Page 56 of Fortune's Control
“One more time, and then we go,” Emma insisted. She opened the door and beckoned me inside. “I go home tomorrow, so this is my last chance.”
“Only if we’re quick.”
Emma moved through the empty retail space, her hand brushing against a brick wall. “They restored the fireplace.” Alone, with only me for company, she didn’t bother hiding the ache in her voice.
At Jack’s insistence, Aiden restored the smaller shop first to attract a tenant and pay Jack for some of his time.
“Thanks. I deserve all the credit.” Jack hopped down the staircase two steps at a time. “He was in the way.”
Aiden followed behind. “The overall vision was mine.”
Jack raised his arms like he wanted to shake his friend. “You bought the place, and that’s it. Thanks to me, you’ll have a place to live that isn’t a garage couch, and a storefront that won’t disgust the rich guys you work for.”
“The rich men I deem worthy of my services,” Aiden corrected.
My brow furrowed. “Aren’t you two supposed to be at the baseball field? It starts in thirty minutes.” Shane and Dean waited for us while Emma and I planned to swing by the library to pick up Lainey. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of Shane.”
Their sheepish expressions answered my question.
“In our defense, forcing him to play was a genius idea on our part,” Aiden said, and decided he needed a stronger defense. “Also, he gets to show off in front of you, and we need him on the team. Plus, we lost to Osprey Cove last year, and as team captain, he needs to defend my honor.”
“You were the team captain. He demoted you, remember?” Jack said.
Aiden attempted a correction. “We mutually agreed that he should be in charge.”
“He sent you to the outfield.”
“Because of my spectacular skills of observation.”
“You’re last in the batting order.”
“Okay, yeah, I’m irked by this one.” Aiden turned off the dramatics as his expression switched to practiced charm. “Emma. Did you miss me?”
I interrupted before she could lob one of her infamous insults at him. “We’re visiting the storefront one last time before she goes home.”
He turned serious. “You can’t have it. I’m renting it out to a man.”
“That’d be discrimination and illegal,” Emma shot back.
“He’s sixty and plans to operate a model train hobby shop.”
“You’ll take the first tenant to sign a lease agreement.” Sam Taggert descended the stairs and stopped a few steps from the bottom. “It’s practical business sense, and thanks to Jack, this remodel will serve as the basis of our town’s proposal.”
“Mr. Taggert.” The man who married Shane and me. His statement caught my attention, as a town proposal could mean government forms. Several times now, Shane stopped to laugh over my confession. It was two nights ago, and I still refused to believe it was that funny. It was an unusual hobby, but it didn’t stray into the realm of the bizarre. “How are you?”
“Rounding up these two before heading to the baseball field. With Shane joining us, we have a real shot at beating Osprey Cove,” he said.
Aiden pointed toward his father with an I told you so expression.
I didn’t care. “Mr. Taggert, can I ask about this town proposal?”
Sam wiped his forehead. “They want it on thecomputer. A poor decision, if you ask me.”
That wasn’t my concern. “That’s frustrating. You’ll want some help with it, I’m sure.”
“Shane’s sister can tell you more. It’s a grant proposal to redo some of our historic downtown buildings. Why don’t you get with her?”
Like a non-profit. Emma and I shared a look.
