Page 40 of Up All Night
"So stop blaming yourself."
"It's not that easy."
"I know.But you'll figure it out."
And I do figure it out, but it takes three more weeks.
Chapter 10
Stone
Two Weeks Ago
"Yes!"Ipumpmyfist as Lucy delivers the good news.
"I've got the papers here for you, Stone.Don't go getting your panties into a wad yet."Lucy says, speaking to me over her reading glasses.She's always so even, despite the fact that the property I wanted to purchase for my new hotel has been approved.We finally have clearance.
"Bring them on, baby!I've got my signing hand ready!"
With a chiding look, she hands me the paperwork.It's just one sheet of paper, thankfully, since the rest will be done electronically.After I sign the papers and we talk about some of the agreements that need to take place before I can start talking about breaking ground, I bite my bottom lip.Lark and I have both been stupid busy since she took on a couple of new clients, and since the landowners for my prospective future hotel site went into meltdown mode after a pricing war took place shortly after I saw her last."Fuck it."
Lucy raises a brow."What?Are you having second thoughts?"
I ignore her question."That house.The one with the tilted addition."I snap my fingers, smiling, still high on adrenaline.
"The one that Lark took you to see?"
"Yeah, that one.What's the status on it?"
"It's still on the market, but nobody has been to see it in weeks, why?"
"I want to buy it."
Her brows furrow."You must be delirious, Stone."
"No.No, I'm not.I want to buy it.The place is perfect.And now that I'm going to be spending most of my time here in North Carolina, I need a place."
"What happened to your budget?"
"Fuck my budget.Besides, I've been in talks with a production team, and they have contacts that can save me a bundle on building materials.The way I see it, I'm going to save more money on building this project than I dreamed I could, so why not.I'm not going to live with my cousins or my brother, right?I need a place, that one is up for sale, and twenty bucks says that the son of a bitch will take the first offer, since he's about to pay for another mortgage payment."
Lucy tilts her head."You haven't even been to see any other house.I can show you as many as you like.Why are you so adamant about this one?"
I look for a lie."Gut feeling."
She smells it."You like her."
I don't admit or deny it."I like the house."
Her smirk says that she's figured me out."How about I take you to see some other houses that are more suited for your budge and lifestyle?"
"Are you looking to make more money from me, Lucy?Why not be charitable and let Lark have the cut for this one."
She's smiling.I almost never see that on her."I'll have you know that if you buy it, Lark has already offered to give me a cut."
"All the more reason for me to buy it then."
If this were a chess game, we'd be at a stalemate.
