Ben sat at his desk in the lodge office, trying not to think about Maggie in the shower earlier. He’d brought clean clothes to her hotel room that morning. When he entered, he’d heard the shower running. Rather than knock and interrupt her—or join her—he’d quietly placed the clothes on her bed and left.

He’d been attempting to bury himself in work ever since but the images of her naked body covered in bubbles, water sluicing over her—

Ben groaned, scrubbing a hand down his face, trying to focus on the papers in front of him. His raging hard-on was making it difficult.

He mentally tallied the bills in front of him, holding one invoice in particular. A bill from an interior designer for the wedding barn for almost $50,000. When was his mother going to learn? He slumped back in his chair with a sigh.

“What’s wrong, big brother?” Emmett asked from the desk behind him.

Ben turned, invoice in hand, and stared at his brother. Emmett had been working so hard and Ben didn’t know what he would do without him here. If nothing else, just to bounce around ideas. “It’s this bill,” Ben held it high. And Maggie, naked in her shower, he thought, but didn’t voice that concern.

“What’s it for?” Emmett asked.

“A bill for interior design. For the wedding barn. That isn’t even finished yet.”

“And?”

“And,” Ben sighed, “we don’t even have it built yet. And we won’t for another six months. The first covenants are due to be reviewed in two months.”

“Dude, relax.”

“Relax!” Ben growled. “Do you know what this barn is costing?”

“Yeah, I do. And do you know how many hits we’re getting on the new site? How many emails and phone call requests are coming in for info about that wedding barn? It’s pulling people in.”

Ben stared at his brother, puzzled.

“Besides, I’ve talked to Max and I’m pretty sure he’ll be here in a few weeks. He said he can help with the build-out since he worked construction all through high school.”

Emmett’s revelation that their brother Max would be here soon was like music to Ben’s ears.

“He’s going to bring a few buddies too,” Emmett continued. “Shawn said that should up our timeline.”

“You got him to come back?” When had Emmett done all this? Probably while he was fantasizing about Maggie.

“Yeah, Max sounded kind of excited actually.”

“And the barn idea is really getting that many inquiries?” Ben asked.

“Yeah, ever since your old girlfriend, Daphne came in, she’s been raving about it on social media. It’s great for business.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Ben said.

“Sure.”

“She’s my best friend’s fiancée, dumbass.”

“But still,” Emmett smirked, “you’d like to tap that, right? I know I would.”

Ben rolled his eyes. “I thought you only had eyes for Elle.”

Emmett’s smile fell, his lips pursed as an unusual scowl crept across his face. His head turned and he focused on his computer.

“What?” Ben asked. Elsbeth Noble, or Elle as everyone called her, had been his brother’s girlfriend in high school. Well, maybe not his girlfriend, but she was Emmett’s something back then. The two had been inseparable since they were children. He’d seen Emmett hiking out toward the Nobles’ land a few times this week and wondered if his brother was trying to spot the woman.

“I don’t have eyes for anyone, least of all Elle Noble.” His tone was cold and flat, so unlike Emmett.

“But you did, when you guys were in school.”

Emmett remained silent and Ben let it drop, moving back to his spreadsheets. He looked at the barn numbers again. If what Emmett said was right and the barn was really pulling people in, maybe they could talk the interior designer into cutting her bill. Maybe she could implement some of the ideas, but cut corners on the rest or something.

“Look, Ben,” Emmett said, rubbing at his temples, “I know why you’re gung-ho to cut costs and shit, and I get it. But you don’t understand how lucrative this barn thing is going to be. I’ve done some market research and there’s no venue like this in four counties. People want it. More importantly, people will pay for it. A lot.”

“What about the Nobles’ resort?”

“They have a banquet room, but nothing like this barn. I’m sure they’ll still take some of the wedding business, but there’s going to be plenty left for us.”

Ben sat back in his chair and studied the bill.

“Quit giving Ma shit about it,” Emmett said. “It’s good for her. She’s actually excited. And she needs this, Ben. She needs something to help her get over Dad.”

Ben rolled his eyes.

“What?” Emmett asked.

“Do you really think Dad wanted this barn?”

“If it made Ma happy, then hell yeah, he wanted it.”

“It’s funny,” Ben scoffed.

“What?”

“He’d give Ma anything but all he gave us was grief.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Dad. He gave me so much shit for leaving college. He gave me shit about everything. And never once did he say he was proud of me, proud that I’d started and ran my own company.”

“Dude, first of all, he said shit about you all the time. Ma said he bragged to everyone in town.”

Ben studied his brother. He didn’t seem to be lying. “Then why didn’t he say it to me?”

“I don’t know.” Emmett shrugged. “Dad wasn’t a touchy-feely kind of guy. I guess he just assumed you knew. He didn’t give me a lot of accolades when I made it big writing.”

Ben sat and let Emmett’s words soak.

“But he did give me my start,” Emmett added.

“What do you mean?”

“It costs a shit ton of money to get started in the publishing industry. I mean, people think your publisher pays a lot, and they do, but I had to put out a lot of money at first. On top of getting my degree, I mean. I spent money on editing my manuscripts before I sent out queries, and I needed money to survive for years on small jobs while I tried to squeeze in writing. Dad gave it to me.”

“Are you serious?” Ben tried to hold back the offense in his voice.

“He helped all of us.”

“He didn’t help me.” Ben fumed, unable to contain his anger.

“What the fuck are you talking about? He helped you the most, dipshit.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

Emmett studied him. “You’re serious? Ma never told you?”

“Told me what?”

“Shit, man, no wonder you’ve been pissed at him all these years.”

Had Ben’s anger toward his father been that noticeable?

The office door opened and his mother walked through.

“Ma,” Emmett called, “you never told Ben about the start-up money?”

Their mother’s eyes went wide as her gaze darted from Emmett to Ben. What the hell was going on?

“Ma?” Ben stood, walking toward her.

She quietly closed the door then turned to face him.

“Well?” Ben raised his brows in anticipation. “Is it true? Did Dad fund my start-up?”

“Your father worked very hard,” she said.

Ben nodded. “I know, he wasn’t home much.”

“He was working to make his firm successful so that he could provide for you boys. Funding six college education accounts isn’t cheap.”

“But I dropped out of college,” Ben said. “If I recall, he reamed my ass about it for months.”

His mother dropped her head and he instantly regretted his harsh words.

“Your father never wanted you to know.” She lifted her hands like it was no big deal. “So, I didn’t tell you.”

“Didn’t want me to know what?” Ben moved toward her.

“The money, the money left in your college fund. He…” she stumbled on the words.

“Just say it, Ma.”

“He invested it in your company, dumbass,” Emmett answered.

“He, he what?”

“Your BFF Patrick was looking for investors, remember?” Emmett asked.

“Yes,” Ben answered quietly.

“You think that hundred grand just appeared out of nowhere?” Emmett said.

“What?” Ben felt like an idiot. He guessed he should have known. He looked from his mom to Emmett and back again. “So, Patrick knew?”

His mother shook her head. “Your father filtered it through another company. Patrick thought it was a group of investors that funded promising new companies.”

Ben shook his head in disbelief.

“I know you don’t think he was proud of you, Ben.” She stared up in his eyes. “But he was. We both were. We both are.”

“Why didn’t he ever say it?”

His mother shrugged. “He always felt bad about the way you all ended things. I guess he thought you’d never forgive him for being so unkind when you dropped out of college. It’s just…”

Ben stared at his mother, waiting for her response. “Just what, Ma?”

“He wanted a better life for you than he had. He dropped out of college when his parents died to care for your Uncle Mark and Aunt Sally.”

Ben knew this. He’d always wondered if caring for his siblings at such a young age had hardened his father.

“Your father went back to night school after the first year and worked hard to graduate. We married and I helped as much as I could but it was difficult. He didn’t want that life for you boys. So, he worked hard to provide above and beyond, to make sure you had a future if something happened to him.

She looked around the office, then put her hand to his cheek. “This place will work, Ben. I promise,” she said. “I need your investment now though.”

That he could do. “I’m happy to invest in the hotel, Ma. In fact, if you’ll let me, I can pay down some of the debt. Maybe we can go to the bank and get them to restructure it if the amount of the remaining debt were smaller. We can get you out from under the covenants.”

“I don’t mean an investment of money.” She shook her head and waved a hand. “I need you to invest in me.” She placed her hand to her chest. “Can you do that?”

He’d give his mother anything but he couldn’t jeopardize her future, and that’s what she was asking him to do.

“Your father believed in me.” She smiled as tears glistened in her eyes. “He believed in you, too. That’s why he invested in your company all those years ago. And look at you now.”

Ben shook his head, unable to fathom his father had actually believed in Ben’s own vision. Couldn’t he return the favor for his mother? He did believe in her. She was a hard worker and a visionary. He’d seen that. Couldn’t he force his concerns to the recesses of his logical brain for just a while to let her try at this? If he needed to, he could always go to the bank if this fell through and try to buy out the debt down the road.

“Okay, Ma,” he said.

“Oh, Ben. Thank you so much.” She threw her arms around his neck. “I’m not saying it will be easy. There’s a lot of hard work ahead of us but I’m prepared for it. It’s what your father would expect of me.”

“I can work hard,” Ben said.

She released him and took a step back. “Oh, I know you can Benjamin. You’ve worked so hard your entire life and your father and I have been so proud of you.”

Ben nodded, unable to swallow the lump in his throat.

“I’m sorry he was never able to say the words out loud to you, Ben, but please know, he said them every day. To me.”

Ben gazed down. “What did he say?”

“Anytime we’d hear from you or read about your business in the paper or on the internet, he’d say how proud he was that you’d stood up to him and followed your heart instead of listening to him. I think you were one of the reasons he retired and helped me build this hotel. He saw what following your dreams can do.”

Ben’s brows knitted together. “Are you serious? Dad said that. About me?”

“Yes, Ben. I’m serious. I’m just sorry he never said it to you directly.”

Me, too Ben thought.

“If you’re going to stay, I just have one favor to ask,” his mom said.

“What’s that?”

“Be gentle with Maggie.”

Ben drew in a breath, surprised at the change in direction of their conversation.

“She’s had a rough time of it these last few years. It wasn’t easy for her to come work with us. Her father had filled her head with so many lies, about us, about herself. She’s a hard worker. There are things going on with her outside of the lodge that are difficult for her right now.”

Ben understood. He could only imagine having to care for her father and this lodge.

“I know you’re not happy having to work with her,” his mother continued, “I just don’t want you to take it out on her.”

Ben chuckled silently. If his mother only knew where his thoughts of Maggie had been just a few nights ago—him pressed hard against her. He’d been anything but gentle and kind.

“I promise, Mom. I won’t be too hard on Maggie.”

“Yeah, Ben, don’t be too hard on Maggie.” Emmett laughed.

His mother cocked a brow. “Emmett. Daniel. Sumner.” She annunciated each name and Ben laughed to himself.

Emmett had the good graces to look ashamed.

His mother slid an arm around Ben’s waist. “Good. Now that that’s settled, let’s go to the bistro for a slice of your Aunt Sally’s pie.” She glanced over her shoulder at Emmett. “You too, potty mouth.”

“Is Aunt Sally really on board with the whole wedding barn idea?” Ben asked. “She’s not the most romantic person I know.”

“She wants what’s best for the lodge. She understands the sacrifices your father made for her to pursue her dreams. Now she’s dedicated to help fulfill his.”

How was it that everyone knew of his father’s sacrifices except him? Well, Ben knew of some of the sacrifices his father had made. He knew his father had taken in his own brother and sister when their parents had died when they were just teens. Everyone in town knew John Sumner had all but raised Sally and Mark Sumner.

Maybe it was more that Ben hadn’t acknowledged those sacrifices, hadn’t recognized how much his father had given up to build a better life for his family when he was alive. It seemed only in his death that Ben had truly understood what his father had done for him.

“Okay, let’s go build a barn, I guess,” Ben said, opening the door and leading them out.

“Thank you, son.” His mother squeezed him tight.

“Thank you, Ma.” And thank you, Dad.