from the equity they've built up in the inn. Combine that with a slow summer tourist season caused by unusually cool weather, and Tom is being forced to consider selling the inn.
When I came here a few weeks ago to meet with Tom, he wasn't ready to sell. He's emotionally invested in the place, which I totally get, but if he doesn't have money to keep the place running, Charlie and the other inn employees won't get paid.
I've been trying to work out a deal with Roger, my boss, to acquire the inn and give Tom the best price possible, but so far nothing has happened. Roger's been tied up with another deal, a much larger investment property that could yield us millions a year in profits if we get it. Until that's settled, I doubt I'll get an answer about the inn.
"Ready to cash out?" Charlie asks, just before seven. "Or do you want it added to your dinner bill?"
"We'll cash out." I get out my wallet.
Sophie searches through her purse.
"You know you're not paying, right?" I say, handing Charlie my credit card.
"Aiden, you can't keep paying." She takes out her wallet. "It's not right."
"Just like it wasn't right for me to let papers fly out my window, blinding the person behind me and causing her to be sentenced to forty hours of trash cleanup?"
She softly smiles. "Okay, you win."
As she puts her wallet away I take a moment to look at her. She's wearing a red wrap dress that fits her tiny body perfectly. When she showed up at the bar I couldn't take my eyes off her. She wore her hair down and straightened it, a look I haven't seen on her before. Usually her hair has a wave to it, which I like, but I like this look too.
Tom appears, forcing my eyes off Sophie. "Your table is ready."
"We're being seated by the owner?" I kid, getting down from the barstool. "That's service."
Tom smiles. "Only for my best customers."
"I'm hardly the best," Sophie says. "I'm not even paying for my room."
"Hey, about that," I say to Tom. "Going forward, when she stays here, it's on me. I'll give you my card before I leave."
"Wait—what?" Sophie looks at me. "You can't pay for my room."
"I'm paying for it. I'm the reason you have to come back." I turn to Tom. "Don't let her pay."
He nods. "Understood. Let me show you to your table."
Sophie keeps her eyes on me as Tom takes us to a small table by the window. It looks out at some shrubs that are decorated in tiny white lights. I don't remember the lights being there before. Tom must have added them to match the downtown lights.
Tom hands us the menu. "I'd suggest the pot roast." He winks at us. "But that's just me."
When he's gone, Sophie leans toward me across the table. "You can't pay for my room."
"Why can't I?"
"Because..." She looks around, then back at me. "What would Celine think?"
"What does Celine have to do with this?"
"I don't think she'd be too happy having you pay for a woman's hotel room."
"It's my money. I don't need to ask Celine's permission to spend it."
"It's not about the money. It's about..." She lowers her voice. "You know what it's about."
"If Celine has a problem with me helping a friend with an issue that I caused, then she'll just have to get over it. I don't even plan to tell her."
"You don't?"
"Why would I? She doesn't tell me what she spends her money on. And besides, Celine and I are—" I stop before I tell her. I should tell Celine this before I tell anyone else.
"You're what?" Sophie leans back in her chair and looks down at the table. Something's bothering her but I'm not sure what.
"The point is, I'm paying for your room. I've done enough damage. I need to at least try to make it up to you."
She doesn't respond. I'm not even sure she heard what I said.
"Sophie?"
Her head jerks up. "Sorry. My mind drifted."
"Want to tell me where?"
She glances down, then back up at me. "Are you going to propose to Celine?"
I cough on the water I just attempted to drink. "Propose? No. Why would you think I'm proposing?"
"You keep stopping yourself every time you're about to say something about you and Celine, like it's a secret you're not supposed to tell. I thought maybe you were getting ready to propose."
I set my glass of water down. "I'm not proposing. Not