“The place isn’t for sale,” Logan added firmly.
Simon looked at Logan with barely concealed disdain. “And you are?”
“Family of the Christmases,” Logan replied evenly.
Simon nodded dismissively and turned back to Jack, clearly considering Logan beneath his notice. “Lookover the offer when it arrives, and then get back to me. At least this way, you leave with something for you and your family.”
“Like Logan said, the inn is not for sale,” Jack told him, his voice hard. “Now, we have somewhere to be.”
Simon’s eyes narrowed, his professional veneer cracking slightly. “Don’t let your pride get in the way here, Jack. You may think whoever is financing you now and helping to pay off the inn’s debt is helping you...”
He paused meaningfully. “Let me tell you, people like my client, once they’ve set their sights on something, they will get it at any cost. They will find this mysterious person helping you and ensure that help stops.”
“Are you threatening us?” Jack asked, squaring his shoulders and drawing himself up to his full height. He towered over Simon by several inches.
“No,” Simon said with all the confidence and assurance of someone who thought they’d already won. “I’m trying to warn you so you’re not left with nothing.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Jack assured him. “And the fight isn’t over yet.”
Simon tried one more time, his voice taking on a note of false concern. “Look, Jack, I’m trying to look out for you here. You don’t know what this client is capable of.”
“Oh, trust me, I know full well what Victor Martin is capable of,” Jack said, watching surprise flash across Simon’s face.
“So Charlie told you after she found out?” Simon gave a soft, humorless laugh as Jack nodded. “Well, I’m a better attorney than Charlie ever was, so you can bet your bottom dollar I’ll find out who your benefactor is.”
“Another threat?” Logan shook his head in disgust.
“Take the offer. That’s my advice,” Simon said, his voice turning to ice. “I’ve tried to make this simple and ensure you don’t walk away empty-handed.”
He shook his head, turned sharply, and walked off without another word or backward glance.
Jack stared after him, confusion thrumming through his chest. He turned to Logan. “Tell me you’re not quietly paying off the inn’s debt.”
“Whoa!” Logan held up his hands defensively. “It’s not me. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. My investment went into the renovations and supplies. And even that’s stretching my budget as it is.”
“Then who else could it be?” Jack’s eyes fell on the shop across the street—William’s sweet and trinket shop. “William.”
Understanding dawned in Logan’s eyes. “You think it’s William?”
They crossed the street and stared into the window of the shop.
“He’s the only wealthy person I know well enough to consider it,” Jack said. “It makes sense. He and Mom havebeen getting closer. He loves this town and its history. And he has the means.”
“Then let’s ask William,” Logan suggested, and they both jumped when a voice came from the doorway of the shop.
“Ask me what?” William stood in the entrance, a curious expression on his face.
Jack quickly explained what Simon had said about the mysterious benefactor paying off the inn’s debt.
William listened carefully, then shook his head with a rueful smile. “While I wanted to help, and I offered, your mother threatened me with bodily harm if I interfered. Said the Christmas family would handle their own problems or go down trying.” He chuckled fondly. “Julie’s quite fierce when it comes to family pride. I wasn’t about to cross her.”
Jack felt a mixture of disappointment and admiration for his mother. “So if it’s not you, and it’s not Logan... then who?”
“I wish I could tell you,” William said. “But whoever it is, they’re a friend to your family. Perhaps you should accept the help graciously and worry about the forces trying to steal your inn.”
Jack nodded slowly, though the mystery gnawed at him. He didn’t like owing debts, especially to unknown benefactors.
As Jack and Logan turned to leave, Jack’s phone buzzed with a text message. He glanced at it and groaned.
