Chapter Four
Austin made sure he got to the Boathouse early. He didn’t want Amber to show up and wonder where he was.
“Hey, Austin. How’s it going?” Kenzie, the bartender greeted him with a smile. “You’re eager tonight, you’re the first one of the gang here.”
He smiled back at her. “I’m good, thanks. How about you? How are you and Chase doing?”
“We’re great. I’m glad you’re here, what can I get you? It’s on me. If you don’t mind me picking your brain for a few minutes while we’re quiet.” She laughed. “That sounded wrong. I’ll still get you a drink even if you don’t want me picking your brain.”
“I’m fine with it, and I can get my own anyway. Your tab must be huge. You’re always buying people drinks.”
Kenzie shrugged. “It’s the one thing I know that I can do for people.”
Austin smiled. “They don’t come to you for the drinks. They come for your wisdom.”
She laughed out loud at that. “I am many things, bud, but wise isn’t one of them. You want a glass of that Cab Franc you like?”
He nodded. “Thanks.” Kenzie had had quite a troubled past from what he understood, but she’d been here in Summer Lake for a few years now, and in that time, she’d become a respected member of the community—someone who people sought out for advice. She wasn’t one to sugarcoat anything. She told it like it was, and she’d helped a few of his friends figure their lives out when they’d needed it.
“I’m not going to argue with you—but only because I know I couldn’t win. But if you still can’t see yourself the way the rest of us see you …”
As she set his drink down, her smile told him that she knew what he meant, even if she didn’t want to admit it. “Whatever. This is about me asking you for advice.”
“Go ahead.”
“It’s about the house.”
Austin had half expected it might be. She and her husband, Chase, had rented one of his properties for the last few years. “What about it?”
“Do you think they’d be interested in selling?”
Now, that, he hadn’t expected.
“Aww. Don’t look like that. Is that a no? We’ve been saving so hard and we have enough for a decent down payment now. We could look for somewhere else, but we both love that house.” She smiled. “It’s the first place that’s ever felt like a home to me.”
He held his hand up. “The look on my face wasn’t a no.”
“It wasn’t? You think they might sell then?”
“They already did. I never even thought to mention it to you. It was a couple years ago. I knew you guys weren’t in a position to buy it back then. I bought it myself.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re our landlord? As in, the owner, not just the manager?”
“Yep. I don’t like to shout about it, but I buy quite a few of the properties I manage.”
She gave him a shrewd look. “And do you ever sell any of them again?”
“Not usually.”
She nodded sadly. “Okay. I get it. I had to ask. And I don’t blame you. I bet you always won at Monopoly as a kid, didn’t you?” She forced a smile. “I bet you bought up all the properties and stacked up a pile of cash.”
He had to laugh. “You’re only half right. I did buy all the property, and make bank, but I always used to feel bad for Dallas, and I’d lend him money and help him buy his own properties.”
Kenzie laughed with him. “I should have known. You’re too soft. And having met Dallas, I get it. He’s a charmer, isn’t he?”
“Something like that. But listen, Kenz. I’m not saying no about you guys buying the house. Let me think about it, okay? I’ll put something together and give you a call. Maybe you and Chase can come in and see me toward the end of the week.”
She frowned. “No. It’s an investment to you. You wouldn’t have bought it if it wasn’t a good one.”
“Exactly. To me, it’s just an investment—and it’s one of many. To you guys, it’s home—and that is worth so much more than any amount of money.” He felt bad when her eyes started to shine.
“Damn, Austin!” She sniffed loudly. “I always knew you were a good guy. But if you can make me fill up, you’re something special.” She pursed her lips, and he could see her chin tremble. “I need to go serve those guys who just came in. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”
He watched her dab at her eyes as she walked away. He knew it’d be a big deal to her and Chase, but he didn’t know how to explain—without it coming off wrong—that it really wasn’t a big deal for him. Sure, he’d done well for himself. Real estate was good business and had been getting better and better the last few years. He wouldn’t deny that he enjoyed the financial success, but it wasn’t what motivated him. What he loved about his job was exactly what Kenzie had just described—helping people find the place they would call home.
She surprised him when she came back—on his side of bar this time. She surprised him even more when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and planted a kiss on his cheek. He looked up at her in surprise.
She gave him a bright smile. “I can’t say anything because I’ll get all emotional. But this …” She pecked his cheek again. “Is my version of thank you.”
“What’s going on here, lover?”
They both turned to see Chase standing behind her with a puzzled look on his face.
Austin gave him an apologetic smile, but Kenzie just laughed. “Don’t look like that.” She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a kiss that made Austin feel like he should look away.
When they came up for air. Chase smiled at her. “Want to explain?”
She nodded at Austin. “I’ll let him. I’ll only cry if I try.” She walked away to let herself back behind the bar.
Chase sat down beside Austin with a grin. “I’m guessing that if she’s thanking you and kissing on you, you gave her some good news about the owners wanting to sell the house?”
He nodded. “Yeah. The owner, at any rate.”
Kenzie set a beer down on the bar for Chase. “And Austin’s the current owner!”
Chase grinned at him. “Awesome!”
Austin held up his glass, and Chase clinked his bottle against it. “We’ll work something out.” His smile faded and his heart started to race when he saw some of his friends coming in. Angel and Luke were with Roxy and Logan. He craned his neck to see if anyone else—anyone like Amber—was with them.
She wasn’t.
Chase raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you waiting for someone?”
He smiled. “I hope so.”
Kenzie rested her elbows on the bar and leaned forward. “Please tell me that you and Amber are finally going to get it on?”
He had to laugh at the way she put it. “I don’t know about that, but I asked if I could buy her a drink tonight and …”
Kenzie’s laugh made him feel kind of naïve. “Just get over yourself, would you? Buy her a few—and then take her home.”