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“No.” Jack shook his head, his voice adamant. “I invested in this place, not my father’s company. I wanted you to be able to follow your heart and make the kind of life for yourself that you dream about. I know I haven’t been very supportive of the move to Bar Harbor. But I didn’t understand how hard you’ve worked to make this place a reality. I’ve realized how much your family has stood in your way, and you deserve the chance to spread your wings.”
He withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket. Folded and stiff, the paper crinkled as he smoothed it so she could read the writing. Through the haze of her confusion, she could see the deed to the property with the former proprietor’s name scrawled under the section to transfer ownership.
She hadn’t believed her ears, but she couldn’t doubt her eyes. What she couldn’t understand was why he would do something like this? Heat crawled up the back of her neck, making her itchy and uncomfortable. The day that had seemed so beautiful and full of possibilities a little while ago now felt suffocating.
“You think it will help me ‘spread my wings’ by handing me the property I wanted to buy myself?” She tugged at the neckline of her hooded sweater, unable to get enough air. “I’m not sure how I can feel the fulfillment of realizing a dream if it arrives gift-wrapped on a silver platter. Why would you swoop in and steal this moment from me? Do you think I’m too feeble minded or weak to have haggled for a better price? Or found another property?”
She could tell that her words had been harsh by the way his shoulders tensed. His hand slid away from where it had rested on her forearm. But how else could she have described what he’d done?
“I wanted to help you bring the property into the black faster. The list of repairs is so long and expensive they would have been cost prohibitive if you used your start-up cash to buy the inn. This way, you can afford the repairs and open for business by spring. Generating operating income will give you a fighting chance to make the business profitable.”
“And because you know best, you bought the place without even discussing it with me.” Memories of all the times her father had made decisions for her swamped her. Why had she thought Jack was any different? “Just like when you broke up with me for my own good. You planned the end of our relationship and executed it, all without any input from me. So why ask me for my opinion on how to handle the purchase of the bed and breakfast that I’ve been dreaming about and planning for?”
She heard the unsteadiness in her voice and hated the quavering tone. But after the time they’d spent together, she thought they were growing closer. No. Worse than that, she’d fallen in love with him all over again, only to be confronted with how foolish she’d been. Again.
Jack knew best. Then and now.
“I didn’t do it to take the decision out of your hands.” He stood, pacing around the fire pit like a caged animal looking for an out. His feet crunched over fallen twigs and pine needles. “Hell, anyone could see you’d made up your mind to buy the place long before you even set out for Maine. I knew when I saw that damn notebook of yours with the plans for a cabana and the diagram for a beach bungalow that this was a done deal. I thought I was doing you a favor because--.”
He paused. His green eyes flashed to hers with fiery heat.
“Because why?” She rose, feeling the tension in the air and not sure what he’d say next.
Had he bought the inn for any reason other than he-man protectiveness? Did any sentimentality lurk underneath the assurance that he knew what was best for everyone around him?
“Because I had faith in your vision and you work harder than anyone I know,” he admitted finally. The words were quieter than the rest of his heated diatribe, as if they’d come from deeper down inside him. “You deserve this chance, Alicia.”
The anger seeped out of her as he stared her down, daring to naysay him. She wouldn’t. Not now. She couldn’t remain mad at someone who believed in her—possibly the only person in the world who would make that claim. Jackwasdifferent from her father. And he hadn’t simply bought the inn to keep her from fighting her own battles. He wanted to help and she couldn’t hold that against him.
Yet, she realized as she wavered on her feet, she had hoped for a lot more from Jack. Her limbs weighed like wrung-out dishrags, her whole body sapped of the anger and conviction she’d felt just moments ago. Jack hadn’t done any of this because he wanted to be with her or start a future here beside her. There was no mention of the old feelings they had once shared. Sinking back into her chair, she tried to come to terms with what that meant.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, the words raw on her throat that suddenly burned with unspoken emotions. “I’m being ungrateful when you’ve been thoughtful and generous. I--” She had to stop and clear her throat. And oh God, what was the matter with her? “I will pay you back as soon as I can start generating some income and work out a budget. You know I’m good for it.”
She tried to paste on her best game face, but she could tell it wasn’t quite coming together. Jack remained on his feet on the other side of the fire pit, watching her.
Slowly, he nodded. “I know. And it was probably a bad idea to surprise you with something so important. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was caught up in how excited you were about the whole thing.”
Okay, now she felt like a huge ogre. A good friend would throw herself at his mercy and beg for forgiveness for being such an ingrate, except she didn’t want to be just a good friend. She wanted so much more and he…
He was currently checking his watch.
“I should really be shoving off if I’m going to meet Keith’s buddy.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I know you’re renting a car and checking out the area, but maybe when you come back to Chatham, we could get together. I can help you with the move.”
Again, her eyes flew to his, searching. Hoping. Because she was foolish like that. But his gaze remained guarded, assuring her he was only offering the help to be nice. Because they werefriends, apparently. Friends with too many damn benefits.
And for crying out loud, hadn’t it hurt enough once to have him walk away? She would be an idiot of the first order if she kept putting herself in a position to experience the unique sting of that particular heartache.
“Sounds great,” she lied, knowing she’d never call him until it was time to arrange for the first installment of repaying the massive loan he’d forced upon her by buying the inn. “I appreciate your faith in me. I will make sure it’s well placed.”
She had no idea where the stilted words originated from. She felt like a parrot on auto-play, mindlessly speaking words with little real meaning. Who would have thought this day would find her relationship with him relegated to the same importance as the connection he shared with the bar owners he’d financed back on the Cape? They now had a business arrangement. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Neither of them moved for a long moment. Finally, Jack broke the standoff and approached her, his arms open. Alicia thought it would be healthiest to step back, to refrain from feeling his strong, warm body against hers. But after all they’d shared, she discovered she didn’t have the willpower to deny the embrace.
Stepping into his arms, she laid her cheek on his chest. Felt the steady thrum of his heartbeat there. How could she have read everything so wrong these last few days? Yet, if ever there was a time to declare feelings for her, it would be now. Jack would say something now.
The beat of his pulse drummed like a metronome in one ear while the birds chirped and waves rolled along the shore in the other.
“Call me,” he reminded her, kissing the top of her head. Cupping the base of her skull and threading his fingers into his hair.
