Bailey had been busy the past few days with the B and B. They’d had guests coming and going, most of them short stays, which required more work since she was constantly stripping the room and cleaning it for new guests. Yesterday, she’d had a surprising phone call from Maya, Chester King’s niece. She’d heard there was a job and wanted to know if it was still available.
Her initial reaction to the idea was skepticism. Bailey knew Maya and her brother, Cassius. Both were what the town liked to consider wild and out of control. They had been, for sure, growing up. But Maya had started college last fall, so Bailey hoped she’d gotten some of the wild out.
Turned out, she hadn’t really, but she seemed eager to do something other than sit around and listen to her uncle bitch about her getting a job. As far as incentive to work went, Bailey wasn’t sure that qualified, but since she hadn’t had any other candidates willing to try, Bailey had hired her on the spot. Only time would tell whether the nineteen-year-old would work out, but as usual, Bailey was optimistic.
They had to knock on the door because it was locked, but a moment later, Rafe appeared, allowing them inside and locking the door behind them.
“Thanks for comin’,” he said, gesturing toward a table set up with glasses of water. In the center was a manilla folder.
“What’s goin’ on?” Bailey asked as she looked around. “Is Mack here?”
“Just me.”
She managed to take a seat when Holt pulled out her chair for her. Bailey kept her eyes on Rafe. He seemed nervous but not fidgety. They hadn’t talked much since she came home from the hospital to find him coming down the stairs. Rafe had come to the B and B the following morning for breakfast as he’d proposed, but other than that, he’d been MIA. Except for a few text messages to check in.
Bailey was still harboring some animosity since, from what she could tell, Rafe had opened up to Holt about his past. It hurt that neither of them thought it was important to share with her, but she was doing her best to be patient. Like them, it wasn’t her strong suit.
“What’s this?” Holt asked, tapping the manilla folder.
“Open it,” Rafe said, pacing in front of them.
Holt pushed it closer to her, so Bailey picked it up and opened it. There was only one sheet of paper inside. A bill of sale.
She skimmed it, a smile forming as she realized what it was. Her eyes were glassy with tears of joy when she looked up at Rafe.
“Mack sold you the bar.”
He nodded, and she was almost positive his eyes were shiny too.
“That’s wonderful!” She launched herself up from the chair and right into his arms. “Congratulations! It’s crazy, but I’m happy for you.” She pulled back. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We just signed the papers yesterday,” he said quickly. “I wanted to wait until we could have a few minutes to talk.”
She stepped back, reluctant to hear what this conversation entailed. Knowing Rafe, he was going to say he would now be focused on the bar full-time and wouldn’t have any to spare for them. If he did that, she would have to smack him. They’d made some progress this past week. Not a lot, but it was still progress. No way was she going to let him backtrack on her now.
“What brought it about?” Holt asked. “Mack selling the bar?”
Bailey returned to her seat, wanting to hear the story.
“To be honest, I’m still not sure. He called me in last Monday and told me. We’d never talked about him sellin’, but he said it was time.”
“Was it weird?” Bailey had worked for Mack for quite a while. She could only imagine how that conversation went.
“I thought he was firin’ me,” Rafe admitted, a smile pulling at his lips.
Bailey laughed. Now, that she could see Mack doing. Most people didn’t see his mischievous side, but it had come out more since he married Jeff. She figured happiness brought out the best parts of people.
“Did you take out a loan?” Holt inquired.
Rafe shook his head. “I own it free and clear. He sold it to me for twenty bucks. The exact amount I left for a tip a few weeks ago.”
Bailey could feel her chest expanding with warmth. She was so happy for Rafe, but she was equally as concerned for herself.
“Are you gonna convert it into the roadhouse like you wanted?”
“A roadhouse?” Holt nodded. “I can see it.”
Rafe nodded. “That’s the plan. I’m not in a rush. I’ll do most of the work myself, and I’m hopin’ Rex’ll help. He’s good at shit like that.”
