Should’ve Known It’s You (Not You Again #7)

Chapter 50

CHAPTER 50

KENNEDY

A fter saying goodbye to everyone, I opened the passenger door of Austin’s car and watched him hug his sister. He laid a hand on her belly, smiling as he dipped his gaze to the bump.

“Be good to your mama, little one,” he murmured. “Stop making her crave those spicy chips.”

Jess snorted a laugh. “Yes, please listen to your uncle.”

“See ya, Jess. Take care of the peanut and remember to put your legs up every once in a while.”

She chuckled, saluting him as she slid in under Slate’s arm. “Yes, sir. I have a bunch of people making sure I do, even when I don’t feel like it.”

“I’ll see you soon.” He gave them a final wave and slid mirrored black sunglasses over his eyes as we climbed into the car.

As he turned over the engine, he gave me a quick smile before he reversed away from his childhood home to start the drive back to the city. “Are you ready to go back to reality?”

“No, but I guess we have to be.” Frankly, my thoughts had been in overdrive ever since he’d told me last night that he wanted to back my business.

We hadn’t gone into detail about it yet, but it made me nervous that he wanted to give me money. I had so many questions, and none of them had an answer yet.

How much is he willing to put on the line? What if the hotel fails and I can’t pay him back, or what if it’s insanely successful? Would that change our dynamic and, if so, in what way? What if taking his money ruins what we’ve got going on together? What if the business does super well, but our relationship falls apart? Or vice versa, for that matter.

I knew better than most how money could change everything. After living through how much it had changed my parents, I was more wary than most when it was involved. Obviously, I was well aware of the fact that money made the world go round but it was also the root of all evil.

I needed a lot of it to start my business and I needed to make it to keep the dream alive, but taking it from Austin? Talk about complicating our relationship.

Completely overwhelmed, I sagged against the buttery soft leather seat of his car, rolling my head so I was facing the window. Outside, the world was carpeted in oranges, reds, and browns, the farmland not as vibrant as it was during the summer months but nonetheless beautiful.

As I watched the scenery that used to be home fly past outside, I tried to clear my head, but my mind had been racing for the last fifteen hours at least and I still hadn’t managed to sort anything out for myself.

What I knew for sure was that I wanted Austin.

And that I wanted my hotel.

But I was starting to wonder if I could have both.

Crap. I really need to talk to Winrey.

My sister had always had a way of clarifying things for me. She put stuff into perspective when I was too close to it and she simplified things when they seemed too complicated. I’d thought about calling her last night, but it’d been too late by the time Austin and I had gotten back to the hayloft.

Anxiety rippled through me, and my knee bounced as I watched the fields roll by outside. A tractor puttered along in the distance. Austin was acting completely normal, apparently also blissfully oblivious to my internal freak-out.

“What do you think of the food in your restaurant being farm-to-table?” he asked as we turned onto the main road leading away from Firefly Grove. “It tastes better, it’s healthier, and it’ll support local farmers. Plus, people are loving that kind of thing right now.”

“I love that idea,” I said, but it was like I was out of my own body, just listening to myself without actually being part of the moment.

“I’ll ask around,” he said happily. “I’m sure we’ll easily be able to find some reliable suppliers who will give us high quality ingredients at great prices.”

“Uh huh.” I nodded, but all of this felt so surreal.

I wasn’t even sure the restaurant was ever going to open, and here he was, talking about suppliers. Even more intensely overwhelmed, I connected my playlist again and Austin laughed as he turned up the volume.

For the rest of the drive, I sang along halfheartedly, mostly just staring out the window as country turned into suburbs and, further along, back into city. Austin glanced at me as we neared the turn-off to his place.

“Would you like to come home with me? Winrey and Benji are probably still there.”

“Yes,” I said immediately, sending up a silent prayer that he was right. “I’d love to see them.”

He chuckled. “I thought you might.”

Gratitude and relief made my heart swell ten sizes when we pulled into the driveway and I saw Benji’s car in front of the door. I must’ve made some kind of sound because Austin suddenly chuckled and slowed to a stop behind the beat-up sedan.

“I’m glad we caught them too,” he said. “Go on. I’ll be there in a minute.”

I took him up on the offer, practically throwing my door open and racing inside to find my sister and her boyfriend laughing in the kitchen. A sweet scent hung in the air and Winrey sighed when she saw me hurtling around the corner.

“Well, there goes our surprise,” she said with a smile on her face. “Cookies are in the oven. They’ll be coming out in a minute.”

“They smell divine.” I didn’t stop moving until I was pulling her into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you. How was your weekend? Did Chef Giacomo give you everything you’ve ever wanted?”

“I’ve never been so spoiled.” She giggled, squeezing me tight and then frowning as she pulled away. “Are you okay?”

Footsteps behind me alerted me to Austin’s presence in the kitchen and I shot my sister a look that said we needed to talk before I nodded. “I’m fine. All good. Did you guys have everything you needed?”

“This place is incredible,” Benji said as he shook Austin’s hand. “Thanks for letting us use it.”

“Anytime.” Austin smiled, shaking with Benji before coming over to give my sister a hug. “How was the water temperature in the hot tub? I was a little worried we hadn’t gotten it right.”

“It was perfect.” Winrey beamed at him. “I’ve got cookies in the oven as a thank you for letting us stay. We hoped they’d be ready in time.”

Austin glanced at the oven and inhaled deeply, a wide grin on his lips. “Now that’s something to come home to. Thanks, guys. You really didn’t have to, though.”

“Well, we had to do something,” she said. “We had a wonderful time. I haven’t relaxed like this in ages, so we wanted to leave you something nice.”

As I watched the exchange between them, I was reminded of how good a guy Austin was. For his first thought to have been of the water temperature in the hot tub?

It’s not every man who’s going to care so much about that kind of thing that he even checks after. Can I really let fear and doubt ruin my relationship with such an amazing man?

“I should go finish packing our things,” Winrey said, glancing at me. “Want to come help?”

“Always happy to tag along.” I fell into step beside her as she left the kitchen. The guys stayed behind downstairs.

I heard Austin offer Benji a beer, and they were laughing before we even hit the stairs. Safely out of earshot as we ascended, my sister arched a dark eyebrow at me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong .” I emphasized the word. “It’s just that everything isn’t completely right either.”

“How so?” she asked as we walked into the guest suite. A suitcase was open on the bed and their things were scattered around it, just waiting to be packed. “Did you not have a good weekend?”

“No, it was great,” I said quickly. “So, so great. The Merricks are as amazing as always. Seeing Jess was awesome. Austin and I stayed in the hayloft they’re busy converting and it has this huge window, so I saw the stars like I haven’t seen them for years.”

“So what’s the problem?” she asked, slicing through all the noise. She picked up a pile of clothes and fitted it neatly into the suitcase. “Something is obviously wrong, so as amazing, and awesome, and awe-inspiring as it was, I’d like to know what’s bugging you.”

I sat down on the other edge of the bed so I would be out of her way. Chewing the inside of my cheek, I hesitated. Ever since she’d gotten pregnant, I hadn’t been wanting to dump all my stresses out on her.

Now though, I really, really needed her input. Her gaze suddenly snapped up to mine and she pursed her lips. “I’m pregnant, Kenny, not stupid. Tell me what’s going on.”

“Austin wants to be my investor for the business,” I blurted out.

Her eyes stretched wide open. She blinked a few times fast, cocking her head at me as she tucked her chin closer to her chest. “Why is that a problem? You should be the over the moon, or are you worried that he won’t be able to afford it?”

“No.” I ran my fingers through my hair, gripping it as I closed my eyes and tried to get a handle on my thoughts. “From what Jess told me this weekend, he’s a lot better off than I realized. They’re sharing the profits from the oil sales between them as a family. It sounds like the expenses for the farm get paid first and whatever is left gets divided equally between them.”

“Wow.” She paused for a beat, excitement flaring to life in her eyes like flames lighting behind the blue. “Seriously, what’s the problem then? Between his job as an investment banker and the oil money, he can probably more than afford what you’d need, so this is great news, Kenny. Austin’s going to help you make this happen. How isn’t that amazing?”

My heart thudded loudly in my ears. “I’m in love with him.”

Winrey squealed, doing a happy little jig before she smirked at me. “I knew it! I’m so happy for you. Benji and I love him too. I’ve never seen you as bubbling and filled with joy as you are when you’re with him.”

The smirk faded when she realized I still wasn’t smiling. Her eyebrows tugged together. “Okay, seriously. What is the freaking problem? Everything you’ve said so far sounds like the best news ever, but you look like you’re about to burst into tears. And not the happy kind.”

“I’m scared, Winrey,” I confessed, my voice a hushed whisper. “I’m terrified of getting involved with him on both fronts, business and love. What if one aspect of our relationship doesn’t work out? The other will definitely suffer as a result, no matter which way you slice it.”

Her expression sobered, her eyes widened, and all traces of humor and joy disappeared as she chewed it over. “That’s actually not the worst point you’ve ever made, but you can’t leave him hanging forever, Kenny. If you had to pick one or the other, what would you choose? Business or love?”