by Jody Holford
His friend shook his head slowly. “Nope. I mean hot like one…as if you haven’t noticed.”
“You’re getting married,” Brady deflected, pointing at him.
“So, therefore I’m blind? Come on, man. She’s hot and when you look at her your eyes cross a little.”
Owen was laughing, but pressure settled in Brady’s chest. “Yeah, from anger.”
“Or lust.”
“Screw you.” He didn’t date where he lived. Not to mention, the only way a woman like Mia would date a man like him was if she was slumming it. Maybe he’d imagined the disdain in her voice, but her easy dismissal of his profession hammered at his pride.
Owen chuckled and started to respond, but Brady stopped him with a hand up.
“Don’t say it or I’ll take the rest of that sandwich away from you.”
He was done with this conversation and Owen’s teasing. Mia was not someone he’d want to be involved with, despite her stunning looks. Brady needed more than looks. He needed someone who accepted every piece of him without judgment. A partner. A woman to share his life with, not one he’d never be good enough for. He’d gone that route once already and thankfully, it had ended before he’d married her.
When he’d broken up with Bethany, after too many months of her suggesting he reach for higher—better paying—goals than working on cars, Brady had promised himself he’d do what made him happy. Similar to Mia, image mattered, and Brady’s hadn’t complemented his ex’s well enough to stay. He loved what he did for a living and that was important.
Mia seemed like the kind of woman who cared what a man did for living. Maybe that was why her attitude toward him felt like a wide papercut. She reminded him of what it felt like to not be good enough. Grow up. You’re not an insecure twenty-year-old anymore.
Owen nudged Brady’s knee with his foot. “Hey. I was joking. You all right?”
Brady blinked and refocused. “Fine. She just gets under my skin. This place is a home. I don’t want her wrecking that for us.”
“Why would she?”
He didn’t know. And he hated being left in the dark. You hate change and it’s time you got over that. Was it wrong to want consistency? To have things stay as they were? His life was good just the way it was and he didn’t need anyone messing that up.
“Why don’t you break your no-dating-where-you-live rule and ask her out? Get to know her?”
He put his plate on the coffee table and stared at his friend. “Because I have absolutely no interest in doing that. Maybe finding the one didn’t make you blind, but apparently it made you deaf. We do not jive. We’re different species. She’s a Porsche. I’m a Chevy.”
Owen frowned at him, setting his plate on the table, too. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means the fancy-pants princess doesn’t date the court jester. And even if she were willing to slum it, I’m not into her.”
“Not everyone is Bethany,” Owen said. His voice went quiet but his eyes locked on Brady’s.
“Let it go. You here for a sandwich or a therapy session?”
Easily brushing off Brady’s words, Owen laughed. “Look at me and Gabby. I didn’t think she was the one, and now I can’t imagine my life without her.”
Brady let the longing—and the spurt of bone-deep jealousy—ride through him.
If he ever did find his forever, it wouldn’t be in a woman like Mia Kendrick. She’d have to have a heart, not just a passion for profit.
“You and Gabs are different, man. Let it go. Please.”
And because Owen was a great guy and a great friend, he did. And Brady pushed Mia and finding someone to build a forever life with to the back of his mind. He had friends, his business was good, and he lived in a great place. He had relationships, even if they were fleeting. He couldn’t ask for more… At least not without being smacked upside the head with disappointment.
Chapter Five
Mia checked the time on her phone. An old friend…and former boyfriend had asked to meet at a downtown restaurant. She had the security system being installed today and didn’t want to go, but she had a feeling Jonathan Conroy had information to share.
She looked over her tenant list and put together ads for the empty apartments. While tenants who’d lived at Kendrick Place for three years or more had stipulations in their leases that allowed for only gradual yearly increases in rent, she hoped to get a higher price for the empty units. With today’s market, the location of the building, and the quality living conditions, there was room to add to the monthly income without scaring anyone away.
There were eighteen units and four were currently empty. That was a considerable sum of money. They each needed to be painted, which meant she also needed to think about hiring a handyman of sorts. Brady had been very convenient as there didn’t seem to be much he couldn’t fix. He’d managed the building for a total of seven weeks while Michael had ignored not only the vandalism and burglaries, but also regular maintenance. In the comfort of her own office, she could grudgingly admit Brady had done a good job. But he had his own business and she couldn’t go running to him any time she needed something fixed. You wouldn’t go running to him anyway. God, he was infuriating. Stop thinking about him then.
A knock pulled her out of her own head. Wyatt Daniels filled the doorframe. If she’d seen him on the street, she’d have curled into herself. Not only was his size intimidating, but his menacing stare and cautious eyes kept her on guard. Brady’s taller than him. You’re not scared of him. And she wasn’t scared of Wyatt. Because she knew he was not only harmless, but he also helpful.
“Hi, Mr. Daniels. Come on in,” Mia said, standing and coming around to greet him.
He grimaced. “Wyatt. No need to be formal. I just wanted to tell you the security company will be here in an hour and confirm all of the spots we spoke about.”
As a detective with a naturally suspicious nature, he’d been able to offer his opinion and connection on making the building safer.
Why they didn’t at least have cameras already was a mystery to Mia. One she chalked up to another oversight on Michael’s part.
“I really appreciate you helping me set this up and using your contacts. I could have used one of the firms that secure our other buildings, but I like the idea of operating independently from our other properties,” Mia said.
What she didn’t say was that she was happy to break away from anything her father and brother did so she could pave her own path.
“I want this place safe as much as you do. This is long overdue,” he said.
“You’re right. It is.” Funny, when he gave his opinion, she didn’t feel like clenching her teeth together. Maybe only Brady had that effect on her.
Mia looked down at her desk, moved a couple of files, and picked up the one containing the installation information. Opening it, she scanned quickly, then passed it to Wyatt. “All entrance and exits, the underground parking, basement, and stairwells, right?”
Wyatt looked over the paperwork and nodded. His dark eyes bore into hers like he could see right through her. She would not want to be on the wrong side of an interrogation from him.
“Looks good. Will you be around?”
“I have a lunch meeting, but shouldn’t have a problem getting back before they’re finished.”
“Okay.” He started to leave.
“Shay is a really lovely girl,” Mia said, then cringed at the way she just threw the words out there without context. The other night had been quite enjoyable, but blurting out her feelings was not her usual style.
Wyatt’s smile crept all the way up to his eyes, transforming his face, softening it. “I agree. She said you’d come by and hung out with her and Gabby.”
“I did. Gabby’s really nice, too.”
Wyatt nodded, arched an eyebrow. “Both good people, though obviously, I’m particularly fond of Shay.”
Mia smiled and gave a small laugh. “Yes. Right. Of course.”
“
I’ll see you when you get back,” Wyatt said, giving a small wave and heading out.
Mia glanced at her phone once again. Time to meet Jonathan and see what he knew that she didn’t.
...
“You look incredible, Mia. I’m so glad you’re home,” Jonathan Conroy said, his hands rubbing up and down her arms after giving her a hard, genuine hug.
His eyes were as warm and inviting as they’d always been. They’d grown up in the same circles and had dated for a brief period. Her parents had been thrilled with the social connection and disappointed when Mia had explained it wasn’t going to work. While she cared for Jonathan, there was no spark.
“Thank you. So do you.”
She slipped off her jacket and placed it on the back of her chair. Before she could sit, Jonathan pulled the chair out for her. She smiled up at him. His dark blond hair was a little longer on top than the last time she’d seen him, but the smile in his blue eyes was welcomingly familiar.
As he sat across from her, she glanced around the posh dining room of L’Espalier. Before leaving for university in England, this had been one of her favorite restaurants. Oddly enough, she hadn’t even thought of it since returning home. Most nights, she preferred the Thai take-out place that delivered to the building. Her mother would faint if she knew how often Mia ate out of the containers the food arrived in.
Jonathan reached for her hand as she asked, “How are your mom and dad?”
“They’re good. Dad is in Portugal right now breaking ground on the new hotel. Mom is in Vancouver, British Columbia.”
Mia pulled her hand from his and clasped both of hers together. “Jonathan! You convinced them to expand to Canada.”
He beamed, his dark eyes twinkling. “Yup. Finally. Dad was hesitant and when he came around, he originally thought Toronto, but I really feel like the West Coast is the way to go.”
Excitement bubbled up in her chest. Jonathan’s family owned a chain of hotels all over the U.S. “I’m so proud of you. That’s wonderful.”
Before he could reply, a waiter approached their table. Mia’s stomach rumbled, reminding her she’d missed breakfast. Standing perfectly straight, the older gentleman smiled at Mia, then Jonathan.
“Ahh, Mr. Conroy. Good to have you back with us, sir,” he said.
“Thank you, Francois. How are you?” Jonathan asked.
“Quite well. Thank you for asking. May I get you and your lovely companion beverages?” He looked expectantly at Mia.
For one split second, she considered ordering a beer. It had gone down particularly smooth the other night. Then she smiled as the memory of nachos came into her mind. L’Espalier definitely didn’t serve warm chips and cheese.
“Something funny?” Jonathan asked, a bemused grin on his face.
Mia’s cheeks warmed. “No, sorry. I’ll have a soda water with lime, please.”
Jonathan pursed his lips then said, “I’ll take an iced tea.”
“Very good,” the waiter said, leaving them.
Jonathan leaned his forearms on the table. The darkened windows let sun in but ensured privacy. Intricate chandeliers danced over each table. The quiet din of chatting was rhythmic, but Mia’s nerves continued to dance as she wondered what it was he still had to tell her. “I’ve missed your smile,” he said.
The one she gave him felt forced. “You’ve been busy and so have I.”
“How was school?”
Mia grinned. “Educational.”
Jonathan’s laughter cut through the quiet. The waiter returned with their drinks.
“Would you care to order?”
Looking to Mia, Jonathan raised his eyebrows in question. She nodded. They both knew the menu well. At least she used to.
“I’ll have the butternut squash soup to start and then the lobster risotto, please,” Mia said.
“Sounds good. I’ll take the same,” Jonathan added.
The waiter nodded, a sedate smile on his lips. “Very good. I’ll have your soups out shortly.”
When he left, words jumbled in Mia’s brain, flying out of her mouth before she’d smoothed them. “Tell me what my father and brother are up to.”
He chuckled and leaned back in the cushiony armchair. “Done with small talk, are we?”
Mia leaned in. “We can do small talk after. I need to know what’s going on.”
Pursing his lips, he ran a hand over his chin. Mia sighed. This couldn’t be good.
“They gave me six months to prove myself. And I’m positive that’s because Grams put her foot down on this one. But why six months? Michael’s been very weird about the timing, so I know something is up.”
Jonathan leaned forward and took a long drink of his iced tea. Keeping his hand on the glass, he met her gaze. “First, please know I would never knowingly hurt you. Your brother came to me with the idea of joining forces.”
What? Why would her family, who owned rental properties, join forces with the Conroys, who owned hotels?
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does actually, if they’re looking at branching out. Michael said most of the properties are doing quite well, but Kendrick Place costs more to run than it brings in, particularly in recent months.”
Mia swallowed a defensive growl. “That’s what happens when you all but ignore one of your investments. Michael let some idiot take over as manager who ended up breaking into the storage room and causing all sorts of issues. We lost four tenants overall and the only reason we didn’t lose more is because one of the reliable tenants stepped up until I could get here.”
Brady’s deep blue eyes popped into Mia’s mind. Reliable suited him, even if he’d made it difficult to get any information out of him while she’d been communicating via email and phone during Christmas. He did help, though, and kept things running smoothly. She silenced her thoughts. Gratitude toward Brady got her nowhere. Besides, she didn’t need him anymore. She was here. Fighting a bigger battle than she’d thought. On her own.
“I’m not judging, Mia. I’m just telling you how it was presented to our board.”
“Your board? He actually took it to your board?” Mia’s heart hammered in her throat.
To go to a family friend and bat some ideas around was one thing, but to present an idea to a board, Michael would have had to have data and projections. He would have had to been planning this for quite some time.
With surprising stealth, Francois appeared at the side of their table with soup in hand. “Your soups.”
Both Jonathan and Mia leaned back and pasted smiles on their faces. “Thank you,” Mia said.
“Yes, thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
He walked away as quietly as he’d arrived. Mia picked up her spoon and though the light scent of nutmeg tempted her, she wasn’t all that hungry.
Jonathan scooped up a spoonful immediately and blew softly. Once he’d swallowed, he continued.
“Listen, I don’t want to get in the middle of family drama. You know I have enough of my own, and you also know I don’t agree with the way your brother and father have made the business a boys only club. It’s ridiculous, sexist, and quite honestly, a poor decision on their part, as I know very well what you bring to the table. You’re smart and capable. They’re fools not to see it.”
His words warmed her like the soup did, but he wasn’t the one she had to prove herself to. Plus, she sensed a “but.”
“But,” Jonathan said, making her sigh. “From a business standpoint, two well-known Boston business families joining forces? There’s an equitable future there for both parties. Your brother wants to convert Kendrick Place to a Conroy Hotel. He wants our investment and branding, as well as the high revenue it would bring, in exchange for offering us a location we’d love.”
The bridge of her nose began to throb, like a headache was shooting its way down from between her eyes. “It’s not for sale.”
“We wouldn’t own it. We’d be partial owners. Investors, really.�
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“It’s a residential property. That’s who we are,” Mia insisted. Her throat was so tight it hurt to swallow the creamy liquid.
“It is. But your brother is taking over more and more for your father. And he wants to move in a new direction.”
“Why six months?”
“We told him, when he came to us with a proposal, that we needed time to look into it and, I’m guessing it coincided with the ultimatum your grandmother gave them. My understanding was that she’d pull her support for a few of your mother’s favorite charities if they didn’t follow through on their promise to let you try. We’re looking to open another Boston hotel and our timeline to purchase is by June.”
Her deadline was May. Though her father and brother ran Kendrick Properties, her grandmother held the deed to Kendrick Place. The property that had started it all had been bequeathed to her from her father. Mia’s great-grandfather. It was on that foundation her husband had purchased two more properties. Her father followed suit, expanding the acquisitions to other areas of Boston. But regardless of how many buildings they acquired, Kendrick Place could only be sold or changed if she approved it.
“Does Grams know?” She’d have said something. Unlike the other members of her family, Grams believed in her. She’d promised Mia when she’d left for school abroad that she’d see to it Mia got her chance. True to her word, here she was. But what if her grandmother didn’t believe in her any more than the rest of them? What if she, too, was just humoring Mia and intended to sell? Memories of holding her grandfather’s hand as they visited Kendrick Place residents drifted into her mind, making her heart pinch tightly.
“Mia? Did you hear me?”
She blinked, her eyelids feeling heavy. “No.”
“I truly don’t think your grandmother knows. If I had to guess, I’d say your brother plans to present this as a golden opportunity, which it can be. If she feels you’re all united on this, I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t go for it.”
Mia pushed her soup away. She didn’t want it or the risotto that would arrive shortly. “This isn’t who we are. When my great-grandfather came here, he wanted to show that it wasn’t impossible to find a nice place in a good neighborhood to raise your family. It’s the foundation of my father’s whole business. Changing that now, when my father is winding down, is a risk.”
