The Promise of Us (Sanctuary Sound #2) - Jamie Beck Page 0,79

They don’t call them starving artists for nothing, Logan.” His chair rocked back as he shifted, its hinge squeaking under his weight. “If it weren’t for your trust fund, you’d be living with six people in a walk-up studio.”

“I make money. Not huge money, but I can comfortably support myself.” He paused. “But if the trust went away, I’d still pursue my art—even if it meant living in squalor. I’m compelled to do it, whether you understand that or not. You don’t have to agree with that choice, but you could stop treating me, and my passion, with disdain. Is that so much to ask?”

“You tell me.” His dad rose from his desk, crossed to the antique beverage cart, and opened a bottle of bourbon. He poured two tumblers full and handed one to Logan before taking his seat again. “From where I sit, you’ve shown equal disdain toward me and my business, and taken no more interest in my projects than I have in yours.”

“Point taken.” Logan sipped the bourbon, sensing he’d be leaving this office with more than he’d bargained for when he’d come in. “Tell me about your vision for these hotels.”

“Eager to criticize me?” His dad threw back a healthy swallow and set the glass on a coaster.

“No. I’m being sincere.” Logan drew one foot across the opposite knee, settling in for a longer conversation. “Why does this project excite you?”

His dad shrugged with an expression that suggested the answer was obvious. “Because I can take something that’s failing and make it a success.”

“Like you did with the family fortune after Grandpa practically lost this house.” Logan had to admit that had taken courage and tremendous effort.

“I suppose yes, exactly like that.” He swiveled in his chair and glanced out the windows at the property he’d saved. From Logan’s angle, his dad’s partial profile made him look like he’d been carved in marble. Hard. Intense. Indomitable. His dad turned back to face Logan with a soft sigh. “I’m always sorry that I had to sell off so much of this land to do it, but, ultimately, that call saved this house and secured the funds to build something more for our family. Something that didn’t require talent and luck to maintain, like publishing and pictures. I didn’t inherit a creative gene, but I’m smart, savvy, and not afraid to roll up my sleeves and put in long hours.”

At first blush, that speech sounded prideful. But its tone hinted at a bit of envy, too. Despite his protests, perhaps his dad would’ve liked to follow in his grandfather’s shoes but couldn’t.

Thanks to his dad’s choices—sacrifices, even—Logan had had the financial freedom to pursue his passion. Maybe it wasn’t disdain, but resentment, that his father felt toward him now.

“Well, you have a talent for turning around failing businesses, Dad. That’s a kind of creative thinking.”

“I suppose.”

“And you must have a vision for this hotel project. What’s the secret that suddenly will make them profitable?”

His dad steepled his fingers, staring at Logan as if he didn’t trust him. “Why do I feel like there’s more to your question than you’re sharing?”

“I’m just trying to make a connection with you,” he lied. A tiny lie. Yes, he wanted information to share with Claire to help her tailor her pitch, but another part of him did want to prolong the first real adult conversation he could recall having with his father.

“The seller is a third-generation family trust. A classic case of no one being involved in the business.” He paused, and Logan suspected his dad bit back a sarcastic quip about how Logan would fit right in with them. “They all collect checks and put their faith in whomever they’ve hired in each location to manage the property. Big mistake. If anyone had given things a cursory look, they would’ve seen high rates of employee turnover, a little theft, and the general lack of oversight that led to the hotels going downhill. Dingy decor, mediocre food. None of these things are hard to fix when you hire the right team and manage them well. As for the physical space, I’d like to upgrade them, within reason. Can’t go overboard when I need to invest in new employees, new computers and software, and more.”

“You’d mentioned they were along the Atlantic, but where specifically?”

“Why?” His dad polished off his drink.

Logan followed suit and finished his, then set the glass on the small table to his left. “Maybe I’ll go check out one or