Chapter 14 #2
“I’m a man of my word.” I eyed the coffee maker. “Make that a tired man of his word. That coffee for us?”
“The only way I’m making it through the morning. Grab a cup and pour yourself some.”
I did exactly that as I watched Logan move about the kitchen like a seasoned pro.
Which made me consider something. “I don’t know what your sister thought I was going to do here.
I’m not exactly good in a kitchen.” My culinary expertise extended little past reheating the food my housekeeper left for me.
Logan laughed, opening the refrigerator door and pulling out trays of what looked like prepared pastries.
“Not a lot of experience, I take it. The rich sure do live a different type of life.” Setting them on the counter, he leaned against it and grabbed his own cup of coffee.
“The first of which is not cooking in clothes that likely cost more than my truck.” He tossed me an apron, before adding, “I can’t afford the dry-cleaning bill. ”
“I went shopping last night for something more appropriate, but dressed by habit this morning.” Looks like Reese was right and my new wardrobe would be the way to go.
Not that I’d let her know that willingly.
Slipping the blue apron over my head, I tied it at my waist. “What made you start cooking?”
He took another sip before answering. “I spent a lot of time in here with Mom when I was growing up. At first because it felt safe, not so overwhelming, and then because I loved it.”
“Safe?”
“Maybe that’s a harsh word, but it sort of fits.
Mom and Dad adopted me when I was five.” He looked away, with an expression on his face I couldn’t quite place.
“The Henleys were a lot different from what I was used to; let’s put it that way.
Sometimes I needed the calm I found in here with Mom.
The kitchen is still the place I feel most grounded, most at peace.
” With a glance at the pastries, he rolled his eyes. “Even if I’ve grown to hate breakfast.”
Logan’s words struck a nerve within me. I used to spend time with my father in his office from when I was a small boy.
Sometimes I’d bring in toys and play while he worked.
As I grew older, I’d listen and pay attention to what he was doing, wanting to be just like him when I grew up.
I didn’t have nearly enough time with him as I would have liked.
Being around this family dredged up thoughts and memories I’d buried or blocked for years. I didn’t consider myself a sentimental person, a man who felt much, especially after watching Mother when Father died and then Reginald came into the picture. She grew cold, as did I right along with her.
Nothing about the Henley family allowed for coldness.
Giving myself an internal shake, I took a sip of my coffee, hoping it would give me the jolt I needed. “Well, if the past few days are any indication, you excel at it, nonetheless.”
“Thanks, man.” Logan stood, striding to the oven and hitting a bunch of buttons. “Still, I’d love to do something different. I never told Reese, but a couple of years ago I asked Mom and Dad if we could add a weekly dinner to the offerings, but they didn’t go for it.”
Something akin to hollowness flashed in the other man’s eyes.
It reminded me of when I asked Mother to change her will, but she pushed it aside.
Not having a parent’s trust was a tough pill to swallow.
He seemed to shake it off and I watched him move around the space with the ease of a man at home in his environment, I felt compelled to at least offer my limited services.
“What can I do? Reese wanted me to work.”
“God forbid we don’t do what Reese says.
” He laughed out. “My sister is a hard taskmaster. Chances are she was seeing if she could get you to leave rather than actually wanting you to help. Though, trust me, Beck will put you to work. That man does not care, because if he has access to an extra set of hands, he’s using them.
” He returned to the refrigerator, coming away with a tray of eggs in one hand and one of vegetables in the other. “Are you good with a knife?”
My face must have given my answer for me.
“So, no. I will not be responsible for you going to the hospital. Reese will have my head. You can help serve when the time comes. Leave prep to the pro.”
“Fair enough.” I took a seat at the island. “Tell me about your plans. What do you want to see happen here?” Reese had been decidedly tight-lipped regarding the family business she had the most ties to.
“I love the B&B. My great-grandparents opened the house up to guests trying to make some extra money when times were tight, but I want to grow. I’d love for the property to become more of an inn or retreat or something.
I don’t know what you hotel people call it.
We’d change the rooms in the house and maybe construct another building and some cabins.
Definitely add a full-service restaurant, something upscale not only for guests but maybe to lure in people from Rockford, though I’m not cooking breakfast.”
“How would that affect the town?”
Logan nodded. “We’ve thought of that. We believe that in the long run everyone benefits. More people here means more people strolling through town and in the shops.”
Isolation was always a risk when creating something like a resort.
Guests tended to stay put, and businesses in the area could suffer, unless they worked hand in hand with one another.
Given the Henley family ties to the town, and the proximity of the property to the main street, I didn’t think that would be an issue.
My mind whirled with ideas. If they joined the Montgomery brand, the possibilities were endless. I simply had to get Reese and her family to sign on with us.
The lack of noise coming from Logan moving about grabbed my attention. He stood across the island, arms folded across his chest, staring me down, and I knew exactly what was coming my way.
“Lainie texted yesterday.” I nodded instinctively, knowing he didn’t want words from me.
“I’m willing to let you in enough to see if you want to help us.
I’m even willing to work with you if it gets to that point.
” Uncrossing his arms, he planted his hands on the marble.
“What I’m not willing to do is let my sister get hurt.
Don’t. Fucking. Hurt. Her.” The fire in his eyes told me he wasn’t threatening simply to threaten. Truth lay behind those words.
“I don’t want to.”
“Reese gives off tough vibes, and she is, but she’s more than that. Since Gramps died, she’s been different. Focused so much on this dream of hers, I worry she’s going to get hurt. It better not fucking be by you.”
Turning his back to me, he’d said all he wanted to.
My words were true. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I feared it would be the inevitable outcome.
“I’ve heard Fitzgerald is backing off, Clayton, but I don’t believe that for a minute.
I would have thought this would be easy for you, considering Montgomery is on the line.
Charles would be ashamed of your inability to close the deal, but I’m not really surprised.
Get it done Clayton. How ever you have to. ”
Before I could respond, Reginald disconnected the phone call, leaving me staring at my phone in the quiet of my room.
No sooner had I walked in, more exhausted than I expected from helping Logan, than he’d called.
It was not the voice I wanted to hear at any point in time, but definitely not after already being awake for seven hours at only ten in the morning.
He would not let up on this, and I couldn’t figure out why. Nothing about this made sense. There had to be something else going on.
I stripped and jumped into the shower, trying to not let Reginald derail what had been a pleasant morning with Logan. Exhausting, but informative and somewhat entertaining.
After drying off and getting dressed, I sat at the small table and opened my computer. I was due at the winery in a few hours, but I could work until then. After answering emails and reviewing a handful of contracts, I was about to shut down when my brother messaged.
Hey stranger. Got a few?
Instead of answering, I simply hit the video call icon.
“Good mor—what the hell are you wearing? Is that a T-shirt? You own a T-shirt?”
“It is indeed, and I do now, Lachlain.”
“Why? Nevermind, listen, Reginald is losing his shit up here that you don’t have the Henley property yet. Grandmother and I can’t make sense of it, but he is not happy.”
The fact that Reginald was ranting in the office, same as he was on the phone, just confirmed my suspicions that something was not right.
There was more going on here than I knew about, but not for long.
“First off, this is a family who values its legacy and isn’t willing to hand over any type of control easily.
” That’s something I didn’t even need to spend five minutes in Reese’s company to fully understand, but it solidified the thought. “Second, he called minutes ago.”
“Laid into you, didn’t he?” Lachlain kicked back in his chair, propping his feet on his desk. “Bro, I hate to be all conspiracy theorist and shit, but something’s not right.”
Every bone in my body agreed with my brother. “I concur, but what? I don’t think it’s actually the property at all.” The idea had been circulating in my brain for a couple of days now. With every voicemail, email, and text Reginald sent about the status, the warning bells clanged louder in my head.
“So, Fitzgerald?”
“I don’t even believe it’s about besting Fitzgerald.” From all the intel I’d gathered, they really had given up their pursuit. Only one conclusion reared its head the more I thought about it.
“If it’s not either of those, then what the fuck is it about?”
“Montgomery.”