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A silence fell, and I was uncharacteristically lost for conversation. I normally always had something to say, but Rinnie made me want to be impressive. I didn’t want to bore her with just any old small talk, and nothing good enough was coming to mind.

“We haven’t spoken since last Friday at bingo,” she said, her eyes searching.

I rubbed my chin and winced. “I was too hard on you that day. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. Everyone was going to find out about Cooke sooner or later, and the aftermath was going to have to be handled one way or another.”

“It was a bit of a mess, I think we can both admit to that,” she said. “And thank you for your apology. I appreciate it.”

“A good boss can admit when he’s wrong. But really, I was an arsehole. It won’t happen again.”

Her expression softened. “Thank you, and I guess I can admit I got a little emotional when I should’ve remained professional, but Cooke is family to me. He’s also been here almost as long as I have. We’re both very attached to this place, and it’s tough when a new owner comes along and starts making changes.”

“Rinnie, I’m not—"

“It’s fine. You purchased the hotel fair and square, and you have every right to change things where you see fit.” She paused, searching my face once again. “I just hope there aren’t any more surprises coming around the corner?”

“There aren’t. I promise you. No more shocks.”

“Okay, that’s a relief.”

I wanted to say more to reassure her, but it felt pointless to keep hashing it out. I’d been regretting how I’d acted ever since Friday. It was the look on her face, like she was internally chastising herself for the tiny mistake of letting someone see her texts, that did me in. I’d wanted to take the words back immediately, but I couldn’t. If I did, it would reveal the soft spot I had for her, and as a boss, I couldn’t allow myself to have soft spots for any employee, least of all Rinnie—who I continued to feel this inconvenient pull and attraction towards.

“How is Cooke doing with it all?” I asked instead, a twist of guilt taking over as I said his name. Letting him go was a tough call, but between spending months training him, paying Moira or Blake to provide said training and paying him a salary on top of it all, the severance was far less costly. I hated having to be so cold and logical in these matters, but if I wasn’t, there would be no business, and no jobs for the all the others we employed.

Rinnie blew out a small breath. “He was a little down for a few days, but he seems to have perked back up since yesterday. He’s always had this dream of opening a food truck that sells lobster rolls and fish and chips. He thinks it would do great with all the tourists.”

My eyes lifted. That wasn’t a bad business idea. “They are a lot of tourists who come through this town. He could do well with something like that.”

“But it’s a hard decision because he now has to choose between using his severance to purchase a truck and pay for all the startup costs or saving it and living off it until he finds another full-time job.”

“That is a risk. Has he considered a small business loan? That way he wouldn’t have to use his severance, and even if the business fails, he can get another job in a kitchen to keep making the repayments.”

“I’m not sure. It’s just an idea at the moment. He has a great lobster roll recipe, but he doesn’t have a good head for business. He’d need help with that.”

“I could do it,” I offered impulsively, and Rinnie’s eyes widened.

“Really?”

A brief wave of self-consciousness shook me. I was so eager to please her, but the offer was out there now, so I had to run with it.

“Sure. I still feel terrible about letting him go. It’s the least I can do. And if he manages to get the business off the ground, I’d be happy to have him come park outside the hotel one or two days a week. The guests enjoy our fine dining experience for their evening meal, but I think lobster rolls would be a big hit at lunch time.”

I was letting my impulsiveness run away with me, as I often did, but on this occasion, I realised even as I was making the offer that it was a really smart idea. The hotel was right by the beach, and people loved to eat seafood when they were by the water. Plus, food trucks had become hugely popular in recent years.

Rinnie seemed taken aback, her hand going to her neck as she met my gaze with her beautiful amber eyes. “That’s very generous of you. I mean, I’m sure Cooke would be over the moon to be able to park by the hotel since he loves the place and the staff, but maybe your brother won’t be keen on the idea.”

“I think he’ll love it, but you’re right, I’ll run it by Derek first. If he agrees it’s a good plan, then I’ll let you know, and you can tell Cooke.”

A smile began to pull at her lips, and for the first time she appeared to have completely forgotten that we were stuck together in a five-by-six-foot space.

“Thank you, Tristan. You’ve always been so …” She trailed off, frowning to herself before she cleared her throat. “I mean, you’re a kind person. I can see that now.”

“You didn’t think me kind before?”

“Well, no, but that was only because I resented you.” She paused to sigh, rubbing at her forehead before she confessed, “Back before you bought this place, my uncle would sometimes hint that he and Nessa planned to leave the hotel to me and my sister when they passed. I suppose I latched on to that idea, imagining that one day the hotel would be mine.”

Her confession had my chest tightening, especially given the way she dipped her head, her shoulders sagging as she spoke, like it was still a sore spot for her. She had no idea how much I could relate. Derek and I had spent our entire lives preparing to take over our father’s business, working hard to prove ourselves, so I understood the hope and expectation all too well. But unlike Rinnie, I’d actually gotten to take over. She’d never gotten to fulfil that dream, and the guilt I felt at being the one to snatch it away from her was heavier than anticipated.

“I’m sorry,” I said, a tightness in my chest.