Jamie: Since you’re helping her, I’ll let you keep the golden soccer ball a little longer.

Simon: Sure. Because that’s exactly how it works.

Jamie: I’m just saying.

Simon: I earned the ball. Get over it.

Jamie: Who were you trying to impress that night, dude?

Simon: No one. It’s been awhile since you’ve played against me. We’re usually on the same team.

Jamie: Whatever. I still say you were showing off.

Chapter 9

I met Simon at the back office door of the inn. I pushed it open and moved to the side, letting him pass me as he made his way into the dim interior, a contrast to the late August sunshine outside. He wore a suit, looking all businesslike and professional, which was good. It would only help Ida feel better about her decision to let him help.

A month. An entire month. That was how long it had taken for her to finally let Simon come. Apparently she’d had a conversation with one of her sons—Jacob, I think—who wasn’t comfortable letting some stranger get his hands on the financials of the inn when no one but his dad had ever had anything to do with it. He’d offered to look at the accounts himself, but he was all the way on the other side of the country. Without access to Thornton’s handwritten ledgers, there was little he could untangle. Why this made perfect sense to me and everyone in the Thomas family didn’t see it, I had no idea. At one point, I suspected Jacob knew of some sort of tax evasion or fraudulent behavior he didn’t want anyone digging up. In the end, it seemed more like a control issue and a worry about someone taking advantage of his mom. At least, I hoped that was all it was.

I motioned for Simon to follow me. “I really appreciate you coming to help.”

“It’s no problem,” he said. “How are you? How’s Jamie?”

Jamie.

Jamie was good. Great, even. We saw each other a few times a week, went out every weekend. The Friday before, we’d run into one of the developers from his and Dave’s company, and he’d introduced me as his girlfriend without hesitation. So that felt significant.

“I’m good,” I answered. “You’re not seeing Jamie much yourself?”

He shook his head. “Not lately. I think he’s saving all his spare time for you.”

“He’s had so little spare time. All the buyout talk is keeping him busy.”

“I guess that’s a good thing. The opportunity,” Simon added. “Not the spending time away from you.”