It’s how he would expect her to appear to meet him. Kate frowned, but decided meeting his expectations was to her advantage. No need to shock him by showing up in a paint-spattered Green Day tee and ripped jeans.

How he’d even heard of the Ivy Way Tea Shop was baffling, though. He’d been quite specific about where to meet. When he called initially, Kate had thought to invite him to the inn as a peace offering. She’d have enjoyed making him lunch and showing him all she had accomplished so far. The inn really was coming right along, despite or because of all the bills piling up.

Bills she wasn’t sure she could pay.

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