Gwen forced herself to take a deep breath. She wiped her hands on her pants, wishing she'd brought something to put her hair up. Whenever she got nervous, she got sweaty. She hated the thought of getting all red and sweaty in front of Luke Wright.
Jack passed by Gwen as he left the mudroom with Jocelyn behind him. Gwen caught his eye, but he didn't stop to say anything. She'd expected him to at least give her a pep talk, in his stoic way.
Then she heard a voice that she assumed was Luke's. Taking another deep breath, she went to face the music.
Luke sat back in his leather office chair, considering Gwen and Jocelyn. Gwen's heart was still pounding, even though they'd officially finished the presentation.
Finally, Luke glanced at Jack, then said, "I like it. I'm in."
Gwen gaped at him. "What?" She'd expected he'd grill her with all kinds of questions.
"I'm in. Like you pointed out, every year we get more tourists. The more attractions the island has, the better. We have all of ten restaurants currently and having yours linked to the bed and breakfast is brilliant. Your clientele already exists, too. I'm only surprised you hadn't opened something before now," said Luke.
Jack had been silent for the entire presentation. He'd paid attention, of course, but now he sat in continued silence.
He'd been strangely aloof the last week, Gwen had noticed. When she'd asked about spending time together, he'd always had an excuse to decline. They hadn't been together in two weeks.
Gwen felt her stomach turn with anxiety. Was she just overthinking Jack's behavior? Or was he starting to pull away already?
Jocelyn, for her part, had presented the menu and everything food-related with the utmost professionalism. If she didn't look Luke directly in the eye, well, Gwen decided that that had just been nerves.
"As I mentioned before," Luke was saying, "I'm funding a handful of new ventures here on the island. I currently can offer you ten thousand in seed money. The rest you'll need to procure via a bank loan or through friends and family." He looked at Jack. "Jack? Your thoughts?"
With both Luke and Jack giving her twenty thousand combined, that money would be a huge help getting the building remodeled. The ten thousand alone, though, she knew wouldn't be enough.
"I don't have any questions," said Jack. "I would like to discuss the funding with Luke. In private."
Gwen glanced at Jocelyn. Jocelyn's eyes narrowed. But Luke showed them to another room across the hallway, a smaller office.
He said cheerily, "Just a second, ladies. If you'd like anything to drink, there's a mini-fridge in the corner." He gave them his most winning smile and shut the door.
Jocelyn immediately went to the tray of liquor, picking up one bottle after another. "Want a drink?" she said.
"It's eleven AM," said Gwen.
"Eh, it's five o'clock somewhere. Besides, I think you could use it."
Jocelyn made them a quick gin and tonic, with tonic water she pilfered from the fridge. Gwen drank hers without tasting it. The alcohol did calm her anxiety to some extent. She hadn't realized how on edge she was until that moment.
She and Jocelyn waited in silence. Any attempt at speculating about the guys’ conversation ended quickly. Gwen wondered if she and Jocelyn were afraid that they’d jinx things. Or maybe Gwen was simply all out of words. Her throat had been dry from talking so much. After she finished her gin and tonic, she found herself sucking on the ice cubes just for something to do.
Luke returned ten minutes later. He saw the empty glasses and smiled wryly. "Drinking already?"
"Are you judging us, Wright?" said Jocelyn, her hands on her hips.
"I'd never judge you for anything. You're spotless." He spoke solely to Jocelyn, who blushed a little and looked away.
When they returned to Luke's office, Jack was standing up and looking out the large window at the rain. It pattered against the glass, the rhythm of it soothing to Gwen.
Luke gestured for Gwen and Jocelyn to sit down. They did, reluctantly. Luke followed them, but Jack remained standing, his back to them.
"Jack, can you stop brooding and come and talk?" Luke rolled his eyes. "And he claims I'm dramatic."
That remark made Gwen smile. Jack grunted and sat down across from Gwen. He wouldn't look at her.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I'm withdrawing funding for your venture. It has nothing to do with you or your presentation, however," said Jack in hollow tones.
Gwen felt her earlier anxiety return. Jocelyn's mouth fell open. It was Gwen reaching over and squeezing her hand that kept her from saying anything she'd regret.
"May I ask why?" said Gwen.
Jack finally looked at her. "It's private." Then, more quietly, "I'm sorry."
Gwen felt like someone had cut her off at the knees. Why hadn't he told me before this morning?
Luke cleared his throat. "The unfortunate side effect of Jack withdrawing funding means that I'll have to put this venture lower on the list."
Spreading his hands, Luke explained, "It simply makes more sense to give money to ventures that have individuals or firms willing to match this seed money. It's mostly about getting the best return on investment. As Jack said, your restaurant is a great idea. But I have to balance between what seems great and what seems likely to succeed. Does that make sense?"
"So this entire thing was a waste of time," said Jocelyn.
Gwen didn't have the energy to stop Jocelyn this time. She couldn't help but agree, too. Why had Jack had them come up here if he was just going to change his mind?
Luke steepled his fingers. "I can't agree with that assessment. It's been very useful for me—"
"Oh great. As long as it was useful for you." Jocelyn shook her head. "You brought us up here, getting our hopes up, and then you tell us to go to hell. Typical. I should never have let Gwen talk me into this."
Now Gwen was flushing to the roots of her hair. "Jocelyn," she hissed.
Jocelyn at least had the grace to look embarrassed. "Sorry. It's not your fault. If it's anyone's, it's Jack's." She tipped her chin up. "What the hell happened, Benson?"
Gwen wanted to know the same thing. What had happened? She felt tears prick her eyes, but she refused to cry in front of everyone.
"Can I talk to you in private?" was all Jack said to Gwen.
"This seems to be a theme," muttered Jocelyn.
Gwen nodded and then she found herself back in the same room she and Jocelyn had been in. This time, though, Gwen was seriously considering making herself another gin and tonic. If not to drink, then to splash in Jack's face.
"Why?" was all she could get past her lips.
Jack began to pace like a restless, wild animal. Back and forth, back and forth. The room was small enough that his movements made Gwen a little dizzy.
"This isn't going to work," said Jack.
"You're going to have to be more specific."
He spread his hands. "Us, Gwen. I'm stepping aside. I realized that I was getting in too deep. I never should've offered to fund your restaurant. It was idiotic. For that, I'm sorry. I've let you down."