by Quinn Ward
“Does that mean I should do this? You’re going to take a huge hit, not gonna lie.” She’d warned me several times that the tax burden was going to hurt, but I didn’t care. The inn was the closest thing I’d ever had to a home, which was weird, since I couldn’t wait to get out of here when I’d first arrived. Part of it was the connection to my past, but the prospect of a future with Brook made it impossible to leave.
“It’s only money.” Growing up poor, seeing my dad turn our lives around so we could live comfortably, and having it taken away again ensured I never felt an unhealthy attachment to wealth. Other things mattered far more. “Do whatever you have to do. Maybe I should—”
“Don’t even say it, Dane,” Jen warned me. While I didn’t trust James, this money had to get paid and the goon squad wasn’t going to give a fuck where it came from. “Bailing him out without the paperwork in order is the worst possible thing you could do. It’ll strip your leverage to take control of the inn since he’s obviously inept at it, and it’ll tell James he can fuck up like this again and you’ll save his ass.”
“I don’t feel right leaving without everything squared away,” I admitted.
“Then get a message to your dad telling him you can’t be there. He’ll understand once you explain it,” she suggested.
I’d considered that, but I’d given Dad my word I’d be there to pick him up. It was the beginning of our fresh start, and I didn’t want him thinking he wasn’t a priority to me anymore.
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Then quit freaking the hell out and get on the plane. Pack what you need at your place, drive up and get the old man, and get your ass back to North Carolina.”
“Fine.”
Jen rushed me off the phone after reminding me yet again that I needed to be patient. When the dust settled from all of this, I needed to invite her and Grady down for a vacation. They were good friends despite the odds.
Brook was busy at the front desk when I came back from a trip to the local grocery store. He quirked an eyebrow as he watched me struggle to open the door with my arms loaded with bags. I might have gone overboard making sure our kitchenette upstairs was fully stocked while I was gone, but I knew he’d live off dry cereal and fruit from the breakfast room otherwise. James was still MIA and the part-time employees I’d insisted we hire weren’t fully trained yet, which meant the operation of the inn would fall entirely on Brook’s shoulders once I left for New York. Yet another reason I felt guilty for leaving him.
“How many check-ins do you have left?” I asked once our newest arrivals were on the way to their room. These bags were heavy as hell, but I wanted to time everything perfectly. Once the guests were settled for the night, he’d forward the lobby phone to ring upstairs so he didn’t have to camp out behind the desk all night.
Brook didn’t even have to check the reservations screen to answer. “Four, but the Williams family called ahead to say they’re running late. I’m going to wait on the other three, then I’ll be up.”
“Sounds good. I’m going to get started on dinner.”
“Shouldn’t you be packing?”
“Nope. I’m only taking my backpack,” I told him. There was no point in packing clothes when my first task once I got back to New York was packing as much of my shit as possible into the back of my Tahoe to bring down here. Plus, I sort of liked the symbolism of leaving everything I’d brought with me in the room to serve as a physical reminder to Brook that I would be back. “I checked in for my flight this morning, so that’s taken care of. My boarding pass is on my phone, so that’s one less thing for me to forget at ass o’clock tomorrow.”
“Ass o’clock, huh?” Brook smirked. “You sure you don’t want me to get up with you?”
Call me selfish, but that was the last thing I wanted. I hated leaving Brook but needed to. No, I wanted to look back and see him keeping our bed warm as I left. I’d experienced enough goodbyes in my life and knew my fractured heart wouldn’t comprehend that this one was only temporary.
“You have another busy day here,” I reminded him. “We’ll spend some time together tonight and then you can sleep in.”
And I could finally explain what I’d been so busy working on all week. Until today’s conversation with Jen, I hadn’t let myself believe I actually had anywhere close to enough capital to buy out my uncle’s stake in the inn. Her attorney friend was going to have to work some magic since probate hadn’t cleared and technically neither of us owned the inn on paper yet, but I was beginning to have faith this was all going to work out.
Another family pulled up in front of the doors, so I leaned in to quickly kiss Brook on the cheek before disappearing up the stairs.
It was nearly two hours later when Brook texted to let me know he was finishing up downstairs. That meant I had less than ten minutes to make sure everything was perfect for tonight. I wasn’t sure why I was making such a big deal out of dinner, but it felt like a pivotal moment for us.
The weathered table on the balcony was set, complete with a lantern in the middle. Not quite a candlelight dinner, but a strong breeze blowing off the water made that an impossibility so I’d improvised. I’d totally cheated by picking up a frozen lasagna because I wasn’t a gourmet, but I didn’t think Brook would mind. Tonight was about quality time with my man, who I didn’t need to impress with my culinary skills.
The moment Brook’s footsteps sounded on the stairs, I rushed to meet him at the door. He startled as I threw my arms around him, burying my face in his neck. He always smelled so damn good.
“Someone’s in a better mood tonight.”
“Yeah, now that you’re here,” I admitted. This was something I’d never had before. I’d never cared enough about someone to feel anxious when they weren’t around or anticipate that moment we’d be back together. If I was this much of a sap when it’d only been hours since I’d seen him, what was this trip going to do to me?
“It’s not just that,” he observed, leading me to the balcony. That had become our place whenever we were both up here and the weather cooperated. It allowed us privacy while still enjoying the beach life. “Have you heard from James?”
I didn’t want to talk about my uncle tonight. Obviously, we’d have to at some point, but not yet. Or maybe it was best to get this out of the way earlier so the fate of everything my grandfather had built wasn’t hanging over us like an anvil the entire night.
“Not yet, but I’m going to reach out to him in the morning. I have a solution, but only if he’s willing to accept my terms.”
I grabbed myself a beer and poured a glass of wine for Brook. His eyes rolled back in his head and he sighed dramatically when the first sip hit his tongue. “God, I love you. It was a long-ass day.”
“You have no clue how much I appreciate you busting your ass. Most employees would have told me to fuck off when James went into hiding, especially with everything that’s going on.”
“Yeah, well, I think it’s safe to say I’m not most employees. You’re going to have to work harder than that to scare me off.”
“Good thing I have no interest in working harder, then, huh?” I joked, reaching out for Brook’s hand. “At least, not when it comes to chasing you off. Right here is exactly where I want you to be.”
“So, are you going to tell me about all this plotting you’ve been doing all week?” he pressed after a few moments of silence staring out at the waves rolling onto the shore.
“I’m buying him out,” I blurted. “I have to know, moving forward, that nothing like this is going to happen again. I don’t want to constantly worry that he’ll make another bad decision that could put the people I love in jeopardy.”
The silence I got in response was deafening and settled inside of me like a black hole. I wasn’t sure how I’d expected Brook to react to the sudden knowledge that I could afford to lay out that type of money, but the pale face and blank expression wasn’t one I’d considered. Nor had I expected him to release my ha
nd and walk to the railing. I sat a moment, trying to figure out why he seemed pissed off about my plan. When he spun around, bracing his hands behind him on the rail, there was no mistaking that he was upset with me.
“You can’t just buy the inn, Dane!” He started pacing across the balcony, stopping to look out over the railing. I paused, letting out a frustrated huff because this wasn’t how I expected the night to go.
“I can, and I will,” I responded defiantly.
“Less than a month ago, you couldn’t wait to get out of here. This isn’t your life. Buying a business is a huge commitment.”
“You think I don’t know that? I know exactly what I’m getting into.”
“But why? What happened to the man who seemed pissed off that the grandfather who didn’t give a shit when he was alive willed him half of the inn?” Why was Brook fighting this so hard?
“You happened,” I admitted, stepping closer, flinching when Brook sidestepped me.
“You can’t uproot your entire life for us, Dane. What happens if you decide six months from now that you were happier being single? Then you’re stuck here with a hotel you hadn’t planned on owning and I’m out of the only job I’ve ever had.”
“Wow, it’s good to see you have so much faith in us,” I replied bitterly. Sure, I hadn’t planned on anything life had thrown my way recently, but for the first time in my life, I wasn’t constantly obsessing over every way it could all be ripped away from me. Here I’d thought that was a sign this was the right thing to do, but apparently Brook had already figured out exactly how we were going to fail, right down to a timeline. “This isn’t only about us; it’s about building a new life for my dad and knowing his brother can’t do something stupid again in the future that’ll land Dad back in prison.”
“It’s not that I think we’re doomed, but I’m trying to be realistic, Dane. This is a huge risk for you.” He inched closer, reaching out to brush his hand against the back of my fingers. “The past month has been a lot for you to take in. Pretty much everything you’ve known has been tipped on edge. What happens as life starts to settle down?”
Okay, so his point was valid. But what he didn’t realize, maybe he couldn’t understand because he’d had a good, stable life, was that everything that’d happened was for the better, even the bullshit with James in a roundabout way. It wasn’t until everything came to light with James and his mess that I realized how much the inn meant to me in such a short time. If I ever quit being pissed off at him for what he’d done, I might eventually thank him.
“When this is all over, I’ll tell you exactly what I will find.” I led Brook back to the loungers and pulled him onto my lap and kissed the spot behind his ear that I knew drove him crazy. “I’ll have a little apartment I hope to someday share with the man I love. My dad will be free and settling into his own version of a normal life for the first time in a decade. I’ll have a wildly successful inn, thanks in no small part to that crazy, sexy man who stole my heart. But above all else, I have the one thing I’d given up on ever having.”
“What’s that?” Brook asked, his voice strained so much that he sounded almost as emotional as I felt.
“Family and roots,” I told him.
He craned his neck around to look at me.
I reached up to busk my fingers across his defined cheekbones. “You’re a part of that, Brook. I love you. God knows, I never believed it could happen so quickly, but it did. You’ve made me want to lay down roots.
“When I’m with you, I forget about the past. I don’t think about all the things that go wrong, because you’ve taught me that sometimes life does you a solid when you’re not expecting it.” I quit talking, already embarrassed by how I’d laid myself bare to him. But dammit, I wasn’t going to be talked out of the first decision I’d made in my life that truly felt right. Wasn’t going to let him plant the seeds of doubt about our future right before I had to step away from him for a few days.
“Wow. Sounds like you have everything figured out.” Brook chuckled, flipping over so we faced one another. Dinner was quickly forgotten in favor of a languid make-out session. Luckily I’d already turned off the oven before Brook came upstairs, or we’d have burned the place down.
Daylight was beginning to fade, leaving the sky painted in shades of pink and purple, by the time we pulled ourselves together. Before Brook, I couldn’t remember ever taking the time to truly appreciate the sunset. Now it was becoming one of my favorite times of the day.
16
Brook
I believe deep in my bones that I was supposed to meet you but the time wasn’t right. Being apart hurts, but I have faith we’ll meet again. Only fate knows the place and time, but when that happens, I’ll be right here waiting… -J
I was pathetic. Completely and utterly head over heels in love with Dane. The man who’d put distance between us since the blow-up with his uncle. Last night was a brief reprieve, but even that was clouded by his behavior over the past week. This morning, that distance had become more than metaphorical when he’d slipped out of bed before dawn to catch a flight home. I’d known it was coming, known he’d only be gone long enough to be there when his dad was released from prison, but that didn’t make my heart ache any less. I hated reaching out as I woke up and coming back with nothing but cold sheets.
Maybe I was weak for pretending to stay asleep when his alarm had gone off, convincing myself that if we didn’t say goodbye, maybe he’d still be there when I woke up for my shift. If I’d opened my eyes and rolled over, I could have tasted his lips one last time, begged him to fuck me hard enough I’d still be aching when his return flight landed. But I hadn’t, telling myself it would have made it harder for him to leave rather than dwelling on my own feelings.
I tossed back the covers, taking in the gray morning before me. It seemed fitting that nearly every day we’d been together had been sunny and warm, and the day he left was dreary. Shuffling to the bathroom, I spied a note tented on the vanity.
In case I haven’t said it, thank you for everything. You’re an amazing man. It sounds cheesy, but you’ve taught me so much over the past month and I’ll never forget that. It’s because of you that I finally have hope. Everything will turn out exactly as it’s supposed to.
Please be careful. The situation is being handled, but it’s going to take a bit more time.
Love,
Me
I reread the words until I had the note memorized. Last night, as we drifted off to sleep, he’d run through his plans with me, telling me repeatedly that he’d be back in five days. But the note he’d left this morning felt like goodbye. I dialed his number, hoping to catch him before his flight was in the air, needing reassurance that I was being stupid. Needing to remind him how much he meant to me and hearing that he felt the same. When the call went directly to voicemail, I didn’t bother leaving a message. Once his plane landed in New York, he’d have enough to deal with. I had to believe his plans hadn’t changed overnight.
I went through my morning routine on autopilot, skipping coffee until I got down to the lobby because I couldn’t stand another minute alone in the suite Dane and I had made into our sanctuary. I stumbled downstairs, trying to pump myself up for another long day of dealing with people. The new employees would be in later in the day, but breakfast was all on me.
Except as I reached the first floor, I smelled freshly brewed coffee and noticed the lights were on in the breakfast room. Even though it was impossible, I jogged down the last few stairs and across the lobby in case Dane’s plans had changed and he’d let me sleep in this morning. My heart sank as I took in the empty room. Maybe he did this before he left?
“Ah, there you are.” My shoulders tensed as I cautiously spun to see James leaning against the front desk. He was dressed in a shirt and tie like always, but his appearance was rumpled, as though he’d fallen asleep behind his desk. His hair stuck out at odd angles and there were dark circles around his sunken eyes. In short, the guy looked
like hell.
While it was nice to see James hadn’t fallen off the face of the earth, his presence while Dane was gone made me nervous. Yes, I’d complained to Dane that he was being overly protective and needed to trust me to take care of myself, but that was before. Looking at James, I wasn’t sure I could look out for both of us if those guys came back again. And I really didn’t want to call Dane and let him know they’d beaten the shit out of James for still not having their money.
“What are you doing here?” I crossed my arms tightly over my chest as I took a step back. I wanted to understand why James had borrowed the money he had, but now that I’d had time to think about the entire situation, I was pissed. He’d put my life on the line, both by inviting the thug patrol to hang around, trying to get through to him, and because if his nonplan fell apart, it would have meant the end of my job. Good intentions didn’t mean much this morning, not when I was hanging on by a frayed emotional thread. “Shouldn’t you be hiding under a rock somewhere?”
“Brook, I wanted to apologize. I’ve made so many mistakes I’ve lost count, but you have to know I didn’t expect it to take so long to get Dane down here. If we’d been able to settle the estate in time—”
I bit my tongue because James was an idiot. Even if Dane had been here when his grandfather died, the estate wouldn’t be settled by now.
“You’d still be in the same predicament.” I cut him off because I had neither the time nor the desire to hear his bullshit logic. “The problem is you didn’t think any of this through. If you had, you’d have called the contractors, explained the situation, and asked for them to void the contracts Phillip signed. And they would have. Do you think this is the first time someone has died before work was completed?”
He opened his mouth to answer, but I cut him off. “The answer you’re looking for is no. You didn’t think about that. You were so intent on proving to your dad that you weren’t a screwup, that you truly cared about him, that you almost destroyed everything. Now that he’s gone, you’re trying to make up for everything you did wrong when you were younger.
