“I have no secrets. Especially from Beckett’sgirlfriend.” The older man’s gaze danced with mirth.
Beckett’s cheeks warmed when Presley met his gaze. “Sorry.” But he wasn’t. Not entirely.
She shook her head, then looked at Mr. Dayton.
“Go ahead, Mr. Dayton,” Jill said.
Like he was dressed in a three-piece suit in a boardroom—Beckett could almost picture him in his glory days—he held one hand at his middle, addressing them like he’d prepared this speech.
“It’s easy to see that you kids are finding your feet. We can help each other. I want to purchase a piece of my past. If I give you fair market value for this cabin, as it is now, you’ll have cash up front, which will give you some breathing room, and I’ll secure a vacation home that lets me be where I want but means I don’t have to do all the work for the grounds or anything else. Let’s be clear—I can afford a cabin that isn’t run-down, and one with a better view, even though this one isn’t bad. But I’m not looking for new. I’m looking for nostalgia.”
Beckett couldn’t wrap his head around this. Grayson beat him to the question that popped into his brain, asking, “What about renovations or updates on the cabin?” His brother looked around, gestured to the current state.
“Again, we can help each other out.” The older man smiled. “You’ll be giving me a deal on the sale because it’s not in great shape though the bones are solid. I’ll pay for the renovations myself.”
Damn. It sounded too good to be true.
“Would you be part owner?” Jill asked. Another great question.
“Yes and no. I’d be full owner of this cabin only.”
“I don’t even know the logistics of how I could do the paperwork for that,” Grayson muttered.
“You could do it like a percentage so on paper it would look like he is part owner but add in whatever clauses make it clear that he only has ownership of this piece. You’d have to decide if he paid a rental fee on the land or if he owns outright,” Presley said. She looked at them all then pressed her lips together. “Sorry.”
“No. Please don’t be,” Beckett said. “That’s an excellent point.”
“What happens if you change your mind?” Gray asked. “If this place stops being special, if you need more updates, want to add on?”
Dropping his shoulders, Mr. Dayton sighed. “I’m good at reading people, Grayson. You’re going to get on your feet with or without me. This is a way to do some of it without an uphill battle. If I wanted more, I’d have asked for it. Truth is, I thought of buying the whole lodge, but I’m glad I didn’t get the chance. I don’t want to run this place or make money. I just want to have a home away from home that reminds me of things I once had. A place I can feel comfortable and connected to my family even though they aren’t here.”
It would mean they had one cabin less, if Dayton owned it, but the benefits could far outweigh the drawbacks.
Jill smiled at Beckett, then Gray, who shoved his hands in his pockets.
“We need to discuss this as a family,” Grayson said.
The words stuck in Beckett’s chest, like a sliver in his rib cage. He couldn’t leave his siblings for a stake in Brian’s company. He didn’twantto. He needed to tell Gray and Jill about the bike rental idea. It would tie in perfectly. Especially now. With Dayton’s money and the business loan Beckett had been preapproved for, the road was stretching out in front of him with an obvious sign saying:THIS WAY.
“I’d think less of you if you didn’t,” Mr. Dayton said.
“We need to get ready for dinner,” Jill mentioned.
“I didn’t even get to tell you guys about my trip to the mainland.” Beckett realized there was a lot of good news to share.
“Maybe we should meet up after dinner,” Grayson said, sending a smirk to Jill. “We could close down the hot tub again.”
Presley laughed, holding up her hands. “Not because of me this time.”
“But you’re welcome to join us,” Jill said. “You have valuable contributions, and Beckett’s never brought a woman home before, so we need to get to know you.”
“Enough. That was all you, but I’m not sorry. Those women treated me like meat. Happy to be off the market,” Beckett said.
Presley laughed, pretending to fan herself. “This is all moving so fast.”
“Maybe you guys need some time to chat as well,” Grayson said, matching his sister’s smirk.
“It’s not a bad idea. I’d like to know more about our relationship,” Presley said.
