Anderson’s jaw clenches, but before he can say anything, Dexter is standing right beside us. “Enough chitter-chatter. What’ll it be, Hope? If your choice is Urgency, then we’ll need to be on our way to catch the next ferry out.”
I whip my head toward Dexter, the words “I quit” on the tip of my tongue. “I won’t be going anywhere today. I’ll need to pack and wrap things up here. You can expect to see me in the office tomorrow.”
His jaw ticks. “Very well.” He pushes past us toward the parking lot while sliding his sunglasses over his eyes. “If you’re not at your desk at nine a.m, I’ll consider that your resignation.”
I look at Anderson, my eyes pleading while we wait for Dexter to drive off. My heart feels like it’s tearing in two, but I’m confident that whatever happens next, it needs to be me who decides. “Come with me.”
“To Seattle?”
I nod, feeling a glimmer of hope spark in my chest. “Yeah. Just for the next few days while I get settled back in.”
Anderson’s breaths slow while he searches my eyes. “I know nothing about the city.”
I smile and hug him to me. “I can be your tour guide. Or”—I shimmy my body against his—“we can hang out in my apartment. Naked.”
Anderson smiles, and my heart beats faster. I feel like he might just say yes, and it would be like one of my biggest fantasies coming true. There were so many times when I dreamed Anderson would pop by for a surprise visit. Just the idea of my hot, bearded man stepping through my downtown Seattle apartment doors gives me a thrill I never thought I’d come close to.
“You drive a hard bargain,” he says against my lips.
“Is that a yes?”
His smile grows wider. “It’s a yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
ANDERSON
It’s disheartening watching Hope pack her things, even though I’ll get to be right there by her side. At least for a few days. I start tackling items on my long to-do list, heading to the stables first then the cafeteria, marina, and front office. Mostly to make sure things are shut down and doors are locked. When I arrive at Hope’s cabin, it’s clear it will still take her a while to pack.
“Aren’t you meeting up with Jami tonight?” Hope asks as she’s walking to her suitcase from her closet.
“I am.” I finish folding everything she’s already tossed into her suitcase and look at her. “I was going to wait for you.”
She shrugs. “You don’t have to. When I’m done packing, I’ll head over to the saloon. Go enjoy your brotherly time. Maybe you can even talk him into watching over the camp for you while you’re gone.” She smiles. “And then maybe he’ll want to stay longer.”
Hope has theorized there’s more to Jami’s visit than he’s let on, considering my brother’s interest in the camp’s financial affairs. But I am too afraid to get my hopes up, especially after our talk in the saloon. “That’s definitely not going to happen. He’s just being nosy.”
Hope smiles, and we stop at her car. “He’s only nosy because he cares.”
“Not enough to return for good. He can be our financial analyst from anywhere.” I stand up and wrap my arms around her waist. “Enough talk about Jami. Are you sure about all this? I just want to make it very clear that if you choose to stay, you’ll be taken care of. You’ll have a cabin, a job… me.” I give her my best exaggerated pout and bend down to meet her forehead with mine.
“For the hundredth time, I’m sure.” She kisses my pout. “This will be good for both of us. And you’ll finally get to see where I’ve spent all my time this past year.”
“You going to give me a tour of your office too?”
She gives me a warning look and shakes her head. “Not a chance in hell. Now go. I won’t be far behind you.”
My heart tightens as I give her one parting glance and then walk away. It’s nearing sunset when I get to the saloon and see the inside lights on. Jami’s sitting at the bar, this time with a beer, a zoned-out look in his eyes.
“Drinks aren’t free for guests, brother.”
Jami’s head swivels toward me, his brow pitched. “Add it to my tab.”
“Ah,” I say before sitting next to him. “That would require you to stick around for a while.”
Jami smiles. “Nice try. You seem to have things under control here. I wouldn’t mind stopping back from time to time.” He looks at me like his comment is an olive branch, an extended hand that he’s asking me to shake.
“I’d like that.”
He reaches over the bar, grabs beer out of an ice bucket he must have filled, and hands it to me. “So, what’s all the drama about?”
I chuckle and shake my head. “You caught wind of that, huh?”
Jami chuckles too. “I did. Sorry to eavesdrop, but the walls are still too thin. That Mallory chick sure is a piece of work, but Dexter might just be worse.”
I cringe. “How much did you hear?”
Jami levels me with a look. “Enough to know that Hope is leaving tomorrow.” He searches my eyes. “You okay?”
After a swig of beer, I give him a brief rundown of where Hope and I stand.
“Oof. That bastard Van Clark won your girl after all.”
My stomach twists because I can’t argue with my brother. In a sense, Dexter did win. In a single threat, he took away Hope, my grand reopening, and all the planning that came with it.
“It’s temporary. She’ll be back. In fact, I’m heading out to Seattle to stay with her for a few days.” I clap Jami on the back. “Feel free to look after things here while I’m gone.”
He smiles but doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he swirls his beer, a glazed-over look on his face. “You ever wonder how life would have turned out if Ty hadn’t died?”
The heaviness of his question rises and falls like waves in my chest. “Every damn day.” I tip my beer back and swallow. “How do you think that would have played out?”
Jami leans into the counter. “I think Dad wouldn’t have completely lost it. I would have stayed, and you would have still stayed, of course. I think Benny and Ty would have stayed too.”
“You do?”
“Yup.”
“What about Cayson?”
He twists his lips. “I can picture it either way. He was so young when our family started to fall apart. He might have still wanted to leave.” Jami looks at me. “What do you think would have happened?”
“I think for years I believed we would have all stayed, even Mom and Dad. But now…” I shake my head. “I don’t know what I believe anymore other than that if you’re all meant to be here, then you’ll be back.”
“Now that is something I can’t imagine. We’re too fucked up, brother.”
“Yeah, but we don’t have to be. You ever wonder why we’re all so damn angry?” I raise my brows at Jami, locking eyes with him. “It’s because we all care. The only way any of us will heal is if we do it together.”