Loving Eden (10 page)

I picked up my phone to schedule the ad when Mason walked through the door. He had a way of sneaking in when I least expected him.

“Good afternoon, Eden.” Today he had on a starched white shirt that brought out his tan.

“Oh, hey.” Maybe if I ignored him he’d leave. I scribbled down the information for the ad reservation.

“Catch you at a bad time?” He sat in front of me.

“Actually, yes. Today’s not a good day.”

“Something going on?” His eyes wandered to the desk.

I debated whether to tell him about Grey’s accident. This time, I kept the cards to myself. “Look, Mason, I’m working. I have a business to run and I don’t have time for your Kardashian family drama today.”

He chuckled. I was amazed at how calm he always seemed even when everyone around him was obviously irritated with him. “So I take it you looked inside the envelope.”

“I don’t want to discuss it with you. It’s not my business. You and Grey have to work that out.” I opened up a blank email and pretended to type.

“I stopped by hoping to catch him. Where is he?”

“Not here,” I snapped a little too quickly.

“Come on, Eden. I’m not that bad. You can’t seriously blame me for wanting the inheritance that’s rightfully mine. This was my father’s motel.”

“The motel you want to demolish. You really think that’s what he wanted? I’m guessing that’s why you didn’t inherit it.” I closed my eyes. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.” I had no idea why Pops willed the Palm Palace to Grey and not Mason. I should have kept my opinions to myself.

Mason lost the easy look in his eyes. “Did you know him? Did you know my dad?” His voice quieted.

I shook my head. “I’ve only heard Grey’s stories. He sounded like a wonderful man. Pops died before we met.”

“If you didn’t even know him, why are you so hell-bent on defending this place? The siding is chipping. The pool needs to be repainted. The boardwalk has cracks. There is only one ice machine. It’s a joke.” He looked at me. “It’s not worth fighting for.”

I looked at the empty parking lot behind us. The place was a ghost town, but I had an opportunity to show Mason all the things that made me fall in love with the Palm. Grey might shoot me later when he could walk, but this could be my only chance to mend a fence before the two of them chopped it with chainsaws.

“I have a proposition for you.” I leaned forward on the desk.

“And what’s that? Decided my nephew’s not enough for you?” His smile was devilish.

“No! You’re practically my uncle-in-law or something.” I made a face at him. “Where are you staying while you’re in Padre?”

For the first time, I saw him hesitate. “The Island Sun Resort.”

“That’s a nice choice.” I had booked a week there for spring break. It was the island’s most popular resort. I wondered if he had met Marin at the desk. “Ok, how about you cancel your reservation and take one of the rooms here? Room twenty-three is available and has the best ocean view.”

Mason laughed. “You have got to be kidding. Me? Here?”

“It’s not that funny. I think it’s important for you to get to know the place your father loved before you try to destroy it.”

I didn’t think Mason had a legal leg to stand on, but I wasn’t a law student. If there was a way I could at least get him to stop talking to developers and threatening Grey with demolition, that would be one battle won.

“You’re serious.” His eyes narrowed.

I nodded. “Dead serious.”

He looked at me, and then glanced through the window, eyeing the two rows of rooms. I wasn’t feeling confident about my offer. I shifted restlessly.

“Ok. I’ll stay a few nights. Try out the Palm, but I don’t want you to get your little heart broken when I have to file a list of complaints the first night.”

I faked a laugh. “I’m not worried one bit. You’re going to see all the things that make this a special place, not one that needs to be forgotten.” I pulled out the reservation book that was now stained with coffee. “I’m going to put you down for room twenty-three. It’s the room I stayed in when I first came to Padre.”

“In that case, I already like it.”

I ignored the comment. “Anyway, when do you think you could check out of the Sun Resort?”

“If you’re so anxious to get this party started, I can do it right now. I’ll go get my bags.”

“Great!” I closed the book on the desk. “See you soon.”

He stood to leave. “Can’t wait. Cocktail hour at five?”

I shook my head. “No, there’s no cocktail hour at the Palm, but if you don’t cause any trouble, I’m sure Mac would be happy to have you at Pete’s. That’s the local hangout where you had lunch. You can walk there from here.”

“Me? Trouble? Eden, I’m hurt you think I’d start trouble.” He turned toward the door. “Want to join me? I’d love to buy you a drink.”

I almost had to close my jaw with my hand. Was he actually asking me out even though I told him I was with Grey?

“Grey’s waiting on me.”

“Maybe another time.” He threw me a wink as he walked out the door.

Sure, Grey was overprotective and jealous, but he might have been right this time. I couldn’t think about that now. Changing Mason’s mind about the Palm was more important. I could handle the flirting.

I rushed to the supply closet and loaded my arms with all the new supplies: shampoo, soap, fluffy towels. I had no idea what kind of shape room twenty-three was in, but I had maybe twenty minutes to get it up to five-star status.

I
climbed the steps to the cottage. I had been gone two hours. Long enough to cause massive trouble. Mason had checked into room twenty-three with his two overnight bags. He wasn’t finished trying to talk me into a drink, but I managed to side step his last offer.

I opened the door to find Grey leaning on a crutch with his head in the refrigerator.

“What are you doing? You’re not supposed to be up.” I rushed over to him, ready to coax him back to bed.

“Looking for a beer,” he reported.

“Uh-uh. No way. You are still on pain medication.” I took the unopened bottle from his hand and placed it in the fridge. “What about some tea or a water?” I pulled out the ice tea pitcher.

He groaned. I knew it wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

“What’s happening over at the office?” He nodded in the direction of the Palm while he waited for me to pour him a glass.

“Nothing major.” I added a few extra ice cubes. “I’m working on an advertising contract for snowbirds.”

I watched as he chugged the sweet tea.

“I’m so thirsty.” He placed it on the counter.

“I’ll pour another for you.” I retrieved the pitcher for a second time and filled up the glass. “You really need to get off your leg. At least give it another day before you try standing around.” He didn’t look steady.

“So no new guests?” He eyed me over the glass.

“Why do you ask?”

“I saw someone pull in about twenty minutes ago. Couldn’t make out who it was though, and I don’t remember having any reservations on the books after the Shapleys checked out.”

For someone on high-level medication, he was acting sharp as a tack.

“Let me help you back to bed and I’ll tell you what’s going on.”

Reluctantly, he slung his free arm around my shoulder and used his crutch to distribute his weight as he hobbled to the bedroom. I restacked his pillows and made sure he was comfortable before I launched into my awkward confession.

“Someone did check in this afternoon.”

“Ok.”

“And it was Mason.” I winced, waiting for the explosion.

“What the hell?” He slammed the tea on the bedside table. “What is that son of a bitch doing in my motel? You checked him in?”

I sat on the opposite side of the bed, careful not to jar his leg. “I had a reason.”

“And what’s that?”

I inhaled, knowing Grey probably wouldn’t buy this argument. It made sense at the time. “I thought if he spent time there, he would fall in love with it like I did and he’d stop all this crazy talk about tearing it down.” I sighed. “I’m just trying to help.”

“Dammit, Eden. You think that’s help? He is going to sue me for full ownership. You let that vicious asshole under my roof. He’s going to be hanging around every day, digging into our business. I said it before. He’s after more than just the Palm. Now he’ll get to see you every day.”

“Not that again.” I stood and walked to the deck door. The sun was still high, and the gleam off the water was bright. “I was trying to figure out a way to convince him the Palm needs to be left alone. I don’t want him to tear it down, and I don’t want him to sue you. I am not interested in Mason and that had nothing to do with my invitation.”

“He is after you, Eden. Open your damn eyes,” he growled.

I faced Grey. “Do you need anything else?”

“What?”

“Pills? Water? Extra pillows?” I planted my hands on my hips.

“No, why?”

I turned the handle on the door. “Because I’m going out for a walk on the beach. I’ll be back later.” I slammed the door behind me, intentionally loud. I wasn’t going to stand there and listen to that jealous crap another second. Mason? Me? Grey was the one who had lost his damn mind.

I walked and walked until I wasn’t sure how long I had been gone. I liked this end of the island. The wildlife park was quiet and isolated. Only the locals knew about how great this part was.

I sat near the dunes and watched the seagulls fight over a school of minnows. Survival of the fittest, I thought. The minnows might get away if the gulls got too wrapped up in their territory war to notice their prey was swimming away.

I wasn’t sure how Grey and I were going to get through this storm we were being tossed around in. First Mason, then the accident, then Mason again. I buried my head in my hands. We were still supposed to be in the honeymoon phase. I thought the hardest part about living together would be figuring out where to put our toothbrushes or arguing over who stole the most covers. This was nothing like the dream I had concocted. I wanted the romance and the dancing in Mexico. I wanted Grey the way I fell in love with him—one quickstep at a time.

I couldn’t ignore the silent drift between us was bringing out insecurities I thought I had dealt with. When Grey asked me to live with him, I knew I wasn’t the first girl he had shared an address with. That had been Laura. I knew we were different. I was completely different from her, but I wondered if she felt any of the same things I did. Did they unravel like this? Did his moodiness drive a wedge between them?

It wasn’t as if I didn’t know Grey had a sullen side. I knew that the instant I met him. I wasn’t naïve enough to assume living together would smooth out all his rough edges. I loved the edges, I did. Only, I didn’t want them to be the reason we were at odds. There was enough crap going on in our lives to take care of that.

My skin started to turn slightly pink from the afternoon sun. I hopped up and sanded off the back of my shorts before walking toward home. Enough beach for the afternoon. I couldn’t leave Grey stranded, even if he needed a few minutes alone to formulate an apology.

I trailed the surf, dodging the waves on my sneakers. When I reached our beach access, I turned and cut across the sun’s path. Right smack into Mason.