little choice, Beckett gave his official statement, then went inside to deal with the headache of insurance. By the time he finally made it over to the inn to work, word had spread through the crew. He received much sympathy and plenty of righteous anger on his behalf—and a pot load of advice. He let it all roll over him and took out his frustrations with tools. He imagined Freemont’s smug face in the crown molding every time he shot in a nail.
It didn’t help much, but it was something.
Having a furious Clare rush in was more, and better. She stormed over to his ladder, gripped a rung, her face sharp with temper.
He learned something new. A thoroughly pissed-off Clare’s eyes glowed green as a cat’s.
“I heard as soon as I got into town, but I couldn’t get away until now. I went to look at your truck first. That bastard! You know Sam did that. It’s just like him. Goddamn it! Now I want to punch him.”
“I’d like to see that.” He found his grin coming back as he came down the ladder.
“It’s not funny, Beckett.”
“No, it’s not. But it’s rubber and paint.”
“That’s not the point.” She swung away from him, and the carpenter working with him eased out of the room.
“No, but it strikes me one of the points is this was the only way he could come at me. When I set aside being pissed off, it’s kind of a boost for the ego.”
“Oh for Christ’s sake.”
“There’s that, too. You hardly ever swear. It’s comforting for you to swear on my behalf. My ego just went up a couple more notches.”
“He only did this because you went in there and confronted him.”
“Yeah, so?”
“Which you didn’t have to do.”
“Yes, I did, Clare.”
“Men.” She threw up her hands, circling the room. “Men, men, men. Now I suppose you just have to go back and confront him again, escalate the whole sorry mess.”
He considered. “I could let you talk me out of it.” He smiled at her when she turned to glare at him. “That would be a boost to your ego, I’d say. I’m happy to reciprocate.”
“You’re not planning on it.”
“I’ve had a good time picturing dragging him out into the dealership parking lot and stomping him flat in front of his coworkers and various horrified customers. Him begging for mercy, women fainting. It’s a nice image.”
“Men,” she repeated. “You’re all just boys in bigger packages.”
“Maybe. But then if I did all that, Owen would get to pull the ‘I told you so’ when he had to come bail me out. It’s not worth giving Owen the satisfaction.”
She took a long, calming breath. “That’s something then. I’m so sorry, Beckett.”
“I guess it’ll be worth it if he figures this evens the score and stays the hell away. I needed new tires before winter anyway.”
She crossed to him, framed his face. “My hero,” she murmured, kissing him softly.
“That’s all I get? It’s four tires, and a paint job.”
She laughed a little, kissed him again. “It’s the best I can do under the circumstances.” She drew away, tipping her head toward the sounds of the tile crew working in the bathroom.
“We’ve got plenty of other rooms.”
She shook her head, walked around to look at the painted walls. “I love the color in here.”
Calm now, she did a slower circle of The Penthouse parlor. “I’ve been trying to decide which room is going to be my favorite, and I can’t. And which room to treat my parents to for their anniversary next year. And I can’t.”
“Pick one for you and me. I’ll make a reservation.”
“Hard to choose, but I’d love it. I have to get back.”
“How about dinner tonight? I’ll take you and the boys somewhere.”
“Book club, but thanks. Ah, we’re decorating for Halloween tomorrow, if you want to come over.”
“Are you kidding? I have major skills in this area.”
“Great, you can carve the pumpkin. The boys are old enough now to realize how lousy I am at it. Come by later. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”
“I will. Oh, and thanks for the outrage.”
“You’re welcome.”
NOT A BAD couple of days, all in all, Beckett decided. All he had to do was delete the hassle of his truck, and things looked good all around. Especially standing with his brothers across the street from the inn as they’d done the morning the tarp came down.
This time, they looked over at the finished front of the inn, including the sign.