Page 209 of At First Catch

Dean’s face remains impassive, yet a sharper glint appeared in his eyes.

“And the grants?”

“Too slow for the stabilization work. Too restricted for half of what we need.”

Saying it aloud makes the options sound even worse than they did spread across my desk.

I let out a slow breath.

“That’s one way to put it.”

“And the investor group?”

My jaw tightens. “They’re offering exactly what the marina needs.”

Dean nods once. “At what price?”

I don’t answer. I don’t need to. It’s clear he already knows.

“How close are you?”

The question hangs between us.

“Closer than I’d like.”

Dean studies the marina in the distance for another long moment before speaking again.

“You know,” he says, “there are more than two choices.”

I glance sideways. “Doesn’t feel like it.”

“That’s fear talking.”

The words land harder than they should.

“You think I should just gamble on the future of the marina?”

“No. I think you’re assuming the only people willing to finance this place are the ones asking you to change it.”

I stare at him, and he shrugs.

“Independent commercial lenders exist for a reason.”

I feel myself tense as a faint smile touches his face. “Relax. I’m not offering to invest.”

My shoulders loosen before I can stop them.

Dean chuckles.

“Thought you’d appreciate hearing that first.”

A searing sensation creeps into my neck. I let out a slow breath. “I’ve already talked to three commercial lenders.”

Dean stays quiet.

“Two wanted me to sell off waterfront acreage to improve the numbers. The third wanted personal guarantees that would’ve tied me to this place for the next twenty years.”

I look back toward the marina.