Page 76 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
I laugh. “Yeah, if I’d been making the kind of money to cover that expense, sure. But my heart was only half in this place, if that.” I let out a long breath and close the dishwasher door to start it. “It’s a beautiful building. My parents put their all into this place, and they loved it.”
Bec regards me in silence so long that I start to fidget. Then she says something that nearly makes me faint.
“When you’re ready to sell, let me know. Before you put it on the market. I’ve been looking for a change of pace.”
I gape a moment, then swallow. “You… you want to buy The Cozy Crescent?”
She smiles warmly at me, her light blue eyes so kind. “If we work out a deal, I’ll keep the name. If that’s okay with you.”
My hand is grasping at my chest, and I don’t know when that started. “I would be honored if you’d uphold my parents’ legacy, Bec.”
She leans in, pats my arm, and says, “You’re a good kid,” before turning to leave. After a few steps, she stops and turns back to me. “If you ever break Izzy’s heart, I’ll put your nuts in a vice.”
And I may have nightmares tonight.
Chapter Fifty-Two
“Did you threaten my mate’s manhood?”
“Tattletale.” Bec rolls her eyes. “Yes. And I have every right to do so.”
I stifle a laugh as we sit alone in the quiet living room, everyone else in the B&B having gone off to bed.
“This is like the old days,” she says. “It’s after three in the morning, and we’re just drinking and chatting.”
I smile at the memories we’ve shared. “You were always a party animal.”
“Pfft,like you can talk.” She sips her wine. “I stopped partying a long time ago.”
She makes it sound like she’s so much older than me, but she’s not. “Where’s this weight coming from, Bec?”
She sighs now, her shoulders drooping and body deflating beside me on the couch. “I told you I was sick of the rat race and the city. It’s really wearing me down, Iz. And honestly, I fucking miss you and Vi. Like, a lot.”
I grin at her. “So what Will said was true?”
She pauses. “About what?”
“About you wanting to buy this place.”
“Oh,” she sips again, “yeah. I think it would be a great change of pace, and I could still freelance. It’s a good investment in the right hands.”
I laugh. “And yours are definitely the right hands for business.”
Bec regards me over her glass, blessedly waiting for me to swallow my wine before saying, “Your brother and Matthew’s dad want to fuck me.”
And I still choke anyway. “Shit, Bec,” I say between coughs. “I’d planned to question you about all those looks between you, but I guess that’s unnecessary now.”
She gives me a side-eye and purses her lips. “I knew there was something about Crescent Lake. It’s like the match-making capital of the world or some shit. Whether you like it or not.”
Laughing again, I ask, “Have you gone outside with them?”
Her brow raises. “No. Why?”
I blink. “The scent neutralizers.” I wave to the nearest device. “Without them around, you’d probably really scent them. See if you’re matches.”
She gives me a look. “You’re much calmer about this than I expected.”
“Why did you expect me not to be calm? Could you imagine if you were my brother’s mate? We’d be real sisters!”
