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Enough.
Done, gone, and for the better.
He parked next to the store, climbed the steps to the park office, and entered. Stacks of folders covered the rustic desk their dad had crafted from a fallen tree. Dust particles shimmered in the sunlight, streaming through the open window,and the scent of pine filled the room. Brody sat behind the desk, staring down at paperwork.
“Why’d you call a meeting? I have work to do.” Zach took a seat across from him.
Brody glanced up and back to a folder. “Let’s wait for Levi so I don’t have to repeat everything.”
Great. If his younger brother had hot women on his pontoon trip, no telling when he’d return.
Zach ran his campsites and cabins on military time with everything on a schedule, like in the army. A concept Levi would never understand. “Tomorrow is turn-over day, and I’m busy. Why don’t you text me when he gets here?”
“Is this where the party is?” Levi called from the doorway, sporting a Hawaiian shirt and swim shorts, his go-to uniform for boat tours. With a tanned body, and long, wavy blond hair, his California surfer look drove all the women crazy. The total opposite of dark-haired Zach and Brody.
“You’re late.” Brody frowned.
“Sue me. I was getting a phone number.” Levi grinned and took a long drink from a bottle of ice tea. “Need to cool down. Things were hot out there, if you get my drift.”
Zach tapped his foot and gestured to Brody. “Can we get on with the meeting?”
Brody straightened. “I went over the books again, and we’re in trouble.”
“You worry too much.” Levi waved a dismissive hand. “Every year things work out.”
“Not this time. I found out our insurance company won’t cover the collapsed ceiling and water damage to the Great Room because of an exclusion clause in the policy. I did the math. We need that building to keep us afloat with all the events and parties we have booked. Even if we’re at full capacity all seasonlong, we won’t make enough money and could lose this place.” Brody opened the folder and pulled out some papers.
Zach’s gaze went to a picture on the wall of his father in a golf cart, a huge smile on his face. He’d loved riding through the park on that thing. Zach’s heart squeezed. After his military career, his dad had started with the campgrounds and expanded to include the marina and villas. This place had meant everything to him. Zach held a thumb up. “What if we raise the prices?”
“We can’t charge enough to cover the repairs needed and earn the capital to expand the marina to full-service. People won’t pay it. This is a small island on a lake, not a waterfront resort on the Caribbean,” Brody said.
“Maybe we can take out a loan?” Zach hated the idea, but they couldn’t lose the business. He’d ended his military career to help keep his father’s legacy alive. Besides, he needed the campgrounds. Needed to be in a place where someone wouldn’t drive over a mine or trip a wire and blow themselves up.
“I looked into loans. We’d dig our hole deeper owing interest.” Brody faced Zach. “The only option left is to sign withCelebrity Trials.”
Shit. Zach’s stomach knotted as his mind raced. He’d pretty much nixed that chance, but he’d find a better way out.
Think.
Think.
“I have a solution,” Zach said.
“What?” Levi asked.
“I’ve worked on a dozen projects for my friends. They’ll help us with this one. We can get materials dirt cheap from Restore, the place where businesses donate their excess supplies. It won’t cost near what the contractors charge,” Zach said.
Brody shook his head. “That’s risky, relying on other people. There will be liability issues if we don’t use licensed contractors, and what if the store doesn’t have the materials?”
“These aren’t just people, they’re my buddies.” Zach gripped the armrest. Blood brothers, who stood beside each other no matter what. “They run their own businesses now, so they’re legit. They’ve told me before if we ever needed anything they’d get it for us at cost. Whatever we can’t get from Restore, they’ll supply.”
“I don’t like it. The show is sure money. We can’t afford to take any chances.” Brody said.
“Dammit, Brody. It’s not taking a chance. I got this.”
“Sorry, it’s still a no for me.”
Zach’s ears rang. Control-freak Brody needed to step back and let him handle the repairs. When would his brother ever trust him? “You better reconsider because the production company won’t pick here.”
