Page 25 of Marrying the Nanny

“’Cause I’ll be on the water feeding Shamu,” Trystan pointed out.

“I will not,” Logan said flatly.

“About the marina.” Reid recalled what he had wanted to ask Logan earlier. “What do you think we could get for it if we sold it as is, right now?”

“Are you crazy? Don’t sell the marina.” Logan bristled. “The reason Tiffany took all the money out of it was because it’s the only thing that was still turning a profit.”

Reid knew that. Raven’s Cove Marina was the only full-service repair shop and supply hub for a hundred miles in any direction. Boaters depended on it. That part of the business, at least, was an easy sell.

“What does Sophie need to get it back in the black?” Reid asked.

“Another mechanic. Randy is coming and going while he finishes school. When he’s here, she’s able to catch up on the invoicing. There’s a list this long”—Logan stretched out his arms—“of housekeeping that could make things more efficient, but Sophie is also only one person.”

“It’s too bad we don’t know anyone who spent his formative years apprenticing under Art, the way Sophie did, learning every aspect of the marina’s business,” Trystan remarked to Reid.

“Like a marine engineer, for instance?”

“Architect, thank you, and bite me,” Logan muttered. “Look, even if I stayed to get the marina back on its feet, I wouldn’t have time for a baby. Locals are getting their boats ready for the spring and it will only get busier as the fish boats and yachts start coming through. You think I’ll have time to change a bum while I’m fixing a bilge pump? I’ve got deadlines for drawings. Binding contracts with penalties if I don’t deliver.”

“Will you stick around a few more weeks and manage the marina?” Reid prodded. “At least until Sophie can handle things or we find someone else?”

“I don’t have a choice, do I?” As the words passed his lips, Logan sent a disgruntled look his mother’s way.

“Wait,” Trystan said with a scowl. “Let’s ask Sophie first—”

“Sophie and I are fine,” Logan insisted.

Glenda sniffed but didn’t say anything.

Reid wasn’t a gossip, but he hadn’t been able to figure out how Sophie had gone from hero-worshiping Logan most of her life to hating his guts. Sophie had a son, but an offhand inquiry with the bookkeeper in the lodge had informed him the boy’s father was some hipster tree-hugger who turned up now and again, but didn’t live here.

Reid didn’t believe Logan would abandon any woman to raise his kid alone, especially a family friend like Sophie. Since Reid had plenty to manage without getting involved in their squabble, he took Logan’s words at face value. He and Sophie would be fine.

“That’s decided, then?” Reid sat back. “I’ll oversee the crews finishing the upgrades and the new building and keep the village running.” He glanced at Logan. “You get the marina sitting high and pretty.” He nodded at Trys. “And you manage the guide boats. Sports fishing, too. Reservations, licenses, why they have to wear a PFD. I don’t want a single tourist to know my number.”

“You’re getting suckered, man,” Logan said to Trystan.

“I’ll be on the water half the week,” Trystan retorted. “Enjoy the bilge.”

“And I take care of Storm?” Emma asked with tentative hope.

“Yes,” they said in unison.

“No,” Glenda said.

*

“Mom.” Logan instilled the word with adolescent fury.

Emma was feeling too scorned to laugh. She had thought Glenda liked her. They’d chatted easily all afternoon. Glenda was so forthright, Emma had felt safe opening up to her.

“Emma is here until the end of the year,” Glenda spelled out. “Children take eighteen years to grow up.”

“Eighteen—” Reid hissed the word, eyes closing.

“You have a plan for the resort. That’s excellent. Now let’s talk about how you’ll make time for your sister.”

“We don’t have time, Glenda. It’s basic math,” Reid said.

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