“And you never thought to talk to your bosses once you made the bargain with Paige or to mention to her that you weren’t the all-powerful King of Crimson Ski Mountain who could change legal contracts on a whim?”
He drew in a breath, which wasn’t easy with his chest constricting painfully. “I was desperate for help, and I thought she’d refuse if I didn’t agree. At that point, I wasn’t even sure Paige really wanted to open the inn. It seemed to me she’d stalled out in her planning, and I thought that meant it didn’t actually mean that much to her.”
“It means everything,” Carly said softly.
“I get that now. But she didn’t—”
“She was scared,” Carly told him, moving to the sofa and propping on one arm. “It’s because of the cancer and—”
“Cancer?” Shep reached out a hand to brace himself on the stairway bannister. “Paige has cancer?”
“No,” Carly answered immediately. “Not anymore.” She looked at him strangely. “You know that she’s a cancer survivor, right?”
He gave a sharp shake of his head, bile rising in his throat. So he hadn’t been the only one keeping secrets. The fact that Paige hadn’t shared that part of her felt like it meant something about who he was to her. She hadn’t trusted him to know the truth about her past.
It was hard to blame her when he’d mishandled the situation with the inn so badly, but it still hurt.
“It was when she was in high school,” Carly explained, her tone gentler. “She had—”
“It’s okay.” He forced a tight smile. “If Paige wants me to know about her past, she can tell me. As far as this house and my agreement with Trinity...” He paused, looking for the right words. “I obviously made a mistake in not making things clear with Paige. But I’m going to California next week to meet with the board and convince them we don’t need the Bumblebee property.”
“And if you can’t?” Carly demanded softly. “The fact that you let Paige believe everything was fine...”
“I never said that,” he argued. “Not exactly. I need to talk to her. When did she leave for Denver?”
“Give her some time,” Carly said by way of an answer. “You messed up bad, Shep.”
“Story of my life.” He glanced up the stairs then back at Carly. “But I’ll find a way to fix it. She’s too important to me.”
Carly studied him for a long moment then nodded. “I hope you can.” She reached out and squeezed his arm then turned and walked toward the front door.
* * *
“I messed up bad.” Shep repeated Carly’s words from earlier as soon as his brother opened the door.
“You sure did,” Sienna said, coming to stand next to Cole in their doorway.
“You’ve talked to Paige?” Shep asked. “She won’t take my calls or return my texts.”
Cole stepped back to allow Shep to enter, but Sienna continued to block the doorway. “Do you blame her?” she demanded.
“Sweetheart,” Cole said gently, placing a hand on Sienna’s shoulder. “Do you think Shep and I could have a few minutes to talk?”
“You’re nothing like him,” the gorgeous blonde said, accusation clear in her tone. “I don’t understand how the two of you can be twins and be so unalike.”
“He takes after our mother,” Shep answered simply. “I’m a chip off the old paternal block.”
He saw Cole’s jaw tighten, and even Sienna looked surprised to hear him admit the truth so freely.
What was the point of pretending anymore?
Without another word, Sienna turned and moved through the hallway toward the kitchen.
“She’s got a temper,” Cole said by way of explanation, “and a fierce protective streak when it comes to her friends.”
“Not a bad thing.” Shep stepped into the entry, closing the door behind him with a soft click. “I just wish I wasn’t on the receiving end of her anger.”
“I won’t fault you for that,” Cole agreed. “It wasn’t too long ago that I was in your shoes.”
“I remember.” He followed Cole deeper into the house. “But you fixed it. I don’t know that I’ve got that option.”
“You should have told me the truth.”
Shep stilled, his mouth dropping open as he turned to find Paige standing in the door to the home office Cole had set up in what would have been the house’s formal living room.
“She’s here,” Shep murmured, glancing back at his brother.
Cole gave a small nod. “I was sworn to secrecy. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be mad at him,” Paige said, hugging her arms around her waist.
“I’m not.” Shep swallowed back the emotion clogging his throat then realized him holding things in was the reason for this mess in the first place. “I’m just so damn happy to see you,” he told her.
“I’ll give you two some time to talk,” Cole said.
Paige looked past Shep to his twin brother. “Tell Sienna I’m fine, okay? I don’t want her to worry.”
“I will,” Cole promised and headed toward the kitchen.
Shep took a step toward her. “Everyone said you’d gone to your—”
“I’m heading to Denver tomorrow morning.” Paige held up a hand, like she didn’t want him to come any closer. “My plan was to leave today, but Sienna thought I was too upset to drive.”
“I need to explain what happened.”
“Do you?” she asked softly. “I’ll make arrangements to clear out the house when I get back from my mom’s.”
Now that he’d gotten over the initial shock of seeing her, he noticed her red-rimmed eyes and blotchy skin. He’d really hurt her, and the realization of it just about killed him.
“You won’t have to do that,” he promised, hoping he could make it so. “I’m flying to California next week to talk to the Trinity board about the Bumblebee property.”
“I saw the contract,” she said without inflection. “Everything is spelled out clearly. I was never going to get the chance to reopen the inn.” Her eyes narrowed. “Was I?”
He blew out a breath. “At first I didn’t even think you really wanted it. Nothing had happened, so I figured you’d change your mind anyway.”
“That’s not an excuse for lying,” she pointed out.
“I know,” he agreed. “I’m sorry, Paige. I didn’t mean to mislead you.”
“So basically you didn’t believe in me. You agreed to the deal to get what you wanted and didn’t even take into account what would happen if you couldn’t fulfill your end of it.”
“I did consider that,” he insisted then was forced to add, “eventually. I’ll admit I wasn’t thinking clearly but—”
“You were clearly lying.”
“Stop saying that.” He stepped closer then backed up again when she shook her head. Where was the sweet, amiable woman who’d been his biggest cheerleader, who made him feel like he could do anything? He’d ruined that. His selfishness had destroyed her like it did most everything else in his life. “I will make this right. I never meant for it to go so far. Vincent had no business coming to the inn. He doesn’t understand the bigger plan.”
“He’s not the only one,” she whispered. “I’ll be in Denver through the weekend. I’d like you to be out of the house when I get back.”
“Paige.”
She shook her head. “I know you own it, but please give me this, Shep. I have a ton of work to do to clean it out and—”
“I get how important it is to you. I’m going to fix things. You won’t have to—”
“Maybe this is how it was meant to be. You’re right. I wasn’t sure about reopening the inn when we first made the deal. I’d let doubt and fear run my life for so long.” She swiped her fingers along her cheeks. “The funny thing is that you’re the one who helped me believe in myself. You seemed to have all the
faith that I could do anything I wanted.”
“I still have that faith.”
She huffed out a sad little laugh. “That’s not how it seems from where I’m standing.” She drew in a breath and met his gaze. “Goodbye, Shep.”
“What about Rosie?” he demanded, desperate for anything that would keep Paige in his life.
She shook her head. “Don’t do that. I know how much you love your daughter, and even the suggestion that you’d use her cheapens it.”
“Yeah, well...” He looked up at the ceiling, hating himself as much as was humanly possible. “Cheap is how I feel.”
“You’re a great dad,” Paige told him, her innate goodness outweighing any need she might have to hurt him for what he’d done to her. Another thing that made her so special and him such a fool for ruining things the way he had. “Rosie will be fine.”
“I don’t want this to be the end,” he told her and saw a tear track down her cheek.
“Goodbye,” she repeated and disappeared into the office, closing the French doors behind her.
He stood there for several minutes, his body hollow and his mind frozen. He could storm in, force her to keep listening to his excuses. But what good would that do him?
“Give her time,” Cole said from behind him.
Shep turned, shaking his head. “I’ve ruined her. Just like Dad did to Mom.”
“You’re not like him. He broke the law. You screwed up because you were terrified of being a single dad.”
“I hurt her with my lies the same way,” Shep insisted. “That’s what counts.”
“What counts is how you handle the aftermath,” Cole told him. “Mom loved Dad with her whole heart. If he would have tried—”
“Are you saying you think Paige loves me?” Shep could barely fathom a world where he’d deserve that, but the thought of it made every cell in his body stand at attention.
“I think she has a big heart, and you need to prove that you deserve another chance to win it.”
“I need to fight for her,” Shep muttered. He was so used to thinking of himself as someone who was destined to fail the people he cared about that the idea of doing something better was an unfamiliar concept.
“You need to at least try,” Cole agreed.
Shep nodded. “I can do this.” He had to. It was too difficult to imagine his life without Paige in it.
Chapter Sixteen
Paige spent three days in her childhood bedroom, trying to come up with an alternate plan for her life. She talked to Carly several times, instructing her friend to cancel the trial-run weekend and contact the guests who’d already been booked for the opening. It was something she couldn’t bear to handle on her own.
Her mom had been surprisingly supportive and didn’t spend any time with gloating I-told-you-sos.
I’ll buy it back from him, she’d announced over coffee the morning Paige was leaving. You can cover the mortgage until you save enough for the down payment, then I’ll sell the inn to you.
Mom, I know you don’t want to own that house.
I want you to be happy, her mom answered. I thought I was protecting you, but I let my own feelings about your nana and my fears about your health cloud my judgment. You’re strong and smart, and if the inn makes you happy, then I want it for you.
I’ll find another way to be happy, Paige had promised, although it was difficult to imagine how with the constant ache in her heart. Although losing the inn disappointed her, it was the loss of Shep and Rosie that made her feel like her soul was splitting in two.
She returned to Crimson not certain of how she’d face him or see Rosie and find a way to pretend she didn’t long to be a part of the girl’s daily life.
The rooms they’d occupied were as empty as her heart felt, but otherwise the inn remained the same as it had when she’d left. It was disappointing because Carly had promised to gather boxes and begin the process of packing.
Paige walked through the quiet rooms with a lump in her throat, taking in the antique furniture and the decor she’d lovingly arranged on the shelves and walls.
“I tried, Nana,” she whispered as if her grandmother could hear the words.
The front door creaked open, and Paige wiped at her cheeks as she moved down the hall. “Did you get the boxes?” she called.
Carly stood in the entry, arms filled with a stack of flattened cardboard boxes, her face pale and her eyes wide with what looked like shock.
“What happened?” Paige asked. “Do they want to start demo right away?”
She watched the other woman’s chest rise and fall like she couldn’t quite catch her breath.
“Carly?” Paige rushed forward and took the boxes, resting them against the console table that sat in the entry.
“They want me back,” Carly whispered, looking at Paige like she’d just announced that aliens had contacted her.
“Who?”
“My company,” Carly clarified. “The CEO called me personally.” She clasped a hand over her mouth when a choked sob escaped. “He called me.”
“Come and sit down,” Paige said gently, leading her into the family room and then down onto the Queen Anne sofa.
“They know...” Carly paused, gave her head a little shake. “They know the program was mine. There was a problem, and the guys in the department couldn’t fix it. No one paid attention when I was doing the code review. I guess they tried to write more code and the function kept getting bigger and bigger. They weren’t focused, and it got them in trouble.”
Paige shook her head. “I understand very little of what you just said, but I’m guessing it’s good.”
“The problem isn’t good, but I don’t think the solution will be difficult. Because they were so lost, eventually the VP of Technology called them out on who actually wrote the original code. I got credit for everything I did. The CEO was part of the program demo, and he wants me to fly to Germany. There’s a meeting scheduled with a group of European investors, and my program is a big part of the draw. They need me, Paige.”
“Then you need to go,” Paige said without hesitation. “If you want a wingman who knows nothing about technology, I’ll make it work.”
Carly gave her a watery smile. “Now you’re going to make me cry, and I’m not a crier.”
Paige swiped at her own eyes. “I’m crier enough for the both of us. This is a big deal, Carly. I’m happy you’re getting the credit you deserve, but you don’t have to face those guys who made you doubt yourself alone.”
“How is it that I’ve known you for less than a month, basically forced you to let me run your life and still you’re the best friend I’ve ever had?”
“I needed a little prodding,” Paige admitted. “I couldn’t think of anyone I’d want to whip my butt into gear more than you.”
“Speaking of that.” Carly arched a brow, her taskmaster guise easing back into place. “You have your hands full here, missy. I’ll handle the reclaiming of my career alone.” She gave a tight smile. “I’m flying out of Denver tomorrow morning.”
“So this is your goodbye visit?” Paige pressed a fist to her chest, hoping to ease the fresh ache forming there.
“I don’t even know if I want to go back permanently, but I have to see this through. My programs are like my babies.”
“I knew at your core you loved kids,” Paige said with a laugh.
“As long as they don’t drool or make noise.” Carly straightened, adjusting her shoulders until they transformed into the composed line Paige had come to expect. “I’ll miss you,” she said, her tone all business despite the sweet words.
“You, too, sweetie.” Paige wrapped her arms around Carly, pulling her in for a stiff hug. How many emotional hits could she take and still remain standing? “Keep me updated on how things go.”
Carly pulled back and nodded.
“You, too.” She glanced around the room as she stood. “I never started packing.”
“I see that.” Paige stood, as well. “Ignoring a to-do list won’t make it go away,” she said, paraphrasing Carly’s words from the day they’d first met.
“Someone wise must have told you that.” Carly flashed a smile. “I’m not willing to give up on The Bumblebee yet. You can’t either. If your mom could buy the place back...”
Paige shook her head. “There’s optimism and then there’s a pipe dream. It’s fine. Safe travels. Text me from the airport and then when you land in Germany.”
Carly rolled her eyes. “Even my own mother doesn’t expect me to check in that often. But I’ll do it for you.”
When she was alone again, Paige got a roll of packing tape from the kitchen and gathered the newspaper she’d stacked in the recycling bin. Slowly she began to pull knickknacks from shelves and tables to fill the boxes Carly had brought. Tomorrow she’d call Sienna and ask her friend to organize a group to help her move some of the bigger pieces of furniture into storage. She’d keep the things that really meant something to her and consign the rest with a local antiques dealer.
Yes, it was sad that this chapter of her life was ending, but she could move on knowing she’d tried her hardest to make it work. Although she appreciated her mom’s support, Paige didn’t know if she could stand going to battle against Shep and his company and all of their resources.
She’d fought so much in her life—the cancer and then the doubts and fears that stayed with her long after she’d recovered. The inn had been a fresh start, and if she couldn’t make it work without a prolonged fight, was it really worth it? She could survive without it. She could survive anything at this point. Yet happiness remained elusive.
* * *
Paige woke the next day to an insistent knocking. The clock on the nightstand read eight thirty so she’d overslept more than two hours past when she’d planned to wake. She climbed out of bed and threw on a sweatshirt over her tank top before heading for the front door.
Anything for His Baby Page 17