Page 22 of #Resort Love (Lakeview Harbor #1)

“Are you kidding? That’s perfect! And any idea which cabin you want?

I sent you guys the pictures, and if you know which one you want, I’ll have someone come in and clean it and I will have it stocked as much as possible.

I wasn’t going to start doing any of that for another week, but if I’m going to work on yours, maybe I’ll just get going on everyone else’s too. At least ordering stuff.”

“Wait, I’m looking at the pictures now…” Axel murmured. “You’re in the first one, right? The blue one?”

“Yeah.”

“I think we should leave the bigger one for Connor, don’t you? He’s going to have his kid with him for part of the time, so they’ll need more than one bedroom.”

“Definitely. I know he’d never ask, but good call. Maybe I’ll see who I need to get in touch with about the playground too. I’m sure his daughter would like someplace she can play.”

“Also a good point,” Axel said. “Um…okay so you’re the blue one, the one next to yours looks seriously rough, then the next one will be Connor’s…

” He paused. “Is there one close to a supply shed or something? Even if it’s not in this row of cabins?

I just figure it will be easier for me to unload everything and have it close by. ”

“The one all the way at the end of the row is the closest, but it’s not exactly right next to the storage shed. There’s still a path you have to walk.”

“That’s fine. Maybe I can see about landscaping it to make it easier to get to when I get there. Let me look at the pictures of the cabin and see what it’s like on the inside.”

“The porch has some rot, so you might want to replace the steps before you move in. I’ve got a loft in my cabin and we can throw a mattress up there for you to crash on for a night or two.”

“That works! If you could, go and measure everything and I’ll bring the lumber with me. It might not be aesthetically what we’re going for, but it will be good for the interim, you know?”

“I do. And I’m really psyched that you’re going to be here so soon. This is going to be great!”

“I’m sure it’s weird being all alone out there. There’s plenty to keep you busy, but it’s not the same as having someone there to talk to.”

Walker immediately thought of Harlow and how he really enjoyed having her to walk around with this morning, even when she argued with him about everything.

“Totally true,” he vaguely agreed. “So, is there anything specific you want me to order for you? A certain kind of mattress or pillows or…”

“Oh, I’m bringing all of that with me. I broke the lease on my apartment and I figured I’d see where I’m at once things are done at the resort. I know you’re only there for six months, but my plan is to be there until it opens. And who knows, maybe I’ll stay in Harbortown and work at the resort.”

“Seriously? You’d consider that?”

“It’s not like I’ve got anything tying me here to Baltimore.

Or anywhere, for that matter. I used to love going up to Lakeview Harbor Resort.

Everything was so peaceful and I just never knew things could be like that.

” He let out a mirthless laugh. “And I never found another place like it. So let’s just say I’m open to it. ”

“Wow, I had no idea. I would love it if you stayed on. In all our group discussions, I guess none of us really committed one way or the other to staying or going once the resort opens.”

“You know Milo’s not staying. He’s got his company out in Seattle. He’s not looking to relocate, so you know he’s going to come and do what needs to be done and maybe hang around for a bit, but he’ll be out of there before you know it.”

“I guess.”

“Connor’s going to get all the kitchen stuff set up. He’ll do menus and work on training a kitchen staff, but he’s got a kid…”

“And a pain in the ass ex,” Walker added.

“Yeah, but…last I heard, Rachel was moving to Paris with her new husband.”

“Holy shit! For real? Connor never mentioned that to me!”

“He and I talk a lot. And between you and me, this project is happening at the perfect time. I think he needs the distraction and so does his daughter. Connor said the kid’s been a real handful lately.”

Well, that didn’t sound good. “And he thinks bringing her here while we’re tearing up the resort is going to help?”

“She’s going to stay with Connor’s parents until he gets settled, but he’s unwilling to abandon her the way Rachel is.”

“Damn. I had no idea things had gotten so bad. I feel like a super shitty friend.”

“Don’t. He doesn’t really like to put it out there to everyone because he’s embarrassed by the whole situation.”

“Why? Rachel’s the one who cheated. She’s the one who walked away from her own child to pursue her…what even was it? Dancing? Acting?”

“Landing a rich older husband,” Axel said blandly. “She’s a gold digger. Connor’s got money, but he’s not in…you know…billionaire territory. That’s what she wanted.”

“That’s even worse.”

“Connor’s family has money, but they all still work. It’s not like they’re old money, either. Rachel never understood that. And the fact that Connor’s a chef and owns restaurants? That wasn’t glamorous enough for her.”

“We’ll have to see what Connor can realistically do. His daughter is going to need to be in school, and I’m sure he doesn’t want to move her away from her friends…”

“Honestly, Walker, you’d have to talk to him about all that. I didn’t do that deep of a dive with him on the subject.”

“Right. And what about Slater? Do you think he’s going to stay until we’re open?”

“Um…he better! He’s the guy setting up all the activities and adventure stuff! I mean, I guess he can set up the programs and then you hire people to run it, but I figured he’d be hanging around afterwards too. At least part of the time.”

Walker let out a long breath. “I feel like we’ve been talking and planning for months but obviously there is still a lot more to talk and plan, huh?” Laughing softly, he added, “I can’t wait for us all to be together here. It’s been far too long.”

“I agree. It’s gonna be good,” Axel agreed with a laugh of his own. “So tell me what you’re working on today!”

It wasn’t like Harlow was deliberately trying to make Walker’s life difficult, but she also didn’t miss an opportunity to tell everyone she ran into in town about how he was changing the resort into something that wouldn’t benefit their community.

Was it her fault that the topic came up while showing a house to Russell Anderson? Or that she ran into Andrew Reynolds while getting lunch at the pub? And it was a complete coincidence when she ran into Suzie Donnelly in the supermarket and the topic of the resort just happened to come up!

Okay, so basically she’d done everything except start a picket line.

“Ooh…a picket line,” she murmured. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“What’s not a bad idea?” Swati asked as she walked past Harlow’s desk.

“Picketing the Lakeview Harbor Resort,” she said with a grin.

“We are not swanky resort people. All the tourists and families and vacationers who’ve been coming up to Harbortown for years aren’t looking for an upscale resort.

” She shrugged. “Walker is going to put all this time and money into the resort and ruin it.”

Swati sat back down and gave Harlow a sympathetic smile. “Or maybe it’s going to be a good thing.”

“How can you even say that? That resort has been a staple in this area for decades and everyone loved it! What they didn’t like was when Dale and Peggy started letting things go.

I’m not saying he has to make everything identical, but he needs to take into consideration where the resort is located.

This isn’t Vale or Beverly Hills, for crying out loud! ”

“Okay, but…maybe inviting a wealthier demographic to the area will help the local businesses.”

“Ugh…now you sound just like him,” she mumbled, before straightening in her seat. “Think about the shops here in town. Sure, they’re quaint, but can you imagine celebrities coming here and being charmed by them?”

“No one mentioned celebrities,” Swati countered. “Why? Did Walker mention that he knew celebrities? Is that who he’s catering to? Do you think we can get the Hemsworth brothers to come here?”

“Oh. My. God. Do you even hear yourself? No one’s friends with celebrities, I was just…

” She huffed with annoyance. “It was a poor example. Either the local business owners are going to have to up their game, or new businesses—with owners from New York City or Miami or LA—are going to set up shop here and put our people out of business.”

“You know, you weren’t this pissy when that one developer wanted the property to build luxury vacation homes. You didn’t even bat an eye!”

Another huff. “Okay. Technically, you’re right. But those people were going to sell the houses to people who would be living here probably only part-time and they were looking for a quiet small town. Vacationers are a different breed. I just think it’s a bad move, that’s all.”

“Or…and don’t get mad at me for saying this, are you just against everything Walker’s going to do because he’s the reason you didn’t get to sell the resort?”

For a moment, she could only stare because…

Dammit.

“I’m not saying you’re wrong,” she began slowly. “But…I don’t know. I listened to his plan and there’s a lot of it I don’t agree with for multiple reasons. Am I maybe being overly critical? It’s possible. But for all his knowledge of the hospitality business, he’s being very closed minded.”

“Just because he doesn’t agree with you…”

“Trust me. He’s being closed minded, okay? He only wants the cabins to be for couples!”

“Wait, seriously? Doesn’t he realize the perk of those cabins was so families could prepare some of their own meals to save money?”