Monday morning rolled around, and Grey and I both went to work like usual. He hadn’t heard from Mason and I still had guests at the Palm I needed to visit. It was also stock delivery day, and Sam, the driver, liked to unload early so he could hang out and chat about his grandkids for a while.
I hadn’t asked Grey yet what to do with the pending reservations on the books or the ad I had paid for through the end of the year. I wasn’t completely ready to trust that Mason would drop the suit. When Grey had a signed contract in his hand, I’d believe it. I realized the wedding magic might have gotten to everybody Saturday night. It definitely swept me off my feet.
Taylor had made it to Chapel Hill with no new date plans from Mason. I assured her again he just had too much on his mind to map out a long-distance relationship. I knew from experience trying to book plane tickets and visits weren’t easy when you lived in two different states. He was clearly a perpetual flirt. I just hoped for Taylor’s sake that he wasn’t a heartbreaker too.
“Hey, pretty girl.” Grey ducked his head in the door.
“Hey. What’s going on?” I didn’t plan on seeing him this early.
“I got a call from Mason. He said he wanted to talk to both of us in a few minutes.” He strolled into the office.
“Me?”
He nodded. “Yep. Said it involved you too, but wouldn’t get into it on the phone.”
“What do you think it is?” My stomach was already twisting in pretzel-sized knots. I would punch him if he backed out of the deal he and Grey had struck at the wedding.
Grey huffed. “Trying not to jump to conclusions. Never a good idea.”
I laughed. “You? That’s funny.”
He shot me a look. “I’m just saying I don’t trust the guy.”
“I get that. I don’t blame you.” We waited until Mason arrived.
“Good morning.” He closed the office door and took the only empty seat.
“Hi, Mason.” I smiled. He was my best friend’s boyfriend, or something like a boyfriend.
Grey nodded in his direction.
Mason didn’t waste any time. He launched into the reason he was in the office. “I’ve done some thinking, and I’ve gotten some new information.”
I leaned forward; the knots tightened. The little shit was going to back out of the deal.
“Grey, I don’t think I can accept your deal.” Mason sounded completely matter-of-fact.
I closed my eyes. I should have known this would happen. It was all too good and perfect to be true. Things were coming together too smoothly. Grey had been right about Mason all along.
“What in the hell are you talking about? We shook on that deal.” Grey stood from his seat. Normally, I would jump up and try to calm him down. Try to protect Mason’s handsome face from Grey’s fist, but not this time. He deserved whatever was headed his direction.
“I know we did, but that deal’s not right.” Mason showed no remorse.
“Not right? You get more than fifty percent. How is that not right?” The vein on Grey’s neck was throbbing. Not a good sign.
“Because I have a better deal for you.”
I sat up in my chair. “What do you mean? What could possibly be better than what Grey offered you?”
He looked at both of us. “Like I said, I’ve done some thinking. I think there’s a better business move here that we could all benefit from. I made a few calls yesterday and this morning. I have a new offer for you.”
Grey stood motionless. “Go on.”
“What if we go into this as fifty-fifty partners? We could update the motel and turn the rooms into condos, add a second story like mini apartments and sell them to the snowbird demographic Eden has started drawing here. We could make some big money on the real estate end and still keep the land rights for the management side of things.”
I knew I was capable of speaking, but right then, I didn’t know how to make my mouth work. Mason had completely shocked me.
“Why are you offering this?” Grey questioned him.
“It’s a better deal. We can make more money in the long term, along with the upfront cash.” He raised his eyebrows. “So, what do you say? Want to go into business together?”
“You’ve got to have an angle.” Grey’s eyes were boring holes in Mason’s head. The way his knuckles were turning white, I wasn’t sure he wouldn’t still punch him.