Home > Forever Mine (Hazel Island, #1)(4)

Forever Mine (Hazel Island, #1)(4)
Author: Iris Morland

"An idea for what?"

This was where Gwen hesitated. She didn't know why, but she was afraid that talking about her restaurant scheme would somehow jinx it. Or you don't want people to tell you it's a terrible idea.

She'd already gotten her fair share of judgment from her dad and other family and friends about her opening the bed and breakfast. She didn't need a repeat of it.

But Gwen knew that Jack wouldn't judge her. He never had, in all of the years she'd known him. Early on, she'd thought he wasn't even listening to her, he'd been that stoic. But as she'd gotten to know him, she realized that he listened. He just preferred to speak when he felt it was truly necessary.

"I want to open a restaurant next to the bed and breakfast. We've already seen a lot of success with expanding our breakfasts to those who aren't staying at the inn. I think there's a real need for a homey kind of place here. Especially since Sutter's closed down a year ago..."

Gwen sighed because she was getting excited. She knew it was probably foolish to get excited. "But I was denied for a loan. The credit union denied me, too. So I'll have to figure out another way to get funding."

She could ask her brother Elliot, but he and his wife Bekah had a young daughter to think of. Her dad didn't have much in the way of savings, either. And Gwen didn't have any wealthy friends she could go to for a loan.

Jack sat down next to her on the bench. He stretched out his legs and then his arms across the back of the bench, as if he needed to take up as much space as possible. With any other man, Gwen would find that annoying. In Jack, she found it rather endearing.

"Who else have you asked?" said Jack.

"No one. Besides the banks, you're the only other person I've told about this. So please don't tell anyone else."

Jack grunted.

"It's probably a crazy idea, anyway. I know restaurants are one of the hardest businesses to get off the ground. Most fail within five years. The margins are razor-thin. Even if I secured funding, I could just as easily screw this all up."

"You won't screw it up."

Gwen looked up, surprised at the serious note in Jack's voice. He quickly looked away and added, "You haven't screwed up yet with your current business."

"That you know of." She chuckled. "I'm just good at making things look good."

Jack stayed silent, and Gwen wondered what was turning in that brain of his. Despite knowing him for five years, she always felt like she'd never really known him. He had hidden depths to him. Any time she'd tried to get him to talk about his history, he'd skirted the topic. She didn't even know when his birthday was.

"Have you thought about talking to Luke?" said Jack.

Luke was the eldest son of the Wright family, who'd lived on the island for three generations now. They owned multiple businesses in town and had the biggest house on the island. They were one of the few families that lived outside the main part of town, high up on a clifftop that overlooked the ocean.

Everyone knew the Wright family had money. But that didn't mean they were particularly interested in giving it away.

"I don't really know him. I think I've spoken to him five times? Maybe?" Gwen could see Luke's face in her mind, his easygoing smile, but he'd always seemed untouchable to her. The golden boy with privilege dripping from his very pores. He exuded money and class that Gwen couldn't relate to in the slightest.

"I know he wants to invest more in businesses on the island," said Jack.

"You're friends with him, right?"

Jack shrugged. "Of a sort. He likes to tell me things because I don't give a shit about his money like most people."

"I think that might be one definition of friendship." Gwen smiled.

"I can talk to him for you. See if he'd be interested. Even if he isn't, he'd keep his mouth shut, if that's what worries you."

Gwen's heart squeezed. She'd been so certain that this idea of hers was doomed to fail, but Jack was giving her a potential lifeline. She suddenly felt like she couldn't possibly deserve it.

Then again, Luke Wright would be the one to make the decision. Not Jack.

"If Luke agrees to finance you," continued Jack, "I'll match that amount."

Gwen stared. "You have that kind of money?" was her first reaction. Then she blushed. "I'm sorry. That was rude. That's extremely generous of you—"

"I'm doing it for selfish reasons, too. Another restaurant means another customer for me. I'd want a stake in the business and a guarantee that you'd only buy fish from me." The corner of his mouth quirked up. "Assuming I can deliver, that is."

"It's still generous of you." She was looking at her hands. "I hope you don't think me telling you about this was me asking for money."

"Gwen, look at me."

She did, and his dark brown eyes were totally serious.

"If anyone deserves the money, it's you,” he said.

 

 

Chapter Three

 

 

Early that morning, Gwen watched as the group of middle-aged women who'd booked almost all the inn's rooms got ready to go hiking. It was already raining, but that didn't stop the group that had dubbed themselves the Furies.

Apparently, they all loved Greek mythology and loved to imagine themselves as terrifying monsters. When in reality, they were mostly polite older ladies with a love for extra-hot coffee and gaudy scarves.

The leader of the Furies, Helen, was going around to each member to inspect their pack and footwear.

"Alice, you can't wear sandals. We're going hiking, not a jaunt to the beach," said Helen.

"These sandals are specifically for hiking! I got them online."

"That's not a thing. There are rocks, and it's raining. Go put on the right shoes. I'm not carrying you when your feet start to hurt."

Alice grumbled but did as she was told. Helen was a tall, thin woman with a pointy chin, a pointy nose, and a decidedly pointy personality.

When she'd first booked the rooms, she'd told Gwen that she didn't want "any of that extra crap that costs an arm and a leg." Gwen had assured Helen that there would be no "extra crap" on the bill.

Another member of the group had donned a hat with a mosquito net, even though there weren't mosquitoes on the island. Another woman was hurriedly putting on mascara before Helen returned. Helen didn't approve of makeup while hiking, either.

"Where are the lunches?" Helen appeared in front of Gwen like an apparition. "I don't see the lunches."

Gwen gave Helen her best the-customer-is-always-right smile. "They're being finished up right now. Jocelyn wanted to make sure everything was as fresh as possible."

Helen harrumphed. "You made sure my lunch was vegan? And no mushrooms, peppers, or olives?"

"Of course. I made a special note for yours."

Helen didn't look convinced. Gwen crossed her fingers that Jocelyn had paid attention to Gwen's note about Helen's lunch.

Alice had returned wearing boots that, based on how shiny they were, would be mud-splattered by the time the group returned. After Jocelyn and the staff gave everyone their bagged lunches, the group was off, Helen in the front issuing directions. It was rather like watching an army going into battle, if that army wore Lululemon sweats and oversized rain hats.

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