Love After All

“Agreed,” Megan said. “If you’re serious, I’ll start making some calls.”

“All I have to do is let my mom know about this,” Molly said. “I can guarantee you that within hours the entire town will know.”

Emma laughed. “This is true. Mom will get the word out fast.”

“But what about your job in Boston, Reid?” Samantha asked. “How would that work for you doing both?”

Reid frowned. “I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“You’d design and spearhead the refurbishment of this building, right?”

He shook his head. “I can’t do that. It’s a great building, but I don’t live here anymore. I’m sure there are some great architects who could handle the redesign.”

Sam crossed her arms. “Seriously? So you’d just walk away and abandon her?”

“Samantha, I have a job.”

“So?” She pointed at the building. “This could be a job. A moneymaking endeavor.”

“Look, I’m willing to pitch in with my brothers and make an offer on the building. I’d even be willing to draw up preliminary plans or make suggestions. But I can’t oversee this project. I have too many other things going on.”

“You own the company, Reid,” Luke said. “Surely you could shift some projects off to other people while you spent some time here. Might be nice having you around again for a while.”

“This is a great old building. And while we don’t really like you, we could maybe stomach having you around—as long as it isn’t permanent.” Logan shot a smirk in his brother’s direction.

Reid studied both his brothers, then turned to everyone else, who were all giving him expectant looks. “It’s not as easy as you all think. I have responsibilities.”

“It’s not like this is happening tomorrow. But we need you, Reid. The town needs you.” Sam sent him an imploring look.

He focused his attention on Samantha, then sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

Sam grinned. “Awesome. So now we have an action plan in place. And all of you McCormack brothers rock for doing this.”

She gave Logan and Luke hugs, then Reid, who she clung to a little bit tighter.

“Thanks. You won’t regret this.”

“I already regret it. But it is a great old building. I might enjoy sinking my teeth into this.”

“Well. Now that that’s settled, I’m going home,” Chelsea said. “Des and Logan’s big party last night exhausted me.”

Des came over and gave her a hug. “Thank you for everything.”

Chelsea gave Des a tight squeeze. “I did nothing except enjoy being part of your happy day. Thank you for including me. I wish you and Logan a hundred years of happiness.”

Des laughed. “I’m looking forward to that hundred years. And to our honeymoon, which I need to run home and get packed for. That long movie shoot is hanging over my head, so I can’t wait for some alone time with my new husband before we’re separated for a bit.”

Chelsea hugged Logan, then said her goodbyes to Colt and Tony and their friends.

“I’ll call you later tonight,” Emma said.

“Sure.”

“I’ll walk you to your car. I think we’re all parked pretty tightly together,” Bash said.

She hadn’t paid any attention to that when they’d arrived. “Okay.”

“So what do you think?” he asked.

“About?”

“The whole building thing.”

“I think it’s a great idea. I hope Reid decides to come back to Hope to work on it. Mainly because I think Logan and Luke would like to have him around more often.”

Bash nodded. “Agreed. Would be nice to see him more.”

She stopped at her car. “Okay, so, I’ll see you later.”

He barely paused long enough to give her a half wave. “Sure. See you later, Chelsea.”

She didn’t know what she was expecting, but she knew it wasn’t this wave of disappointment as Bash headed toward his truck and climbed in. Did she think he was going to sweep her into his arms and plant a passionate kiss on her like he had last night at the wedding? She’d been the one who’d put a stop to that and made it clear she was hesitant to enter into a—whatever it was they had been about to enter into together.

So why did she care that they were now going their separate ways, that he hadn’t lingered or said more than a few sentences to her this morning?

She got into her car and started it up, then waited for Bash to back up and pull away so she could do the same.

Obviously she was tired and in need of a nap. She’d had very little sleep last night, and it was clouding her normally clear judgment. Thinking about him all the time, and being around him even more, wasn’t helping.

It was time to start focusing more on her list and less on Bash. Then these feelings she was having for him would go away.

Chapter 16

Since Reid was in town for a few extra days, Bash sat down with him over a few beers at the bar and went over his plans to add in a kitchen.

Lou enjoyed the run of the place while it was empty. After playing with her ball, which Reid had thrown for her what seemed about a hundred times, she ended up passed out by Bash’s feet.

Bash supplied the free beer while Reid looked over the blueprints. It was still early and the bar wasn’t open yet, so the two of them sat at a table to talk and go over Bash’s plans.