“You too,” I reply warmly. There’s a whiff of something sweet coming from her, something not too unlike the pancakes she’s just set down—and I have no way of knowing if it’s batter on her clothes or one of those scent things the doctor warned me about. I can’t decide if it’s rude to ask. “I’m really excited to get started.”

“I follow you on the TikTok,” she says. “You do some good work.”

I beam. “I appreciate that. It’s really cool doing what I love with my family.”

“Right. You have those brothers. They around?”

I shake my head. “They’re driving. Bringing all the tools. I wanted to come ahead and get a feel for the place.”

“Ah. Of course. Well, I’m thrilled you guys took the job. Took some convincing with that grumpy nephew of mine, but I know you’re gonna do wonders here.”

“Nephew?” I raise an eyebrow as I shake her hand. “Are you related to Hunter?”

“Aunt,” she clarifies. “By marriage. My Reg was Hunter’s uncle.”

I guess it would be a bad idea to tell her that her nephew is kind of an asshole.

“Oh. Yeah. I met him last night. He seems great.”

Jeannie laughs at that. “You don’t have to sugarcoat it with me, hon. I’m sure he was a big ol’ sourpuss. He isn’t as keen on renovating as I am.”

“I…gathered he has some reservations.”

“Just ignore him. He isn’t big on change when it comes to this old place.”

I’m not sure what else to say about that, seeing as her remark feels like a major understatement, if Hunter’s attitude last night was any indication. I give an appreciative look around the room in lieu of responding. “Well, it’s really a lovely place you’ve got here.”

“Oh, I know it’s not what it used to be, but if you keep an open mind, this place really can be quite…” She smiles a little to herself, looking at the snow outside the window again. “Magical, really.” She snorts out a laugh. “Listen to me, acting a fool.”

“No, no,” I tell her. “I get it. If Hunter is agreeable, we should probably all sit down to go over the budget and talk about the different projects I have planned for this place. A lot of the work my brothers and I can do by ourselves, but some of the larger jobs we’ll have to get people to drive in from Denver for.”

“I’ll make sure he gets his panties out of a bunch long enough to do that,” she assures me. “He can be reasonable when he wants to be.” She nods to herself. “Anyway, I imagine you’re hungry.”

“Starving,” I admit with slight surprise. The nausea is pretty much under control at the moment, and I’m realizing how long it’s been since I’ve eaten properly.

“Well, sit down, sit down. Better dig in before the food gets cold.”

I waste no time in obliging, lowering myself onto the carved bench at one side of the table, then grabbing one of the empty plates waiting there. I load up on eggs and two pancakes (my hips won’t thank me for it, but honestly, I sort of love my curves), then tear into a crispy strip of bacon with an actual moan as I close my eyes.

“That’s fantastic.”

Jeannie chuckles to herself as she settles into the only actual chair, which sits at the head of the table near where I’m perched. “Glad you like it. I don’t get to cook for many people anymore. Business has been so slow, you see.”

“Oh?” I shove a forkful of eggs into my mouth. “Why is that?”

Jeannie sighs. “Used to be full up all winter long,” she tells me. “Then a few years back, they built that new highway that bypasses the town…took all our travelers right around us and straight on to Denver. Business hasn’t been the same since.”

“That’s too bad.”

“We manage.” She gives a soft shrug as she reaches for a strip of bacon. “Still get the locals up here around Christmastime every year. Reckon it’s only to help us out, but it gets us through the rest of the year. Not to mention the few stragglers we get off the main road hankering for the scenic route.”

I keep my voice casual as I start to cut into my pancakes, which are now drowning in syrup. “And it’s only you and Hunter up here? No other staff?”

“We have a lady who comes in once a week to clean a bit,” she answers. “But other than that, it’s just us.”

I chew thoughtfully as I let my eyes move about the room, noticing similar signs of neglect that could easily be fixed with minimal effort. “You know, I actually don’t think it will take much to spruce the place up.” I’m looking at the thick curtains that have begun to gather dust and thinking about how easily they could be cleaned. “I already have a few ideas, just from a quick look around, that I can run by you. Also, the website could use a bit of an overhaul. It’s sort of hard to navigate.” I shrug idly. “I don’t know. Might help a little?”

Jeannie chews at her food, nodding her head quietly. “You’re probably right. I’d love to help get the place more up to scratch myself, but these old bones don’t get around like they used to. I’d throw out my damn back trying to climb some ladder to get all the cobwebs off these ceilings. Hunter does all the major upkeep we need, but like I said, he isn’t really keen on the idea of changing anything too much. Sort of set in his ways, that one.”

“He does seem a little…” I tilt my head side to side, thinking. “Rigid?”

God, maybe that was a poor choice of words.

Now I’m thinking about those shoulders again. I reason that it isn’t my fault I was confronted with a physique that nearly defies the laws of nature within five minutes of arriving. Honestly, I’m just pondering the idea that he has to order all his shirts in a custom size. The absurdity of that possibility is enough to distract me from the grumpy innkeeper.

Jeannie simply laughs, taking another bite of bacon before she holds the last little bit under the table for the cat. “He wasn’t always. The pup has had a rough go of it these last few years.” She snorts. “Last decade, really.”

“Pup?”

“Old habit,” she tells me. “He shifted so early that first time. Practically a puppy. I haven’t really been able to shake the nickname.”

“So he’s a shifter then,” I press.

“Sure is,” she says. “We both are.”

“Ah, I thought I smelled…”

“Reginald used to say I smelled just like cake batter,” she sighs wistfully. Her nostrils flare then. “You smell pretty lovely yourself.”

I feel my cheeks heat. “Yeah, I…” And what do I say to that? I can’t go and dump all my recent problems on this woman I barely know. Not when I don’t know how to feel about them myself. “Thank you.”

She leans in then, inhaling deeply. “You actually smell so familiar to me. It’s odd.”

“Oh, I…Your nephew seemed to have a bit of an issue with it, actually.”

Her brows raise. “Did he now?”

“I don’t think he likes me very much, truth be told.”

“Oh, I’m sure that’s not true,” she argues.

I must be making a face, because Jeannie reaches over to give my forearm a pat. “He’s a lot like Reginald,” she tells me, nodding her head toward the giant cat, who is happily snacking on his bit of bacon. “He’s really kind of sweet once you get to know him.”

“Are we talking about me?”

I tense at the sound of Hunter’s voice and turn to find him standing in the doorway.

“There you are,” Jeannie says. “We were just saying we all needed to have a sit-down about the plans for this place.”

He cocks a brow. “Oh, do we?”

“Don’t be like that,” she scolds. “Tess is here, and she’s willing to help, so you need to be respectful.”

“I’m plenty respectful,” he mutters as he steps farther into the room.

His scent bombards me as he plops down on the other side of the table, folding his arms over the top and eyeing me warily. This scenting business is still so new, and I haven’t quite figured out how to get a handle on it. On the one hand, they both smell really good, but on the other…Jeannie’s scent doesn’t make me squirm in my seat.