Page 105 of Without a Hitch
“It will happen quickly. I got the preliminary contracts this morning.”
“What are you wearing?” he asks as I cross the patio and set the computer down on a table.
I adjust the screen so just my torso and head are in view. “What?”
“What are you wearing?”
Glancing down, I squeeze my eyes shut to keep from rolling them. The T-shirt I pulled over my head is a Tilly special. It’s heathered gray with bright yellow lettering that saysRelaxed AF. I won’t address the baby trackies.
“I’m relaxing,” I deadpan.
“Since when, Lochlan? I’ve never seen you in anything but dress pants. Even at summer camp, you wore khakis. What’s going on with you?”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s over now. Can you move on Mercer?”
He glares through the screen of his computer. The old Blake would have pushed. I’m not sure what damaged Blake will do. He’s the only person I know who’s more broken than me, and I’m sure that’s the only reason he lets my attire go.
“I’ll call Nate today. Has anything changed with your plans?”
“Like what?”
“You still want them shut down and sold off?”
“Yes. That’s the entire point of bringing you in.” If he hears the annoyance in my tone, he ignores me. Most people do. Most people, but not Tilly. She’d be right by my side, making sure I was okay. My jaw ticks at the thought.
“And all the events? The weddings? I investigated the venues last week. There are eight high-profile weddings happening during the two months it will take to transfer ownership to a new holder. Then there are a few smaller events—I’m assuming not too many because it will already be post-wedding season. You still want to fuck over all those innocent people?”
“It’s not personal, and I’m taking care of the employees,” I mutter, but Tilly’s face is all I can see. How she glows when she’s at these soul-shattering events.
“I know, but…”
“Give them the option to move to my hotels.” The words don’t taste as bitter coming out of my mouth as I thought they would.
“Loch?”
“Honor their contracts at my hotels. If they don’t accept that offer, they’ll get a full refund.”
“From who?”
“I’ll eat the loss.”
“Dude, are you feeling okay? Who will manage these events? It’s not like it’s in your wheelhouse, and without Christine, you’ll—”
“Without Christine, I will fucking soar. Tilly Camden’s company has exclusive access to my hotels. Forward them her contact information, and she’ll take over the second that fucker signs his life away.”
“Is Tilly responsible for that shirt?” He smirks.
I scrub a hand over the scruff on my jaw so I don’t curse him out. “She was.”
“Was?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Is she also why you look like your heart was put through a wood chipper?”
“I do not.”
“Have you looked in the mirror, Loch?”
