landed the mysterious heiress from the north.
That and the biceps.
“Will came to see me yesterday. She seemed a bit . . . wired.”
“Let me guess,” Randy said. “She was drinking coffee.”
“Yvonne gave her some when she arrived at the hotel.” There was no reason to take credit for providing Will with the caffeine fix. Especially if her large and protective fiancé didn’t want her to have it.
Randy shook his head as he wiped the sweat away with his own towel. “Will is good at looking calm on the outside, but she’s more high-strung than you’d think. I thought cutting out the caffeine would help calm her nerves.” The men crossed the workout area to reach the locker room. Randy let Sam enter first. “Which is looking like a miscalculation on my part.”
“Once she gets her legs under her with this business, I’m sure things will level out.”
“About that,” Randy said, dropping onto the edge of a bench that ran between two rows of lockers. “She mentioned this wedding coming up at your place before Christmas.”
“That’s right. We talked about it yesterday.”
“Well . . .” Randy rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s worried the place won’t be done in time. I told her that if you said it would be done, it’ll be done, but are you sure? If she can’t deliver on a deal this early, that’s going to look really bad for a new business.”
Sam didn’t like being questioned, though he understood Randy’s motivations. Will was important to him, and that meant Randy would do whatever he had to do to make sure she succeeded.
“The Sunset Harbor Inn will be renovated and ready for business in time for the wedding. I’ve already given Will my word on that, and I’ll give it to you as well.” Randy seemed to exhale and Sam added, “I wouldn’t question your business integrity. I’d appreciate the same in return.”
Randy’s nostrils flared as his brown eyes darkened. Sam was no slouch, but he knew this man could likely stomp him into dust if he wanted. That didn’t mean Sam would back down or tolerate having his word doubted.
Several tense seconds passed, before Randy nodded. “Point taken.” He tossed the towel over his shoulder. “But don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help in any way.”
So, Randy was willing to accept his word but still do whatever was necessary to make sure Will wasn’t disappointed. Fair enough.
“Will do,” Sam said, strolling past the larger man to reach his locker.
“There’s no limit to what I’d do for Will,” Randy said. “I’m sure you understand.”
The words reminded Sam of the limits of what he’d been willing to do for Meredith.
With a nod, he pulled a shaving kit from his locker and headed for the showers.
The daunting task of turning the run-down, ramshackle Sunset Harbor Inn into a stylish and modern boutique hotel in record time couldn’t compete with the struggle of having to live with Callie’s mother, even if for only a few days.
Callie could not get to work early enough when the alternative was running into Evelyn Henderson at the coffeemaker. The evening before had been filled with sighs, backward insults, and a temper tantrum her mother would term her way of expressing her sensitive and stepped-on feelings. If only Henri didn’t so enjoy poking the older woman at every opportunity. You’d think having to ride back to Charleston with her would be reason enough for her cousin to embrace peace on the Aunty front.
But Henri had always been the agitator in the family. All Callie had ever wanted was to be invisible, which was why she’d been so silent she could have been mistaken for a mute during her teenage years. As a small child, she’d done everything possible to gain her mother’s approval. By puberty, she’d come to the realization that she was wasting her time.
No matter now. Callie was a grown woman taking charge of her own life. So she’d traded seeking maternal approval for chasing
That and the biceps.
“Will came to see me yesterday. She seemed a bit . . . wired.”
“Let me guess,” Randy said. “She was drinking coffee.”
“Yvonne gave her some when she arrived at the hotel.” There was no reason to take credit for providing Will with the caffeine fix. Especially if her large and protective fiancé didn’t want her to have it.
Randy shook his head as he wiped the sweat away with his own towel. “Will is good at looking calm on the outside, but she’s more high-strung than you’d think. I thought cutting out the caffeine would help calm her nerves.” The men crossed the workout area to reach the locker room. Randy let Sam enter first. “Which is looking like a miscalculation on my part.”
“Once she gets her legs under her with this business, I’m sure things will level out.”
“About that,” Randy said, dropping onto the edge of a bench that ran between two rows of lockers. “She mentioned this wedding coming up at your place before Christmas.”
“That’s right. We talked about it yesterday.”
“Well . . .” Randy rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s worried the place won’t be done in time. I told her that if you said it would be done, it’ll be done, but are you sure? If she can’t deliver on a deal this early, that’s going to look really bad for a new business.”
Sam didn’t like being questioned, though he understood Randy’s motivations. Will was important to him, and that meant Randy would do whatever he had to do to make sure she succeeded.
“The Sunset Harbor Inn will be renovated and ready for business in time for the wedding. I’ve already given Will my word on that, and I’ll give it to you as well.” Randy seemed to exhale and Sam added, “I wouldn’t question your business integrity. I’d appreciate the same in return.”
Randy’s nostrils flared as his brown eyes darkened. Sam was no slouch, but he knew this man could likely stomp him into dust if he wanted. That didn’t mean Sam would back down or tolerate having his word doubted.
Several tense seconds passed, before Randy nodded. “Point taken.” He tossed the towel over his shoulder. “But don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help in any way.”
So, Randy was willing to accept his word but still do whatever was necessary to make sure Will wasn’t disappointed. Fair enough.
“Will do,” Sam said, strolling past the larger man to reach his locker.
“There’s no limit to what I’d do for Will,” Randy said. “I’m sure you understand.”
The words reminded Sam of the limits of what he’d been willing to do for Meredith.
With a nod, he pulled a shaving kit from his locker and headed for the showers.
The daunting task of turning the run-down, ramshackle Sunset Harbor Inn into a stylish and modern boutique hotel in record time couldn’t compete with the struggle of having to live with Callie’s mother, even if for only a few days.
Callie could not get to work early enough when the alternative was running into Evelyn Henderson at the coffeemaker. The evening before had been filled with sighs, backward insults, and a temper tantrum her mother would term her way of expressing her sensitive and stepped-on feelings. If only Henri didn’t so enjoy poking the older woman at every opportunity. You’d think having to ride back to Charleston with her would be reason enough for her cousin to embrace peace on the Aunty front.
But Henri had always been the agitator in the family. All Callie had ever wanted was to be invisible, which was why she’d been so silent she could have been mistaken for a mute during her teenage years. As a small child, she’d done everything possible to gain her mother’s approval. By puberty, she’d come to the realization that she was wasting her time.
No matter now. Callie was a grown woman taking charge of her own life. So she’d traded seeking maternal approval for chasing
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