Page 22 of Fifty-Fifty

“And I have your full support for those thirty days? I can work ya like a dog? Whatever I need, you’ll help? Is that what you’re sayin’, too?”

Clearing my throat, I agree, “Yeah. For thirty days, I pretend that I think this place can thrive. I put my blood and sweat into it. Whatever you say, I do. But if we can’t hit the number I’m needing to hit by then—”

“Then I say goodbye to the only real home I’ve ever known,” she finishes, her tone somber.

I nod, feeling guilty as hell when she puts it like that. “Yeah.”

Beau looks like she’s about to cry. Like she’s making a deal with the devil for even considering it. But she offers her hand for me to shake, anyway. Regardless of the consequences.

Carefully, I take it.

Her gaze is glued to our palms as I grasp her outstretched hand and lift it up and down to confirm our verbal agreement.

“Well, all right then,” she states with a resolute tone

And with that she stands from the swing and heads inside, leaving me alone.

The rest of the night is spent with an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, arguing over where my soul will spend the rest of eternity for offering a deal to a single mom that’s sure to leave her in tears.

There’s no way she’ll be successful. She’s simply dragging out the inevitable.

And I’m letting her.

Chapter Nine

Beau

This is horse shit. No matter how many times I run the numbers, I still can’t figure out how to bring in the kind of money Noah’s lookin’ for. It just ain’t possible. I mean, I know he doesn’t need the full fifty thousand every month or nothin’, but he does need enough money to support a new business. And if I’ve learned anythin’, it’s that businesses take a lot of investment. To be honest, sometimes it feels like a money dump, but I won’t be lettin’ Noah in on that lil’ secret. That’s for sure.

I spend my night tossin’ and turnin’ before throwin’ in the towel and takin’ a hot shower.

After lettin’ the hot water seep into my bones, I get ready for the day then head downstairs to make some breakfast for Bridget and her family. The other guests had decided to go explore the town early this morning.

I wash some apples and peaches I bought at the market before placin’ them on a large platter, arrangin’ them delicately. Afterward, I start on the eggs and bacon. The toast will only take a minute, so I’ll wait until they’re seated at the dining table to put the bread down.

I’m busy hummin’ to myself when Noah appears around the corner in a white Henley shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a cup of coffee in his hand. I can’t help but notice the way his jeans hang low on his hips, but I won’t be tellin’ him that, either.

Unfortunately for me, with the way his lips are curvin’ up in the corners, it seems he might’ve noticed my appreciative assessment.

Dammit.

“So, what’s on the list for today? What’s the plan?”

I clear my throat. “How are you with computers?”

He shrugs his broad shoulders as I grab the bacon from the fridge and start up the griddle. “Not bad. Why? What do you have in mind?”

“Well, Jay and I were workin’ on a website when—when everythin’ happened. I haven’t had a whole lot of time to work on it since then, but there’s a festival comin’ up in a few weeks that’s always kept the place really busy. I was thinkin’ you could work on a little online promotion, is all. What do ya think?”

He’s nodding before I’m even finished talkin’. His eyes lightin’ up like a kid on Christmas. “Yeah. I think that’s a great idea. Maybe we could even do some kind of promotion where if they stay for a certain number of nights, then they can get a special discount. What kind of festival is it?”

“It’s just a regular ol’ fall festival, but there’s a bakin’ contest, and a pettin’ zoo. They even do pumpkin carvin’!” I smile before poppin’ a piece of fruit into my mouth and lettin’ the flavors explode across my taste buds.

Seems I’ve caught his attention, because his gaze is glued to my mouth as I chew up the sweet fruit before lickin’ the extra juice off my fingers.

He clears his throat, shakin’ himself from his stupor. “Pumpkins, huh?”

I nod. “Yeah. Our little town is known for our giant pumpkins. Well… and our peaches, but it’s a little too cold for that now. This place is full of orchards all along the outskirts of town. People come for miles and miles to buy a bag of our peaches durin’ the summer. But don’t even get me started on the other festivities. It’s a ball. You’ll will love it.”

---