Charlie snorted. “Because you set up the expectation? I seem to recall Mom and Daddiscussinghow you threw your money around, picking up your posse’s tabs everywhere you went, big spender.”
Noah ignored the barb’s sting. “Then those freeloaders get all pissy when you try to explain they’ll drink you right out of business.”
“You’re not the only one they get pissy with,” Dixie called from the back.
“I hate it when she does that,” Charlie whispered harshly.
Noah tapped his ear. “Actually, it comes in handy sometimes. She overheard a table planning to ditch the other night.”
“No way! That happen much?”
Noah shrugged. “Enough that it makes you wonder what the hell is wrong with people. I think they should all have to run a business for at least a year so they understand how stunts like that impact a person—not some fancy, deep-pockets corporation, butpeople.”
Charlie twirled his half-full glass on the counter. “How bad is it?” He kept his voice low.
Noah blew out a breath.
“That bad?”
“It’s not going exactly like I planned. I was pretty conservative when I drew up my models, which is good, but summer was supposed to be when I had the best months. I barely hit the off-season numbers.”
“How do you fix it?”
Noah threw down the towel, picked it up, and tossed it across his shoulder. “I’m still working on that, but I’m battling stuff that’s out of my control. Making money in this business is tough enough, especially in a town this size, but when you can’t hire enough staff … or worse, when customers order their favorite liquor and you don’t have it because you can’tgetit. Or you have to eighty-six people’s favorite meals because your restaurant supplier had to short your order. The icing on top is your pissed-off customers leaving crappy reviews online for the whole world to see.” He pushed a hand through his hair. “Okay. Now I’m gonna stop because whining like a little bitch only depresses me, and it doesn’t change a thing.”
As exciting as the dream of the train’s revival was, it would probably be too little too late to turn his business around.
“Maybe not, but sometimes you gotta vent.” Charlie tapped his glass to Noah’s.
“Thanks, bro.” Noah chugged the rest of his beer and set his glass on the bar.
While locals understood the shortages and were mostly forgiving, they typically weren’t the big spenders. Not that Fall River teemed with competition, but nonetheless, Noah’s grand plan to lure people from the resort wasn’t materializing. And now that Dell’s was getting a facelift, the tepid competition was about to tighten. Repaying his mom and Wyatt seemed like gold rings that continually inched beyond his grasp. But if he could joint venture with Silver Summit …
Charlie checked his phone and frowned.
“Hot date standing you up?” Noah prodded.
“No, she bailed on melastnight. Ironically, this is about a delayed delivery for that new reno job. My three-day wait has turned into five.Which is why I’m having a beer.” He lifted his nearly drained drink. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”
Noah was the beneficiary of both his brothers’ all-hands-on-deck mentality. They chipped in without asking, whether it was tending bar, serving meals, or cleaning up. He reciprocated every chance he got, but even when he found the time, they rarely needed his help. Sure, it was the family way, but the support reminded him of a one-way street. Their generosity both humbled him and made him uncomfortable as hell. He hated feeling like he couldn’t manage his fledgling operation on his own; he also hated owing anyoneanything.
“You mean besides working in my bar for free? Nah, I’m good.” He let out a long-suffering sigh. “You and Reece have gone above and beyond, and I really appreciate it. Turning this thing around is something I’ve gotta wrestle on my own.” He paused a beat. “You know the hardest part? I have people whose livelihoods depend on me. It’s a sobering thought. Theyneedthe jobs this place provides. What happens to them if I have to close?” These worries, compounded by the mountain of debt, fueled Noah’s sleepless nights.
“I totally get it.”
“Boss, you worry too much.” Dixie’s disembodied voice had Noah and Charlie snapping their heads toward the back hallway.
“Dixie,” Noah called, “why don’t you just come out here and pull up a chair so you can hear theentireconversation?”
Her blond head poked around a corner. “I would love to, boss, but my man’s a-waitin’ and—” She whipped her head toward the front door. “Uh-oh.” She disappeared from view as movement caught Noah’s eye.
When he looked up, the sight greeting him caused his chest to compress. “Oh shit,” he hissed.
Charlie glanced over his shoulder and brought his eyes back to Noah’s. “Oh shit is right. Why don’t you cash me out?” He downed the rest of his beer and stood.
“I’ll catch you up later.” Noah trained his gaze on Ursula’s cool, long-legged stroll toward the bar. The woman made walking across a room look like an art form.
Her lips curled up in a devious smile. “It’s been a minute. I thought I’d stop by and say hi.”
