Page 82 of Mark
“My friend said the same. They’re making lists right now about what needs to be done,” Freya replies.
“If you ever need a reliable contractor, let me know. I’m sure Maddox will move things around. He’s just finished renovating Paisley’s bed and breakfast,” Mark offers.
Freya winces. “I hope she won’t be offended that Summer’s cousins plan to turn some of the land into a glamping site.”
“God no,” I answer truthfully. Paisley has had to turn people away because of how busy she’s been. She hates that there’s nowhere else to send them. The nearest hotel is miles away. “It would actually benefit her. She has a spa that isn’t exclusive to guests at the bed and breakfast. She’ll be grateful she’ll have somewhere to send guests when they are fully booked. Plus, with all the festivals now opening near us, there’s a demand for glamping sites. They picked a good business.”
“They’ll need security,” Beau mentions. “I’ve been called out to disputes and they can get rowdy.”
Freya laughs. “Yeah, that won’t be an issue for them. They know how to handle themselves. I’ve seen the eldest, Malia, take down a six-foot male. He was built like a house, but she had him on the floor in minutes.”
Faith’s eyes glisten with excitement. “I can’t wait to meet them. Which I’ll need to do anyway. The Hayes have three security dogs and they can sometimes wander. Unless the fences go up soon, we’ll need to introduce the dogs to them.”
“I’ll let Summer know so she can pass it on,” Freya replies.
“Bingo starts in five minutes,” a voice announces.
I glance at Freya. “What would you like to drink?”
“I’ll come up with you,” she offers.
“It’s fine. I need to go grab our bingo cards anyway,” I reply.
“I’ll come up with you,” Beau declares. “What do you want to drink, babe?”
“I’ll have a cocktail, please.”
Freya groans. “How can you drink after last night?”
“I’m a Carter,” she replies, as Beau says, “She’s a Carter.”
Freya turns to me, eyes wide. “Just a coke please.”
My lips twitch as I get up. “One coke, coming right up.”
I’m not worried about her being scared away because of my family. I remember how well she fitted in last night, how she didn’t balk at their crazy antics or get angry when we pushed her sister into the pool.
And I’ll never forget what she did for my sister. Most people would see it as nothing, but to us and to Lily, it meant everything. It just shows what kind of person Freya is.
If anyone can handle being in my life, it’s Freya Baker.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Mark
This is it; the moment that could change how the rest of our getaway plays out. Winning gets you bragging rights, something us Carters take seriously. Coming last will mean you drink a concoction of alcohol from a dirty trainer. None of us wants to do it, but one of us will.
And it will not be my team.
“I’m telling you, it’s the Antarctic Desert,” Freya swears, tapping the pad Faith is writing the answers on.
Already, three groups have been disqualified for looking at their phones. It only left a dozen or so more tables in the running. We have this in the bag. Yet the woman next to me insists on testing my patience. The same woman who refused to drink alcohol a couple of hours ago, swearing she wasn’t drinking again, is now on her eighth cocktail of the night.
Now she’s trying to force Faith to write down an answer that is clearly wrong.
“Don’t you dare write that down,” I warn Faith. “It’s the Sahara Desert.”
“No, it’s not,” Freya snorts. “The Sahara isn’t even the second largest desert.”