23. Meg: Everyone’s on Edge

Chapter twenty-three

Meg – Everyone's on Edge

As cliche as it sounds, I feel my heart flutter when I see the small bouquet of sunflowers sitting on my front porch after work. It's beyond my control!

This man doesn't know when to quit. The note is addressed to me, by Drew of course, with the same party line he's been saying for days. Please let me make this right.

" Sure. How about listening to what I said earlier and forgetting about buying the inn to flip into a cold-hearted franchise?" I mutter.

Despite my determination to remain numb to his attempt at heartfelt gestures, I can't help but warm up to him again—a little.

I get so frustrated with Drew when I see his personality hiding more and more behind a cold and guarded demeanor. But then something happens and he warms up again. I just can't put my finger on why that affects me so much.

It drives me crazy, coming home to this after seeing him walking the grounds with my grandfather, putting on his best negotiator face to close a deal he knows will only hurt me and the entire inn in the end.

He keeps running hot and cold like that now. I see him attempt a kind smile but when I don't return it, his cold, guarded demeanor returns as if it never left. I guess I can't blame him. It is always a bit frustrating not getting what we want.

It's odd seeing the cold side of him. He's not laid back and relaxed like he was on our beach dates. Instead, he's dressed in professional work attire despite the heat. My guess is that he knows it's a psychological trick to get people to believe in what you say. It makes closing deals easier when you look the part.

He's even holding himself differently. It's like he's intentionally taking up more space by standing up taller, but it's only by a little bit. He's trying to make himself seem more important than before. He's not just a guest, he's an executive wanting to close the deal.

Even the employees have started acting differently when he's around. I guess he was telling the truth when he said he needed to pretend to be a tourist when he first arrived.

None of them are pleased with the idea of a buyout, but despite their objections, they put on their best service-with-a-smile attitude. That makes me so proud of them.

More so, everyone is on edge. They know layoffs are coming if this buyout goes through, but I keep telling them not to think like that. It's not happening, plain and simple.

I'm out of earshot when I see Drew motioning with his hands in big gestures as he walks around the inn with my grandfather. In my head, I can hear him saying how he'd change the paint here, flip this space here, change the way the rooms look from this to that. If he gets his way, Seaside Inn will be completely unrecognizable.

"Grandpa is just humoring him," Mia whispers from behind me. "He won't even consider it."

"Drew seems pretty convincing from this angle," I admit.

"Like I said, Sis, he's wasting his breath," she assures me, before heading to the back office.

I am even more determined to save the hotel and preserve Seaside Cove's unique charm. My resolve to resist Drew's continued advances is also strong, but I can't deny the ongoing attraction I feel toward him. I am so confused.

Sometimes all I want is to go back to the way things were before his brother showed up and Drew showed his other side.

I want to go back to late-night walks on the beach talking about everything and anything.

I want to feel his arms wrapped around me and feel his warm breath on my neck when he whispers sweet things into my ear.

I want to taste his kiss again and know that nothing's changed.

But all of that is gone now.

Suddenly, my paradise is looking gloomier by the day.