Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)
As for Emily, once she’d wrapped her head around the fact that her plans were actually happening, she had thrown herself into the project one hundred percent. He enjoyed working with the women, seeing their enthusiasm, and offering his help and guidance where he could.
Knight Time Industries offered smart homes and offices, and he could offer them smart light switches and thermostats and generally give them state-of-the-art equipment for little to no extra cost, just because he wanted to. They also discussed green technology and he’d see what could be incorporated in the older building. Emily and Harper were enthralled by the notion. Sure, it was excessive in a small town with a small business but why not start somewhere? Besides, he wanted Emily to have the best and he could give it to her.
He was busier than he’d been since arriving in town and he liked the energy he felt along with the sense of accomplishment he experienced in getting things done.
* * *
Emily was alone at the inn. Parker had gone out for a walk and she’d passed on joining him. Her dad was out for lunch with a friend, a break he’d earned after supervising so many workmen and areas of the inn. They had a new boiler, AC unit, roof, and now he wanted to renovate the kitchen and redo the rooms. He left it to her to pick out the appliances, countertops, and cabinetry because those items were in her wheelhouse – his words – and the budget she’d been given was more than generous, enabling her to buy top-of-th-line everything.
She couldn’t get over how Parker had basically funded the entire thing… She would repay the money if it killed her but she’d never be able to express her gratitude in any way that would show what it meant to her, the fact that he’d saved her family’s legacy and allowed her to achieve her ultimate dream.
She glanced at the wallpaper books open on the table, trying to decide on how to handle the rooms. Did she go with unique paper in each or a theme for the overall inn? Or did she give it up and hire a decorator as Parker had suggested when she’d worried she didn’t have the eye for the task?
A knock sounded at the front door, which was unusual in and of itself. Everyone in town knew to just walk in during the day. Even Rex just showed up at will.
She rose to her feet and walked toward the door. “Come in!” she called out just as the door pushed in and an unfamiliar man stepped inside.
He wore a rumpled suit that indicated he’d been traveling for a while to get here, with a trench coat hanging from his arm. He had long, scraggly dark hair, blue eyes that reminded her of someone, she couldn’t place who, and a scruffy beard. All in all, he was a handsome, if angry-looking, man.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m looking for my brother. Parker Knight.”
Oh, wow. From what Parker had told her, Sebastian was the fun, easygoing brother, which meant this had to be Ethan. The perpetual grump, according to Parker.
“Hello, welcome. I’m Emily Stevens.” She held out her hand.
“Ethan Knight.” He shook it, his steady gaze assessing her from head to toe. He was definitely measuring her worth and she was uncomfortable.
“Parker went for a walk but if you come in, he should be back soon. Here. Let me hang up your jacket.” She reached for his trench coat.
He let her take it and she hung it in the front hall closet. “Welcome to the Ruby Rose Inn.” She smiled.
He didn’t.
“It’s named after my mom,” she said, rambling in the wake of his silence. “Umm, can I get you something to drink? Iced tea? Soda? Water?”
“Water is fine, thank you.”
He followed her into the kitchen and took in the array of books spread open on the table.
“I’m sorry. I’ll clean up so you can sit comfortably. I wasn’t expecting company.”
“So this place doesn’t have any guests at the moment?” he asked, looking around.
She bit the inside of her cheek. “We’re currently renovating. We’ll take people who are stuck, like Parker when he showed up, because we wouldn’t turn anyone away.” She didn’t mention that she’d done just that to his brother on his arrival, afraid of everything he’d seemed to represent.
“I see. Did my brother look like a perfect target to take advantage of?”
She’d just reached the refrigerator and had been about to pull out a bottle of cold water. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I asked if you took one look at my brother, spotted wealth, and immediately sunk your hooks into him?”
The blood drained from her head and she grew dizzy as she forced herself to meet Parker’s brother’s gaze. The man thought she was a gold digger, and she had to admit, given all Parker had done for her, things didn’t look good.