Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

I laughed. “Yes, I saw her the first day.”

“Good. Didn’t think I could keep that news from you. Don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone so happy, but she swore me to secrecy until you got here.”

“I think it’s the best news. She and Cal are great together.”

“Hold on one second, Kaitlyn. I’ve got a customer I need to check on.” Hank excused himself from behind the bar and walked to the corner opposite the stage.

I thought back to my first night in South Padre. This is where I met Cal and Lance. After playing pool with them all night, I felt like we had gone to high school together or maybe even grew up on the same street. Things were a little awkward with Lance once he realized all my attention was on Cole, and then there was that situation when I found out Lance was Grayson’s uncle. I didn’t like Cole had been with Lance’s sister, but it was the past.

Hank’s voice rose from the corner, but I couldn’t pick up the conversation. He returned to the bar, slightly flushed in the face.

“Everything ok?” I wasn’t sure I had seen him agitated.

He pulled the towel from his shoulder and wiped the bar until I was certain he could see his reflection. He huffed. “Yes everything is fine. I shouldn’t let people get under my skin. Nothing to worry about.”

“You sure?” I didn’t mean to pry, but the customer had obviously said something to upset him.

“I sent that guy on his way. We don’t need people here poking around about business opportunities and real estate. Just makes my blood boil.”

“Oh.” No wonder Hank was upset. He liked the island the way it was. He didn’t have much patience for outsiders who wanted to alter it.

“Orders up!” the cook yelled from the kitchen window.

Hank pivoted on his heels then extended his arm to grab my lunch.

“Here you go. All ready for you.”

I handed him my credit card.

He waved it off. “No, this one’s on the house.”

“Hank, I don’t need you to do that.” I tried to shove my debit card into his hand.

“It’s a welcome home present.” He smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

There was no way I was getting him to accept it now. “Well, thank you. I like the way that sounds.”

“What’s that?”

“Home.” I smiled.

He chuckled. “I’m glad you moved here, girl. Don’t be a stranger.”

“I won’t. Thanks for lunch.” I picked up the white paper sack and headed to the Dune Scape office.

I unlocked the door and settled behind the desk, ready to dig into the fries.

I checked my email to see if any of the hotel sites I emailed this morning had responded. My inbox was full of promotional coupons, but nothing from the advertisers. I reminded myself this was a marathon, not a sprint. It would take a while to make contacts and start a campaign for the motel.

Cole had multiple offers from developers who wanted to buy the Dune Scape. They all had the same plan: snatch up the 1950s motel, demolish it, and build a high-rise condominium complex. He could have walked away from the money pit and cashed in a fortune, but he argued that wasn’t the reason Pops left it to him. It was the only piece of a family legacy he had, and I wasn’t about to screw that up. We could make the Dunes something amazing for Grayson. He wanted his son to have something.

I unwrapped the foil from my turkey sandwich and took a big bite.

The office door opened, and a man whose shoulders filled the frame walked through the door. It wasn’t until he was inside and the silhouette from the sun vanished that I recognized him as the guy sitting in the corner at Peabody’s.

I covered my mouth with my hand as I tried to chew and swallow the enormous bite of sandwich I had stuffed in my mouth.

He had a deep laugh. “Don’t worry. I won’t ask you a hundred questions while you’re eating lunch.” He pulled up a chair and planted himself in front of the desk.