For thoughtful, hard-working Sua, the only things that matter in life are the happiness and safety of her friends and family. She's more than content to manage her late father's inn with her pet antula by her side. However, being an innkeeper in a small town isn't always easy... or safe. There's danger lurking in the woods, and only she is allowed to stop it.
Through a twist of fate, a mysterious traveler comes along and distracts her from the threat to her home. Sa Gin's new, handsome face becomes the talk of the town overnight. What's more, he has a charming personality, a purse full of money... and a weapon on his back. Can Sua trust this stranger with her terrifying burden and her inexperienced heart?
This newcomer who already has enough secrets of his own?
Excerpt from this fantasy romance:
“Is there a problem?” the man asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
“None at all,” Sua said. “I was just surprised. We’ve never had any long-term tenants here before. It’s as if you’re trying to see if this town suits you.”
She usually didn’t pry into other people’s lives, and the locals who came in to eat adored her for it. Her father had drilled it into her to respect their guests’ privacy. He’d also implored her to keep whatever confidence their guests shared to herself.
This time, though, she couldn’t help but become a little curious.
“I’m actually looking for a good home,” the man admitted as he laid down the quill. He blew on the ledger to dry the ink before speaking again. “Somewhere quiet and peaceful, with a job for someone used to working with their hands.”
“You’ll never find a place that fits those more than Alola,” she replied, even if her words didn’t always apply to herself. Sua took the ledger from him and skimmed through the words he’d written down.
She caught him grinning again from the corner of her eye.
“I’ll let you know if you’re right by the end of eighteen days.”
“Excuse me,” Sua said after looking at what he’d added to the book. “Sa Gin? Is that really your name?”
“Yes.” The man removed the pouch from his belt and placed it on the countertop. He took eight gold kambs from inside it and lined them up on the wooden surface.
“And… are you really from Karokal?” Sua asked after taking a second glance at the birthplace he claimed to be from. She was so puzzled by his answers that she didn’t even see Po scurrying across the counter to sniff at the gold kambs.
“Yes.” Sa Gin politely distracted the antula by offering him a hand to play with instead. Po’s nose twitched as he investigated the new scents in front of him.
Sua tilted her head up, and that’s when she noticed her pet playing with their guest.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “Here. Let me get him away from you.”
“I don’t mind.” Sa Gin scratched the antula’s head, making him purr. “I like the little guy.”
“I think he likes you too.” Sua took Po off the counter and transferred him to her shoulder anyway. Then she put Sa Gin’s key in Po’s place. “I’ll give you one of the rooms farthest from the stairs. That way, the noise from our breakfast crowd won’t bother you in case you sleep in.”
“Thank you. That’s very thoughtful.” Sa Gin took the key. “For the record, I’ve never met an innkeeper as nice and pretty as you before.”
