What it Takes to Fall

by Ellis, C. R.

  Millie and George agreed right away, but Sophia and Elliot became quiet and exchanged looks of uncertainty.

  “Nothing’s going to be written in stone. You guys still have time to decide what you’re going to do.”

  Elliot nodded and gave me an appreciative smile.

  “That sounds wonderful. Will you be ready by Sunday evening, Bryce?” Millie asked.

  “Sunday works for me.” Considering my only other Sunday night plans are sitting around, staring at my phone in case something comes up with Peyton.

  We finalized plans and made idle chitchat until Elliot received a text and said she had to go. Sophia went with her, leaving me alone with George and Millie.

  “She’s single, you know,” Millie offered, drawing my attention.

  “Uh…” I started, unsure of how to respond. Thanks? Good to know?

  Nothing felt quite right. Did it even matter? Could it even matter?

  I wish I knew.

  George sighed and muttered something under his breath.

  “What?” Millie asked, holding her hands up innocently. “She is. Just letting the young man know. It’s called conversation, George.”

  He snorted. “It’s called meddling, hon. You’re going to scare the poor kid off.”

  Millie scoffed. “Bryce, dear, tell George I did not scare you off.”

  “I’m not…we’re just…” I stopped myself from forming an actual response, turning to face Millie with an eyebrow arched in question.

  She smiled sweetly and patted my arm. “Trust me, a man doesn’t look at a woman the way you’ve been looking at Elliot without having such questions. And just between us, I think you’re exactly what she needs right now.”

  I wanted to ask her to elaborate on what she meant by that, but she just winked at me and linked her arm through George’s before strolling toward their Jeep.

  Huh.

  Driving home, I thought back to the last conversation Elliot and I had before I decided to stay in Seattle.

  That night, Elliot convinced me not to resign myself to a life of shackles and apathy. That kind of acceptance snuffs out passion and binds you to a life devoid of purpose, she said.

  I stayed in Seattle to avoid being weighed down by a future full of unhappiness, and in an ironic twist of fate, that’s exactly what I found there.

  Following Elliot’s advice was the best and worst decision of my life.

  * * *

  I must’ve been delusional to think meeting my cousin on a Saturday morning was a good idea. The dude spent every Friday night in recent memory holed up with a random flavor of the hour. Twenty minutes after we were supposed to meet, my phone pinged with a text from him, apologizing for being late and saying he’d explain when he got to the coffee shop in an hour.

  I actually didn’t mind the delay because it gave me more time to go over my sketches. It also gave me more time to let my thoughts drift from the plans for the inn to plans of a whole different kind.

  I was flipping through my notes and sipping on my second cup of coffee when Elliot’s voice interrupted my thoughts. Speak of the blue-eyed devil…

  “You know, some people might call this stalking. We don’t see each other once over the past year, now I feel like I see you everywhere,” she said.

  I looked up and felt something churn in my gut when I took in El’s appearance. In more ways than one, being this affected by the sight of Elliot Kincaid was completely unexpected.

  A knee-length navy blue dress hugged and highlighted the subtle curves of her body, making my fingers itch to explore. A quick glance at her feet confirmed my suspicion about heels being responsible for showing off her toned calves, and I had to force my brain not to think about what it’d feel like to have those legs wrapped around me. I brought my eyes up in an effort to pull my thoughts out of the gutter, but I should’ve known better. Her soft blonde locks were trapped in a tight bun atop her head, and the sudden desire to tug it loose and see her hair fall wild and free was enough to make me suck in a breath and dig my fingers into my thighs.

  Elliot was subtly, effortlessly sexy, and I was pretty sure she had no idea the kind of impression her appearance made.

  Which only made her that much more appealing.

  “Oh, you’re stalking me now?” I teased, closing my sketch pad and picking up my coffee cup to keep my hands busy. “I mean, I was here first, so how could I possibly be stalking you?”

  Elliot’s sky-blue eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, but her lips tugged into a smile. “Okay, I’ll give you that. But then again, that’s probably the exact logic a stalker would use.”

  “It is. I actually took that straight from my Stalking for Dummies book.”

  We both started laughing, and I realized her laugh was still as contagious as it had been when we were kids.

  Her eyes fell to my sketch pad. “Are those for the inn?” She stepped closer when I nodded. “Can I get a preview?”

  I was about to tell her yes, but only if she joined me, when a barista behind the counter called Elliot’s name and pushed two four-drink cartons across the bar.

  “That’s my cue. I’m gonna have an angry bridal party if I don’t get them caffeinated ASAP.”

  “Of course. Here, let me help you get that out to your car,” I offered, stepping up beside her and taking one of the cartons before she could protest.

  “Thanks. There’s a pretty good chance I would’ve dropped one of them.”

  I turned left in the parking lot and came to a stop at her red sedan.

  “Tell me again how you’re not stalking me.”

  “Hey, you’re the one who showed up at the coffee shop I go to almost every weekend.”

  She lifted a brow. “Every weekend, huh? You’re like a stalker’s dream target with that kind of predictability, Bryce.”

  “You know this from personal experience?”

  “Yep. I’ve been stalking you for a year, just waiting until I had food stains all over my clothes and hair to make my presence known to you. You know, had to make a memorable first impression. Er, second first impression?”

  I laughed, but her comment made me realize I still needed to explain myself. I wanted to tell her I’d come close to calling her so often, but stopped each time reality crashed into me. I wanted to tell her everything—why I came back, why I never called her, but I needed more than half a minute to explain all that. So, instead of opening up to her like I needed to, I stepped back and stuffed my hands in my pockets, forcing my eyes to meet hers.

  “El, about that…I want you to know I thought about calling you a thousand times. It’s just…there are complications in my life. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but I hope you’ll give me a chance to explain why it’s not. Let me bring dinner tomorrow so we can talk after going over plans.”

  “Bryce, you don’t have—”

  I shook my head. “I know I don’t have to, Elliot. But I want to. Say yes.”

  She hesitated, but slowly nodded her head. “Okay.”

  I smiled and gently closed her door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  As soon as Elliot’s car disappeared from view, a hand clamped down on my shoulder. “I’d apologize, but that grin on your face tells me you should be thanking me for being late. Who was that? And does she have a sister?”

  I turned and shook Xander’s outstretched hand, finally peeling my eyes from the direction Elliot’s car had gone to look at him. With rumpled clothes and an uncharacteristic five o’clock shadow lining his jaw, I’d have bet serious money he was fighting a hellacious hangover. “Jesus, did you even go to sleep last night?” I asked, knowing the answer by the smirk he flashed. “That was Elliot Kincaid. Also, potentially my new client.”

  “Why does that name sound familiar?” he asked as we walked back through the coffee shop’s doors.

  “Elliot and I were friends when we were kids. Her grandparents’ property backs up to my parents’, and we played all the time. You probably heard me talk about h
er a lot back then. We lost touch when I moved, but now there’s a good chance I’ll be seeing her a lot.”

  Xander nodded and pulled his wayfarer sunglasses off. “That was Elliot? Damn. I guess I forgot Elliot was a chick. No wonder you were smiling. What about now? Please tell me you’re not still in the friend zone.”

  I didn’t answer Xander’s question right away because I wasn’t sure how to answer it. Each time I laid eyes on Elliot, my thoughts went way beyond friendly territory, but the same reality that had kept me from calling her before was never far from my thoughts.

  Plus, I’d soon be working for her, and any kind of complication in our relationship was a recipe for trouble.

  Then again…some of the best things in life are the most complicated.

  “I don’t know, man,” I finally answered with a shrug. “Things are different now, for sure. But you know my life isn’t exactly normal. I have responsibilities. It wouldn’t be fair.”

  Xander shook his head, displeased with my reasoning. “What’s ‘normal’ these days, anyway? And fair to whom?”

  I cut my eyes to him so he could see them roll. This from a guy who barely grasps the concept of responsibility. “Don’t give me that, Xander.”

  “I’m just saying you should think about yourself and what you want too, Bryce.”

  “So you’re saying I should be a selfish womanizer like you? Bounce from bed to bed, always on the lookout for my next conquest? No thanks.” I sighed, realizing how harsh my reaction was. “Sorry, no offense. You know what I mean.”

  He waved off my apology, unaffected by my rude words. Probably because he knew they were mostly true. “None taken. Look, I get it; you don’t want romantic advice from a guy who doesn’t know the first thing about relationships that extend beyond the bedroom. Well, that’s not necessarily true. I don’t discriminate when it comes to a location for fucking.”

  I held up a hand to stop him, simultaneously shaking my head. “TMI, Xander. Jesus. Can we just change the subject? Weren’t you going to explain why you’re late?”

  Xander threw his arm around my shoulders as I gestured for us to get in line to order. “I met a girl last night. I think I’m in love.”

  “Bullshit. Alexander Black doesn’t do love. I believe those are your exact words every time anyone asks about your relationship status.”

  “You’ve got it all wrong. Well, not all. I’d never call myself Alexander. That name’s reserved for the ladies, and only in the bedroom. You know…Alexander the Great.”

  I stopped and gave him a death glare. “Thanks for that. Now I’m never going to be able to hear your name without making that association. Why do I even bother hanging out with you?”

  “Because you have no other friends, and I’m your cousin, so you’re kind of stuck with me.”

  “Doesn’t your mom call you Alexander sometimes?”

  His smile fell completely as his face twisted into a grimace. “Why the fuck would you say that right now?”

  I pointed at him. “Just to have the pleasure of that reaction. Priceless.”

  “You’re an asshole, Bryce. The real question is why do I even bother hanging out with you?”

  I shrugged and flashed him a grin. “Because I’m your cousin and you have no other friends, either. Tell me about this girl you love.”

  “Well, her name is Leah and she’s a gymnast…”

  Chapter 6

  Elliot

  Two weeks ago, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted in life. I loved my job and had zero regrets about giving up my social life to focus solely on my career for the past year. It was a sacrifice I’d gladly make again.

  Now?

  I must’ve lost my mind.

  How else do you explain the fact that I keep letting Bryce seep into my thoughts while I’m on the clock?

  Or the fact that I’m actually considering Nana and Pops’s offer?

  “I’m sorry?” A man’s voice called from the table next to mine. I’d just wrapped up my last appointment for the day and was mindlessly organizing my notes and folders while I waited for my latte.

  I whipped my head up, realizing the man was talking to me.

  “Oh, uh, nothing. I guess I was thinking out loud. Sorry to interrupt your…work,” I finished, eyeing the notes and iPad he had propped up with an attached keyboard. A split-second glance was enough to notice the Serenity Hotel website on his screen. Huh. What are the odds?

  “Not a problem,” he replied with a dismissive flick of his wrist. “Just doing a little research anyway.”

  I nodded, a little curious, but not enough to be nosy. “Enjoy your smoothie.”

  He offered me a smile before directing his attention back to his screen.

  I let my eyes wander over the stranger’s frame, trying to ebb my curiosity about his ‘research.’ He was what I would call ‘classically handsome’ if I had to label the look. His slim build was cloaked by a navy suit that fit too well to be anything but designer-made, and creases along his forehead plus a handful of grays sprinkled throughout his otherwise inky black hair told me he was somewhere around forty. A bulky Bulgari watch and monogramed silver cufflinks further piqued my curiosity, but my name was called to get my latte before I could act on it.

  “Excuse me,” that same voice called a few minutes later. I looked up and confirmed he was speaking to me. “This is going to sound strange, but are you familiar with the area?”

  “I am. Lived here all my life.”

  He angled his iPad toward me. “Do you happen to know anything about this hotel?”

  I hesitated, a little taken aback by his abrupt question. Misinterpreting my silence when I dropped my gaze, he flashed me a suave smile that I had a feeling usually got him whatever he wanted. “Don’t worry, if I was hitting on you, I’d come up with a better pick-up line.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. The possibility hadn’t occurred to me because he was a good decade and a half older than me and way out of my league, but his reassurance did strangely put me at ease. “That’s not what I was thinking, but good to know. And yes, I’m actually pretty familiar with the Serenity. Are you staying there?”

  He shifted in his seat, pursing his lips together in contemplation. “Something like that.”

  I lifted a brow and inspected his appearance again. Everything from his shoes to his haircut was a walking advertisement of his wealth. “You’re interested in buying it, aren’t you?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Call it a hunch.”

  Now he was the one looking me over with a raised brow. “Clever girl. But I’m not in the habit of discussing my business with random strangers, regardless of how…insightful they might be.”

  “Well, this ‘insightful, clever girl’ will be sure to let her grandparents know that Mr. Two-hundred-dollar-haircut was sketchily asking strangers about Serenity, so they probably don’t want to sell to him.”

  His eyes widened momentarily, and satisfaction replaced my annoyance.

  “You’re the Kincaids’s granddaughter?”

  “Look who’s being insightful now,” I tossed back before standing to leave.

  “My apologies, Ms. Kincaid. I feel like I gave you the wrong impression.”

  I failed to suppress a snort. “Oh no, I think you gave me the right impression, Mister…?”

  “Adams. Greg Adams.”

  “Right. Well, have a nice day, Mr. Adams. Good luck with your research.”

  “Wait,” he called, standing before I could walk away. “Please.” He paused, and the clench of his jaw told me that word wasn’t usually part of his vocabulary. Eyes that matched his gray tie locked onto mine. “I truly would love to hear about Serenity, and I feel like running into you, of all people, is fate. A sign.”

  “Do you actually believe that?” I asked, skepticism flooding my tone.

  He nodded.

  “Why should I believe you? Better yet, why should I tell you about Serenity? You’ve found the website, y
ou’ve clearly met with my grandparents, and you’ve probably got underlings to do grunt work for you.”

  A practiced look of indifference washed over his features, bringing him back to calm and collected businessman status. “You should tell me about Serenity because I’m the right buyer. I’m the only one interested in maintaining the history and qualities unique only to Serenity. Brant Douglas is notorious for gutting practically every business he takes over, and I overheard Lorraine LaMarque discussing her ‘rebranding’ ideas. Despite whatever bullshit they’re selling your grandparents, the second the ink dries with either of them, the Serenity you know and love will be gone, and you’ll regret this moment. Unless you help me. I want to show your grandparents my commitment to Serenity, and this seems like a win-win.”

  My mouth fell open. I was not expecting that answer. At all. As skeptical as I had been moments ago, his plea and interest in Serenity felt genuine. Plus, it’s not like he wanted trade secrets.

  “All right,” I said, sitting back down. “I’ve got a few minutes to spare before my next appointment. What would you like to know?”

  * * *

  Since the technical status of Bryce bringing dinner was unclear, I refused to label our meeting a date. Plus, technically, I was maybe going to be his boss now.

  I switched gears and forced myself to focus on the task at hand—Let Love Inn and its future.

  In the end, it was Nana and Pops that convinced me to seriously consider their offer. “We’re retiring, Elliebelly, not catching the next flight to Mars.” Pops. “Of course we’d help get it up and running. We’ll be here to help you every step of the way.” Nana.

  They weren’t catching a flight to Mars, but they'd neglected to mention that they were catching the next flight to Vegas. Seriously. They’d sent us a group text this morning apologizing for the date mix-up and promising that they’d catch up on what was discussed as soon as they got back. We’re old geezers now. Our memories aren’t what they used to be. Good thing we’re going to Vegas while we still remember how to play blackjack, right?