Kristin refused to let Mara pay, telling her it was on the house for trying out the new food. She watched as her friend pulled on a beautiful wool coat, still not used to seeing her previous doll-maker friend as a successful CEO of her own business.
Kristin hugged her when Mara threw her arms around her while telling her, “I’m going to start working on your dates. Now that you’re finally free in the evenings, there’s no excuse not to try out some new guys. Just because the old ones were selfish duds doesn’t mean they all are.”
“Reading time, remember?” Kristin reminded her as she followed her friend to the door.
“Yeah, yeah.” Mara blew her off. “Start reading soon. I’m going to ask Rob if he’s free for dinner tomorrow night.”
Really, Mara was right. She had no reason not to do some casual dating now that her evenings were free, but for some reason, the idea didn’t provide even an inkling of interest for her.
Am I secretly waiting for Julian? He’s not coming back for me. It was a one-weekend thing. I knew that when we were together. It’s over. He’s already moved on and I haven’t heard a word from him.
She waved at Mara as her friend hustled out the door before Kristin could answer.
Grabbing her own jacket and purse from behind the bar, she pulled on the old coat and hurried out the door behind her friend, eager to finally figure out the mystery of how exactly all of the changes had occurred at Shamrock’s . . . and more importantly . . . why?
Her father had given her a halfhearted explanation, but she was pretty sure it wasn’t the entire truth.
The cold air took her breath away as she stepped outside and started down the sidewalk determinedly, knowing exactly where she wanted to start.
“So you’re telling me that you just decided to invest in Dad’s bar for no reason?” Kristin questioned Liam Sullivan as she stood in a newly renovated Sullivan’s Steak and Seafood restaurant, speaking with Tessa’s brother.
Her father had told her Liam had helped him out when she’d returned from Vegas. Kristin wanted to know just how much Tessa’s brother was involved.
The restaurant wasn’t open for business yet, but it would be shortly. She had suspected Liam would already be at Sullivan’s. Luckily, she’d caught him during prep time, and she was determined to make him talk.
“Not for no reason,” Liam answered evasively, his back to her, preparing lobster for Sullivan’s famous lobster rolls. “I’ve always thought the place could be . . . more. Now that Tessa is married, I have more time on my hands.”
Putting her hands on her hips, she knew she had to call bullshit. “And tons of money? Somebody had to have given my dad an influx of cash. This didn’t all happen without a significant investment.”
“I have money, and I have . . . a partner.”
“Who?” Kristin demanded doggedly.
Liam turned, his expression frustrated. “Julian Sinclair. I went in with Julian because I thought his ideas and visions were good. I didn’t really know him, and he knew me only by reputation because we worked in the same business when I was in Hollywood. But I didn’t need him to partner with your dad. He wanted to be part of my half of the investment.”
She glared at him, still trying to understand why Julian had tied himself to an investment in Amesport. Liam wasn’t what she’d call conventionally handsome, but he was muscular and big, and her casual conversations with him had been cordial. “Did you pack my suitcase for Vegas?”
He shot her a confused expression. “Hell, no. Why would I want to do that?”
“Somebody did.”
Liam shrugged. “Probably Julian. He might have gotten the key to your place from your parents when we signed the papers.”
“I can’t believe my parents did this before they even asked me,” she answered irritably.
“Why? It’s their business.”
“One that I’ve busted my ass to keep afloat for them by working every damn minute of the day,” Kristin exploded as she panted for breath. “I went there every night, knowing my dad needed to be at home. I stressed myself to death about their welfare. I thought they’d at least consult me.”
“I’m sorry,” Liam replied gruffly. “I know none of this has been easy on you. But the place is making money like crazy. People came here to Sullivan’s because of the quality of the food, even before we remodeled. The place was always prosperous. But I’ve seen the books for Shamrock’s. It was barely making a profit, even though it has the better location. It needed a boost, Kristin. Either that or it was going to eventually go into the red, and then go under. You couldn’t keep working the hours you did forever. You doing all the labor was the only thing saving your dad from bankruptcy.”
He was right. Kristin knew Liam’s words were true. But it didn’t help the empty feeling of knowing her parents hadn’t even bothered to consult her before selling off half of the bar. “I wish they would have told me.”