Page 48 of The Handy Men
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Paige pedaled back to the inn as fast as she could and helped with the dinner clean up. After saying good night to her guests, she took a long, hot shower. She would miss Dean's hands on her and Jack's frenzied kisses. Letting the shower stream wash away her tears, she girded herself for battle.
The first thing she did after she toweled off was shut off her phone. With any luck, that would buy her the rest of the night. But then she thought about it. If her parents couldn't reach her by phone, they would come to the inn. The doors were locked and only the guests had keys. She wouldn't put it past her parents to knock on the doors and disturb her guests, so she got dressed in her best jeans and a V-neck tee.
Then she pulled up her bank account and glared at it for a half hour. No matter what she did, there was no way she could scrape together sixty thousand dollars. She wouldn't have enough to pay her bills next month as it was. She didn’t have enough to even buy any more food until her guests this week settled their bills and went home. As long as her future guests didn't cancel, she could still keep going as long as her parents didn’t demand she pay the loan off right away. And that would only work as long as she played by their rules. She checked her ledgers, the food pantry, and the walk in freezer. Paige had enough stuff frozen or stocked up, so she didn't need to go food shopping immediately, and she still had a few emergency credit cards. She needed to be smart with her money, with her parents, and with—or rather without Dean and Jack.
As part of the loan agreement, if the entire amount was paid in full within five years, her parents gave up any interest accrued. That had to be her first priority. She would make it happen. If they called in the loan now, she was screwed. She’d lose the bed and breakfast to them and she’d have to start over.
When she felt that her legs wouldn't wobble and that she wouldn't pitch herself into an anxiety attack, Paige grabbed a sweater and decided to take a drive out to Caillie's place. Maybe if she put in an appearance and played the dutiful daughter, they would forget about trying to ruin her life. She wished Jack and Dean had decided to stick with her. It was because of them that she had come so far. But they were trying to protect her and she appreciated that. They would always be her friends. She would always ache to be with them as a lover, but she would survive and one day the hurt would go away. Melancholy chased around her in the shadows of the night. However, the ocean breeze soothed her and she drove with the windows down to enjoy the night air.
All the lights were on at Caillie's house, even though it was closing in on ten p.m. That counted as a wild night on Hamlet Island. Paige could the party was going on in Caillie's backyard. Parking her car on the street, Paige walked through the front yard. Sure enough, there was a large fire pit, and festive Chinese lanterns were strung all over the back. Barbie had her nose in her tablet, the large glass of sangria next to her untouched. She looked lovely with khaki capris and a tight-fitting blouse. Paige waited for the anger, but there was nothing. Fred was talking with her father by the bar, probably about business. Caillie and her mother were sitting with their backs to the party, on lawn chairs facing the water. There were a few other townspeople there, wandering around and chatting. No one had seen Paige yet and she wondered if she'd be better off waiting until tomorrow to play, "I'm the best daughter in the world."
Because her luck was shit, Barbie glanced up from her tablet and they stared at each other for a moment. Then, she uncoiled like a viper and headed her way.
Oh hell no. Not today Satan.
Paige ducked around the house and hustled back to her car.
"Paige?" Barbie had caught up to her.
Damn it. Paige's hand was on the car door handle. She’d almost gotten away scot-free. Reluctantly, she forced herself to turn around. Snide comments and the impulse to slap Barbie across her pretty face flared up briefly, but was gone in a moment. The world's most perfectest daughter didn't start a brawl with the wonderboy's fiancée. Stopping a sigh from popping out, Paige crossed her arms over her chest.
"What do you want?" Paige said, trying to keep a rein on her bitterness.
"I wanted to apologize."
"For ruining my marriage?" Paige quirked an eyebrow. Oops, the bitterness slipped out anyway. She wasn't still grieving the loss, but that didn't mean she was ready to let Barbie off the hook.
"Honestly, if it was that strong, I couldn't have ruined it.” Barbie grimaced in sympathy.
"You have a point." Paige nodded.
"I'm sorry for Fred being an asshat these past few weeks. His control freak is dialed up to eleven."
That surprised a smile out of Paige.
"And I'm sorry for what your parents are putting you through," Barbie continued. "They're treating you like a child and it's not fair."
"No, it's not. But I knew what I was getting into when I asked them for the loan." I shrugged.
Barbie took a deep breath. "Look, I know this is kind of awkward.” She glanced over her shoulder and then unslung her pocket book. "I've been doing some research, and I love what you did with the Nutmeg Inn. I'd like to book the place for my company's annual retreat in August."
"I'm booked solid the first two weeks," Paige said, her heart thumping.
"What about the last two? I would need all ten rooms."
"I can accommodate you. I would need a fifty percent non-refundable deposit, though."
"How much?" Barbie asked, pulling out a corporate card.
"The rooms are three hundred a night." Paige started to shake. Was this really happening?
Barbie frowned. "Your website said three-fifty a night."
"I'm giving you a bulk discount and a family discount."
"Don't." Barbie laughed. "My company has deep pockets. I've got a budget of fifty thousand. Why don't we call it that? You can run the card for half of that and I'll pay the other half when I check in."
