Page 28 of Are You For Reel?

“I love it,” I say. “I could sit here every day and write, with this view of the old lighthouse, if I could.”

Cash stares at me for a moment, his fingers woven together on the table. He’s deep in thought, considering whether to say something out loud.

“You should have that,” he says. “You should have everything you want.”

His words tug at my heart, but I put up a wall. With a chuckle, I say, “Shouldn’t we all have whatever we want? Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Nancy comes back to take our order, and I make mine a plate of lake perch and fries with lemonade. “I’ll have the same,” Cash says, prompting a smile from me.

When she leaves to put our order in, my gaze lands on Cash’s suddenly anxious expression.

“I’m going to sell off my ownership of some of the restaurants in Dallas. And then, use some of that money to build a house here on Paradise Lane.”

This news takes my breath away. I’m so happy he’ll be here for his parents, but I don’t see any mention of me in that future. And why would there be? I’m just little ol’ me. An interloper. I’m not from here; I’m just a transient girl having a fling, right?

“That’s wonderful,” I breathe, holding back my melancholy. “That is a huge change. Wow, Cash, I’m so happy for you and your family.”

“And there’s more,” he says.

Here we go.

“I’m also thinking about buying the Snug.”

This, I did not expect.

Nancy appears, nearly dropping our nachos and lemonades. “You’re doing what now?”

“I was going to wait until my date was over, but there’s no time like the present,” he replies.

I watch as Cash scribbles a number on a napkin and passes it across the table to Nancy. Nancy picks it up and studies it, his mouth turning down. “It’s too much.”

Cash laughs. “Friend, when someone offers you more than what you think the market value is for something, you take the money and run.”

“Cash, I can’t take this much money from you. Not for this money pit.”

“It may be a money pit, but these are the best nachos I’ve ever had,” I mutter, putting a hurt on the queso and pickled jalapeños.

“How about I call your agent tomorrow, and we’ll see who’s the crazy one?” Cash offers.

“Suits me fine. But I won’t take a penny over asking price from you, son.”

“I’m paying you for your recipes and expertise, too. I’m paying you what this town owes you for keeping all these little fishing resorts up and running all these years. For all the sponsorships of Fourth of July parades, fun runs, cancer benefits, the Christmas festival of trees…”

Nancy waves her hands in the air, “Alright, alright. That’s enough. You got a deal. The only offer I have is contingent on me replacing the plumbing, which I don’t have the money to do. So the place is yours, Cash.”

I watch wide-eyed, stuffing my face with nachos as the two businesspeople shake on the deal.

Nancy leaves to check on our order, and I stare at Cash. “This is a lot,” I say. Yes, I’m giving him an out to say he can’t focus on me right now.

“It is, and I need a partner to help me.”

I chew slowly as he talks excitedly about building plans, rebuilding the dock, shoreline erosion control, forest preservation, and saving the lighthouse. My head is spinning. So he does need me, but he wants a business partner?

When I gather my thoughts, I say, “I think you think I make way more money than I do at this writing gig.”

“Huh?” Cash’s expression is incredulous. “I didn’t ask you for money.”

“You said you needed a partner. And, that you needed to focus on your family and helping protect Paradise Lane…I just thought you were…”

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