Free Summer In Stanton (Stanton Falls #3) by Kaci Hart

 He held her there for a few seconds, just looking into her eyes.
 Then Libby’s voice came from around the corner.  

 
    “Tessa, have you seen
Connor…  I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?”

 
    The smile on Libby’s
face said exactly what she thought she interrupted.  

 
    “Not at all.  I
slipped and Connor was helping me up.”

 
    “Yeah that’s Connor.
 Ever the gentleman.  I’m sorry but I am going to have to steal him
from you.”

 
    Connor helped steady
Tessa on her feet and then spoke to Libby.  

 
    “What’s going on?”

 
    “There’s someone out
here that wants to see you.”

 
    “Do you know what they
want?”

 
    “She told me but I’d
rather she tell you herself.  Actually, maybe you should come too Tessa,
since you’re the main reason she’s here.”

 
    “Me?”

 
    “So it seems.  Besides,
we wouldn’t want you to fall without him here to catch you, right?”

 
    “Uh right.”

 
    Tessa followed him out
of the kitchen.

 
 
    ***

 
 
    Connor walked up to the
elderly woman who was sitting on the wingback chair.  

 
    “Can I help you?”

 
    “Why you must be Connor.
 I swear you are the spitting image of him?”

 
    “I’m sorry. I don’t
follow.”

 
    “Your granddad, Clark.”

 
    “You knew grandpa
Clark?”

 
    “Knew him?  Well he
and Camellia were two of my closest friends growing up.”

 
    “Really?”

 
    “Don’t tell me the two of
them never talked about me?  Jasmine Beaumont.”

 
    “Wait, you mean the Jasmine Beaumont from this picture
here?”

 
    Connor turned around and
brought the photo off the wall for everyone to see.

 
    “One in the same.”

 
    “Well I was young when
grandpa died so grandma didn’t talk about those days except to say that the
three of you started this place together and that you sold your share to them
when you moved clear across Texas.”

 
    “Yes I did.  My
husband was a politician and had to be in the thick of things so we moved to
the state capital.  I love every single place in this state but I really
loved it here.  Miss it a lot sometimes.”

 
    “Well if it’s any
consolation, your room is just as beautiful as ever.”

 
    “Oh did those two really
go and name all the rooms after women they knew?”

 
    “Yes.  I’ll have
you know that your room is one of the most elegant in the house.”

 
    “Of course.”

 
    “So to what do we owe
the pleasure?”

 
    “Well my grandniece was
online looking for a place to honeymoon.  She is the type that
doesn’t want to travel all over the world.  She’s looking for intimate and
nice, you know.  When she showed me the list of places she was thinking
about, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  Who would have thought the place would
be still standing after all this time?  It looks beautiful.”

 
    “Yeah, we recently did
some renovations.  Place has been worn down over the years.  Now all
we need is the customers and we will be good.”

 
    “Well with that website,
I’m sure you’ll be getting more customers.  Speaking of which, I didn’t just
come because I wanted to see the place.  I want to talk shop.”

 
    “Talk shop?  I’m
sorry Ms. Beaumont, but the building isn’t for sale.”

 
    “Oh heavens no, I don’t
want to buy the place.  That’s too much work.  I wanna rent it out
for my grand niece’s wedding.”

 
    “Are you serious?”

 
    “Well of course.
 It says on your website that you do everything.  Catering, flowers,
service.  They want a destination wedding and this is one of the most
beautiful places I know and the price is in their budget.  Of course we will
need rooms for all the guest so you may be booked up for that whole week.”

 
    Connor couldn’t believe
it.  Everything else that had happened in getting the place together was
great but this would be a game changer.  A packed house for a whole week
would go a