Page 83 of Silver Fake

Either way, I'm unsure what to say. So I just exclaim, "I thought you were working a case in California this week."

That makes him smile. "I'm shocked Melissa stuck with that. I thought for sure she would rat me out."

Now, I'm more confused than ever.

Melissa has been pissed with him since I quit the firm, so it's surprising to hear she would help him by feeding me a story that isn't true. His parents look like they might explode with happiness. I look around at the three of them.

"Okay, somebody has got to tell me what's happening here. I feel like there's something big happening here, and I'm the only one who doesn't know the details."

Nancy and Bill both look at John, and I know whatever this is, he planned it, and he knew I wouldn't be able to say no to his mom's invitation to lunch. I can't say I blame him. I've ignored every attempt he has made to talk on his own, and standing here in front of him, I am not upset at the realization.

I think I'm looking forward to whatever he's about to say.

CHAPTER28

John

I knewLisa wouldn't turn my mom's invitation down, but seeing her still makes my heart swell. I have to plant my feet hard to keep from grabbing her and kissing her senseless before carrying her off to my room.

God, I fucking missed her.

It's strange how much I knew I missed her, yet that feeling was nothing compared to how intense it grew the second she walked into this office, and I laid my eyes on her. It's only been three weeks since I saw her, but it might as well have been three years. It felt like time stretched for an eternity while I waited to see her again.

And I didn't think it was possible, but I swear she got even more beautiful since the last time I saw her.

"I told you," Nancy says to Lisa. "We found new management for the hotel, and I couldn't be happier."

Lisa nods slowly, but she doesn't take her eyes off me. "That makes sense," she says. "Keeping the place in the family is a good thing. It's the only way of replacing Wyatt. John makes sense as the new manager."

"I'm not the new manager," I say, keeping my eyes on her.

Her eyebrows draw together, creating a small line between them, and I have to put my hands in my pockets so I don't reach over and smooth it out with my thumb.

She finally breaks eye contact with me and looks at my parents for a second. My mom is smiling ear to ear, and my dad is standing with his arm around her, with his lips pressed together, failing to hide his own smile.

"Okay, now I'm really confused," Lisa says, looking back at me for a moment before making eye contact with my mom. "I thought you said he is the new management."

Mom nods. "He's part of the new management for the hotel, yes, but management encompasses more than just a single manager. At least we are all hoping it will in this situation."

Lisa looks at me again. "Are you bringing in more help and planning to maintain your partnership at the firm while helping run the hotel here?"

"No," I say, making sure to meet her eyes. "I will be giving notice at the firm. After helping out here the last few weeks, I realize this is where I want to be, but I want you to be here with me."

She sucks in an audible breath. "What?"

Without looking away from her, I walk around the desk. I can't stand the space between us anymore after not seeing or touching her for the last few weeks. I need to be near her, so I step right up in front of her.

"The hotel is under new management entirely." I glance behind her at Mom and Dad. "Mom and Dad are going to retire so they can care for each other and live their lives." They smile, and I look back at Lisa, meeting her eyes. "I bought the hotel from them. The paperwork has already been submitted with a new management company presiding over the Barton Beach Hotel."

"That's great," she says. She glances back at my parents and smiles at them. "The two of you deserve to spend some time just enjoying each other and life."

"That's not all," I say and wait until she looks at me again. Hoping she won't snatch away from me, I reach for her hand. Once her hand is in mine, it takes me a minute to get my words back together. It's been too long since I got to touch her. Even holding her hand is the best thing I've felt since she kicked me out of her apartment.

"Well," she says. "Are you going to tell me?"

I smile and take her in. God, I want to kiss her so bad right now, but I can't, not yet.

"The new management company for the hotel is Thomas Barton Investments, LLC."

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