Page 94 of Trouble Walked In
Renic stared at the closed door. It felt like his entire future waited on the other side of it. He tried to think it through with cold detachment, but he couldn’t. Self Evident was more than a business to him. It was a family. He had an instinctive need to keep complete control of it.
But he also missed the hunt. Scouting for new talent made him feel alive, especially when he found a diamond in the rough like Jacob. He would never have been in the right place at the right time if it hadn’t been for Lizzie. That afternoon in the bar had been fun, and the night after had blown his mind. He could picture a future with her so clearly. They’d spend a lot of time at the inn. He’d set up an office in the Carriage House so he could work remotely some of the time.
Other times, they’d travel to small clubs and bars, hunting the next Big Thing together. They’d laugh, they’d eat greasy food, and hopefully they’d have a lot more hot car sex.
He didn’t want to take her away from her life. He wanted to build a lifewithher.
Morgan was right. He couldn’t just walk away. Not yet. Not without taking one more shot at showing Lizzie what the future could be. If she turned him away again, so be it.
But first, he had to do the right thing with the business. His gut told him this deal was solid, and he’d learned not to argue with that kind of instinct.
He sent a quick text to Morgan.Ready. Send them in.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lizzie stood in the doorway to the Rose Room on Friday afternoon and stared at Bill the Plumber, trying to make sense of the words coming out of his mouth. “What do you mean it’s paid for?”
The repairs had been completed, and the room looked even more stunning than it had before. The rose wallpaper had been replaced with the remnants they found in storage. The carpet was plush, with a thick pad, making it look and feel luxurious, and all of the wood in the room had been polished to a high shine. It smelled fresh and clean and ready.
The deposit she’d paid only amounted to half of the estimated repairs, which hadn’t accounted for the amount of overtime Bill and Mark had put into the project. She’d been expecting a bill equal to three mortgage payments.
Bill packed the last of his tools away with a shrug and a sly grin. “Just what I said. The invoice has been paid in full.”
“By who?” Even as she asked the question, she knew the answer. She’d stuck Renic in this room to scare him off, and instead he’d paid to fix it. Her throat tightened at the thoughtof owing him that much money. “Never mind. How much was it?”
Bill smirked at her. “As far as you’re concerned, zero. You let me know when you’re ready to tackle that old addition. I’m keen to sink my tools into a project like that.”
The addition was in even worse shape than the main building had been when she’d taken over. It remained boarded up and isolated from the rest of the house. At the rate the repairs were going, she’d never be able to do anything with it but let it rot. “It’ll probably be a long way off, if ever, to be honest.”
“If you change your mind, be sure to call me.” Bill picked up his tools and waited for her to move out of the way.
“Thanks, Bill. You did an amazing job in here.” She escorted Bill to the front door, making small talk along the way.
When he was gone, she stood in the entry feeling lost. Della left Tuesday to go back to the city. Carter was in class and then practice. Mark was next door crafting a new vintage. Carrie was on a supply run.
The house was deserted, unnaturally quiet, and anxious.
Or maybe that was just her.
She didn’t have anything to be worried about, but the feeling persisted.
She wandered into the kitchen with the idea of cleaning the office, but when she got there she couldn’t make herself open the door.
The last time she spoke to Renic in that room, he’d told her he loved her.
She’d told him it wasn’t enough.
The expression on his face when she said that—hurt chiseled in cold stone—was etched in her brain and heart. It made her soul ache every time she thought about it. Shewished she could take those words back. They were callous and cold and ultimately untrue, and the longer she thought about them the worse she felt.
What woman in her right mind thought that someone’s love wasn’t enough?
After the way she’d treated him, he still paid for the repairsandthe rooms without saying a word to her. At the very least, she should say thank you.
The closed door mocked her.
Lizzie turned her back on it and poured herself a glass of wine instead. Then she went out the back and down the steps to Lookout Point. The twinkle lights were still up because she couldn’t bring herself to take them down. The area looked sad, like the ghost of Christmas left hanging around way too long.
She sat on the daybed with the glass of wine untouched on the table in front of her and looked out at the lake. Everything reminded her of Renic. Everywhere she looked, a memory poked at her. She could feel him caressing her body, she could hear his throaty whisper as he told her,This is what I’ve been waiting for, and she could smell his cologne lingering around the daybed.