Page 37 of Just for Tonight

“You didn’t say you planned to give it to us.”

I would have given anything for this night, screw my fiduciary duty – actually, I would have just paid for the property myself and not told anyone, except Richard Bradshaw. He might believe I was trying to make things right.

“Well, thanks for insisting on paying for it.”

“I couldn’t have done otherwise, not after you told me about your dad’s financial situation. Any discoveries today?”

I shake my head. “Let’s not talk about it tonight.”

“That’s fair.”

I clear my throat. “Sorry I fell asleep last night.”

She laughs again. “So am I. I had…hopes.”

Yes.

“But yesterday must have been quite a day,” Mackenzie continues.

“Thanks for the concession.”

“Has it been awful today?”

“Let’s just say that lunch with you and your grandfather was the highlight.”

“Mmm. Even with endless stories about grapes and terroir.”

“Particularly so. I like stories about grapes and terroir. They usually end with wine.”

“He would have started a tasting party that went the whole afternoon if you hadn’t insisted on going back…to the Cavendish house.”

“Had to get my work done so I could go out for dinner tonight.” She nods and I watch her. “Thanks for not calling it home.”

“It never was for you, was it?”

“No.”

“But it apparently has every luxury.”

“It is the ugliest house on the planet.”

She laughs again, clearly skeptical. I halfway want to take her on a tour to prove I’m right, but I let it go. I’ll leave tomorrow. She’ll never see Casa Cavendish in all its splendor, unless it’s listed for sale and she attends the open house.

I frown at the road, my mood soured for no apparent reason.

“Have you made any progress?” Mackenzie asks finally.

“I think Madison hates me even more than she did yesterday. Does that count?”

“I’m going to guess that you did something to make that happen.”

“Well, I did confiscate everyone’s credit cards. Not a popular move. The great thing is that your payment for the land will square us up for this month at least.”

She is silent for a beat. “It’s that bad?”

“I’d say it’s worse.”

She drives in silence for a few minutes, considering that. “What are you going to do?”