Chapter 1 #2
She glanced around the room with its tacky décor and abruptly realized exactly why she was reluctant to take the plunge.
This place was a sleazy shadow of the business her grandfather and father had built.
The Tap Room had never been fancy, but it was solid and cozy, with a welcoming atmosphere to everyone who walked through the front door.
It was genuine quality, from top to bottom.
“If our dream is to renovate an old bar and run it together, then I already own one.” The words came out in a strange croak. She hadn’t considered reopening the Tap Room. Not until this moment. “There’s no need to buy anything else.”
Parker’s brows snapped together. Was he was annoyed by her suggestion? “But then it would be your bar and I would always be an intruder.”
“You’d never be—”
“Don’t, Jesse. In your heart, the Tap Room belongs to your family.
” He tugged her closer. “You told me a dozen times how your great-great-grandfather cut the lumber that was used to construct the original mercantile shop. And how your great-grandfather changed the store into a bar after he came home at the end of World War II. And how your father asked your mother to marry him by inviting the entire town to the bar to sing her favorite karaoke song when she said yes.”
An unexpected longing tugged at her heart. “Is that so bad?”
“No, but eventually you would resent any change I might want to make.” He gazed down at her upturned face. “Plus, do you really want to go back to the place you’ve spent so many years running from?”
She stepped back. She didn’t know why she was annoyed.
He was right. She didn’t want to think about changes to the family bar.
Even if they came from the man she loved.
And she certainly didn’t want to move back to Canton.
But he’d been urging her to cut ties with her past for weeks.
As if it was as easy as handing a real estate agent the keys to the Tap Room and walking away.
“You’re asking me to go back anyway.”
“Only for a few days.” He ignored her petulant tone, gently wrapping her back in his arms. “Just long enough to get the paperwork started on your inheritance and to put the bar up for sale. Then we can start a new life with a clean slate.” He flashed the sexy smile that made her tingle in all the right places.
“With a business we can build together. For our future.”
With a sigh, Jesse leaned into him, laying her head on his chest. “I like the sound of a future together.”
He stiffened, easily sensing her hesitation. “But?”
“But it’s hard to think about selling my dad’s bar. It’s my family legacy.”
“You’d rather it sit empty until it rots into oblivion?”
“Of course not.”
“Then it’s going to have to be taken care of eventually.” He hooked a finger beneath her chin, forcing her to meet his steady gaze. “Unless you think your father is coming back?”
Nine years of practice kept her from releasing the howl of agony that she kept trapped in the center of her being.
“No.”
“Think of what your father would have wanted, Jesse. You owe it to him to make sure his beloved bar is open to the customers who enjoyed spending time there, not boarded up and abandoned.”
Jesse flinched. It felt like a low blow. “And of course it’s exactly what you want as well.”
He sighed, as if trying not to be offended by her less than subtle accusation. “What I want is a chance to create something special. With you. And that’s going to take more money than we can save no matter how many hours we work.” His fingers traced the stubborn line of her jaw. “Is that wrong?”
Jesse had never thought she’d be one of those women who’d do anything for love. Men were a dime a dozen. But then Parker had walked into her life.
Now she was convinced she’d lie, cheat, and steal to keep this man.
Or even go back to the one place she’d avoided like the plague.
“No, it’s not wrong,” she assured him, laying her head back on his chest. “It’s what I want too.”
“You’re sure?”
No. Not at all.
“Very sure.” She forced out the words. “I’ll go home.”
He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “Do it quickly and come back to me. I don’t want you gone a second longer than necessary.”
She snuggled against him as a sudden chill raced over her. She didn’t want to go back to Canton.
“You could come, you know.”
He considered her offer before shaking his head. “Tempting, but I think I should stay here and start negotiations on this place.” He glanced around the empty nightclub. “We don’t want to risk having it snatched away.”
“I don’t think there’s going to be a horde of snatchers.
” The words were out before she could halt them.
It wasn’t that she was opposed to starting a future with Parker.
She just wasn’t convinced this was the place to do it.
“And please don’t make any commitments until we know that the paperwork on the life insurance policy has been approved. ”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Red tape is always a pain in the ass. And sometimes it can take forever.”
“Don’t worry. I promise not to spend any money until I have your full approval.”
There was an edge in his voice. She tilted back her head to study his delicate features. Was he angry? There was nothing to see, but fear bloomed in the center of her heart.
She’d lost everything. She couldn’t lose Parker.
“Are you sure you can’t come with me?” she urged.
“One of us needs to keep bringing in a paycheck. We’re going to need every penny we can get our hands on.”
She grimaced. “I suppose that’s true.”
He brushed a kiss over her forehead. “Let’s go back to our place so we can have a proper goodbye.”
A heat that had nothing to do with the sultry weather flowed through her like melted honey.
“What’s a proper goodbye?”
“It starts with less clothes and ends with …” His lips pressed against her ear as he whispered exactly what he intended to do with her once she was naked.
Jesse growled in anticipation. “You had me at ‘less clothes.’”