I’d noticed when we were on our way here but hadn’t thought much about it. It wasn’t like there was an entrance fee for people to pay like there was for national parks. “Does that make a difference?”
“Sales tax is a couple of cents higher, and property tax rates in New York State are among the highest in the country, which makes it harder on any business, especially mom-and-pop types.”
“You said you were going to start this revitalization campaign by bringing the amusement park back. What do you need to make that happen?” While it was already established that I wasn’t exactly good with things like hammering nails or cutting wood, there were other ways I could help. Financially, in particular.
“It’s a conundrum, honestly. In order to bring the amusement park back, we need more people to come to the lake. In order for more people to come to the lake, we need to make it a destination. One of the issues we’re facing is the lack of lodging. There is ten times the number of vacation rentals on other lakes compared to Canada Lake. At least.”
I knew from being there last summer that many of the camps sat empty for most of it. “That should be a fairly easy fix. What keeps someone from listing their property on one of those vacation-rental websites?”
Maisie shrugged. “How to do it? Managing it too, probably.”
“There must be companies that do that.”
A smile spread across Maisie’s gorgeous face. “Are you really this into it, or are you just humoring me?”
I laughed. “I may be more into it than you are.” At least until the Shadow Ops team got word that we could get back to business, this was something I could sink my teeth into. Diesel too, if it was okay with her.
“I have a colleague who might like to lend a hand.”
“The more, the merrier. I’ll take all the help I can get.”
“I have a personal question to ask you.”
She raised a brow. “Just one?”
“I know you said you were looking for investors for the hotel, but what about with the amusement park? What kind of investment will that require?”
“That isn’t terribly personal. I mean, as far as Sherman’s goes, it’s never been in debt. Grandpa Jones paid for everything in cash in those days. Although, I do anticipate the insurance costs to get the midway open will be astronomical.”
“And how are you fixed for funds?”
“Ah, there’s the personal question. I would think that if you’ve ‘thoroughly vetted’ our family, you’d already know the answer.”
“Financials are need-to-know.”
She raised a brow. “Interesting. Well, to answer your question, I can do some on my own, but not all. The question is how much personal money I want to invest. Then there’s my parents and grandparents, but the same question pertains. They might not want to invest anything. Which means the more developer funds I can secure, the better.”
“I may be interested in investing.”
Maisie’s eyes scrunched, and she studied me. “What we need is significant, outside of the amusement park.” She shrugged. “Which may also be significant. I don’t have exact figures yet.”
“When you do, let’s talk.”
“Since you asked me, I’m going to ask you. I don’t know a lot about your family’s financial history, but do you…they…you, have the means?”
“This would be me, not my family, and the answer is yes. I have the means. Significant means.”
“Next question.”
I nodded.
“Why?”
“Several reasons. ‘I grew up here’ would be the most obvious. I remember what it was like when I was a kid. Not that it was anything compared to when my grandparents and great-grandparents hung out here.” I perused the room. “Based on what I see here, and it being the off-season, the potential for Canada Lake is worth being a part of building it back.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when I held up my hand.
“The less obvious would be that I believe in you, Maisie. Everything I’ve seen and heard tells me you do your research, you’re prudent in your approach, and your thinking is sound.”
“Wow.” She sat back in her seat. “I hope I measure up.”
I leaned forward, tracing my fingers over the back of her hand. “You will more than measure up, beautiful.”
We spent the rest of dinner talking about some of the other things Maisie had in mind for the lake’s redevelopment, which included a carousel museum along with an interactive visitor center that would allow tourists to be fully immersed into what the Adirondacks were like back when the first great camps were built in the late eighteen hundreds.
As our dinner began winding to an end, I noticed Maisie seemed increasingly nervous. I scooted my chair closer to hers and put my arm across the back of it. “We have two rooms reserved tonight for you and me. There is nothing to say we can’t make use of both of them tonight.”
She smiled. “Oh, yeah?”
I flexed the hand that was behind her back. “To sleep.”
“It’s just that dinner was very business-y.”
“I kind of ruined the romantic vibe, didn’t I?”
“We both did.”
“Then, I say we call it a night and agree to meet up tomorrow morning.” I’d have to check with the front desk to see if I could reschedule the surprise I’d arranged for her. If not, I’d just pay for it and book it again for the next day.
“I’m sorry.”
“Hey, none of that. There isn’t anything to be sorry for. No one is leaving for college tomorrow, remember? We’re in no hurry.”
She shrugged, but I could sense her worry and maybe even disappointment.
“It’s early. Let’s take a walk before we end our evening.” While not a lot of Christmas decorations remained, I’d noticed the grounds of the Saratoga Arms were still lit up with white twinkle lights.
“I’d like that.”
“I’ll go grab the jackets we left in the room and meet you back here.”
“I’ll use the ladies’ room.”
Before Maisie and I separated in the lobby, I wrapped my arms around her. “I like being with you. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. I can honestly say I’ve rarely been as engaged as I am with you.” I leaned down and kissed her soft lips. “When the time is right, and not before, we’ll share sheets. Okay?”
8
MAISIE
I felt like an idiot, but I couldn’t stand the idea of things feeling forced between Ranger and me. So far, everything that had happened, from dinner to kissing to talking about my plans for the lake, felt so natural.
I wanted the first time we had sex to feel the same way, not like we both expected it to happen so it had to. Maybe I was a romantic sap and he thought I was being silly, but that only made it worse.
Plus—God—that body. Even when he was asking me about investing, I had a hard time concentrating on anything besides the way his muscular chest looked like it was ridged beneath his shirt. Only after forcing myself to look at his face and nothing but his face, could I focus.