End it tomorrow? Nick sucked in a deep breath. If they ended it tomorrow, how was he ever going to pay her back for all that money? Money that he’d mostly already spent.
As if she’d read his thoughts, she said, “Don’t worry. I don’t expect any refund on time not spent.”
He wanted to ask her what brought this on, but who was Nick to grill her about anything? She could do as she pleased. That was an advantage of being super rich. When you get bored with one thing, you drop it and move on to the next. It wasn’t like she was actually dumping him. She’d never promised to stay by his side forever. Just six months. But Nick was learning that even when you entered into a contract marriage, anything could happen.
At least Lecie showed up for the wedding.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
DEAN LOOKED AT NICK LIKE he’d lost his mind. Nick felt the need to repeat himself, if for nothing other than clarity’s sake. “I’m not joking. I got home yesterday and she’s trying to let me off the hook.” Nick shook his head. “Maybe she found someone else while she was in Florida and I’m just in the way now.”
“She came by the center,” Dean said. “Tried to give her share of Hang Ten to me. Well, the center. She said you’d never take it back willingly.”
“And she’s right. I told her so yesterday. Especially if she’s ready to cancel our agreement. I have no way to pay her back the money I’ve already spent.”
“Have you asked her why she’s leaving?”
“No.” Nick didn’t think he had the right to ask her why. “Besides, I really don’t want to hear about how she’s found someone else.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Dean nodded. “But I just can’t help thinking that this is a tactical error of some sort.”
“Let’s face it…” Nick laughed at himself. “I’m just way out of my league with this one. Whoever’s caught her attention, I hope he’s worthy of her.”
“Well…” Dean stood. “I need to start looking for a job.” He shook his head. He and Nick both knew how hard that was going to be in this economy.
“If there’s anything I can do to help…” Nick’s voice trailed off.
Dean nodded and headed for the door.
If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. Nick had thought things were going to turn around after Lecie walked into his life, but that wasn’t meant to be. She was walking out, and taking every ounce of available hope with her.
He was losing Lecie and the center at the same time. The fact that he still had the Hang Ten—thanks to her—was of little comfort.
Two days later, Nick was in his office, tending to the daily needs of the Hang Ten when Dean’s call came in.
“I’m kind of busy right now,” Nick said to Dean. “Can I call you later?”
“This can’t wait.” Dean’s troubled voice reached across the airwaves and yanked Nick up by the throat.
“All right,” Nick said, straightening in his chair.
“It’s happened.”
“What’s happened?”
“Somebody bought the center.”
Nick closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hand. “Well, that’s that then.”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up, man.” Dean said. “You kept this place going for an awful long time.”
“Yes, but it was supposed to be forever,” Nick said. “So my brother didn’t die in vain.”
Dean Triplett let his gaze wander around the common area of the Kevin Matthews Community Center. It wouldn’t bear that name for much longer. Who knew what the new owners would end up doing with the piece of prime real estate. Probably demo the building and throw up some fancy high rise or something.
Dean shook his head, went to his office and closed the door. He knew they’d be coming, the new owners, any day, to personally issue his eviction notice. But, even if it was just for today, he was still the center’s director.
Sitting down at his desk, he thought about all the things he should be doing. Settling the center’s final debts, as much as he could. Figuring out what to do with all the furnishings and such. And finding a new job.
Dean blew out a sigh. He didn’t feel like doing any of those things, especially when it came to a new job. He liked this one just fine.
Silently, he cursed Ginny, even though she wasn’t directly responsible for the property being sold out from under the center, but she was to blame for Nick’s unstable financial status. That much he could pin on her.
A soft knock echoed through the door. One of the kids? Dean went to see who. Opening the door, he was surprised to see Lecie. Again.
“Hey…” He tried to smile, but there wasn’t much to smile about.
She had another large manila envelope with her. More documents, he supposed. She gave him a smile, then said, “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
He shook his head. “Not at all.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. “What can I do for you?” Funny he’d be asking her that. She was the one who could’ve helped him and Nick, if Nick would’ve just asked her for a loan. But Nick wouldn’t hear of it, wouldn’t even entertain it.
Dean shook the nasty thoughts out of his head and went back to his seat behind the desk. He really couldn’t blame this on Nick. Or Lecie. It was nobody’s fault. Just fate being a bitch.
When he peered up at her, he saw it. She was fretting over something. He just couldn’t figure what. “Nick wouldn’t take back his interest in the Hang Ten, huh?” He pointed to the envelope she was carrying.
“No.” Lecie raised her eyebrows and let out a little laugh.
“Well, I wish we could take it off your hands, but like I said…” Dean shook his head. “Never mind, I shouldn’t be bothering you with my troubles.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“You may not remember, but I mentioned it the other day.” Dean had a hard time hiding the pain this whole thing was causing him. “The center is being sold out from under us.”
Lecie smiled. Awfully pissy of her. And out of character. That was something more likely to come from Ginny.
“By now,” Dean said, hoping to make her feel bad, “I should have new computers here for the kids to use.” He glared at her, trying to project his pain on her. “Instead, all I have for them is bad news. Someone’s already bought the center and the land it sits on. I’m sure our eviction notice is eminent.”