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Lane couldn’t believe he was walking around the beach, searching for a treasure chest. He glanced around as people were rushing around, using their hands to dig up the sand here and there.
This was all Jo’s fault. Somehow, she kept getting him increasingly involved with this inn. But this time she’d made a miscalculation because he’d spent many years staging homes in order to turn them over quickly. It had been said more than once that he had an eye for interior design. So, if she wanted to challenge him, bring it on.
In the end, neither he nor Josie found the treasure chest. It was buried near some rocks with just a corner sticking out of the sand. He was okay with that. He didn’t need the extra time.
While the contestants headed toward their rooms, the crowd of onlookers dispersed. He glanced over at Jo, who was speaking with Sara. He wondered how she was going to manage this contest as well as running the inn. Maybe he should offer to help with the administrative duties. After all, he was expecting buyers to descend on them any time now. He couldn’t risk the inn being neglected.
As soon as Sara walked away, he made his way over to Jo. “Can we talk?”
“If you’re here for decorating tips, I can’t help you.” She sent him a teasing smile as she sat down. “What’s on your mind?”
“Are you serious about taking part in this contest?”
She was quiet for a moment. “I guess so. Why?”
“I was thinking I could help you out.”
Her eyes momentarily widened. “You want to help decorate my room?”
He shook his head. “I meant I could help you run the inn.”
The smile disappeared from her glossy lips as her eyes narrowed. “Why would you want to do that?”
He cleared his throat. “It’s a lot for you to take part in the contest and stay on top of everything at the inn, especially with it being fully booked.”
“And you don’t think I’m up for it.” There was a hard edge to her voice.
He was in dangerous territory now. “That isn’t what I meant.”
She arched a brow. “Then what did you mean?”
This wasn’t going the way he’d intended. And with Jo being upset with him, he knew she would never go along with his plan. “Never mind.”
She continued to stare at him as though unsure if she wanted to let go of the subject or not. “I’ve got everything under control.”
He raised his palms. “Okay. I didn’t mean anything by the offer.”
“You do know that neither of us can win this contest, right?” Jo’s voice was low as she rested her arms on the table and laced her fingers together.
He knew she was right. It wouldn’t look good for one of the owners to win the contest. “I agree.”
“That’s why I’d like to suggest we run a side contest.”
She sparked his interest as he leaned forward. “What do you have in mind?”
“It seems to me that you and I have a problem. Because I’m not going to agree to sell the inn. And it’s obvious you have no intention of keeping the inn.”
He nodded in agreement. “So what are you proposing?”
“If I win the contest, you’ll go back to California, and I’ll send you your portion of the profits every quarter.”
That was never going to happen, but he was curious about the rest of her proposal. “And if I win?”
She paused as though what she was about to say was difficult for her. “I’ll agree to sell the inn.”
He couldn’t believe she’d said that. She was really offering to give up the inn. There had to be a catch. “You know everyone is going to vote for your room.”
“They won’t know which is my room. No one is allowed in that section until the judging begins.”
