Playing with Danger (Desire Bay 2)

“Jesus Christ, Rudy!” She looked around. Gus was three stools down and glanced her way. Hannah leaned closer to Rudy and lowered her voice. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought I could handle it,” he said. And it was that expression, that tone in his voice, that always got Hannah. The look and sound of sorrow. Rudy wasn’t a bad guy—he was just bad at running a business. And she didn’t want to see this place go under or into the hands of someone else. She didn’t want to see Rudy go under, either.

But his “handling it” entailed him drinking and going to Seven Feathers casino two towns over, like he always did when he had a problem.

“Anyway, I know you’re good for the loan and can get that through the bank,” he said. “So you can still buy the place.”

Yeah, that’s because Hannah had gotten preapproved last month, when she and Rudy had started talking seriously about it.

“But there’s going to be nothing for me to own if the bank takes it and auctions it.”

“So pay them off first,” Rudy said, like it was that easy.

“Rudy, I don’t have twenty grand to bail you out, then to put money down for the loan.”

He took another drink and sighed. “I’m sorry, Hannah, there’s nothing I can do, then. If I don’t pay, this place goes up for auction late next week.”

There was no way she could outbid anyone. She was sensible, and getting a loan was already hard enough.

She only had fifteen thousand, and that was her life savings. She still needed five grand in ten days just to pay off the delinquent balance. Then she’d have nothing to put down. She’d have to hope the bank would finance the entire loan . . .

“I’ll make it work,” she said. She looked Rudy dead in the eyes and meant every word.

Rudy, however, looked ecstatic. He clapped his hands once. “Good girl! Then the bar is yours.”

“I’ll have the balloon payment by the due date. But I want the papers drawn up that this place is mine.”

He nodded. “Deal’s a deal.”

She nodded and shook his hand. Now she had to get really creative about how to raise five grand in roughly a week.

As if she didn’t have enough on her plate.

So far Grant had taken his time getting ready and wandering around town today. Though he missed Hannah, he loved being among her things, in her town. He’d sat at her kitchen table and drunk coffee out of a mug he’d gotten out of her cupboard.

He felt closer to her. Anticipating that she was nearby, and that while he’d woken up without her this morning, she couldn’t escape him. He would see her again. Tonight. And then the next night. And then the rest of his nights, forever.

“One step at a time,” he said to himself, walking down Main Street.

He came up to a cute little home goods store that looked like it had a massive warehouse behind it. He looked the establishment over. The business was clearly working a hometown angle—he liked it.

He’d spent the last hour checking out the small coastal town and had learned that most of everything relevant was on Main Street and within walking distance. The entire town was modeled to look cute and clean, with the same curb appeal.

From the looks of—he read the sign on the store he stood in front of—Baughman Home Goods, this could be the perfect stop for a new screen door for Hannah. And there was a ton of flower displays in the front window. Getting her a bouquet of fresh flowers would be a husbandly thing to do. She could walk in after a long day, and he’d have them waiting for her.

Yes, that was the husband he’d be. One who appreciated his wife. One who wanted to show how much he thought of her. First, he just needed to get her to like him. Hence, the flowers.

He opened the front door of Baughman Home Goods and was greeted by a large man. Grant’s height, but built like a tank. Not the kind of guy he’d expected to see running a flower shop. The kind of guy he’d expect to see running in the NFL.

“Hey, friend, how are you today?” the man asked with a genuine smile.

Grant read his shirt—the stitching spelled out “Jake.” Looked like the guy worked there. Couldn’t get service or kindness like this back in New York. Grant liked the guy already.

“Pretty good, just hoping to get a few things,” Grant said.

Jake nodded. “Great. Well, let me know what I can help you with. We have everything from outdoor to indoor home repair and lawn care.”

“Ha, good slogan,” Grant said.