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He shakes his head, looking almost embarrassed. “Matt’s a good guy. He shows up early, stays late. Talks about his kid nonstop.” West shrugs like it’s no big deal. “It seemed like the least I could do.”
My chest squeezes, and I look away before I melt into a puddle of feelings. Because it’s one thing to have a boss who hands out paychecks. It’s another to have one who notices when your kid’s sick and does something about it.
“You did a nice thing,” I tell him. “A really, really nice thing.”
“Yeah, well I’m still not installing a black water recycling system,” he tells me.
“That’s okay,” I say, still smiling. “I’ll wear you down eventually. Just wait until I break out my powerpoint presentation.”
He groans, but there’s a smile tugging at his lips. And for a second the weight he’s been carrying ever since Vegas – maybe even before – seems to lift. Like I finally said something right.
He’s still looking at me when his phone buzzes in his pocket. He glances down and lets out an almost inaudible sigh.
“I have to take this,” he tells me.
“Sure.” I think I need a minute anyway. He swipes the screen, but not before I see the name on it.Vin Marchetti.
His investor. The man who sent the newlywed gifts.
“Hello,” he says, lifting the phone to his ear with one hand. He walks over to an earthy incline, the smile slipping from his face as he replies to whatever Vin is saying to him. He’s too far away for me to hear him.
But I see the way his shoulders square as he listens. The pinch of his fingers along the bridge of his nose. The slight shake of his head. All those soft edges from a moment ago are hardening again as he turns into CEO mode.
I sip my coffee slowly, giving him space. But I can’t stop watching.
He says something short and sharp, then pulls the phone away from his ear and ends the call with a swipe.
And when he walks back, the lines between his brows are deeper. But there’s a flicker of amusement in his eyes, too.
“Is everything okay?” I ask carefully, because whatever Vin said obviously got him out of sorts.
He lets out a long breath. “It’s fine. Vin’s just got this idea that we have to install a casino at the resort. He’s kind of stuck on it and I’m trying to get him unstuck.”
I blink. “Gambling on Liberty?”
“Don’t worry about it. The whole point of this place is about family. About being together, away from screens and distractions and having fun. He just likes money too much to back off.”
I study him for a second. The determined set of his jaw. The way his brows are pulled together like he’s already planning the next ten arguments he’ll need to win with the man.
“You know,” I say, softly, “for a guy who acts like he doesn’t care, you really do.”
That gets me a glance. And something else flickering behind his eyes.
“I mean it,” I continue. “Most people would take the money, throw up some slot machines, and call it a day. But you’re building something that actually matters.”
“Yeah, well I’ve spent years fixing other people’s messes. This is the first thing that’s mine.”
Our eyes lock and it feels like the air shifts. Or maybe it’s me that’s shifting, changing my perspective.
Because it doesn’t feel like we’re just two people walking a construction site anymore.
We’re something else. Something different.
Whatever it is, I like it way too much. Which is exactly why I need to be careful.
fourteen
EDEN
