The Inn at Misty Lake: Book Two in the Misty Lake Series by Margaret Standafer Page A

her throat.
    “Hey, McCabe, are you listening to me?”
    “Huh?” It seemed to be all he could manage.
    “I said, are you listening to me? I asked you what other plans of mine you’re going to nix.”
    “Oh, um…” He struggled to remember what he had been telling her. Fireplaces, that was it. They were going to have a fireplace in their bedroom. No! Damn, he needed to get away. “I’ll be right back,” he mumbled and dashed from the booth to the men’s room.
     
    Susan stared after him wondering what had just happened. Before she had a chance to think too hard on it, Shauna sat down in Riley’s just-vacated spot.
    “What’s with my brother? He almost sprinted across the room. I hope he’s not already so impossible to work with that you slipped him something in his beer.”
    Laughing, Susan answered, “No, I did not do that. Although, it’s a good idea. I’ll hang on to that one in case I need it later. I don’t really know what got into him. We were talking about plans for the inn and all of a sudden he just kind of spaced out. Weird, really.”
    “Well, my brothers can be weird.”
    Changing tracks, Susan said, “I’m glad you stopped by, I want to ask you something.”
    “Shoot.”
    “Riley tells me you’re into antiques, that you know what’s what, and whether something may be valuable.”
    “I love antiques. I can’t claim to know everything, but I’ve studied up on some things. Why?”
    “Quite a bit of furniture, some knick-knacks, some other things were left behind at the farmhouse. I wouldn’t know an antique table from one in Ikea’s clearance bin. I was wondering if you’d be willing to come take a look, see if you think any of it is worth holding on to.”
    Shauna’s face lit up. “I’d love to! Tomorrow?”
    “Wow, really? You could come that soon?”
    “Sure, I can’t wait to see what you have.”
    “I can’t promise there’s anything of value but, like I said, I really don’t know so you’d be doing me a big favor. I’m curious about the history of the house and about how far back some of the things might date. Oh, and I found a journal today from someone who lived there, I assume, and graduated from high school in 1949. It made me even more curious. I was telling Riley I wish I’d have some pictures of what it used to look like.”
    “You should talk to Frank. He did some research a few years back for Misty Lake’s anniversary celebration. He found some old photos. I don’t know if he has any of your place, but it’d be worth asking him.”
    “I’ll do that,” Susan answered as Riley reappeared. He seemed himself again and chatted for a few minutes with Shauna before she left with her friends.
     
    Once they were alone again he picked up as if nothing had happened. “The last big thing I wanted to discuss with you is your idea for fireplaces. I know wood-burning sounds cozy and romantic and everything, but I really hope you’ll listen to me when I tell you you’re far better off with gas.”
    Riley hoped he sounded normal, he thought he did, but after what happened a few minutes ago, he wasn’t sure of anything. He’d had to splash cold water on his face and give himself a serious talking to about his crazy fantasy, or whatever it had been, before he’d dared come back to the table. He had even considered he may be drunk, but then realized he’d only had one glass of beer so couldn’t blame the alcohol. In the end, he’d decided with he and Susan spending so much time together, talking house, even coming across the old journal and imagining what life must have been like, it was only natural his mind had wandered a little. No big deal. It wouldn’t happen again.
    “Are you saying it wouldn’t be possible to build wood-burning fireplaces or that you just don’t want to?”
    “Of course it would be possible, almost anything is possible, and it’s not that I don’t want to, but it’s just a bad idea. Think about it. You’ve got the mess to deal