Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Weston sighed and took two steps backward, leaning against the edge of the sink. “Employee housing is full?”
“Exactly.” Ava nodded. “So, I brought you the keys.” She reached into the pocket of her blazer and pulled out a set of silver keys that dangled from a Madigan Mountain keychain. “Reed and I are in the primary bedroom right now since Dad is on vacation, but your old room is empty down the hall.” She smiled.
Weston stared at the keys as though they were an enemy that needed to be vanquished.
Guess the man wasn’t keen on moving back in with his family.
Ava’s smile slipped a fraction. “And I know it might be awkward since we don’t really know each other, but we’re going to be family.”
“I’m not sleeping in that house.” Weston’s statement was spoken softly, but the determination in his voice was solid steel. “Not now. Not ever.”
Oh crap. My stomach rolled again.
“Oh,” Ava whispered.
“Has nothing to do with you, I promise.”
“I get it,” she said with a forced, professional smile, picking up the keys and shoving them back into her pocket. Ava was always dressed for business, but this was family, and I of all people understood just how complicated family could be.
It wasn’t like I was down for moving back in with my parents either.
“What about the dorm-style units by the lodge?” Weston asked, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t need much.”
Yeah, because that’s where one of the Madigan brothers belonged, in one of the tiny seasonal rooms. My head started to spin.
I’d worked my way up the employee ranks for seven years before I’d called in every favor I had to score this house so Sutton and I could have our own space. Years I’d put to good use, saving every possible dollar to build up enough money for a down payment on a place of our own in Penny Ridge—a place we could never be kicked out of—and we were so close. Just another six months, maybe a little more if property prices kept skyrocketing, and we’d have enough for a solid, competitive bid. Right now, I could only afford to offer asking price, and we were getting laughed out of every showing.
“Even the dorm-style ones are full,” Ava said slowly. “Season is starting up in four or five weeks, depending on the weather this month, and with the expansion happening, we brought the new hires in to train early on the lifts and runs. And we’re almost done renovating the guest rooms in the lodge, but they won’t be ready for a few weeks yet, and then we’re completely booked out.”
My heart galloped, my breath coming faster and faster as the edges of my vision narrowed. “You’re going to kick us out,” I whispered. Of course they would—they should. The Madigans owned this entire property. He owned my house. If he had nowhere to live, that meant Sutton and I were out on our own.
And this real estate market wasn’t just tough, it was impossible.
“No one is kicking you out. I might be an ass, but I’m not that big of an ass,” Weston promised, a glass of orange juice appearing in front of me. “Drink that. You look like you’re going to pass out.”
My hand trembled as I lifted the glass to my lips and took a sip.
What was I going to tell Sutton? I’d promised myself I’d give her stability, that the next house we lived in would have my name on the deed.
“Is there anything to rent in town?” Weston asked, but his voice dimmed as I took slow, steady sips of the juice, lost in the chaos that had just been dumped into my head. Get a grip. You have to think, Callie.
“The last place we saw was the one our staff recommended to your mechanic,” Ava said. “I sent the info to her husband, Scott.”
“They signed that lease two months ago,” Weston muttered. “Two months early, just to be sure they had a place when we got here.”
“Because that’s how ludicrous the market is around here.” I set the half-full glass on the counter. “The second the resort announced the expansion, properties started getting snatched up by every AirBnB manager and out-of-state vacationer with cash. The town council is thinking of passing a rule to limit the overnight rentals, but nothing yet. Prices have skyrocketed and houses are getting sold before they’re even on the open market. Believe me, I know.” My hair fell forward as I lowered my head. “I’ve been trying to buy a house in Penny Ridge for the last eight months.” Every offer we put in got passed over for another one that came in with a higher appraisal gap clause or cash. The expansion had been great for the local economy, but I was getting priced out of the place I’d come to call home, and the frustration was real.