Page 48 of No One Wants That (Blitzen Bay)

“Horace Walker,” Sam says quickly. “He owns a movie studio.”

Millie shakes her head. “Never heard of him. Did you accept his offer?”

“Not yet,” Sam says. “My lawyer—or really Alex’s lawyer—wants to vet him a little more before I sign. I’m in no hurry.”

“What’s involved in owning a town?” Alex asks. “Is it complicated?”

“Not complicated,” Sam says. “Maybe a little high-maintenance sometimes, but I still love it.”

“Aww,” I say, patting Millie on the top of the head. “You just perfectly described how I feel about Millie.”

Millie elbows me in the side. “Well, I hope Horace doesn’t change the town too much. It’s so charming the way it is. I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a more idyllic place. Mason and I want to come up here every summer and bring our son.”

Sam’s face lights up even more. “How old is your son? And where is he now?”

“He’s one and he’s staying with my dad this week. We just got off a FaceTime call with them,” she says. “He loves Grandpa so much that I’m not even sure he knows we’re gone.”

“I’m sure he does,” Sam says. “Do you have a picture of him?”

“Tons, but I left my phone in the room.”

I grab my phone and pull up a picture of Mo. “Uncle Butch has a picture.”

“Oh, he’s adorable,” Sam says. “He looks like you, Millie.”

“The hair is from my dad and me for sure, but those blue eyes are definitely from Mason.” She sighs again as she looks at the picture.

“He gets his attitude from Mason, too,” I say. “He’s a little bulldozer. A SEAL in training for sure.”

“Maybe,” Millie says. “Or maybe he’ll be a baseball player like Alex.”

“I’m sad I didn’t get to spend more time with him before we came up here.” Alex grabs my phone and looks at the picture. “I love babies and he’s such a cute little guy.”

“Maybe you and Raine should get started making one of your own,” I say.

“I’d love to, but I think she’s a ways off from that. Speaking of Raine, I need to bring her breakfast. I’ll grab it up at the counter. Sam, are you coming out on the boat with us today?”

“Nash invited me but I have some work to do. I might join you tonight.”

“Sounds good,” Alex says, taking his wallet out of his shorts.

I grab it and throw it across the room. “What did we tell you at the beginning of this trip? You paid for the rooms. Mason and I are paying for everything else. I swear to God if I find out you paid for this breakfast I will drown you in the lake this afternoon.”

He looks at the ceiling. “How many more days do I have to spend with you?”

“Too many, brother. Too many.” I nod my head toward the counter. “Get Raine’s food and make sure they know I’m paying for all of this.”

Millie’s staring at me when I turn around. “Why? Why are you like this? Mason, too.”

“Mills, I’ve told you before. A man’s ego is comprised of three things: how physically tough he is, how much money he makes, and how large his penis is. I’ve got two of the three locked. I overcompensate in the other area.”

She smiles and tilts her head. “So you must have more money than I thought you did.”

“Don’t go for easy jokes,” I say, tapping her nose. “You’re better than that.”

She slaps my hand down. “Don’t talk about the size of your penis in front of someone we barely know, especially someone as darling as Sam.”

“It doesn’t bother me,” Sam says. “I was more worried about you, Millie, but I see you can more than hold your own with the guys. And he’s right about the categories, although I’d add in a fourth: how tall a man is. But I’m a little, short guy, so I’m sure I worry about that more than Butch does. What are you—about six, one?”

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