Page 80 of Your Last First Kiss

That makes me laugh. “Yeah,” I agree because it’s true.

“How closely did you look at that deal Ashton was working on?”

A headache attempts to break free at that question. I rub my temples. Admittedly, there wasn’t much in the way of fine print anyway. I trust Ashton and made a verbal agreement with Remy, so the details are still in negotiation.

“I’ve only seen the big picture,” I say with a heavy sigh. “Everything has been a clusterfuck since I got there. I haven’t had time to hash out the details.”

“I suggest you do. I think what you find will be beneficial for you and Penny. And it means I’ll get to keep her on my payroll.”

Various scenarios run through my head. “You’re going to build Remy’s hotel. You’ve been in on this the entire time. You prick,” I mumble, but there’s no heat in my words. Maybe it’ll come when I have time to think about how underhanded Ashton can be, but I don’t have it in me right now.

“Not the entire time. But yes, I’ll build the hotel, and Penny will run it.”

My gaze snaps to his. That’s more than being an executive assistant. “What are you saying?”

“Penny will have the chance to run that hotel. It’s not so big that she can’t learn on the job. I know she can handle it, and honestly, she’s up for the promotion anyway, but I’d like to be the one to talk to her about it if you don’t mind. The rest is all you, but the hotel is my news.”

“Fair enough.” But my mind is still processing everything that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours. Staring at him, I shake my head. “I’m moving to the country.”

“Sounds like it,” he says with a chuckle.

“I’ve got a shit ton to do before the next storm hits.” I stand and hand him the ice pack and the mostly full beer.

After seeing flashes of my childhood in the eyes of Penny’s kids, even looking at the beer makes my stomach lurch.

“Good luck,” Lochlan says with a genuine smile. One of the few I’ve ever seen from him unless his wife was around. “Let me know if I can do anything at all. And I mean anything. Penny is part of my family. I want to help if I can.”

When I turn to look at him, his face is full of concern and honesty. “I will, Loch. Thank you.”

“You know, I’ve heard that you and my wife grew up in a very similar situation as Kai.”

I pause on the other side of the coffee table. I’ve never been one to share this shit, but I do know a little about Tilly’s childhood.

“What about it?” I ask.

“Like I told Kai, I can only go by what she’s told me, and based on that, I’m really happy to see you finally having some agency over your life.”

I rub at my forehead with my thumb and forefinger. “What do you mean?”

“Tilly said that it’s pretty common for adult children of alcoholics to go with the flow, and that they’re usually trying to broker peace so they never truly go after what they want. I’m happy that you’re going after what you want now. That’s all.”

I think about his words. Was I just going through the motions and letting Ashton guide my future?

Probably. I hadn’t ever thought about why that is before, but it makes sense.

“Yeah, I guess I am too. Thanks, Loch.”

He offers a curt nod, then ushers me out his door. “Toss the rubbish in the chute on your way out.”

I leave with a sense of purpose buzzing through my body like a hive protecting their queen, and with happiness in my heart, even if I am taking out the man’s trash.

That went much smoother than I had anticipated.

It’s like all the stars are finally aligning for us. All the stars, or all of Ashton’s meddling.

And I don’t even care how we got here. I’m just happy that we did.

CHAPTER25