“That you know of? Are you adopted?” The moment the words left his mouth, he cringed—not only because it was far too personal a question but also because he didn’t care.
“Not adopted. Just . . . well, not abandoned, exactly.” Bella played with one of her earrings then blew out a breath. “I’m here in Walker Beach because I want to find my father’s side of the family.”
“Are they lost?” His lame excuse for a joke didn’t break the tension like he’d hoped.
“They are to me. And I need to know if they’re out there.”
Something tugged at his heart with those words as she once again removed her professional veneer. And for just a second, he wanted to offer his help. Anything to chase away her frown.
But that was crazy. Ben barely knew this woman—and he didn’t want to know this woman. He had his own problems, and he didn’t need to add hers to his list.
Except . . . maybe he should. The answer hit him square in the chest.
He considered her for a moment before he spoke. “Bella, what if we helped each other?”
“What do you mean?” She pushed herself off the wall in one fluid motion.
He had her attention. Good. “You help me by looking over my books, seeing if there’s any way to turn things around here.” Despite all his Walker Beach connections, the only person he could really ask was one who could be objective, who wouldn’t be disappointed at the way he’d handled his inheritance. And that meant bringing in an outsider—someone who wouldn’t charge him an arm and a leg. “And I’ll help you find your father’s family.”
“How would you do that?” But before he could answer, she shook her head. “Never mind. You don’t need to help me. But I’ll definitely help you with your accounting.”
Oh, she was stubborn but so was he. Ben puffed out his chest. “We help each other or no deal. I refuse to take advantage of your time while you’re here.” And he would not owe her. Who knew what her price would be?
Man, Elena had really screwed him up, hadn’t she?
Bella’s eyes narrowed, her gaze like steel. Then, at last, she nodded and held out her hand. “Fine. It’s a deal.”
Her handshake was as firm and confident as the rest of her. “Tomorrow night? Five-ish?”
“All right then.” She walked back toward the inn then stopped and turned. “By the way, I’m going into town to grab some food, so my room will be unoccupied for the next hour if you want to fix the shower now. If not, I’m happy to use a shower in one of the other guest rooms instead.”
“Sounds good.” If she’d be back in an hour, he’d have her shower fixed in fifty-nine minutes or less.
Ben watched her go, admiring her determination and intelligence—and, yeah, maybe also the way her hips swayed.
Stop it.
Elena had been gorgeous and confident too, but in the end, she’d been his downfall.
Maybe this “deal” was a mistake. But if Ben kept going the same direction with the inn, he’d also keep failing. He needed help.
And it looked like Bella Miranda was his only hope.
Growling, Ben kicked at the dirt and waited until she’d disappeared before he trudged inside too.
Chapter 4
Spy work was not for the faint of heart.
Bella leaned against the brass headboard in her guest room, shutting her eyes and shoving her phone away. But the words from Mom’s text message still burned in her mind. Atta girl. I knew I could count on you to get the job done.
She fisted soft handfuls of the antique white quilt covering her bed. Mom had sent the text after demanding an update from Bella. It seemed she’d liked that Bella was about to meet with Ben to go over his financials.
If she knew the full truth, though, she’d hate the rest of the facts—that Bella was considering feigning illness and staying locked in her room all evening. Not that she’d need to feign much. She did, in fact, feel sick to her stomach about her upcoming plans with Ben.
And she only had ten minutes to get over it before he expected her down the hallway.
Inhaling deeply, Bella opened her eyes and took in the vertical yellow and white stripes painted on all four walls. Soft light streamed from the corner window beside the bed, and the high wainscot ceiling and crown moldings lent a quiet elegance to the room. Under normal circumstances, it would strike her as peaceful too.
If only she were getting ready to go on a date with a cute guy, not to peek at his financials. If only she were just a girl on vacation, not a company executive sneaking around. If only she could take up Ashley and Shannon on their offer for another lunch without wanting to retch.
Because for one blissful hour on Saturday, she’d almost forgotten she had a job to do. Instead, she’d simply enjoyed time on the beach with two women who were as genuine as they were beautiful. They’d immediately accepted her, almost as if she really belonged in Walker Beach.
Then, reality had crashed in and the illusion shattered.
Because Bella Moody didn’t belong anywhere—not even with the only parent she’d ever known. Maybe at one time she had, but not anymore.
Still, maybe another family was out there waiting to accept her with open arms.
She just needed to find them.
Pushing herself off the bed, Bella moved her neck from side to side. She shook her hands and bounced from one foot to the other like she was about to go toe to toe with Rocky Balboa.
She’d need to be on her guard. Rocky hit hard.
Just like any successful boxer, Bella needed a pep talk. “You’ve got this. Get in, get information, get out. That’s your strategy. Stay focused.” She couldn’t let Ben’s piercing gaze distract her. Or the way the blond scruff along his chin winked in the sun against his tan skin. Or how he was so determined to avoid her but had agreed to their little partnership anyway.
Bella cleared her throat. “You’ve got him right where you want him. Find a way to suggest he should sell. Show him there’s no other way to become solvent. Remind him what failure will cost him.”
Because Bella couldn’t afford to forget what it would cost her.
Her blood pumping a strong beat in her veins, she opened her door then strode down the hallway and the stairs and hooked a left toward the kitchen, which was tucked away on the southernmost part of the building.
Ben sat at the wooden table next to the window that overlooked the beach. Today was slightly overcast, leaving the room on the dimmer side. He looked up from his laptop. “Thanks again for doing this. I really appreciate it.”
Bella’s heart stuttered. “No problem.” As she rounded the table and took the seat beside him, her shoulder brushed his.
His chair legs squeaked against the tile as he backed up. “You want some coffee?” Ben bustled toward the counter where a coffee pot sat. The vintage white cabinets complemented the pale green fridge that looked as if it belonged to the seventies. “I just brewed some. Figured we’d need sustenance.”
“Sure, thanks.”
He snagged two mugs from one of the cabinets and poured the brown liquid into both. “Cream? Sugar?”
“Both, please.”
He brought over the mugs and set them onto the table. “Thought so.”