The Inn on Harmony Island (Sweet Tea and a Southern Gentleman #1)(4)

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. There was a part of me that wanted to say, “Good, let them take that godforsaken place.” But the other part of me, the part that could feel my grandmother’s disappointment from the grave, screamed louder. I may hate the fact that I shared a past with that woman, but it didn’t overshadow the fact that losing her inn to people who wouldn’t respect it was the last thing she would want to happen.

Plus, I didn’t want her haunting me from the grave.

“I promise if you come here, I’ll stay out of your way.” Miles’s tone had turned deeper. “I heard Missy is looking to get funds to buy it as soon as it goes up for auction.”

My heart stopped entirely. The room around me turned hazy. I could hear my heart pound in my ears.

Missy.

I hadn’t heard that name in years. The last time someone uttered it in my presence was when I was stuffing my luggage into a taxi, the night I left Harmony Island for good.

She was the mother of the man who broke my heart ten years ago.

“Missy?” I squeaked out.

Miles was quiet. I knew he was quite aware of what that name would do to me. He’d lived it with me. Miles was part of the reason I was such a wreck.

“Yes,” he said quietly.

I pressed my fingers to my temple and kneaded the pressure that had built up there. I didn’t want to go back. Who knew what my grandmother had put in her will. The last thing I wanted was to stay there longer than I needed.

Regardless, with all those fears coursing through my body, there was one specific fear that rose to the top. The one that had my head aching and my heart pounding. It was the fear that Clint Hodges’s mother would buy the inn my family owned.

“How long will this take?” I whispered, keeping my eyes closed.

“Tom plans to read it on Monday.”

“Monday?” At least I’d have the weekend to prep.

“Yeah.”

I sighed as I slowly opened my eyes. “You’ll stay out of my way?”

Silence. “If that’s what you want.”

Tears pricked my eyes. I hated that this was our relationship now. We’d been friends once. And then his actions drove the man I loved away from me. Now, Miles and I were just…nothing. I tried not to think about Miles, Clint, and Harmony Island. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t quite run far away enough from them.

“Fine,” I whispered. “I’ll be there for the reading.”

He let out a relieved sigh. “Thank you.”

I nodded but then felt stupid. He couldn’t see me. “I’m just ready to get this over with,” I said, swallowing hard on the emotions that had lodged themselves in my throat.

“I know,” he said, his voice deepening. “I’ll see you on Monday.”

I didn’t say goodbye; I just pressed the hang-up button and returned the phone to the base. Then I leaned back in my chair, tipped my face toward the ceiling, and closed my eyes.

So many emotions were rushing through me, a tear slipped down my cheek. I needed a moment to compose myself before I got back to work.

Beep

I startled and stared at my intercom. The notification came again. I quickly wiped the tear away and pulled my receiver off the base, cradling it between my cheek and shoulder. “Yeah?” I asked.

“Patricia needs you in her office,” Sara said, this time, her cadence was calm. She must be sitting at her desk, waiting for the next errand Patricia would send her on.

“Right now?” I asked, wiping my cheeks once more. If Patricia saw my tear-stained face she’d ask what the issue was. The last thing I needed was for her to think I couldn’t handle this job.

Especially since I needed to ask for some time off.

“Yep,” she said, emphasizing the p.

“I’ll be right there.” I hung up the phone, grabbed my suit jacket, and slipped it on as I pushed through the door and out to the lobby. I tapped my toe on the hard marble floor as I waited for the elevator doors to open.

I boarded, grateful the elevator was empty. I crossed my arms and watched the numbers climb up slowly. When the car reached the tenth floor, it stopped and the doors slid open.

Michelle, Patricia’s assistant, was sitting at her desk. The sound of fake fingernails typing on a keyboard filled the air. I gave her a quick nod and then pointed toward Patricia’s closed door. “She wanted me?” I asked as I headed toward her office.

Michelle didn’t look up as she nodded and reached over to her intercom. “Shelby’s here to see you,” she said before returning to her computer.

“Send her in,” Patricia’s voice came through the speaker.

I didn’t wait for Michelle’s instructions as I pushed the doors open and entered.

Patricia was sitting at her desk. Her inky black hair was pulled up into a severe ponytail. Her soft, ivory skin was taut, and her red lips contrasted against her appearance.

She flicked her gaze over at me before returning to her computer screen. “Have a seat,” she said.

Something about the tone of her voice and the way she refused to look directly at me always threw me off. I felt like I was a little kid again, sitting outside of the principal’s office, waiting to see if I was in trouble.

I hated that she didn’t make me feel calm when that was all I needed right now.