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Mike slapped Pops on the shoulder again and just about pushed him out of the hotel. Karen heard the engine of Pop’s Jeep gun to life and then fade away. She was left staring at Mike.
He turned and faced her, no longer the smiling guy she knew, but a hard-looking businessman in a suit again. She lifted her chin. “My hotel is not for sale.”
Striding to her, he stopped in front of her. “Go ahead. Be a hard ass. How far will that get you? A month? Two? You told me you’ve got a loan to pay off—and student debt. How are you going to handle that? I’m here with a checkbook—and I’m talking investing, not buying.”
“Why? So you can start calling the shots? I get what—to stay on as manager?”
Eyes narrowing, he glared at her. For an instant, she wanted to take a step back. But she held her ground. She was done backing down from anyone.
“What will it take to convince you I want to help? That I can help?”
Karen had enough of men telling her what she needed. First it had been Lyle with all his advice and offers of help that had turned sour, then Pops, and now Mike. But he was right. How far would she get if she threw Mike’s investment offer back in his face? But was there a way she could work this to her advantage?
She tapped her fingers against her leg. “You told Pops to think of a number for selling. How about I give you a list of my terms for investment? Non-negotiable terms?”
The pulse beat in his jaw but he gave a sharp nod. “Fine. If that’s what it takes. Write them down. Meantime, I’m staying one more night. If you don’t mind.”
Karen wanted to slap him for being so damn smug. She clenched her fist and smiled. “Fine, Mr. Collins. We’ll comp you one night.” Turning, she strode to the front desk. She slapped a key down on the counter. “Room six. I’ll have your list for you in the morning.”
She waited for him to pick up his key and get out of her sight. Her stomach quivered and she wanted nothing more than to tell him to go to hell—but she needed that investment. And she hated that she needed anyone.
Picking up the key, he strode down the hall to the guest rooms—he should know where they all were by now. When he’d gone, she slumped over the front desk.
Why? Why him? Why was he so far under her skin that she didn’t know how to get rid of him? She’d thought she could do this—be adult and have a fling. Instead, she’d gotten herself in the deep end. Well, that served her right. And now to find out he just wanted to buy the hotel. That’s why he’d come here. Business was right.
Straightening, she pushed back her shoulders.
He was right. She needed funds to get the place fixed up. She needed Mike. But dammit, if she had to buckle in and take his help, this time she was going to make damn sure she had everything nailed down tight so there would be no way he could take advantage of her. She wasn’t going to go through another deal like she had with Lyle. No—she was going to set it up so she could call the shots.
Chapter Sixteen
Mike rose early. He found a slip of paper shoved under his door—all nicely typed out. A bill came along with it for a single night. Glancing at the papers, he picked them up, folded them and shoved them into his coat pocket.
The sun had come up hot and he couldn’t face a tie or a jacket. He showered, shaved with a razor borrowed from the employee locker and headed to the main room of the hotel. Coffee waited for him, but no sign of Karen. He spotted Ted and Juilet heading out, hand-in-hand, talking about heading down to the beach for the day.
Letting out a breath, Mike debated if he should look for Karen. But why? So they could argue again? So she could go all stubborn and independent on him? She was the worst pain-in-the ass, pushiest…most beautiful girl he knew. He shook his head. He knew he had it bad if he was willing to buckle on buying this place—just to please her.
But dammit, this was now personal. She’d all but accused him of sneaking in here under false pretenses to…to do what? Scope out the place so he could give her a low offer for the hotel. Just what kind of jerk did she think he was? Well, he was going to show her different—if it killed him.
Heading to Karen’s office, he found the door open. He slipped in and picked up her phone. A dial tone had him letting out a sigh of relief. He dialed his brother’s private number. Zach answered on the second ring. “Zach! Man, am I glad to hear your voice.”
“Mike, where the hell are you and what are you doing? And if you start talking tropical beaches, blondes and tall drinks you are so going to be busted.”
“How about tropical storms, lost luggage, and yeah there’s a blonde, but she’s the owner of the resort we’re about to invest in. Meantime, I sent an email to you—I have no cash and no credit cards. Can you pay to get me airlifted out of here and have funds waiting for me in Fiji?”
“Already got the email and gotcha covered, little bro. But this isn’t done—I want to hear all about this new investment. I don’t remember that being part of the plan.”
“Yeah, well plans change. I tell you all about it once I get back.”
Setting out for the small town down the road, Mike started walking.
Halfway there, Pops pulled up in his Jeep and offered Mike a ride. Pops wasn’t exactly Mike’s favorite person, but what the hell. A ride was a ride. On the drive, Pops talked Karen’s place down and his own up, and Mike finally turned to the guy. “It’s not one or the other. The Collins Institute is buying both, so what’s your number.”
Pops named a number three times the land value—Mike had done his research in advance. But he also was tired of the man. He stuck out his hand. “Deal. I’ll have my people draw up the paperwork soon as I get back.”
Pops stared at him and almost ran off the road.
Gesturing ahead, Mike said, “Uh, that is if I get back in one piece.”
