I make my way to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. Anything to cool me down. The last hour was like a fever dream.
I dry my face and hands on a white hand towel hanging to the side of the pedestal sink and stare at myself in the round mirror.
“What were you thinking?”
I don’t answer.
My gaze moves to the clawfoot antique tub, the little seashell-shaped soap, and the mini shampoo bottles wrapped in vintage-style labels.
It’s apparent they’re doing what they can to capitalize on the old-school charm of the whole place, but it doesn’t seem like it’s enough.
My cell rings, blaring in the stark quiet, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
I pull my phone from my pocket. Oliver.
That’s one surefire way to put a damper on a raging erection.
I told him I would call him back, and that was—I check the time—some hours before my world got rocked on its axis.
“Hello?” I exit the bathroom, sitting on the edge of one of the beds and toeing off my shoes.
“Any progress? Have you talked to the fiend? Why didn’t you call me back?”
Talked to her? I’ve had my mouth on her. Pressed my cock against her heat. The shrinking arousal comes roaring back to life.
Not now, I mouth down to my lap.
“No. Yes. Sorry. I was . . . distracted.” If distracted can be another word for “filled with raging lust.”
“So, you made first contact and you’re still alive. Good. I knew you would be the person for this job. How long until we make the sale?”
I stand up and pace. “I don’t know yet. It might take longer than you want, and I need you to be prepared for that.”
“What have you found out?”
I hesitate. Talking about Finley to Oliver feels a lot like betrayal, but why would that be? Oliver is one of the closest friends I have, the closest thing to family, such as it is. And despite the intimacy of our time tonight, I’ve known Finley for less than a handful of hours. I came here with the sole intention of convincing her to sell, even if that means digging into her life, needling out secrets, discovering her price. Everyone has one.
Finley and I have unmistakable physical chemistry, but we don’t know each other. She certainly hates me now. It shouldn’t feel shameful. This is what I do. It’s not a bad thing. I make people happy, eventually. I’m not trying to hurt her.
I rub my chest, where a sudden ache throbs. “I haven’t learned much. This place needs a lot of work, and by all accounts, she’s doing almost everything on her own. Probably bleeding money.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“Despite the fact that this place is sucking her dry, monetarily and physically, this won’t be easy. You know that. I’m going to need time to figure out how to offer her a deal she can’t refuse.”
I already knew getting her to sell would be difficult based on Oliver’s prior attempts. But after meeting her and seeing the array of family photos . . . this isn’t just her property and business. People fight to the bitter end for their homes, for their families. If I had a family or a home, I would too.
“I trust you will find a way. It’s why I called in the favor.”
I’m a fixer, a problem solver, the person who can take the worst businesses in the world and turn them into a moneymakers. It’s a gift. Solving problems is something I’ve done my entire life, and I’ve had my share of problems. If Oliver understood empathy, he wouldn’t have called me in on this, or he would be issuing warnings to not get too involved, to harm instead of help. But I don’t think he’s capable of comprehending those types of motivations, so he assumes I’ll follow his orders to the letter. After meeting Finley though . . . I’m not sure it’s possible.
“You know what this means to me,” Oliver continues, his voice low. “It should be important to you too.”
“It is. I’ll work on it. It might take more time than you want, but you’re going to have to deal with it.” There. That will give me time, at least, to figure something out.
“What does Nora have to say about that? Doesn’t she need you for whatever commerce you’re currently involved in?”
I chuckle. “Nora never needs anything. She’s ten times smarter than both of us. She can handle things without me. Think you can do the same?”