Chapter 6 #2
“That’s not at all how people want to spend spring break,” Tate said.
Ethan gave him the side eye. “Keyword cozy. Tisha tells me that’s the vibe we’re all going for these days.”
“Nobody’s going to drive to Redemption for the weekend if there’s nothing to do,” Tate said. “Most places aren’t open, and the ones that are don’t have much to offer.”
A muscle in Ethan’s jaw twitched. Luke dipped a fry into the ketchup. Man, Tate was such a negative Nellie sometimes.
“We’re kind of dead in the water.” Tate set his phone down and reached for his burger. “Speaking of water, I saw some drone footage. Was that you helping Emma out? The sea lions did not look happy when you cranked that music.”
Luke finished chewing his french fry, then reached for his drink. “She doesn’t know very many people here anymore, so I’m just trying to help. We spoke to somebody with Fish and Game, but his suggestions aren’t effective, so we’re trying whatever’s legal at this point.”
Tate narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure you want to put yourself in the middle of that? You know how people talk around here.”
“So let them,” Luke said. Gossip spread faster than the flu in Redemption. Emma had only been back for four days, and her name was on everyone’s lips. And now, thanks to his efforts out at her family’s property, evidently his name was mixed right in there with hers.
The bell above the door jingled, and they all looked over.
Zeke Moeller walked in, his jacket unzipped and his boots leaving a trail of dirt across the linoleum floor.
He’d been a year ahead of Luke and two years behind Ethan in school.
Luke hadn’t liked him very much back then, and, well, not much had changed.
Zeke had that sort of self-satisfied air about him that rubbed Luke the wrong way.
Zeke headed straight for the counter and spoke to Charlie. She hesitated, frowning, then pulled out an order pad. His gaze slid to their booth. His annoying smirk morphed into a knowing smile. A prickle of unease crawled up Luke’s spine.
“What do we have here?” Zeke called out, his baritone voice booming through the café. “McGuire boys, what is this, a family meeting? You’re missing a few.”
Luke exchanged a glance with Ethan. Zeke moved closer. Even his swagger made Luke want to punch something.
“Heard you’ve been spending a lot of time with the Carlisle girl. What’s the deal with those sea lions?”
Luke stabbed at the ice in his drink with his straw. “We evicted a few.”
Zeke chuckled. “Yeah, saw the video online. Seems like a waste of time to me, but hey, what do I know? Maybe that’s your thing, rescuing people who don’t belong here anymore.”
Luke’s stomach clenched. Heat crept up his neck. He stared at the note on his phone. The words fix snowmobile glared back at him.
“Let it go,” Tate said quietly, an edge to his voice.
“Are you keeping busy, Zeke?” Ethan wiped his hands on a napkin. “Sorry to hear your son lost that last wrestling match. There’s always next season, right?”
“You tell me.” Zeke glared. “Bet you know a thing or two about losing state championships. Right, Coach?”
Luke silenced a groan. Ethan had set him up for that one.
“Zeke.” Charlie pointed to the paper bag sitting on the counter. “Your order’s ready.”
Zeke offered them one last smug smile. Like an unwanted parting gift. “See you jokers around.”
He paid Charlie at the register, grabbed his food, and then strode out, the bell jingling again as the door swung shut.
Tension lingered over the table. Heavy. Oppressive.
“That guy’s always been a jerk,” Ethan said. “Don’t let him get to you.”
“I’m not,” Luke said. His tone betrayed him though. He rubbed his brow and blew out a long breath. “I don’t get why everyone cares so much about the sea lions and the Carlisle place. I’m trying to help. That’s it.”
Tate pushed his food aside, then leaned on the table. “You’re going out of your way, bro. Knight in shining armor and all that. That’s probably not a good idea.”
“Why not?”
Tate pinned him with a long look. “Seriously? She’s engaged, right? To some rich doctor in Boston. And you—”
“Who said he was rich?” Luke swiped another fry through the ketchup. “And if he’s so great, why isn’t he here?”
“Don’t know, but he is her fiancé,” Tate said. “You helping her out like this—it’s not just about knocking items off the to-do list or chasing sea lions back into the water. People are watching the videos, they see you together, and as you well know, this town is not over what the Carlisles did.”
Luke shook his head. “She didn’t ask me for anything. I offered. Was I supposed to walk away? Pretend I didn’t know she’d probably struggle?”
Ethan looked thoughtful. “I get it. Tough to look away when someone is having a hard time. But why you? Like Tate said, she’s got a fiancé, and I heard her mom married her third husband. Why can’t they be the ones to step up?”
“They’re not here,” Luke shot back. “And she’s not her dad. By the way, her mom hasn’t paid the property taxes, so how about a little grace for Emma, who is just trying to clean up a mess she didn’t make.”
“That’s fair.” Tate nodded. “But remember that you don’t owe her anything. Plus we’ve got a mess of our own.”
Luke picked up his burger and took a bite, his mind spinning. His brothers had a point, although he wasn’t about to admit it. Still, the idea of turning his back on Emma didn’t sit right.
He finished chewing, then forced himself to focus. “Let’s get back on track here. How are we gonna save this resort?”
“I finally got ahold of someone at the equipment-rental place in Anchorage. You’re right, they have snowmobiles available, but he emailed me the terms for a six-week lease on four machines.
” Tate sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face.
“The guy wants $1,200 a week for each machine plus we have to go get them.”
Grimacing, Luke made a note in his phone. “That’s a decent deal, but too steep for us.”
“More than we can afford for sure,” Ethan said. “Let’s keep brainstorming. There’s got to be something we can do between now and Memorial Day to fill the gap.”
Luke tossed out some more ideas, but his thoughts kept drifting.
To Emma. Her property. To Zeke’s smug face.
No matter what his brothers or Zeke said, the facts didn’t change.
Emma didn’t deserve to be left on her own to deal with the sea lions plus the added pressure of cleaning up a house and a piece of land with a ton of baggage attached.
And the resort didn’t need to go under either.
There had to be a way to help Emma and salvage the failing resort. Because he wasn’t giving up. Not yet.