Page 28 of So Close

If she asked him for money—even assuming there was any left, which didn’t sound likely—he’d give it without hesitation. Even if it destroyed his second chance to chase his own dreams.

There was still Hannah, too. She was sixteen, and—as Trey had sussed out—college loomed for her, another expense on Levi’s horizon.

There was no way in hell she would ask Levi for money.

Onwards, then, to the banks.

She shook her head. “I was just in the vicinity and I figured I’d stop in and say ‘hi.’”

“You’re always welcome,” he said. “And you know, there’s always a job for you here if—”

“I’m good,” she said quickly. “I’ve got Beachcrest.”

She would make sure it stayed true, and she would do it without stealing anything else from Levi’s future. That was the least she could do for the brother who had held their family together.

14

“Idon’t know what you heard, Patrick, but if I needed your money, you’d hear about it from me, not from your client.”

Trey froze at the sound of Auburn’s voice, clipped and decisive.

He’d come over to the office because his Wi-Fi wasn’t working, but before he’d turned the corner into view, he’d heard her. And even though he knew he should retreat before he eavesdropped anymore, he couldn’t quite make himself do it.

“Yeah, look. I appreciate your concern, but I’ve got this Beachcrest situation under control. And I will tell you—myself—if that changes and I need anything from you.” She listened for a moment. “No. No, that’s definitely not necessary. And not a good idea. Patrick, no.” She was quiet again, then said, “All right. I appreciate that. Take care.”

Trey rounded the corner just as she swiped a finger across her phone to hang up the call and swore under her breath. Her eyes came up to meet his. He should pretend he hadn’t heard her … but his curiosity was killing him.

“Who’s Patrick?”

Practical considerations, he told himself. He needed to know where things stood on her end, so he could strategize.

“You heard that?” She frowned.

“I just came to tell you the Wi-Fi’s downagain.”

She gave him a look.

“I’m providing useful guest feedback,” he clarified. “I need to send some long emails, and the phone’s not cutting it for me. But back to my question: Who’s Patrick?”

He was justified in asking, right? It concerned him if this guy related to his business deal. If she was asking for money from someone, that affected—

Well, he couldn’t exactly say how it affected him, but it felt important.

She sighed, heavily. “My ex. Apparently he heard about the Beachcrest sale from his client, who’s your—chief operating officer?”

Doug. He wondered what Doug had told this Patrick guy. Hopefully not the whole story. The last thing he wanted was for rumor of his dire situation to creep back to Auburn … and Carl … and Brynn. No, he wanted to clean this up long before that had a chance to happen.

Then the substance of what Auburn had said finally penetrated his overtaxed brain. “Your ex offered youmoney?”

She frowned at him. “You don’t care how I get the money, do you?”

Actually, he didn’t, and if he had his way, she wouldn’t need to get it, because this whole farce would play itself out, he’d earn Carl’s agreement, and he would sell Beachcrest to Royal Life Group, the luxury retirement company.

Which didn’t explain why he wanted desperately to know what the hell her ex was doing sticking his nose into this.

Because the guy could have financial clout or legal power. Because Trey couldn’t deal with any additional swerve in this process right now. That was why. Not because Auburn was no longer wearing the tit cupcake apron and all her curves were on display and it was taking most of his self-control not to ogle her. Not to think about the body underneath that pretty sundress.

“Do you have a good relationship with him?”

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