I picked up the box marked kitchen and carried it to the counter. “Anywhere it fits. Shouldn’t be a problem. I’m low on groceries right now.”

My phone vibrated, indicating a message, so I pulled it out and saw Seth’s name. I tapped it to read the text he’d sent to both me and Cash.

I heard back from the real estate guy on the Bergman lot today. Value has skyrocketed. He said the new hotel will make lakefront property even more in demand. He has a couple of people who might be interested. I’ll fill you in at our meeting tomorrow.

My heart took off at a sprint and my fingers flew over the screen as I replied. Do not do anything with the lot. I’ve got a line on an investor. Give me a few days and I’ll have more info.

I’d promised Chloe I wouldn’t tell anyone about her involvement yet, but it was killing me not to tell my brother everything so he’d know this time it was going to happen. There’d been more than a couple of leads that hadn’t panned out in the past. Nervous energy propelled me to pace toward the front of the house and back.

Seth’s reply came quickly. Time’s running out, Holden. Lots of money at stake.

You said a month. I’ll have the investment in hand before then. Slow your roll.

“Impatient fucker,” I muttered to myself as I paced back toward the living room, waiting for more, but the dots didn’t come immediately.

Finally, they did, and then his reply appeared.

We’ll talk tomorrow.

I could tell in those three little words he didn’t believe anything would come through, and since I couldn’t say anything more specific to convince him right now—and didn’t want to jinx anything before Chloe, Kemp, and I had paperwork signed anyway—I shoved my phone back in my pocket.

I looked up to find Chloe walking by me, toward the front of the house where my office was. Caught up in my thoughts, I didn’t think anything of it until she came back right away, looking puzzled and maybe a little bothered.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“It’s a nice place,” she said, but there was something to her tone that said otherwise.

“It’s small but it works. At least it always has for one person.”

“There’s only one bedroom,” she said, her forehead furrowed.

“I use the front one for my office.” I stated the obvious, starting to suspect what her hang-up was.

“It makes perfect sense,” she said, seeming to snap back to herself a little.