Free All They Ever Wanted by Tracy Solheim Page A

Lori headed toward the cambro containers at the other end of the room. Rather than make coffee in-house, a local brew was supplied to the inn in the three-gallon containers each morning by the Java Jolt, a coffee shop located in Chances Inlet’s downtown. Guests would often wander down to the shop to purchase additional bags to take home with them, making the arrangement a win for everyone.
    â€œCassidy can do it,” Miles commanded. “And while you’re there, Cass, please give Mr. and Mrs. Belfield a brochure for Bald Head Island and directions to the ferry.”
    Both women froze in place.
    Miles’ hands went to his hips as he aimed his stare at the teenager. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you say last night that you wanted to help out more around the inn?”
    Cassidy nodded.
    â€œWell, let’s see you put those words into action.”
    The teenager silently slid off the barstool and tossed the banana peel in the trash before walking over to fill one of the thermal coffeepots. Lori turned back to the laundry room. Unfortunately, Miles was right on her heels.
    â€œWe have to talk.”
    She kept her back to him while she loaded sheets into the washing machine. “Again? Didn’t we talk last night? Surely you don’t want to make a habit of this.”
    He made a sound behind her that sounded like it belonged more to a wild animal than a candidate for Congress.
    â€œYou went behind my back to my mother.”
    It was all she could do not to roll her eyes. “That’s a little dramatic, don’t you think, Miles? I just asked your mother to explain our arrangement to you, that’s all.”
    â€œYou couldn’t have explained it yourself?”
    Now she did roll her eyes. “As if you would have believed anything I said.”
    â€œIn case you’ve forgotten, I’m trying to spare my mother from having to deal with the day-to-day minutia here. Her method of ‘explaining’ your ‘arrangement’ didn’t exactly keep her blood pressure low.”
    â€œYour mom reams you out, so now you’re taking it out on me and Cassidy?” Lori slammed down the lid to the washer. “Cassidy
will
be able to vote in this election, you know.”
    â€œDamn it, Lori, this isn’t about the election! It’s about you hiding out here and whatever fallout is going to ensue when the gig is up.”
    Lori let out a resigned sigh before slowly turning around. Apparently they were still going to beat the same dead horse. Her breath hitched in admiration when she finally faced him. Miles had both hands bracketing the doorway, eliminating any possible escape route. Not only that, but the pose afforded her a breathtaking view of his chiseled chest where the shirt stretched over it. She jerked her head up before she did something stupid like reach out to trace the ridge between his pectoral muscles.
    His hair was still damp from his post-workout shower. If those women in the other room liked what they saw at breakfast,they should roust themselves up at six thirty every morning when Miles took his run. Spying on him out the kitchen window at dawn was Lori’s guilty pleasure, her reward for having to rise so early for work.
    When Miles wasn’t playing politics, he was a world-class triathlete, twice finishing in the top ten of the Iron Man World Championship in Hawaii. Patricia proudly displayed his Iron Man medals—alongside sports memorabilia from her husband and all of the McAlister children—in a trophy case in the B and B’s library. Obviously, Miles’ ambition wasn’t limited to his desire to take over the world, but to keep his body in peak shape, as well. Judging by what she saw as he ran back and forth to the beach every morning wearing nothing but a pair of nylon gym shorts, he was doing an excellent job of it. The man had a beautiful body.
    She backed up against the washer and crossed her