Chapter Sixteen
Chad’s mind was in turmoil. On one hand, he was thrilled to have woken up with Britt in his arms. He’d slept like a rock, and she said she’d done the same.
He loved hearing her giggle when she went back to her room through the closet.
They’d tried to keep things as normal as possible at breakfast, but Chad had no doubt his mom was pretending to be oblivious to the big change in their relationship.
She already knew they’d decided to date, but being intimate with Britt had already altered things drastically.
For one, he couldn’t keep his hands off her if he tried.
Brushing against her every time he passed, keeping a hand on her leg as they ate or on the small of her back when he stood next to her.
His mom wasn’t an idiot, and if the silly grin on her face was any indication, she was just as happy as he was.
Which was why he hated to burst that happy bubble by telling her about Britt’s suspicions about Otis.
Sticking to the decision he’d made last night and choosing not to tell her until he’d spoken with the man himself, Chad felt stressed about the confrontation ahead of him.
He’d already texted Otis and asked if he could talk to him that morning.
Which wasn’t an unusual request. He’d been wanting to have a family meeting with him after his brothers settled in. But with all the work needed around the property and how busy they’d all been, he hadn’t made the time. And that was totally on him. He should’ve made it a priority.
Chad himself had been on the verge of switching his own investments over to Otis, and he’d planned to have the man do his taxes next year. Now the thought of him having access to his accounts made his skin crawl. And he hated that he felt that way.
He also needed to have a talk with his brothers and let them know about Britt’s suspicions, but again, he wanted to see what he could figure out first.
The meeting with Otis hadn’t gotten off to a great start when the man tried to put him off entirely, saying he wasn’t sure he could get to Lobster Cove today.
But Chad wasn’t willing to take no for an answer.
He told Otis that he’d be glad to meet him at his office in Rockville, which was what they finally agreed upon.
His brothers had arrived to hopefully finish work on the rental cabin, and Chad felt bad that he was bailing on them. But this meeting with Otis couldn’t be delayed. Not if he was stealing from his mom and Lobster Cove.
Britt knew where he was going this morning, and why, and she was concerned. Not for his safety so much as for the excuses Otis might have to explain the accounting discrepancies.
She walked him out to his dad’s pickup, and they stood by the driver’s side door.
Chad took her face in his hands and rested his forehead against hers as she held on to his wrists. “It’s going to be fine.”
“I know. I just ... What if I’m wrong? I’ll feel horrible about accusing him of something so heinous if you find out that he’s innocent.”
“I have a gut feeling you aren’t wrong,” Chad told her, trying to sound reassuring.
“But I don’t know all the ins and outs of things around here yet. And it’s possible I just don’t know enough about automotive parts to understand what I was looking at.”
Chad dropped his hands to her shoulders. “From everything you’ve told me, you don’t need to know what the parts are for. Numbers are numbers, and if they don’t add up, something’s wrong.”
She bit her lip.
“I’m not going to accuse him of anything, even if I find out for sure that you’re right. I want to be certain all our ducks are in a row and that we’re covered. All I’m doing today is feeling him out. Asking him to explain a few discrepancies. I want to see what he says. Okay?”
Britt nodded. “Be careful.”
Chad frowned slightly. “This is Otis. He’s not dangerous.”
But the worry in her eyes didn’t abate. “Anyone can be dangerous if they’re cornered,” she countered.
She wasn’t wrong. Chad nodded solemnly. “Yeah. I’ll be careful.”
“Good. Because it would be really sad to never get to show you my cock-sucking skills.”
And just like that, Chad’s dick hardened. “Damn, woman,” he breathed.
She gave him a coy smile. For such an innocent-looking woman, she was sure able to push all his buttons. What did people sometimes say? Lady in public and vixen in the bedroom? He was a damn lucky man, and he knew it.
Chad pulled her against him, letting her feel what her words did to him. “What are your plans today?”
“Your mom wanted to head into town to that quilting store.”
Chad chuckled. “My mom can’t quilt.”
“Well, apparently she wants to learn.”
The thought was hilarious, because his mom had done just about every craft there was ... and failed spectacularly at each and every one. But if she wanted to try quilting, he wasn’t going to be the one to dissuade her.
“I also thought I’d go out to Kash’s fort and see if he’s there before Evelyn and I head into town.
Check on him. If he’s not, I can check on his stuff.
I’m also meeting with Walt and Barry again later, and then I need to clean the cabin once your brothers finish up, to make sure it’s ready for the next renters. ”
“Busy day,” he said, trying desperately to think about something other than her sinking to her knees right there and taking his dick into his mouth.
As if she knew where his mind was, she smiled at him and ran her hands up and down his chest. “Yeah.”
Damn. He needed to go if he was going to meet Otis on time.
A glimpse of his future flashed through his head.
Of sneaking around to find time to be with her without getting caught by their kids.
Talking about their upcoming days every morning, much as they were doing right now.
Holding her in his arms when they were both old and gray and reminiscing about their lives.
A pang of longing so strong it made his knees weak hit Chad, and he tightened his arms around Britt.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. Just feeling lightheaded because all the blood in my body is in my cock right about now.”
She giggled.
“Be careful driving into town,” Chad told her.
“I will.”
“You taking your car or Mom’s CR-V?”
“I think your mom’s.”
“Okay. I’ll text when I’m done with Otis and on my way home.”
And just like that, the worry came back into her eyes, and Chad wanted to kick himself for putting it there.
“It’ll be fine,” he reassured her again.
She nodded and went up on her toes to kiss him. They kept their embrace light and easy, and before he was ready, Chad was getting into his truck and waving at Britt as she stood in the driveway, watching him drive away.
Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention toward his upcoming meeting.
He was going to be as nonconfrontational as possible, just see what Otis had to say.
See if he could explain some of the discrepancies Britt had discovered without coming right out and accusing him of anything.
It was still almost impossible to believe his dad’s best friend might be stealing from the family.
But money could make almost anyone do things they might not otherwise do in the name of greed. Chad had no idea what Otis’s money situation was. He’d always assumed he was doing fine, but that might not be the case. He could have any number of vices ... gambling, drinking, drugs.
Or he could simply be jealous of what the Youngs had built at Lobster Cove. It wouldn’t be unheard of. From what Chad knew, Otis and his son lived in a small house close to Rockville. He hadn’t been there in years, but maybe it was time to drive by and check it out.
Hating that he felt the need to spy on their family friend, Chad straightened his shoulders. He’d do whatever it took to safeguard Lobster Cove. Losing it would destroy his mom, and that wasn’t going to happen. Not if he could do anything about it.
Deciding he was getting ahead of himself, that he still didn’t know if Otis was doing anything nefarious or not, Chad did his best to relax.
But deep down, he had a bad feeling that Britt was right.
She wouldn’t have said anything if she wasn’t sure herself that something was wrong.
As it was, she’d had a difficult time speaking up.
But she did, because she loved Lobster Cove and his mom as much as he and his brothers did.
Chad pulled into the small parking lot in front of the older house, which held several offices.
Otis had rented one for years for his tax and investment business.
He got out of the truck and strode up to the door.
In this part of Maine, there weren’t many strip malls or big office buildings.
Most businesses were located in older houses just like this one, which had been retrofitted.
Otis’s office was on the first floor near the back. It was basically one room with a small half bath and an outer space to greet clients, with a tiny office in the back. A bell tinkled over the door as Chad opened it, and Otis appeared in the doorway to the office.
“Chad,” he said politely with a small nod. “Come on back.”
He followed the older man to the office and sat in a small chair in front of a desk that took up most of the room. He perched on the end of the chair, not wanting to do this but knowing he had to. He placed the folder he’d brought with him on the desk and rested his elbows on the hard surface.
Leaning forward, he said, “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you much recently. How’ve you been since Dad died?”
“It’s been tough, but being able to take care of your mom has helped.”
Chad forced himself not to react to that. It was clear he was setting the stage from the get-go. Trying to show how invaluable he was to both his mother and to Lobster Cove.
“My brothers and I appreciated you being around until we could get here.”
“It’s a good thing you’ve done. All of you. Coming home to help around Lobster Cove.”
“Yeah,” Chad agreed.