“Tony is taking a bit of a risk giving us their contact information, but I don’t think any of them will mind. It’s not likely that any of them are sitting on millions of dollars,” Amber said wryly, “but there’s always some hope.”
“And little pledges will add up,” Jenny added optimistically.
Fifty million would add a lot, too, Alice thought wryly. But she didn’t like to think about that, or the fact that Graham knew... or the fact that even if she knew, she wasn’t sure she could betray Scarlet’s secret.
Even for fifty million dollars.
Even to save her brother and her parents.
Her chicken legs were suddenly looking a lot less appealing.
Alice thought about the pa
thetic scrap book she’d tried to use as a cover for asking Scarlet questions. “Scarlet’s pretty private and proud. She’s probably not going to be really happy that you’re sending her business failures to everyone she’s ever helped.”
The others looked at her with expressions of mixed guilt, skepticism, and curiosity and Alice wished she hadn’t said anything at all. She took a fierce bite of chicken leg.
“I mean... not that I know her well,” she said uncomfortably around her food. “But I guess I’d be pretty embarrassed.”
“That’s why she wouldn’t do it herself,” Jenny said thoughtfully. “But if we can buy the island, it would be worth it. I think she’d understand.”
Alice nodded. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“Besides,” Laura added, “it’s not like this is actually a failure of Scarlet’s. She was kind enough to take all those shifters in, knowing that it was her bottom line that would pay for it. It was... a failure of kindness, not business.”
“Oo,” Jenny said. “Failure of kindness. I like that. I’m stealing it.” She typed feverishly into her laptop.
“This is a lovely thing you’re doing,” Magnolia said, eating gracefully. “I’ll help out any way I can.”
Alice finished her meal as quickly as she could, wishing she had an ounce of the other woman’s grace.
Chapter 26
Graham politely averted his eyes when Gizelle opened her door naked.
“Is Conall here?” he asked gruffly.
Gizelle cocked her head at him. “He’s always somewhere,” she said, not offering to get him, or put on clothing.
“Can I talk to him? I might need your help.”
A smile bloomed over Gizelle’s face. “I like to help.”
She scampered away into the bedroom, leaving the cottage door open behind her.
Graham hung at the doorway for a moment, not sure if it was an invitation to enter or not, and finally went in and gingerly took a seat in one of the plush chairs.
When Gizelle reappeared, Graham was relieved to see that she was dressed. He stood as Conall came into the little living room, and they briefly shook hands before sitting opposite each other. Gizelle curled up beside the Irish elk shifter, a hand casually resting on his bare arm so that he could hear and didn’t have to rely on lip reading.
“Is there a problem?” Conall asked, eyeing the folder that Graham was holding.
“I hope this is actually a solution,” Graham said. He leaned forward to hand Conall the folder over the sturdy wooden coffee table. “Jenny is working out the finer details, but we’re hoping you’re interested in buying an interest in the island and saving Shifting Sands Resort.”
Conall took the folder and opened it with a frown. “I’m surprised that Scarlet isn’t approaching me with this herself.”
Graham grimaced. “Scarlet doesn’t know. We’re only in the early stages of trying to figure out if this is even feasible.”
“You look like you drew the short straw,” Conall observed, glancing up from the paperwork in the folder with a hint of a smile.