“Well, your mom isn’t exactly known for her rage against the world. But doesn’t she have a rule about employees hooking up?”
“Bingo. Mom’s not one to rage, but worrying? That’s her superpower. She likes things neat and tidy, and this… whatever this is with Jules? It’s anything but.” I ran a finger along the rim of my glass and watched the condensation drip onto the table. “What if it blows up in my face?”
I suppressed the urge to squirm as Chase inspected me closely. “You two have been together, what? Two weeks? Isn’t it a little early to be worrying about all this?”
“Probably. I told Jules I wasn’t worried. That it was a stupid, obsolete rule and I could talk to Mom if and when the time came.”
“Sounds reasonable. Do you think your mom would go that far?” Chase asked, his brow lined. “I mean, firing Jules?”
I laughed at the thought now out in the world, shakingmy head. “No. If anyone got shitcanned, it would be me. Jules is too damn good at her job.”
“Hardly. You’re the favorite son.”
I rolled my head toward him. “There’s plenty of competition for that title. But you’re right. It was just a dream and didn’t mean anything.”
“Did you tell Jules about your dream?”
I gaped at him. “Are you kidding? What am I supposed to say? ‘Hey, baby, I had a nightmare where my mom turned into a monster and made me fire you?’”
I laughed, but as soon as the words left my mouth, my gut twisted. Because I also hadn’t told her about that other dream. The one I’d had that first night we’d spent in her bed. That had been a wonderful dream—the complete opposite of last night’s. We’d been snuggled up on the couch out here watching the stars at night. Just… together and happy.
“So who all knows about your new love connection?”
“Only you, so let’s keep it that way. Besides, I’m pretty sure Lacey will pry it out of Jules soon enough.”
“Exactly.” He leaned forward to emphasize his point. “This is a small town. Secrets have a way of leaking.”
“Relax, Sherlock. We’ll be fine.” I waved my hand at him. “I mean, how hard can it be to keep a romance under wraps?”
“Famous last words.”
An uneasy knot tightened in my stomach. I tried to shake it off. “Besides, nobody pays attention to anything around here unless it involves drama or bad sunburns.”
“And I don’t need to remind you what category you and Jules fall under,” Chase shot back.
“Why do you think I’m keeping this a secret? I’d rather put my head in the sand than deal with Mom’s disapproval right now.”
“Head in the sand? More like head in the clouds,” he countered, tilting his head. “Eli, you seem… different this time. With Jules.”
“Different?” I laughed, but it felt hollow. I lifted my beer in mock salute. “Seriously, Chase, we’re good. I promise. Let sleeping dogs lie and all that.”
“Sure, but remember that sleeping dogs sometimes wake up and bite.”
“True. But if they do, I’m more than capable of dodging and smacking them on the nose for their misbehavior.”
The moon hung lazily above us, casting a silvery glow over the courtyard. I straightened up in my seat, my smile falling as chagrin replaced it. “Sorry, man. I got sidetracked there with Jules, and you came over to talk about your proposal. Let’s dive back into it.”
He took a drink and nodded. “I know you love the place, and it represents happier days to you. But, Eli, the roofs of both room blocks are practically begging for help, and the pool area has seen better days. Like, decades ago.”
I ruffled a hand through my hair and exhaled a long breath. “You’re right. I know we can’t keep kicking the can down the road. But it just feels…”
“Weighty?” he suggested, eyebrow raised.
“Yeah. It’s hard not to think about how much is riding on all of this. Not just for me, but for everyone who depends on the place.”
“And that’s why these renovations are crucial. Even the budget-friendly fixes will require a financial commitment. And Band-Aid fixes aren’t going to cut it. We need to arrange a meeting with the key players. I’ll leave who that is up to you.”
I thought about it for a moment. “Jules and Harper for sure. And any of my brothers who want to come too. Butfor now, I think we should keep Mom out of it. She wants to step back from resort operations, so this would be the perfect time to start.” I kept quiet about the fact that she already had major reservations about the whole process.
