Chapter Two

Franklin Bennett was happy to get back to Clover to see his family. There was no big parade or celebration for his homecoming, but he was grateful to make it back to town.

After his last mission giving onsite technical support to the troops in a disaster area, it was time to come home and decide the next move in his career. He was lucky to come back all in one piece. Many of his comrades returned to their hometowns with scars, physically and mentally. Civilian life had to be better than what he’d experienced the last fifteen years.

After his latest tour, he asked for a six-month leave of absence. He needed to think things through before deciding whether to re-enlist.

While dropping off one of his childhood friends at the inn his first day back, he’d seen the posting for the inn manager.

It wasn’t that he needed the money, but he needed something to do while he was here. In his entire adult life so far, there’d been no such thing as “time off.” Doing nothing now would actually be stressful. He needed order, a routine, a purpose.

Clearly, Kira hadn’t known who he was at first, and even after he told her, it wasn’t apparent that she’d been affected in any way. She’d never once brought up the awful feud her family had with his, so he thought he was in the clear. If he didn’t get the job, it wouldn’t be because his last name was Bennett.

The one thing he had going against him was the fact that he had no experience in managing an inn. He knew how to fix things, though, and for the things he didn’t, he was a quick learner. He knew how to keep things tidy and stick to a schedule. He knew how to be polite and problem-solve. So he had the skills, just not the experience of using those skills at an inn. He could understand if that was a dealbreaker. But when he promised his mother that he’d get the tools to fix the laundry tub, he didn’t think he’d literally run into Kira at the hardware store. It had to be fate.

Working at the inn would be a welcome distraction. He didn’t want to think about bombs going off, going back to a place where men and women were losing their lives every day for their country. But it also meant that he’d be working for people his father hated. Maybe the feud had ended while he was overseas, though, because Kira didn’t seem against his applying for the job. And his father hadn’t mentioned anything about the Davis family since he’d been back.

“Everything will work out,” he assured himself, turning the corner as he followed Kira into the parking lot of the tavern.

Franklin parked, then got out and walked over to her car. “I used to love this place when I was a teenager,” he said to her once she got out of her vehicle.

“I come at least twice a month,” she said with a smile. “My aunt Mary Louise likes the chili dogs here.”

Franklin found himself smiling right back at her. She was easy to talk to and enjoyable to be around. Something about her just made him relax. Which was good if they’d be working together.

They walked inside the building, and as they waited in line to place their order, he looked around the establishment. It was brighter than he remembered, with the orange backing on the booths. They’d updated their signage and painted a lighter color on the walls.

He waited for Kira to order first, and then he got his favorite, a number two special, and paid for them both.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said.

He smiled. “You can pay next time.”

Thankfully, she didn’t read too much into it, just gave him a smile in return. Though Kira’s smile wasn’t just a smile.

After filling their cups at the self-serve fountain, they chose the last booth in the rear by the window and took a seat opposite each other.

“What are the odds that we run into each other today?” he said casually. He picked up a waffle fry and popped it into his mouth.

There was a heavy pause. She kept looking around, leaning on each side like she was uncomfortable. Something was up, but he’d wait a little while longer before confronting her about it.

“Yeah, it was a surprise,” she said.

He took a bite of his hot dog covered with relish, onions, mustard, and ketchup. After swallowing, he said, “This is so good. It’s been forever since I’ve had comfort food like this.”

She said nothing. Probably because she hadn’t touched her plate since they sat down.

“What’s the matter?” he asked. “Have you changed your mind? I thought you were really in a bind and needed someone right away.”

Kira sighed. “Yeah, I did. I-I do.” She scooted to the edge of her seat, closer to the table. “Look, let’s get everything out in the open. You are my only applicant. That’s why I was in Hank’s a minute ago.”

Her eyes glazed over, and Franklin’s chest went tight. He couldn’t watch a woman cry or even look sad without feeling the need to reverse it. Without another thought, he reached over and gently touched her hand. “It’s gonna be okay. I think we could be good for each other.”

Her brows furrowed. “In what way?”

“You told me in the interview that it’s a live-in position. That would be great because I need the solitude. My parents’ house is like Grand Central Station with my sister, her kids, and my brother and his children going in and out all the time.”

“But you’ve been in the military for fifteen years and don’t have any experience managing a small hotel.”

“Being a part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, I’ve worked in many areas. I’ve helped commanders in battle zones avoid and solve problems. I have a background in planning, research and development, disaster preparedness, and quick response to emergencies. Surely, I can manage a few people at a little hotel. And I can guarantee the beds will always be perfectly made,” he added with a wink. “Not one wrinkle in the sheets.”

She smiled, but it was hesitant this time. “I don’t doubt that.”

“Okay. Then why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?”

“Because there is. I’m sorry.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice, as if she was afraid of being overheard. “My family would probably disown me if I hired a Bennett to work at the inn.”

There it was. He’d been a fool to think the hatchet between their families had been buried. That must have been why she asked him here. Not to talk about hiring him, but to explain why she couldn’t.

He swallowed back his disappointment. His father wouldn’t be happy about it, either, but that was beside the point. “I don’t want to cause any problems with your family. I won’t bother you again about the position.”

Her lack of response told him everything.

“Have a good day, Ms. Davis.” Sliding his tray off the table, he stood and turned to walk away.

“Franklin.”

He took two steps back. “Yes?”

Extending her hand, Kira invited him to sit. “Please, let’s talk.”

“You’ve already made things clear.”

“No, I haven’t. Not yet. I’m running the inn now, not my family, so please, have a seat. We need to discuss this.”

Leery now of her motives, Franklin slid onto the booth cushion. He wasn’t one to be toyed with and didn’t like to play games. Either she wanted to give him the position or not. There was nothing left to discuss, but he would hear her out. And then he’d go looking for another job that wouldn’t be nearly as perfect as this one would have been.

…

While Kira and Franklin were eating, she noticed a few of the women from the Clover Town Council sitting in a booth not too far away.

Lord.

They had their heads together, whispering and looking in her direction. She tried to ignore them, but she couldn’t. She was sure one of them would go back and tell her aunt that she was with a Bennett. It was ridiculous, but her family was serious about their feelings when it came to anything or anyone connected to Charlie Bennett. And here she was having lunch with his son.

Reining in her emotions and wayward thoughts, she’d called Franklin back to the table, because at this point, he was her only hope.

“I really do need to fill this position,” she said. “I’m willing to move forward with you.” Though the women’s presence made her nervous about the repercussions of her decision even if in her heart she felt it was right.

“Are you looking for a scapegoat in case things fall apart?” Franklin said.

His words cut, and Kira’s eyes narrowed. He had a lot of nerve speaking to her in that way. She didn’t appreciate his tone or insinuation. “Not at all,” she said firmly.

Besides, the feud had nothing to do with her or the business. Her aunt always told her to never make business decisions based on her emotions.

She repositioned herself in the seat so that her body language gave the right vibes. “This job is only temporary. Mrs. Potter should be returning in three months.” She looked him in the eyes as she waited for his response.

“That works perfectly for me,” he said. “I had only planned to be in Clover for a short time anyway.”

“Because you’re on leave?”

“Right. I’ve got some time before I have to decide whether I want to re-enlist, but it won’t be long.”

She tried to ignore the little flutter of disappointment as he talked about leaving. She swallowed hard, hoping that her face didn’t reveal her thoughts. They’d just met, and she didn’t know him, but butterflies were there. “So, what are we going to do about the feud?”

“Not a thing.”

Kira nodded, relieved that he felt the same way she did. “Well, in my view, it has nothing to do with us.” She never understood why her father always said that she should make up her mind about people based on her experience but when it came to Charlie Bennett that advice suddenly didn’t apply.

“I think my father got the short end of it,” he said, “but…”

Kira jumped in before he could finish. “I don’t know about all of that, but we just said that we wouldn’t concern ourselves with it.” She tried to see the women in the other booth without fully turning in their direction. She needed to keep her conversation with Franklin civil so they wouldn’t have anything more to report to anyone.

“Are you ready to tell your family just that?” Franklin asked.

“Yes,” she said firmly, but she couldn’t dare tell him that deep down, she was scared. Scared to fail, scared to let her family down, and scared to face the consequences of both those things. There was a lot on the line for her. And despite his lack of experience in hotels specifically, Franklin really did have the skills to do the job right. Someone just needed to give him a chance. “Are you?”

“Am I what?” he said. “Ready to tell my father that I’ll be working at the inn for three months?”

Kira nodded. He had to have doubts about his family’s reaction. Hers wasn’t the only one to consider here. It took two stubborn opposing forces to have a feud.

Franklin leaned forward like he was about to tell her a secret. Had he seen the women eyeing them, too? She mentally shook her head. Once again, she was letting her imagination get the best of her. Franklin hadn’t been in Clover for years. There was no way he’d know those women were on the town council or connected in any way to her aunt.

“Do you know what really happened?” he asked. “With my father and your family.”

“Well…” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t want to say it out loud. “Didn’t your father tell you?”

Franklin sighed before he continued. “I just want to know what you know.”

Kira looked him in the eye, and she saw his sincerity. She did have to work with him, and they needed to be able to trust each other. “Okay. The short of it is that my family holds your father responsible for the death of my aunt Sophia.”

“What?”

She waited a moment to let it sink in before she added, “They were really young and my aunt was driving your father’s car when she died. Which she’d never done before. She didn’t even have a license. The circumstances of her death were so mysterious…and apparently your father didn’t offer an explanation. He was the only one who would know why she was in his car that day.”

“Intentionally kill her, though? I just can’t see that.”

Clearly, he hadn’t known about any of this, and now she felt terrible for saying it. “There were no criminal charges brought against him or an investigation, but—”

“Then how can they believe that my father murdered your aunt? Is this what they’ve been telling everyone?” Franklin pushed to his feet. “I think I’ve heard enough.”

Kira scrambled to follow him. Dragging her tray from the table quickly to discard the contents in the trash, she dabbed the corners of her mouth and dropped the napkin in there, too.

They both stacked their empty trays on the bin and walked out. Her heart beat a little faster. Would he change his mind about the job? She had fliers out, but what were the chances anyone else in Clover would suddenly want to apply? Or want the job as much as Franklin did?

In the parking lot, she found him leaning against his car, probably trying to process all this horrible news. She didn’t hesitate to approach him. “Franklin,” she said gently, “I wasn’t there, so I can only tell you my family’s interpretation of what happened.”

“Interpretation can be manipulated to fit the person’s view. It doesn’t mean that it’s accurate, or the full story.”

True. But she’d never had a reason to doubt the story before. Now…what if—

Franklin stood tall. “I asked you and I got my answer, but I refuse to believe my father would harm anyone. He’s not perfect—no one is—but I just can’t see him doing that.”

Kira stood by watching him grapple with his emotions. She’d feel the same way about her father. Samuel Davis was one of the most loving people she knew. If someone told her that he’d done something so horrific, she’d have a hard time believing it, too.

“What were you told about it?” she asked.

Pushing his hands down in his pocket, he blew out a breath. “My father never talked about what happened, the feud, your aunt, or anything. Everything I know is from gossip I’d heard on the streets of Clover when I was younger. I guess he tried to shield us from it.”

Kira didn’t like the way this was affecting Franklin, or herself for that matter. She needed to find a way for them to move past it. “Hey, like you said, it happened so long ago.” She touched his arm. “Are you still interested in the job?”

Funny how quickly the tables had turned. He’d called her wanting the job, and she’d tried to avoid him. But now he might not want it anymore and she needed him to take it.

For a few moments, he was quiet, staring off into the distance. Kira stayed next to him and waited patiently. They stood together for a time, and then she said, “Well, I’m ready. Let’s show our families and the people of Clover that we can be successful together.”

She held out her hand in solidarity. He finally clasped it, and she took it as a sign of agreement. Kira released a sigh of relief.

“Let’s do this,” he said.

“When can you move into the manager’s apartment at the inn?”

“Is that really necessary?”

Kira had been so used to Mrs. Potter staying there, she hadn’t thought about it any other way. “I’d feel better knowing the manager is available at a moment’s notice. Taking a few minutes to drive across town could be the difference between a leak and a flood.”

She watched him wrestle with his thoughts until he finally replied.

“Is tomorrow morning okay?”

“Yes, that works fine,” Kira replied. “Everything’s been prepared.” The weight lifted somewhat, but she couldn’t deny that she still had a concern about her family’s reaction.

Had she just talked herself into making a huge mistake?