This time he answered her and said he could meet her tomorrow night. He suggested Jimmy’s at eight. That would work for her, so she replied yes. She’d leave work a tiny bit early and head to the pier. Then she and Brett were going to have to figure out this whole co-parenting thing. And it didn’t involve suggesting trips across the world without discussing it first.
Chapter 25
Barry stopped by The Cabot Hotel when he got back to Moonbeam on Friday. Delbert had said that he wanted to see him.
Barry had known almost right away that the new job in Oregon wasn’t going to be a good fit for him. The owner was a micromanager for one thing. And he was pretty sure the man didn’t like any of the suggestions he’d made. He wasn’t expecting a job offer on that one. But he would have to find one soon. Still, he had to admit he was a bit relieved that he wouldn’t be all the way across the country with a new job.
He poked his head into Delbert’s office.“Hey, how are things going here? Did that replacement furniture ever arrive?”
“Welcome back. Yes, the order came in. How did your interview go?”Delbert stood and came around from the back of his desk.
“It didn’t. It just wasn’t a good fit. Hey, can’t expect everyone to be as great to work for as you were.”
Delbert grinned.“Glad to hear you say that.”
“What, that I didn’t get the job?”
“Precisely. Because I have a proposition for you. So this week I just closed the deal on an old hotel near Naples. I didn’t think they’d take my offer, but the other person bidding on it pulled out. It’s quite rundown, but in its prime it was really grand. I want to restore it like we did The Cabot. You interested in running point on this one from the very beginning?”
“You’re offering me another job?”
“I am. It’s a little less than an hour away. You could stay down there…or, you know…commute.”Delbert grinned.“If there’s any reason you’d like to be sticking around Moonbeam.”
“I’ll take it.”He didn’t even need to see the place. If Del thought it was a good hotel to restore, then it was. Relief and gratitude swept through him. He could stay here in Moonbeam. Be near Donna. This was just perfect.
Delbert smiled.“It’s probably going to take at least a year for the project. You got that kind of time?”
“I have all the time in the world.”He could feel the goofy smile on his face. This solved everything. A job. And staying near Donna.
“What are you waiting for? Don’t you have someone you want to go see?”Delbert’s mouth curved into a smile of satisfaction.
“Thanks, Del. I really appreciate this.”
“My pleasure. You did a great job here. I’m sure you’ll do a fabulous job there. We’ll go down and see it next week. Make plans. Go over budgets.”
“Sounds great. Can’t wait.”And with that, he hurried out of the hotel. He couldn’t wait to find Donna and tell her the news. His heart beat in double-time just thinking of how surprised she’d be.
Donna openedthe door to find Barry standing there. He swooped her up in his arms, swung her around, then set her back down.
He laughed, then kissed her, then laughed again.“I’ve missed you.”His eyes shone with happiness.
But not any happier than she was to have him here again. Her heart fluttered just seeing him here in front of her.“I’ve missed you too. Come on in. Let’s go sit out on the point.”
She poured them some lemonade and led him out to the chairs on the point, anxious to hear about his week. And when he would be leaving…The euphoria from seeing him again began to ebb slowly away. Because he did have to leave. Start a new job. And if he got this one all the way across the country? What were they going to do?
She sank into her chair, took a sip of lemonade, and squared her shoulders, gathering strength.“So…how did the interview go?”
“Great. I didn’t get the job.”
She looked at him questioningly.
“It was a bad fit for me. Couldn’t stand the owner of the company. And it…well, it wasn’t right.”
“So now you’re back to looking for a job?”
“Nope.”A wide grin spread across his face.“Got one. Just this afternoon, as a matter of fact.”
“Really? Where?”She steeled herself for his answer and sucked in a quick breath.
