“Because he was a foolish man who always wanted to believe the best in people, even when they were huge disappointments.” James’s cell phone rang, and he tensed as he checked the display before silencing the noise. “Believe me, Dane, this isn’t something I want to do, but I don’t see any other way to keep the inn safe.”
Safe.That was an odd choice of words from a man who’d spent yesterday explaining why it made financial sense for me to agree to the sale. It seemed Brook was onto something with his concern regarding James and his problems. An icy chill washed over me when I considered what this could mean for Dad. I couldn’t bring him back here as long as James was involved in shit that could be less than legal. He’d spent years believing he’d die in prison, but he was getting a second chance. I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of a fresh start for him.
I leaned forward, keeping my back ramrod straight. “James, you have to be straight with me. What’s going on that has you so panicked? I know it’s not the economy or empty-room nights. I’ve looked at the reservations, and we’re booked solid through Labor Day. After that, we’re still running full enough to stay in the black. Why would you want to walk away from that?”
“Because they’ll take it!” he yelled, staring blankly out the window. When he looked back at me, he refused to make eye contact and his face radiated with undisguised fear. “I kept telling myself I could take care of it, but I can’t. And now, they’re tired of waiting.”
“Who are they, James?” I pressed. My stomach rolled, and I wished I’d skipped the sausage and bagel I’d scarfed after the quick make-out session with Brook. “I want to help you out here, but I can’t do that if you won’t tell me what’s going on.”
I felt like a damn parrot, but I’d keep repeating myself as long as it took.
“When my father was sick, there were so many bills. He was broke because of this place, because he kept dumping money into it.” James scrubbed at his forehead, and his shoulders slumped forward. “He scheduled all these renovations, signed contracts, and I was left with that hanging over my head too. It was like an avalanche, and pretty soon I was buried. Maybe it was the wrong thing to do, but I borrowed some money, figuring we’d do the remodel since no one would let me out of the contracts he’d signed, and then I’d sell it as soon as he was gone and pay them back.”
And then the inn was left to both of us, throwing a wrench in his plans. A clearer picture was forming, one that made more sense than James being wrapped up in illegal gambling or drugs. But it still left us with a major problem.
“How much, James?”
“How much what?” His brow furrowed as he tried figuring out the answer to what should have been a simple question. “Oh, how much money. It’s a lot, Dane. That’s why there’s no way to get out from under it unless we sell the inn. You’ll still get your half of the proceeds, but mine’s gonna be eaten up with the interest.”
“How. Much?” I repeated, more sternly this time.
Rather than telling me, James wrote a figure on a scrap of paper and slid it across the desk. I swallowed hard when I looked at the number, trying to convince myself he’d added an extra zero.
“Jesus, you’re into these fuckers for half a mil? How in the hell did you let this happen? There’s no way in hell we’re going to be able to fork over this type of money, James. None. And you used the fucking inn as collateral? Are you fucking kidding me?”
I bolted out of my chair and started pacing around the room. Five hundred fucking thousand dollars. Until I saw that number staring back at me, I’d convinced myself Jen was right, that worst-case scenario, I could buy James out, but I didn’t have that type of money.
“I know, Dane. And it’s no excuse, but I wouldn’t have done this if I’d known my father had changed his will so you inherited half of the inn,” he explained, his voice strained. He slumped over the desk, banging his head against the surface. “I was stupid. So fucking stupid. I should have just let the contractors come after us in court. Should have fought this the right way, explained that he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to make business decisions. Because he wasn’t. He was so desperate to leave something of himself when he passed that his dreams spiraled out of control.”
“Seems to be a common problem in this family,” I muttered.
His head jerked up and he glared at me.
“Sorry, I’m trying not to be a dick here, but this has the potential to fuck up more than just your life. If either of you had stopped and thought about what you were doing, it might’ve saved a fuck-ton of problems. But that doesn’t matter now because we have to figure out a way past this. Preferably one that won’t lose the inn or wind up with you wearing a pair of concrete shoes for a late-night swim.”
“They’re not the fucking mob, Dane,” James argued.
“Well, they sure as fuck aren’t Good Samaritans either.” I stood, swiping the scrap of paper off the desk. I needed to get away and think. Needed to take a step back and pray to everything holy that an answer would fall in my lap. Because I wouldn’t go back on my promises to Brook.
On my way out the back of the inn, I heard Brook call after me. By the time I reached the bottom step off the patio, Brook’s hand landed on my shoulder. “Where are you going? What happened? I heard you in there yelling at him.”
“You were right, Brook.” I spun around, gripping his arms tightly. Maybe too tightly. “He didn’t do it for the reasons you might be thinking, but he’s into someone for a whole lot of money, and I have to find a way to clean up the mess before we lose everything. I can’t lose this place. Can’t lose you.”
“You won’t, Dane.” Brook cupped the back of my head and pressed my face to his chest. With him two steps above me, he was slightly taller than me. His body surrounded me as he promised I wouldn’t lose him no matter what happened, which comforted me. Allowed me to breathe just a little easier. “No matter what happens, what’s happening between us isn’t connected to the Inn. We’ll find a way, Dane. Do you want me to walk with you?”
“Not right now.” I looked up and hated myself for the sadness behind his eyes. “I’m not running away, Brook. I promise I’ll be back. But right now I need to walk to the end of the island, where no one will bother me, and think. There must be a solution, and I intended to find it.”
