Page 56 of Can't Fight the Moonlight

"I'm afraid it will tip the scales even more."

"If it's a good offer, you could end up making a lot of money, paying everyone off, and perhaps you could still run the place. Sometimes buyouts work that way."

"Paula said something about that. But it wouldn’t be mine anymore. I couldn't just do whatever I wanted."

"Nope. But can you do whatever you want now?" he challenged. "With a new owner, you might have more funds to start your dinner service and other things you can't afford."

She gave him a thoughtful look. "Do you think I should sell?"

"I have no idea. I'd have to look at your financials before I could give an informed opinion."

The last thing she wanted to show anyone was her financial records. "I just wish the offer hadn't come now. I've only been open for two years. It takes time to build a business. Whisper Lake is also growing. There will be more opportunity down the road, if I can hang on."

"Would you consult your investors before making a decision?"

Another idea she didn't really want to consider. "Let's talk about something else. Actually, we should run back to the inn. You have a sail to get to."

"I almost forgot about that, which is unusual, because I rarely forget about anything. But since I've been in Whisper Lake, I'm a lot more distracted."

"Maybe because you're having fun."

"I could be having more fun," he said pointedly.

"You really don't give up easily."

"If I did, I wouldn't get what I want. And it doesn't sound like you give up easily, either."

"No. Sometimes I wonder if I hang on too long."

"If you ever do want to bounce off some ideas with me, I'm game. I might be able to help."

"You probably could, but I'm afraid your emotionless, robotic thinking will only look at the financials and not the feelings. And I have big feelings."

He gave her an understanding smile. "Believe it or not, I'm not unfamiliar with having feelings about a business you've created. I'm personally invested in mine as well. But you still have to be able to look at the numbers."

"Looking at numbers is not easy for me."

"You have to take the emotion out of it."

It wasn't just the emotion that made the numbers hard, but she didn't need to say anything more. She'd already shared far too much with Justin. "Shall we race back?" she asked as she put in her headphones and turned on her music. While he was fiddling with his earpiece, she took off, figuring she might as well grab a head start. He caught up with her in less than a quarter mile, giving her the cocky grin that made her heart flutter every time she saw it. And then she was looking at his back the rest of the way home.

Justin was stretching on the porch when she got back to the inn, feeling more breathless than she usually did. He had pushed her to her limit, and that felt both great and exhausting. As she reached the steps, her phone buzzed. Justin reached for his phone a second later.

She took it out and saw a group text from Justin's grandmother to her and Justin. Marie wanted to let them know that Ben had had an allergy attack during the night, and they both wanted to sleep in. Since she'd already paid for the sail and didn't want Justin to go alone, Marie was hoping that Lizzie might go with him.

Justin lifted his gaze and met hers. "What do you think?"

"Mornings are busy," she said.

"But you like to keep your guests happy, and this is what my grandmother wants."

"And you keep telling me I can't make everyone happy."

"True. You can tell her no. I don't need to go on a sail. I can just do some work."

He would probably be just as happy working, but he would miss out on a great trip, and she'd be letting down one of the nicest women she'd ever met. It was just a ninety-minute sail, and Naomi and Victor could handle breakfast. Shay would be back by eleven. And they didn't have a lot going on today.

"Well?" Justin prodded. "What should I tell her?"

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