“That’s one cup less I’ll dump down the sink then. Come in.”
“What are you up to today?” Nan asked Jake, as she shuffled in to the kitchen and pulled out the bag of ground coffee. Faith had learned long ago not to offer to help her nan. Nan was insistent on doing everything herself.
“I have a little work to do today. I was actually on my way there. I just stopped to drop off Isabella’s necklace.”
“Are you building something today?”
“Figuratively. I’m meeting to see if I can get a few old restaurant owners on Beach Road to sell me their businesses. I want their land.”
“You don’t want their restaurants?” Faith asked from behind them, feeling hopeless and irritated at the same time.
He turned around. “No. I want to build a new one in their place. I need both lots.”
The tension returned immediately. “They won’t sell,” she said, almost to spite him. She hoped they wouldn’t sell. He needed to learn a lesson, that people around here liked what they had. They didn’t want more giant unoriginal towers along their beaches. They wanted character.
“If the price is right, they might. If I can secure their retirement, they always sell. And, given what they’re probably making with their little shacks, I can recoup what I pay them in a few years with my establishments. I’ve done it hundreds of times.”
“You may have. But you’ve not done it a hundred timeshere. What if people don’t want that?”
“When their property values soar and the smaller businesses start to benefit from the increased tourism, they’ll want it.”
“It’s not always about dollars, Jake.” She was arguing with him—she could feel it—and she knew what he meant by the two of them not seeing the future the same way. The only thing was that she didn’t let it cloud what she felt for him. It made her want to convince him even more.
“Faith, my feet are starting to ache from standing. The coffee’s percolating. Will you please fill us all mugs of coffee?” Nan interjected.
Jake walked Nan around the bar and over to the table where she lowered herself into a chair. The coffeemaker was still making coffee, but Faith took the carafe out and filled up three mugs. She slid it back into its holder, and it sizzled on the liquid that had escaped when she’d pulled it out. Faith took two of the mugs over to them.
“Are you going to make an offer today?” Faith asked, sitting down beside Jake and leaving her mug in the kitchen. She didn’t want to have any coffee. Her stomach was already upset from the discussion, and the coffee would only make it worse.
“No. I’m just going to talk to them and look at the land today. I need to really assess it, take measurements, and get a feel for the location before I make an offer.”
“What time are you supposed to meet them?”
“Nine o’clock.”
“How long will it take?” She had an idea. It was time to take action.
The skin between his eyes wrinkled and he looked at her, clearly trying to figure out her motives. “About two hours.”
“Is that all you have to do today?”
“Why?” He took a slow sip of his coffee.
“I want to show you something.”
His face was curious, but cautious. “I can pick you up at around eleven.”
“Perfect.”
“I’ll have to have you back at the cottage by one, though. I’m dropping off some supplies for a friend of mine. I’m helping someone build a boat. He needs the supplies by one.”
“Ha!” Nan laughed. “I’m glad you don’t have too much planned today. Only the purchase of two lots and a boat to build.” She winked in his direction. “Well, as you all are making plans, Jake, please keep next Friday free. That’s my birthday party.”
Would Jake be coming to Nan’s birthday?The party was so intimate that having him there would be like including him as part of the family. It would be difficult for her to have him in such close proximity all night.
Jake raised his eyebrows in response. “What time?”
“What time, Faith?”
