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“It doesn’t commit us to anything,” Worth says, clearly a little taken aback by Avril’s strength of feeling.

I realize she hasn’t spoken to him about how much Boston means to her and why. How come?

“Worth, we both know that’s a lie. It completely commits you mentally. And that’s all you need. If you put an offer in on the Fifth Avenue place, I might as well abandon Boston.”

He shakes his head. “We need to have a backup plan, and Fifth Avenue isn’t even a backup. It should be a real consideration.”

Before Avril can argue, Sophia calls Worth over to her, leaving Avril and me alone.

“You okay?” I ask her.

She sighs, crossing her arms in front of her. “Same old, same old. He’s just indulging me with the Boston thing. I think he’s already decided on the New York site.”

“Because it’s a better business proposition?” I ask. Worth might just see things in dollar signs.

“It’s very similar in terms of the profitability. Boston is better, but New York is arguably less of a risk. It’s frustrating.”

“When there’s so much money at stake, you’re always going to have to approach him with the financial upside and ignore the personal.”

“Of course,” she says. “I know how my brother’s mind works more than anyone. He doesn’t understand why Boston is so important to me.”

“How come?”

“Because if I told him, he’d probably put Fifth Avenue on hold.”

“But that’s what you want,” I say, confused.

“I know, but I want him to do it because it’s the better proposition rather than because I asked him to. I’m his sister, he’d do anything for me.”

“That’s a nice position to be in.”

“Agreed. Except, I don’t want Worth to choose Boston because I want it. I want the Boston place to stand on its own merits. I don’t want a free ride on this one.”

“Hey,” I say, shocked at how she’s putting herself down. “Worth is not the wealthy, successful guy that he is by giving out free rides. If he didn’t think Hotel on Ninth Street was a viable proposition, he wouldn’t have said yes.”

Avril just shrugs, like I don’t know what I’m talking about but she can’t be bothered to argue. “Maybe. I just want to get through this week, see if you can work your magic with Boston and then, hopefully, Worth can make the right decision based on the financials, not on the fact that I’m his little sister who still needs help at every turn.”

We’re interrupted by Poppy, who’s brought us both a drink, and then people start to take their seats around the table, and I’m seated next to Avril, which brings back memories of Aurora and Deacon’s engagement party.

It feels like so long ago, but it was only a matter of weeks.

But so much has changed.

I was determined not to help Avril with her Boston problem, but now I know, no matter what happens between now and Sunday, I am going to help her. Not because things between us aren’t messy. Not because I’m not concerned that my reputation won’t take a blow if she gets hurt by me or if things go south…but because I can’t not.

I’m helping her because I want to help her.

It’s a first for me, but I don’t feel like I have any choice. Avril Huntington is changing my MO, whether I like it or not.

TWENTY-THREE

Avril

I watch the bare trees whizz past as I gaze out of the train window. I’ve never even considered going from New York to Boston by train. I’ve always flown. But the visit to Grand Central with Ben made me wonder why I’d never tried it. It’s a long journey—three and a half hours, and it departed from Penn Station, which is a lot less romantic than Grand Central, but I rocked up fifteen minutes before the train left the station, didn’t have the journey to the airport, and will get right into central Boston when I arrive. Plus I can work on the train. If I pull myself away from the view. I figure it actually doesn’t take more time than flying if you factor everything in.

Except that it’s still a long time.

I got the first train out of New York at five thirty this morning and I don’t arrive until nine. When Ben said he was out this evening with his brother, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to go up to Boston. I won’t be back until around nine tonight. I have meetings with realtors all over town, and I’m also going to make sure I stop by some of the big hotels and grab myself a cup of coffee. I figure it’s research and, hey, maybe one of the staff members will tell me the building is up for sale. It’s not likely, but you never know. It’s going to be a long day, and there’s going to be more of them if we manage to actually get a place up here.