Aly flipped another page in the magazine. Why did all wedding dresses look the same. Mermaid skirts and white lace everywhere. She huffed. Did every bride demand tulle? Where was the dress that was meant for her curves?

“Excuse me. We don’t have enough towels.”

Aly brushed her auburn bangs out of the way to see an angry man flattening his palm on the counter.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Hatley.” She folded the wedding magazine and shoved it under the desk next to the four others she had brought with her. “You’re in 310, right?”

“That’s right,” the older man grunted. “We are going to be out for the afternoon. Not back until dinner time. Maid service can drop them off now.”

“Certainly.” Aly scribbled the reminder on a pad of paper. “Enjoy your afternoon. Do you need any recommendations?”

The man didn’t bother to respond as he impatiently shuffled his wife out of the inn. Aly waited until they were in their car before grabbing an armful of towels and the key to the suite. She wasn’t about to bother the two housekeepers on staff. Jenny and Sara had enough to handle.

Not only did they keep the rooms in order, they worked maintenance, answered the phones, and filled in for Aly when she wasn’t at the desk. It was part of the charm of running a small-town inn. The staff had to fill many roles.

Aly knocked on the door, then used the key to enter. She placed the extra towels on the bathroom counter. Plush and perfect with the inn’s monogram right side up. She glanced up, noticing the large metal towel rack was already full. She sighed and rolled her eyes. What was wrong with people?

She closed the door to the suite behind her and started to head to the lobby.

“There you are!”

Aly jumped. “Dad, you scared me half to death. What’s wrong?” She spun around to face her father.

Aly’s father wasn’t tall. They almost stood eye to eye. He had dark hair that was silver around the ears, and a small nose like hers. It was the only feature they shared. Everyone always told her how much she looked like her mother. A compliment she always relished.

“Nothing is wrong. We just need to discuss a few things. Are you headed downstairs?”

She nodded and pointed at the room door. “I had to drop off extra towels.” She tapped the elevator button.

They stepped inside. “Looks like I have to go to Seattle after all.”

“Why?” She watched the floors pass them as the small carriage descended to the lowest level of the inn.

“I can’t get the part for the furnace here. There is a dealer in Seattle. The delivery fee is as much as the part. It’s worth it to make the drive.”

“Oh.” The lattice doors creaked open and they emerged into the cozy lobby.

The inn had been in Aly’s family for two generations. She made the third. One day her father would hand it over to her and Mitchell. Although, she still hadn’t convinced Mitchell that it was something he could do part-time once they were married. She knew with time he would love it as much as she did.

“I was thinking about leaving this afternoon, maybe staying in the city for a day or two. I wanted to check with you first.”

She walked behind the reception desk as she listened to her father’s travel plans. “What do you need me to do, Dad?”

“Nothing you aren’t already.” He smiled. “Any problems if I go?”

“No. I think I’ve got everything covered. And Mitchell is here if I need anything.”

Her father’s handsome face deepened into a frown. “You sure about that?”

“Dad, he’s just busy. Of course he would help if I needed him here. He loves the inn too.”

“Hmm.” He jingled the change in his pocket, hesitating by the desk.

She knew when something was on his mind. She didn’t want to get into another argument about Mitchell. It was becoming a habit between them. She would try to defend Mitchell’s constant absence, knowing she didn’t have a good reason to give her father for why he was never around.

“Aly?”

She held her breath. Here it was—another lecture on how she deserved true love and romance in her life. The kind her parents had found together.

“Dad, we’ve talked about it. I don’t want to—”

“Aly, I’ve met someone.”

“What?” She realized her mouth was gaping open and had to close her jaw.

“She’s in Seattle.”

“Oh.” She didn’t know how to respond to his sudden confession.

Her father tried to brush the silver edges of hair behind his ears. He was overdue for a haircut. “We met online on Silver Hearts.”

“Oh.” She tried to steady her rapid pulse. Of course her father was lonely. Of course he would want to connect with someone. He had been doing this alone for ten years.

Ever since her mother had died he had taken on dual parenting roles. He had become her cheerleader, mentor, and now business partner.

He added, “And that’s the real reason for the trip.” He smiled. “I do need the furnace part before winter hits, but it seemed like we were both ready to finally meet in person. I’m taking her to dinner tonight.”

Aly tried not to think ten steps ahead. Tried not to think how much life would change if her father married again. It had been the two of them for ten years. This was only a first date—not a marriage proposal.

“I hope you have a good time. What’s her name?”

“Jean.”

“Maybe I’ll get to meet her soon.”

He held up his hands. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don’t put the cart before the horse. It’s just dinner.”

Aly laughed. He might be her dad, but he was still a guy. A guy not ready to be committed past a dinner date. That was fine with her.

“Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t worry about anything here. Stay in Seattle as long as you want. You need a break. I know you do.” She hoped he could read between the words.

He cracked a smile. “If I didn’t know better, I would think this was like that time in high school when you tried to get me to stay in the city for the weekend so you could throw that big party.”

Aly laughed at the memory. “I’m not throwing a party. I just know how much you need a break. Even if it is for a radiator part and dinner.”

“I’ll stop by before I leave.” He walked to the winding staircase in the foyer and disappeared up the steps.

Aly watched him go then settled back on her chair and pulled out the wedding magazine again. “Where was I?”