Page 48 of Brass Anchor Inn

He arched a brow. “Did you do an internet search on me?”

“Maybe. So why real estate?”

He shrugged. “I don’t really know. Maybe someone would link it to me not having a steady home. It seemed like we were always moving around. And sometimes there wasn’t a place to call home.”

“And now you find homes for other people.”

“Something like that.”

Their meal ended much too soon. After they fought over the bill, he slipped the server his credit card. Jo insisted she’d pay for their next meal. He liked the idea that there would be another meal.

She drove him back to the inn before she returned to the office. She wasn’t the only one who was going back to work. He was still working through his aunt’s papers and closing her accounts one by one.

But as he sat down to work, he found himself distracted with memories of the evening. They hadn’t done anything special, and yet it had been a wonderful evening. He could get used to spending time with her.

And yet he knew that one way or the other the easiness between them was going to come to an end. Saturday when the contest winner was announced, one of them would get what they wanted, and the other would have to make peace with things not working out the way they’d hoped.

It was the reason he emailed his assistant to make sure she was making progress on finding open positions in the hotel industry for Jo. He couldn’t take away the inn and leave her with nothing. He even told his assistant to search the San Diego area for an opening. After all, Jo had to work somewhere, so why not close to him?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Blowupabeachball.

It was Wednesday’s morning challenge. It didn’t sound so hard…until you saw the size of the extra-large beach ball. It took a lot of huffing and puffing. Josie was quite happy to let someone else win the challenge with a two-hundred-dollar voucher to use in town for more décor for their room.

Josie wasn’t worried about not winning the bonus. She would beat Lane with her imagination. She’d decided on a slightly different take on a seashore theme.

She painted the walls a faint gray that would go well with the flooring she’d picked out. While the paint dried, she went into town and picked out some linens and accessories for the room. She noticed how the items she chose were in full stock. It didn’t appear anyone had her idea. She smiled.

With her purchases boxed up to keep other contestants and the judges from seeing what she’d purchased, Josie returned to her room. Lane was just exiting his room. When she saw him, she couldn’t help but smile. He had smudges of deep blue paint on his shorts and shirt. There was even some paint on his face and his hair.

He glanced at her and frowned. “What?”

“You have paint all over you.” She couldn’t help but laugh. He was so cute.

“I know. I got a little on my shorts.”

“And your shirt. And your face.” She set down her boxes and stepped closer to inspect. “And in your hair.”

“I do?” His paint-splattered hand reached for his hair.

She nodded. “Tell me, were you able to spare any for the walls?”

His frown deepened. “That’s not funny. I did a good job painting.”

“I can see that.” She laughed.

“I mean on the walls.”

“I hope so because this evening they’re going to install the flooring we picked out.”

“Don’t worry. My room will be all prepared.” He arched a brow. “How about you? Did you catch up?”

“You act like I was behind.”

“You’re saying you weren’t?” His gaze probed hers.

“I’m saying you worry about your room, and I’ll worry about mine.”

---