Beckett ran a hand through his hair. It stood up a little, making Presley smile. He’d seemed so confident and self-assured on the boat, all laid-back and casual. Not so much now. He caught her staring and gave her a strange look.Uh-oh.Maybe her smile was at the I’m-so-tired-I-resemble-a-creepy-stalker stage. She knew she had it in her.
He pointed. “Bedroom, bathroom, closet. There’s a tub if you want to warm up. I just need to do a check of all the areas to make sure… nothing was left behind.”
He walked toward the bedroom while Presley moved farther into the house. She heard him rustling around in the other room as she peeked out the front window, smiling at the view of the water. It really was pretty if she wasn’tonit. Moving slowly around the room, she confirmed one of the doors led to a small bathroom with a tub-and-shower combo. It was basic but clean, with a small washer and dryer stacked in a corner. Walking back toward the couch, she noticed a blue bag by the bedroom door. One very much like she’d seen at his feet on the boat.
Realization dawned like another fist to the face. How many of those could she take today? He came out of the bedroom, no surprise, with a couple bags. Giving an uneven laugh, he said, “They left some stuff.”
This man had been kinder and sweeter to her than the man she’dworked into her stupid timeline. Tears threatened, making her throat feel thick. “This is your place. This is your house.”
He froze. “It’s…” No other words followed.
Presley shook her head, went to her bags. “No. I’m so sorry. I absolutely cannot take your home. Listen, is there any way I can get to the mainland tonight? Or is there anywhere else to stay on the island?”
He shook his head, dropping his bags on the ground. “No. This entire island is the fishing lodge. We’re only ten minutes from Smile. There are places to stay there. If you want me to, I’ll take you back tonight.”
Just the thought of the boat made her stomach roll.
Beckett laughed. “That look on your face suggests it’s not your favorite idea. Please stay here, Presley. It’s not a big deal. I can bunk with my brother or on Jilly’s couch.”
She shook her head, clasped her fingers together. One side of Beckett’s lips tipped up.
“We’ll get the AC fixed. This is temporary, saves you from being on the water and will make us very happy that we were able to find a work-around. We’re just starting up. This is actually our first season, and we really don’t want unhappy guests.”
“Your whole family runs this place?” She was genuinely curious.
“It’s my brother’s.” Something sparkled in his gaze, a hint of mischief that warmed Presley’s skin. “If you leave, he’ll worry about bad Yelp reviews or something. You’d be doing us a favor if you’d stay. And there’s no cost. You wouldn’t want Grayson to stress out over you leaving, would you? Think of the ripple effect that might have.”
Her stomach pitched at the word “ripple” and his grin widened, like he knew the impact of that particular word. “What effect might that be?”
That grin turned almost playful—and boy did that up the hot-guy factor—as he walked closer. “If you leave, he’ll take it personally. He’ll be in a funk. That’ll worry my sister and niece.”
“Jilly and Ollie?”
He nodded. “Grayson is doing his best to make this place a success.Mix-ups and screwups happen. It’s our job to fix them so the guest has the best stay possible. Please, let me fix this. If I don’t, my brother will be unbearable.”
His predicament, however much he was overselling it, was one she was familiar with. Pleasing guests was her full-time job. Beckett let out a deep sigh, tucked his chin, and used those eyes on her.
“Do you have siblings, Presley?”
She shook her head. Short of Rylee, she often felt like she had no one. When she was little, she’d asked her parents if they would ever give her a brother or a sister, and they said no. Their lives were perfectly balanced, they said. Another child would throw things off-kilter.
Her lips quivered. She did her best to focus on the man staring at her intently. “Unbearable, huh?”
“You have no idea.” Beckett’s grin widened. “He’ll make my life hell.”
Her lips quirked. “That doesn’t seem fair.”
Beckett shook his head, his gaze pinning her to the spot. “It’s not. I know you don’t know him, but he’s a good guy. We’re really serious about making guests happy. Let me make you happy?”
Those words slipped over her heart and squeezed.
Beckett took her silence as a positive. “I know it’s a bit messy, but it’s warm and cozy.”
She nodded slowly, looked around again. He stepped closer. “There’s food in the fridge, and not just the well-balanced stuff Jilly makes Ollie eat.” Bending a bit at the waist, he leaned closer still, sharing the woodsy, alluring scent of his cologne. “I have chips. And chocolate.” The last word came out as a whisper.
She bit her lip, staring at him. “If I’m taking your place, I don’t want any free nights.”
He stood up straight, grinning like he’d won. “That’s Jilly’s area. I’m not the money guy.”
