Page 55 of Dandelion Sighs

The rest of the drive was quiet. He parked in front of my car and killed the engine. “I really am sorry.”

I gave him a sad smile. “It really wasn’t my business.” When he opened his mouth, I held my hand up. “I mean it. It’s not. I have no claim to that spot. My dad started the resort knowing there was no water access, and now I’m left to figure it out.” Or sell. “But I knew that when I came home.”

One rug was pulled out from under me, yet the more information I had about my options, the better. It wouldn’t be different than that one house I sold where the neighbor’s garage opened into the driveway. Potential buyers were not thrilled, but I had gone to showings armed with information about their rights.

“You can do it. I know you can.” Jasper twisted in his seat. “If I thought Bishop’s Landing was a lost cause, I wouldn’t have jumped in and taken the job.”

“It wasn’t like you had a lot of prospects.”

He recoiled. “Shit, Sheridan. Tell me how you really feel.”

Guilt hit me, and I pushed my fingertips to my forehead. I didn’t mean to insult him. “Sorry. It’s not you. I dated losers, and the anger came out right at you.”

“I have prospects. I just wasn’t looking for anything.”

“That doesn’t help.” Did I circle my personal life back to the beginning? Find a guy who seemed like he had potential, fall for him, find out that he wanted a second mom instead?

Jasper wasn’t like that, but he touched on something I’d been overlooking. I had bumped into him because he’d been jobless and killing time.

He nodded, his gaze distant, like he was mulling over what we’d said to each other. “I’m not living someone else’s dream.”

I drew back like he’d done earlier. Did he mean me and the resort? I never asked him to. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I think you’re determined. I think you can get Bishop’s Landing well into the black.” He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the quiet street. “But I also think that you’re chasing a time in your life when you last felt useful. Happy.”

His words hit and stuck, denting me just a little. “You mean when my parents were alive?”

“No.” His expression turned horrified. “Not at all. What do you want, Sheridan? Have you thought about that?”

I wanted success. I wanted stability. I wanted a partner to share my life and my successes with. Someone who brought more to the table than more doubts about me. And yes, I wanted to return to a time and place where I was useful. Where I followed my dad and he was proud of me.

I loved Bishop’s Landing. It was as simple as that. It was my home when I was growing up, and it was my home once again. I also wanted Jasper. But he wasn’t mine. His cabin wasn’t mine. So it was more important than ever to hold on to Bishop’s Landing.

Chapter Sixteen

Jasper

After a shitty night of sleep, I pulled into the parking lot of the resort. How had the weekend gone from being the best ever to the worst?

The look of betrayal on Sheridan’s face haunted my dreams. Even worse, I didn’t get the impression that it was from losing out on the chance to get the property in the end. It was from me not telling her who exactly was blocking her expansion. It was from keeping secrets from her. From not being so into her that I would marry her in a heartbeat and give her everything she thought she wanted. The problem was that I did know what she wanted.

When I had asked her to marry me, she’d said no. The acid in my stomach splashed like lava at the memory. She’d said no.

If her answer had been yes, I would’ve done it. I would’ve gone through with it, and I would’ve worked to make sure our love was believable. Turned out Sheridan didn’t want to be an afterthought in business or fake love, and she’d chosen that over a big leg up with any future resort competition.

“Fuck.” I blinked back my fatigue and got out. I could go right to the shop and work on painting the shed. It was cooler today, and I wouldn’t bake like I would’ve last week. Instead, I went inside the main building.

“Morning, Jasper,” Maria said, smiling and handing a customer a receipt.

“Morning, Maria.” I nodded to the guy checking out. Again, I could’ve stopped to get the list of problems that had occurred over the weekend, but I continued on. Straight to Sheridan’s office. How was she doing?

She looked up from her computer. Her face was pale, and guilt filled me. Had her sleep sucked too? I hadn’t asked for that damn cabin, and I didn’t want it or the stipulation it came with. The tugging on my chest wall said otherwise.

She paused with her hands over the keyboard and a brow lifted.

“Just checking in.” I stuffed a hand in my pocket. I didn’t have to come to her office. Would she see right through me?

Did she hate me?