“Yeah, we might have come up with a better plan,” Miles said.
Gavin sprung to his feet. “Believe me, Miles, if there had been a better plan, I would have executed it. You’d think that you’d be a little grateful that I kept your hands from getting dirty with Dad’s mess.”
His mother gulped another sob and Gavin swore at his poor choice of words.
“Boys, don’t fight!” Kate scolded.
Miles pulled his fingers through his hair. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I appreciate you trying to protect the family name. And Gavin’s right, Mom. None of this is your fault. Dad would have done anything for you. He loved you that much.” His voice grew hoarse. “That kind of love only comes once in a lifetime. Please don’t be angry at him.”
Their mother wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I honestly don’t know what I feel right now,” she choked out.
“Well, we need to come up with a plan,” Bernice said. “I for one don’t want that man to have Dresden House, but if it means your mother gets to keep the Tide Me Over Inn, then we’ll have to live with it.”
“Ryan won’t have any cash until his lawsuit is settled. I don’t suppose any of us has two point seven million dollars lying around?” Miles asked.
“I had an offer on the torpedo factory this morning, but it would only cover half the payment,” Gavin said.
“You’re selling the torpedo factory?” Bernice gasped again. “But where will we work?”
“Where will you live?” Kate asked at the same time.
He looked at his mom; her damp eyes were wide in her pale face. Even after everything they’d just discovered, he could feel the panic in the stares of his family.
“I’m sorry, Mom, but I never intended to keep the company. As soon as I had a solution to the debt, I started planning to return to New York. Back to the life I had before. I start a new project there next week.”
“That’s why you kept going on about my stupid retirement.” Bernice’s voice cracked as she made the accusation.
“I’ve been such a fool,” his mother cried.
Gavin cringed at her statement, kneeling back down in front of her. “No!” The word was painful to force out of his tight throat. “I should have told you sooner. It’s just that everything was such a house of cards that it was better if only one person was playing or it might have toppled down. I’ll make this work, Mom. You won’t lose the inn.” He would have promised her except he couldn’t quite see a way this would work out. Right now, he needed to think.
He sprung to his feet, glancing between his sister and his brother. “I need to call my lawyer to see how we compel Goldman to honor his freakin’ gentlemen’s agreement.”
“I’ll come with you.” Miles’ eyebrows shot up when Gavin hesitated. “I am a lawyer, dumbass, and I know a few more.” Miles kissed their mother on top of her head. “Take her home, Kate. Bernice, too. We’ll come by as soon as we know something.”
Ordinarily, Gavin would be a little pissed about Miles taking over, but right now, he was relieved to have a wingman.
* * *
Ginger and Audra waited anxiously along the railing outside the music room while the guests milled around below. She tried not to listen to the words floating up from the buzz beneath them, but it was hard to ignore the gossip. A few of the townspeople were excited about the opportunity for jobs that a resort would provide to Chances Inlet. Many more, however, felt betrayed by Gavin. Morgan snarled under his breath at their comments as he paced the long hallway.
“They don’t know the circumstances or the financial burden Gavin was under,” Ginger told Audra. “They have no right to condemn him without knowing the full story.” She hated the way Gavin looked as he’d stood before the guests a few minutes earlier. Grief and embarrassment had played out on his handsome face and Ginger couldn’t do anything to ease it. She knew it was killing him to reveal the truth to his mother. Especially after everything he’d done to shield her.
Restoring this house had been a massive undertaking and he’d been involved in every detail, turning it into a spectacular show place. But he’d given up a lot, too. His career and his marriage, for starters. Not that Ginger was complaining about the second one. But she hoped his family would forgive and support him because none of this was his fault. This town was supposed to be about second chances. If anyone deserved one, it was Gavin.
“That’s life in a small town, Ginger. It’s not all Bedford Falls.” Audra sounded just as exasperated as Ginger, however. “But the McAlisters have been good to Chances Inlet. When push comes to shove, the majority of people who live here will stand behind them no matter what. You’ll see.”
“Tell me Marvin Goldman is still in that room,” Marissa demanded as she stormed down the hallway. “He better not have snuck out the back door and left me to face this angry mob alone. I really don’t care what they use this monstrosity for, but everyone down there thinks I had something to do with this.”
It was just like Marissa to make everything about her.
“Unless he jumped three stories outta one of them windas, he’s still in there.” Morgan gave Marissa a look as if to say, “You’re both welcome to jump, though.”
Cassidy leaped away from the door she’d had her ear up to. “Someone’s coming!”
The door opened and Marvin Goldman sauntered out, followed by a very angry Diesel, before it was slammed shut again from the inside.
“Young lady, if we’re going to make our dinner in Miami, we need to leave now.”
Ginger wondered whether Marvin Goldman even knew Marissa’s name as he barked the order at her.
When he turned to Diesel, Ginger’s heart sped up. At last, his father was going to acknowledge him. She hoped at least he’d be proud of the work Diesel had done on the show. “Make sure McAlister doesn’t screw the pooch on this one or your days with America Cable are over.”
Ginger’s stomach bottomed out. No good-bye. No “I love you.” Marvin Goldman just turned on his heel and stalked off.
Diesel vibrated with fury when she reached out to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“What does that mean?” she dared to ask.
“It means we both have to execute our backup plans, Ginger.” Surprisingly, his voice held no trace of regret or sadness. Diesel almost sounded relieved. Probably because he actually had a backup plan. As if he somehow sensed her fear, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t worry,” he tried to reassure her. “It’ll all work out.”
“Of course it will,” Audra said as she draped an arm over Ginger’s shoulder. “You always have a home here in Chances Inlet.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Morgan added.
“Are you coming?” Marvin Goldman called to Marissa from the top of the grand staircase.
Marissa’s face actually looked stricken as she glanced from Diesel to his father and then at Ginger before she let out an exasperated sigh. “Whatever happens to either of you, you both always seem to weather it together. Even your colossal screwups. I always hated that about you guys.” She swallowed. “I have no one to catch me when I fall.”
She turned and regally followed Marvin Goldman down the stairs and out of the mansion, ignoring several requests for pictures as she did.
“Damn,” Diesel said. “I almost feel sorry for her.”
Cassidy snorted. “‘Almost’ being the key word here, Diesel.”
The door to the music room suddenly opened again, startling them all. Miles and Gavin stepped out, their faces wearing matching expressions of strain.
“Gavin,” Ginger breathed. Her heart squeezed tightly when she caught sight of the flat, almost defeated look in his eyes. Before she even realized it, she’d taken two steps toward him when the loud murmurs from the crowd below stopped her in her tracks. “Is there anything that I can do?”
It took a moment for his face to register where they were, but when he finally focused in on her, his eyes flared with an emotion s
he couldn’t define. Ignoring the crowd below, he closed the distance between them and buried his face in her neck as his hands gripped her waist. His breathing was ragged but his heartbeat was steady beneath the palm she had pressed against his chest.
“Shh,” she whispered. “Please, let me help you, Gavin.” She wouldn’t let him go through this alone. After all, she was the idiot who’d invited Marvin Goldman here in the first place.
“Just believe in me,” he murmured against her skin.
Her heart jumped while her body arched into his. “Always,” she whispered, her lips brushing his chin. “Always.” Heedless of all the people standing around watching, she wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled his mouth down to meet hers. She was rewarded with a kiss that was needy and searching as Gavin seemed to be drawing strength from the depths of her mouth. Ginger kissed him back with all the certainty she could muster.
“Gavin.”
Miles’ voice roused them out of their passionate haze. When they broke the kiss, Gavin’s eyes were warm. He traced a finger along the line of her jaw as if he was trying to memorize her face. “Promise me you won’t leave yet.”
She almost laughed at his words. Where would she go? There was no longer anything waiting for her in New York; Marvin Goldman had just seen to that. But maybe Diesel was right, and Gavin could be part of her backup plan. The thought made her bounce on her toes. “I’m not going anywhere,” she told him.
His amazing mouth turned up in that grin she loved so much. “Excellent.” He kissed the tip of her nose before turning to his brother. Both of them looked at Diesel, their expressions questioning.
“Oh, I’m on your side,” Diesel said. He glanced over at Ginger for confirmation. By siding with Gavin, he’d effectively be burning that last bridge, sealing their fate. Ginger wouldn’t have it any other way. She nodded at Diesel and the three men were off.
TWENTY-FOUR
“I can’t believe I missed all the excitement,” Lori said as she laid out the utensils for the next morning’s breakfast. “Several of the guests were talking about it before they left for dinner. They heard that Marvin Goldman not only owns Dresden House, but he may be buying the inn as well.” She shivered. “If that’s the case, I’m out of here.”
“He only owns Dresden House if Gavin goes ahead with the deal,” Cassidy clarified. She and Ginger were helping out while Patricia and the rest of the McAlister family tried to come up with a solution to save the inn. Bernice hadn’t been shy in sharing all the sordid details with them. Apparently, she’d enlightened more people than just Ginger and Cassidy if guests knew about it.
“If Gavin balks at the sale, he won’t be able to make the payment on the inn and Marvin Goldman said he’ll buy it.” Cassidy picked up a fork, a knife and a spoon and rolled them in a napkin while Ginger rearranged the chairs around the three tables.
“Well, I’m not sticking around to see who gets what.” Lori checked each carafe to make sure it was clean.
“Where would you go?” Cassidy asked.
Lori shrugged.
“You don’t know or you won’t tell us?”
“Leave her alone, Cassidy,” Ginger interjected. Despite the fact that Lori was still giving her the silent treatment most of the time, Ginger felt compelled to defend her. If she hadn’t invited Marvin Goldman to town, Lori wouldn’t feel so panicked. Heck, if she hadn’t invited Marvin Goldman to Chances Inlet, lots of people wouldn’t be feeling so stressed today. A heavy sigh escaped her lips and Midas came up beside her, head-butting Ginger in the thigh.
The dog had been lying on the veranda waiting for Gavin all afternoon. Dusk was beginning to fall and Gavin still wasn’t back from wherever he, Miles and Diesel had gone. Ginger fed the dog earlier from a bag of dog food in the pantry, but Midas seemed to be in a funk like everyone else in town, confused and uncertain about what was coming next.
“But you’re staying now, right, Gidget?”
Audra had already told Ginger she could have a full-time job at the studio until she decided what she wanted to do with her future. It wasn’t much, but it was still better than going back to her mother’s dance company. And if Lori was leaving, perhaps she could convince Patricia to let her have the cook’s room in exchange for Ginger picking up some of the housekeeping duties.
Unless, of course, she had a better offer.
Her thoughts turned to the big bed in Gavin’s loft and her body grew flushed. Neither she nor Gavin had addressed the future, but today when he’d asked her not to leave, she wasn’t sure whether he’d been talking about tonight or ever. She didn’t dare hope it was the latter because she didn’t want to risk disappointment. Except it was hard not to hope.
“Ginger?”
It was the first time she could remember Cassidy ever using her name, and when she looked into the girl’s amber eyes, she saw trepidation shining back at her. Both she and Lori had become surrogate big sisters to Cassidy these past two months. Ginger had been so busy thinking about Gavin, she hadn’t recognized how abandoned Cassidy would feel if both women suddenly left town.
“I’m not going anywhere, Cass.” And she meant it. No matter where her relationship with Gavin was headed, she’d always wanted to live in a place like Chances Inlet and now was as good a time as any to give it a shot. “Besides, after all the work I’ve put into making you prom ready, I’m glad I get the chance to stick around and see the results.”
The girl grinned, the first real smile she’d seen on Cassidy’s face since they’d met. The sight of it must have impacted Lori as well. “I can stick around for the prom, too,” she said.
“Cool, because I’m going to be prom queen, you know.” She winked at Ginger and Lori. Both women couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ladies.” Sheriff Hollister entered the breakfast room, his step eerily silent for such a big man. “I’m looking for Tricia. Have you seen her?”
“She’s at Kate’s house,” Ginger said. Something about the sheriff’s grim expression caused her pulse to skitter, though.
He swore under his breath as he anxiously fingered his campaign hat. “She’s supposed to be there. Kate was expecting her an hour ago, but she never arrived.”
“Could she be with Gavin or Miles?” Ginger asked, even though she knew that wasn’t possible. They’d left hours ago.
Cassidy jumped from her chair. “She rode over on her bike. After she came back from the reception, she changed her clothes at the carriage house. I saw her leave right after.”
“Do you remember what she was wearing?” His question sent a chill spiraling through Ginger’s body. She exchanged a glance with Lori as the sheriff wrote down Cassidy’s detailed description.
“Thank you.” His voice was raw with emotion. “If she comes back, please call the office.”
“But wouldn’t she call you?” Ginger voiced the words they were all thinking. “I mean, if she’s okay.”
His expression remained stoic; the only sign he was upset was a slight tic next to his mouth. “I hope so.”
Cassidy was by his side. “Are you going to go looking for her?”
“Yes,” he said, gently laying a hand on her shoulder. “And I’m going to find her. Don’t worry.”
“Let me go with you,” Cassidy demanded. “Please, Sheriff.”
He hesitated. Cassidy sucked in a breath, indicating that she wasn’t going to be denied. “Okay. I could use a pair of eyes on the passenger side of the cruiser. Come on.”
They were out the door before either woman could say anything else, leaving Ginger and Lori alone in the silent room to ponder Patricia’s whereabouts.
“I think I’ll take Midas for a walk.” The dog was on his feet at the word “walk.”
“Ginger, it’s getting dark out there. I don’t want to have to send a search party out for you, too.”
“She wouldn’t have taken the main road. Too much traffic.” Ginger made her way to the kitchen where she grabbed Midas’ leash.
“Ye
ah, and I’m betting the sheriff already figured that and he’s going that way.”
“But he won’t be able to see over the side of the road. The bluff falls off in a few places. I’ll be able to see if someone is down there.” Her stomach rolled at the thought.
Lori eyed her sternly but Ginger was going no matter what. “Then you’ll need this.” Shaking her head, Lori handed her a large flashlight that looked like a lantern. “Call me every fifteen minutes so I know you’re okay.”
“Thanks.” Ginger hesitated a moment, wanting to say more, to apologize for making Lori feel threatened by bringing Marvin Goldman here. To let her friend know that her secret was safe with Ginger. It always would be.
“Not now,” Lori said as if she’d read her mind. “Just go find Patricia. We can talk about the rest later.”
Midas tugged on the leash and they were out the door into the waning daylight. The tide was coming in; she could hear the waves crashing against the shore. But they made their way in the opposite direction along the winding drive toward town. Kate and her husband owned a large Victorian home on the other side of Chances Inlet, along the Intercoastal Waterway. The easiest route from the inn would be to cut through downtown, but Ginger doubted Patricia would go that way today. Considering the state she was in, it was likely she’d want to avoid the crowds.
It was nearly dark when she and Midas rounded the corner of the narrow street that snaked in front of the marinas skirting the downtown. The sounds of tourists enjoying dinner and drinks floated through the night. The dog lifted its nose high in the air to follow a tantalizing scent that drifted out from one of the waterside restaurants.
“Pay attention, Midas.” Ginger gave the leash a tug. “We’re looking for Patricia.”
The sounds of civilization became more muted as they left the town behind and continued along the narrow road. Water sloshed along the rocky seawall on their left while tree frogs and cicadas chorused beneath the thick beard of Spanish moss hanging from the canopy the live oak trees made overhead. Ginger jumped as her cell phone buzzed in her pocket.
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