“Yep. What do you need?”
“I want to close that bank account so Megan can’t return the money to me. Then I was going to buy her a new car. I wanted to look at some prices before I go in to negotiate. Is there a dealer nearby?”
Casey’s brows spiked. “There’s a Ford dealer in the next town south. You can use the computer in my office.” As she led the way, Casey glanced over her shoulder. “If you really want to help her, stop by the lumber store near the car dealer. She needs materials for a thirty-foot dock. Have them deliver everything to the old Benson place. They’ll know where that is. But you can’t buy Megan’s love, Josh. You have to earn it.”
She’d finally used his first name. Maybe he was making progress with Casey too. Something told him he’d have to gain her trust before he won Megan over completely. “I’m not trying to buy anything. I just want them both safe. Why does Meg need a dock?”
“It’s not my place to tell. But you’d have a better chance of her taking a dock than the car. She’ll only make you take it back.”
“Not if she doesn’t know it came from me.”
After their visit with Ben, Megan fastened Haley’s life jacket and tucked her in front of the Jet Ski. “All set?”
“Go fast, Momma!” Haley squeezed Meg’s legs in anticipation.
“You got it.” Meg pushed off from Grandma’s dock and then cranked the gas. Haley’s squeals of pleasure put a smile on Meg’s face. Haley craved speed as much as she did. The shot Ben had given Haley earlier had perked her right back up to her normal self.
What would it hurt to take a little extra time out on the lake before they got started on the house for the day? Until her loan came through, and please God let that happen, she couldn’t afford to buy materials to get started on anything serious anyway.
She spotted a familiar ski boat and headed that way so they could do some wake jumping. The boat belonged to the hotel, and her friend Toby would be at the helm. The first guy she’d ever slept with.
Bleached-blond and gorgeous, Toby had told her right up front he was a man-whore and always would be. He didn’t commit, but he’d show her a good time whenever she wanted it.
Strangely, he was the only former lover she was still friends with. Probably because he’d told her the truth. She valued that the most in people.
When they got closer, he lifted a hand in greeting. A kid skiing behind the boat shrieked with pleasure.
Meg circled around and then headed straight into the excellent swells. Haley’s little hands dug into Meg’s thighs as they went airborne, but as soon as they landed she shouted, “Do it again!”
They jumped a few more waves until the kid skiing hit the water hard. As the towboat slowed and the waves settled, she headed toward the boy to be sure he was okay. As they got closer, the kid’s widened eyes and gaping mouth told her he’d probably gotten the wind knocked out of him.
Meg slowed the engine and drifted toward him.
The kid barely squeaked out, “Can’t breathe.”
She grabbed the back of his life jacket and pulled him up out of the water a bit, sending him a reassuring smile. “Lift your arms over your head and try to relax. You’ll be good in just a minute. Does anything hurt?”
The kid shook his head as he lifted his arms.
Haley patted his shoulder. “Fill the tummy balloon as big as you can.”
The kid frowned in confusion at Haley, but then after a few attempts he was finally able to draw a deep breath. Megan let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding right along with him. “You okay now?”
The boy smiled. “Yeah. That was scary. Thanks.”
Toby maneuvered the boat beside them and Megan helped the kid onboard. She recognized the boy’s father. He owned half the real estate in Manhattan and was a regular customer.
Once they determined the boy was fine, Mr. Randall held out his hand for a shake. “Thanks for the rescue, Megan. Toby tells us you’re opening up a lodge on the other side of the lake?”
Meg glanced at Toby, who sent her an eyebrow hitch and a cute grin.
She shook Mr. Randall’s hand. “Yes, I’m hoping it’ll be done in a few months.”
“How many will it sleep? My wife wanted to organize a little getaway with her sisters and their families here in September. But someone has already bought the hotel out for the week we wanted.”
Yay. Maybe her first customer. “I’m still remodeling, but barring any difficulties, I hope to have four master suites, and a couple of rooms with singles and bunk beds for the kids. It’s going to be a little more rustic than the hotel, though.”