“Yeah, Shay got pregnant when they were teenagers. They put their son up for adoption because they didn’t feel they could raise him, but he’s back in their lives now.”
“How wonderful,” Claudia said quietly. “That they’re getting a second chance to be parents.”
Her reverent tone made Brady wonder if being a parent was a dream of hers. Maybe that’s what had led to the breakdown of her marriage—she and her husband couldn’t see eye-to-eye about starting a family? He wanted to come right out and ask her, but he knew that wasn’t an option. She would tell him her story only when and if the time was right.
“Yeah, I’ve never seen my brother happier. Having Shay and Nick back in his life is everything he’s ever wanted.”
“He’s a brave man,” she said, setting her empty glass down between them. “Building his life around the people he loves most.”
Brady frowned, wondering what she meant by that. “Yeah, well, he tried it the other way, living without them. And that didn’t work out so well for him. He had success in his professional life, but I know something was always missing for him.”
“I know what that’s like.” She cleared her throat. “To feel as though you’re missing out on something you can never get back.”
He held the neck of the bottle over her glass, waiting for her consent before he poured. “One more? It might help you sleep.”
“Sure, why not?” She shrugged. “It’s not like I have to drive anywhere.”
Sitting there with Brady confirmed that she’d made the right call leaving Brockville. Claudia was able to talk to him without seeing pity in his eyes. He didn’t know her story, hadn’t heard about her loss, so he looked at her like a regular woman, and after being the object of empathy for so long, that was nice.
He made her feel good, better than she had in ages. Over the past hour, he’d made her laugh, smile, even pushed her loss to the deep recesses of her mind for a while, which was a first.
He’d been telling her about the improvements he’d made to the place over the past seven years and how hard he’d worked to pay back every penny he owed to the previous owners, prompting her to ask, “So what’s next? Any new plans for the future?”
“You know, I was just thinking about that today. I’ve been so fixated on achieving that one goal for so long, I haven’t really thought beyond it.” He gestured around them. “This place is pretty much where I want it to be. Forty rooms at the inn, six guest cabins—that’s more than enough for me to manage, so I’m not really interested in expanding. Yet I’m afraid I might get bored now that all the hard work is done.”
Claudia could relate to being afraid of living life without goals. She’d worked so hard to put herself through college, then she concentrated on being the best mom, wife, and teacher she could be. Now, without any of those things in her life, she felt lost and confused, with no direction.
“At least you have this place,” she said. That was more than she had. “I’m sure it keeps you pretty busy.”
“It does, especially this time of year, being peak season. But things can get pretty slow over the fall and winter months. That’s when I’m afraid I might go a little stir crazy if I don’t find another big project to keep me occupied.”
“Tell me about Landon.” Though she only lived an hour away, she hadn’t had cause to visit the small town since it didn’t boast any more amenities than Brockville. “I hear Backwoods Outdoors just moved to town.”
Claudia’s husband had started every new season with an order from Backwoods, so when the company opened up so close to them, it made her think of her husband and how much he would have loved that.
“Yeah, as a matter of fact,” he said, rubbing his jaw, “that’s my brother’s business. He and his buddy dropped out of college to start it.”
“Oh wow! That’s a pretty big company.”
“Yeah, it is. But it didn’t get that way overnight. Chase and his partner, Bryce, worked their butts off to make it what it is today.”
“I’m sure.” She watched Brady light a candle between them, presumably to ward off the bugs that were starting to swarm, though it did lend a romantic ambiance to the warm air. “So why would they decide to open a store in Landon? Given the population, I’m surprised they would think it was viable.”
Brady shrugged. “This is where Chase wanted to be. He also saw it as an opportunity to provide jobs. These people mean a lot to him. He’s finally in a position to be able to help them, so for him, it was a no-brainer.”
“You must employ quite a few people here too,” Claudia said, curious to learn more about his operation. She wouldn’t be here long, but she’d always believed she could learn from just about any situation if she looked for opportunities.
“About forty during peak season. That includes grounds maintenance. Half that during the off-season.”
“Hmm.” She could think of worse ways to earn a living than running a quaint little inn in a picturesque small town.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, tipping his head toward her.
“That I could learn to like it here.” She smiled. “Too bad I’m just passing through.”
“Yeah.” His gaze traced her face before he whispered, “That’s a real shame.”
Chapter Three
After Claudia’s shift the next day, Dana invited her into the office to share lunch so they could get to know each other better. She told Claudia to fix herself a plate from the salad buffet and join her.
“Hey,” Claudia said, hovering outside the door with her plate in hand. “Is it okay if I come in? If you’re busy, I can just take this back to my room.”
“No, come on in, honey.” Dana held up her brown paper bag as she turned away from the computer. “I was just waiting on you.”
“You bring your own lunch?” Suddenly Claudia felt guilty for eating the restaurant food, though Brady had told her it was part of the deal.
“I have to.” She grimaced. “The doc put me on a strict low-sodium diet for my blood pressure.”
“Oh.” Claudia sat in one of the guest chairs across from Dana. Judging by the family photos on the credenza behind the desk, this had to be Brady’s office, though he was nowhere in sight.
“How do you like it here so far?” Dana asked, unwrapping her tuna salad on rye.
“Well, I didn’t break any dishes this morning, so I think that’s a good sign.”
“You’ll do just fine,” Dana said, smiling. “Most of the guests are real nice, and you won’t find a better boss than Brady.”
“Yeah, he seems like a really nice guy.” Claudia wondered if she should tell Dana about their nightcap, finally deciding she had no reason to hide it. “He invited me to his place for a drink last night.”
“Did he now?” Dana raised an eyebrow. “Well, isn’t that something.”
“I’m sure he just wanted to get to know me better. You know, as a new employee from out of town,” Claudia said, feeling a self-conscious flush bloom on her cheeks.
“I’m sure he did. And…? How did that go?”
“Great.” She took her time chewing a bite of her chicken salad before she said, “Like you said, he seems like a great guy.”
“Oh, he is. I’ve known him forever, and I can tell you I love him like my own son.”
Claudia forced a smile, thinking how much she would miss the extended family she’d grown up with. She’d known everyone in her tiny town since she was born, and they’d always looked out for her. Now she wouldn’t know anyone and no one would know her.
“I worry about him sometimes though,” Dana admitted.
“Oh really, why’s that? He seems to have it all together.”
“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” She looked around the slightly disorganized office. “He loves this place. He’s worked so hard to make it a success. And he has. But not without a lot of sacrifice along the way.”
“I guess nothing comes easy, right?”
Dana watched Claudia eat
, looking thoughtful for a moment, before she said, “But some things are more important than making money, don’t you think?”
“Sure, but I don’t think money was Brady’s only motivation.” She shouldn’t feel so certain about that, since she barely knew the man, but something told her people would always be more important to Brady than money. “It sounds like the previous owners were really important to him and he wanted to do right by them.”
“You are so right.” Dana chewed slowly before a slow smile spread across her face. “Brady doesn’t usually open up to people so quickly. You two must have had quite a talk last night.”
“Yeah, I guess we did.”
Though she probably knew a lot more about him than he knew about her. She’d told him that she grew up on a family farm, where her parents and grandparents both had houses, and that she’d been homeschooled through elementary school while she helped with the chores around their homestead. He also knew that she’d been a teacher before she decided it was time for a change, but she hadn’t talked to him about the reason she’d left Brockville and he didn’t ask.
“I’m glad.” Dana balled up her plastic wrapper and tossed it in the trash. “I’ve been worried about him. He’s too focused on work, and when he does let loose… well, let’s just say he doesn’t spend his time too wisely.”
Claudia knew it was none of her business, but still she heard herself ask, “What does that mean?”
Dana peeked out the open door, obviously checking to make sure they were alone. “He’s been dating girls who I think are much too young for him. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking illegal or anything,” she said with a laugh. “Just too immature.”
“I guess that’s his decision though,” Claudia said, trying to reconcile her image of the mature, responsible businessman she’d met last night with a guy who messed around with young women to blow off a little steam.
“I suppose you’re right,” Dana said, sighing. “And I know you must think this is none of my business. But if he spent time with someone more his age, who he had something in common with, maybe he’d see the value in it. You seem like you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Maybe you could help?”
Claudia wasn’t sure where Dana was going with this, but she had no intention of dating her boss, or any man for that matter. “Uh, I don’t think—”
“Oh, I know you’re married,” Dana said, raising her hand. “I’d never suggest anything inappropriate. I just thought maybe you could make him realize that settling down is a good thing. I know he sees how happy his brother is, but it never hurts to reinforce it.”
“Actually,” Claudia said, wondering if it was smart to share the truth. She suspected this woman was a lot more inquisitive than Brady. “My husband and I are no longer together.” She couldn’t force out the words that would earn her a wide-eyed, sympathetic response. The whole truth would only lead to a barrage of questions she couldn’t answer without falling apart.
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” Her eyes traveled to Claudia’s narrow gold wedding band. “I just assumed… you must still love him to wear that ring.”
“I do.” I always will.
“Then you’re holding out hope that y’all can work things out?”
If only that were possible. “No, ma’am. There’s no way that can happen.”
“Then maybe it’s time for you to think about moving on,” she said gently. “I know it’s hard, but sometimes the only way to get over an old love is to work on finding a new one.”
“I don’t think so.”
Before Claudia could explain that she wasn’t interested in dating, Brady poked his head in the door. “Hey, I thought I heard you guys in here. Claudia, you still want to watch the ball game with me?”
“Um, sure. Just let me take my plate to the kitchen and grab a glass of water.” She smiled at Dana. “Thanks for inviting me to have lunch with you. It was fun.” Having someone to talk to had been nice, though Dana’s well-meaning comments had made it uncomfortable at times.
“My pleasure, honey. Same time tomorrow?”
Claudia wondered how long she would be able to hide the truth from someone as shrewd as Dana if they continued to spend time together. “Uh, sure. That sounds good.”
Brady promised to meet Claudia in their sports bar in a few minutes before he closed the door and turned on Dana. “I thought I asked you to give her some space.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked, slicing an apple with the paring knife she’d brought from home. “I was just being friendly.”
“Don’t you mean nosy?” Brady couldn’t explain how he could read Claudia so soon after meeting her, but her demeanor had told him that the conversation with Dana had left her uneasy.
“I am not nosy!” Dana said indignantly. “I’m simply curious. Pretty young girl comes to town wearing a wedding band, yet no husband in sight…” She grinned, pointing the knife at Brady. “There’s a very good reason for that, by the way. The husband is out of the picture.”
“I know. She told me.” Brady leaned on the doorframe, crossing his arms. “Not that it matters. She’s only going to be here a few more days, just ‘til she can get her car fixed. Then she’ll be on her way, and I’m sure we’ll never see her again.” The thought of never seeing her pretty face again shouldn’t matter to him, but it did. Even though he told himself it was a bad idea, he wanted to get to know her better.
“Maybe you can convince her to stay a little longer, assuming she doesn’t have anywhere else to be?”
It hadn’t sounded as though Claudia had a plan, but he wasn’t sure asking her to stay on at the inn for the summer was a good idea. A man could get pretty attached in a few months, and Brady didn’t want to be the one left behind when she decided it was time to move on.
“I don’t know about that. I get the feeling she’s not ready to put down roots anywhere just yet.”
“Who’s talking about putting down roots?” Dana asked before popping a piece of apple into her mouth. “I’m merely suggesting we give her steady work for a few months so she can save up for a more reliable set of wheels. You wouldn’t want to send her on her way only to have her car break down again, would you?”
Brady thought of her stranded on the side of the road, on a long, deserted stretch in the middle of nowhere, without cell service. “No, I’ll make sure the car is safe before she goes anywhere.”
Dana’s eyes lit up as she peeled off another piece of fruit. “Ha, I knew it! You do like her.”
“Of course I like her. She’s a sweet girl.”
“Ah, but that’s just it,” Dana said with an impish grin. “This isn’t a girl. She’s a full-grown woman with plenty of life experience. And just about your age, I’d say.”
Brady rolled his eyes while pushing off the doorframe. “I’m done with this conversation. I love you, Dana, but you need to quit sticking your nose into my business.”
She slapped her palm on the desk with a raucous laugh. “Like that’ll ever happen!”
Brady was waiting at a table in the small sports bar he’d added to the inn last year when Claudia walked in wearing a floral sundress that grazed her calves, along with white flip-flops that tapped the hardwood with every step she took. He noticed the bartender he’d hired last week watching her until he frowned at the guy, letting him know it was time to get back to work.
“Sorry I took so long,” Claudia said, gesturing to her dress. “I wanted to change into something more comfortable.”
“No problem,” he said, standing. He pointed at a leather sectional facing one of the four TVs mounted in the open room. “You want to grab a seat over there? The game’s already started. Top of the second.”
“Sure.” She took the beer he offered before preceding him to the couch. “Thanks for asking me to watch the game with you. It’s been ages since I’ve caught a ball game.”
“My pleasure.” He sat on the same sofa, though careful to keep a respectable distance
between them. “So how was your first day on the job?”
“It was good. Mandy was really patient with me. She’s a real sweetheart.”
“Yeah, she is.” Brady glanced at the screen when his favorite player hit a line drive that resulted in a single, loading the bases. “Her dad’s crew does the landscaping around here. They’re great.”
“Yeah, I met him when he came in to drop her keys off. It’s obvious where she gets her good looks from.”
Mandy’s father, Dave, was the kind of guy even straight men had to admit was good-looking. Before Brady could let Claudia know that Mandy’s old man was off the market, a batter popped one up, causing a collision between two players that resulted in a two-run error.
She squealed, gripping his thigh. “Did you see that?”
“Yeah.” He swallowed, trying to ignore the fact that her hand was still burning up his thigh.
“Sorry,” she muttered, withdrawing her hand. “I guess I forgot how much I missed this.”
“Been too busy to catch a game?” He often got too caught up in real-life problems to sit back with a cold one and watch his favorite team knock ‘em out of the park.
“Something like that.” She took a sip of her drink before setting it on the table.
When they broke for a commercial, Brady asked, “How’d you sleep last night?”
“Better than I have in months.” Her eyes met his before she said, “Must have had something to do with the whiskey and the company.”
Brady was pretty good at reading women, and something told him Claudia was trying to fight her attraction to him. Probably for the same reason he was. Because they both knew it was temporary.
“Well, door’s always open. If you find you can’t sleep tonight, you’re more than welcome to stop by. Turns out I won’t have to fill in at the bar after all.”
“Thanks, but I’m sure you have better things to do than entertain me.”
“Not really,” he admitted. “I’ve been in a bit of a self-imposed dating slump for the past couple of months.”
Small Town Boss Page 3
