Page 46 of The Handy Men
"In what way? You're not going to hurt him are you?"
"Not my style."
"Then how? He's on the phone with her father at least three times a week about the bed and breakfast. They think they're the good guys wearing white hats and will swoop in and save Paige from the errors of her ways." She rolled her eyes. "It looks like she's doing just fine. Based on her website, I think she's going to be very successful."
"If her father and your hubby-to-be, don't ruin it for her."
"Can I give you some advice?" she said.
"I'm all ears."
"We're going to be here a week. Your relationship with Paige is going to exacerbate the situation until it goes nuclear and no one wins. I think her parents are ready to call in the loan and I know Paige doesn't have the money."
"How do you know this?" Jack asked.
"That's all they talk about." Barbie threw her hands up in frustration. "It would take a lot of wind out of their sails if you two made yourself scarce this week. Once we're gone, go back to business as usual. I'm sure if Paige can survive this week without having to pay the loan back in full, she'll be able to pay her parents back within the next two years."
There was no way Jack was going to hide for two years, but Barbie made a lot of sense about not antagonizing Paige's parents. "I'll see what I can do." Dean wasn't going to be too happy about it either, but if it made things easier on Paige, they would stay away this week.
"I had another idea that would help, but it's going to depend on you," Jack said.
"Me?" Barbie chewed on a chip thoughtfully.
"Think of it as balancing your karma." Jack gave her a grin, even as she narrowed her eyes at him.
* * *
Paige had just finished serving dinner and stepped out on the porch to enjoy the sunset when she got a text from Dean.
Fred & Barbie are on the ferry with us. Your dad called him to make him convince you to dump us.
"Holy shit," Paige breathed. She darted back inside even as more texts started to come through. "Anna," she called to the older housekeeper. "I've got visitors coming in on the ferry. Can you manage without me?"
"Sure," she said. "You go. I got this."
"My cell phone number is on the fridge if you need me."
Paige grabbed her bike with the new tire Dean put on and scrolled through the other texts before getting on.
Parents are going to use the loan as leverage for you to stop seeing us.
"No shit," she murmured. What the hell was she going to do know? She had to convince her parents not to call in the loan.
Paternity test came back. Stephanie's son Brendon is mine.
That was out of left field. Paige blew out a shaky breath. She could handle this. She would handle this. A part of her was irked that she had to find out about that through a text.
We need to talk. Meet me and Jack at the swim pavilion in a half hour.
Paige rode her bike over to the pavilion and paced around inside while she waited for them. Emotions churned in her stomach. She didn’t know what the hell she was going to do, but at least Jack and Dean were there with her. Finding out Stephanie had hid his son from him for two years must be really eating at Dean, but she wished he had waited to tell her in person so she could give him a hug. What was so important that they had to say to her in person when the big news about his son was sent in a text?
Paige tried to feel something besides nervousness. What did they want to talk to her about? Somehow, she didn’t think they were inviting her to a kinky threesome on the beach. The hollow feeling in her chest wouldn’t go away.
When they finally walked in, she threw herself into their arms. She hugged both of them tight, trying to blink back tears. For the first time, it felt awkward when she clung to them and they seemed stiff.
Pulling away, Paige sniffed and wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "What a day, right?"
Jack looked at his feet and there was pain in Dean's eyes.
