“I don’t know.” Miles slumped back in his chair.
The room fell silent, except for the scratches of her pen sketching. Given how things were going, she’d probably draw him as a demon.
Casper moved under the table and plopped to the floor again.
“I brought molasses cookies … for my friends,” he said into the tense silence. Like every other workplace in America, Montressa’s staff turned to vultures when they saw free food.
She looked up from her drawing, eyed the cookies, and then him. She remembered those cookies. He was certain of it.
“Good morning from the penthouse.” Nate’s face loomed large on the conference room’s wall-mounted television screen. Behind him, Miles’s apartment sprawled over his shoulder. There was his Boa sofa, woven to resemble a bird’s nest. Beyond it, a stunning view of lower Manhattan.
Avery must’ve missed the Architectural Digest spread on her Google search because her mouth fell open at the glimpse into his city life. He wondered whether she liked it or if she noticed the crisp design didn’t match his casual personality.
“Miles.” Nate hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “What is up with this sofa? My sister said Kendall Jenner has the same couch and it cost—”
“Hey Nate, let’s not say that aloud.” He pulled at his collar to release the heat rising on his neck.
Avery straightened up in her chair and clapped her hands together.
“Nate, good morning. How’s your dad?” She smiled brightly, her voice confident, not a trace of the earlier aggravation. Perhaps Nate’s current situation had given her a little perspective.
“It’s a good day.” Nate smiled. “Mom and I took shifts and got some sleep. Dad walked a little. We all watched Miles onBright and Early,and now everyone’s on cloud nine because the lodge shined on national television.”
Miles smiled to himself.
“Mom wants to know if Victoria is coming in a couple of weeks when the show films live from Montressa.”
At the mention ofBright and Earlycoming to the lake, Avery’s head lifted from her doodling. Victoria Evans had worked at Montressa with them that summer. His expertise on personal finance had led Victoria to campaign for him to be a regular on the show. For reasons unknown to him, Avery hadn’t liked Victoria. Sometimes people rubbed you the wrong way. He’d had a few of them in his life.
“Yes, Victoria and I will broadcast live on June 30th.” Miles tried to keep his voice as neutral as possible, but Avery bristled. It might not be the best idea to bring Victoria here when he was trying to reconcile with Avery, but it was too late. Maybe they’d get along after all these years. Then again, Avery held on to grudges.
“Avery,” Nate said. “Stick around. They’d probably love some footage of you water-skiing.”
“We’ll see.” Avery frowned, confirming Miles’s fear she’d leave once she’d done what she came to do—or as soon as Victoria arrived, whichever came first. And that would be a shame because Avery was a great water-skier.
“Let’s talk Montressa.” With so little free time, multi-tasking wasnecessary for Nate, and he typed as he spoke. Miles knew the feeling. His phone buzzed on the table.
“Wait, isn’t this a staff meeting? We’re the only two here.” Avery pointed her pen back and forth across the table.
“Ayuh. The dream team,” Nate said. “Together at last.”
Avery winced and concentrated on her paper.
“Updates,” Nate said. “Opening Day is June 16th. Housekeeping promises to have all the cabins deep cleaned and ready by then. My sister and I are taking turns in New York so I can be back in Maine when the summer staff arrives May 30th.”
Avery wroteMay 30th—staff, June 16th—opening day,andJune 30th—B&Eon a fresh sheet of paper. Over on her doodle paper, she was either drawing devil horns or branches. Time would tell.
“Maintenance,” Nate continued. “Miles, Wes says you’ve been a tremendous help with the docks. After he finishes the steps, he’ll paint the boathouse interior. We haven’t used it in a few years, but Lily says it could be our cutest cabin. Back when my parents converted Montressa’s original boathouse into a rental, people loved that we’d found a new use for an old building. People still love repurposed spaces, but the interior is outdated. Avery, you’ve got an eye for things like bedding and paint colors. Any chance you’d redecorate it?”
Avery frowned and forced a smile. “Um, sure. Whatever you need.”
“Since it’s not used as a boathouse anymore, I’m thinking of renaming it.” Nate winked. “What do two you think of ‘Rendezvous?’”
Avery shielded her eyes with her hand. Reminding her of the place she and Miles had spent their first night together would not help them get along. Nate was trying to keep the conversation light, but he hadn’t been on the dock, caught her googling, or witnessed them picking countertops. The cringeworthy moments needed to stop.
Miles glared at Nate and shook his head. “Nope. Stick with the Boathouse.”
Nate cleared his throat.
