Chapter 4

Jack gazed up at the entrance to the Wrights’ house and wondered what the hell he was doing.

House? No, it was a mansion. Maybe even an estate. Jack didn’t know what the difference was, nor did he care. All he did know was that the house was designed to intimidate.

The drive to get to the place was down a private road that ended in a gate, where Jack had to state his name and purpose before being allowed to enter the grounds.

The house sat atop a cliff. It was two stories, the white stucco blinding in the sunshine. With multiple decks encircling the house, it was built to showcase the magnificent views. To the east were the blue waters of Puget Sound. On cloudless days, you could see the snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier. To the west were the tall evergreens that made up the middle of Hazel Island.

It was an oasis within an oasis. A place where Jack assumed nothing bad ever happened. Money had a way of making life so much easier.

“Jack, what are you doing out there?” called a voice.

Jack tilted his head back to see Luke Wright standing on the deck some thirty feet above where the front door was located.

“I’m here for you, obviously,” rumbled Jack.

“You might ring the doorbell. It’s a thing people do when they come to people’s houses.”

Jack ignored that. “Then how about you come down here and open the door already.”

Within seconds, Jack was inside, and Luke was giving him one of his infamous bear hugs. Luke was one of the few people that Jack allowed to hug him. In all honesty, he couldn’t think of another person who’d hugged him since he’d been a child.

Jack had been here on a few occasions, but every time he entered the place, he marveled at it. Luke, though, was used to it. He’d grown up here, after all.

“Let’s go upstairs and talk,” said Luke. “How are you, by the way? You’ve been impossible to pin down lately.”

“I’m busy earning a living.” He shot Luke a wry look.

Luke, good-natured as always, just laughed. “Who else would tell me to eat shit but you?”

They went up the carved, wooden staircase, Jack quickly getting lost as Luke took him to one of the many open-air decks.

“How many rooms do you have anyway?” said Jack.

Luke shrugged. “I can never remember. Ask my dad. He’ll tell you about every single one.”

Jack had met the patriarch of the Wright clan once. He’d seemed nice enough but distracted with business matters. Their mom apparently preferred to lounge all day with her cadre of tiny, yipping dogs.

“Are you living here now?” said Jack.

Luke had his own place in both Seattle and on Hazel Island. Jack had been surprised when Luke had asked him to come to his parents’ place.

“We’re dealing with some family stuff right now. I’m only here temporarily.” Luke didn’t explain further.

Gazing out onto the horizon, Jack suddenly wished he’d asked Luke to come to him. Luke had an advantage, being in this place that reminded Jack of how little he’d accomplished in his own life. He lived in a tiny house all by himself. He spent his days with fish. What did he have to show for himself? Certainly not a mansion like this.

Luke got them both drinks, Jack nursing his beer instead of getting to the point of this little meeting. He’d never asked his friend for money. It went against everything Jack stood for.

But for Gwen...he’d grit his teeth and do it.

“So, are you going to start the conversation, or am I?” Luke grinned. “You look like you’re going to shit your pants, Benson.”

“Don’t make me throw you off this deck.” Given that Jack was quite a bit larger than Luke, it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.

“Always so pleasant. You said there was a business venture you were interested in. I think that means you want my advice. Yes?”

Jack glowered and shot back, “I don’t want your advice; I want your money.”

Luke’s eyes widened, then he started laughing. He kept laughing until Jack wondered if his friend had finally lost his mind. Wiping away tears, Luke said, “That’s probably the worst request for money I’ve ever gotten. Zero subtlety whatsoever.”

“Then if you’re not interested—” Jack rose to go, but Luke put out a hand.

“Unruffle your feathers. I’m fucking with you. You’re always so stoic and serious, sometimes you have to poke the bear.”

“Bears can tear your head off,” groused Jack.

“Not if they want some of that sweet, sweet money. Or honey. I think this metaphor might be getting away from me, in all honesty.” Forcing himself to be serious, Luke added, “Start from the beginning. I promise I won’t interrupt.”

Jack was skeptical, but he gave Luke the speech he’d rehearsed in his mind as he’d been driving up to the Wright place.

~Another restaurant will benefit not only my own business but the island’s economy. This in turn would bring in more tourists. If you could match the loan I plan to give, the restaurant could get off the ground and hopefully make a profit much faster.~

But Luke seemed like he was barely listening at this point. “I don’t care about the economic prospects. I care about why you want to do this. As far as I know, you aren’t the type to throw your money away on a small business. Especially not on restaurants, which are often doomed to fail.”

“I already gave you my reasons.”

Luke eyed him. “You said this would be next to the bed and breakfast. Will it be connected to it?”

Jack hadn’t mentioned Gwen’s name because it felt almost like bad luck to do so. ~Or maybe you don’t want Luke peering more closely into your reasons.~

“Aha, I love when I’m right.” Luke set down his beer. “Now it all makes sense. You’re doing this for Ms. Parker. The redhead.”

“This has nothing to do with Gwen.” Jack was clenching his jaw so hard he had to force the words out.

“She’s very pretty. I don’t blame you. She talks too much, though. The last time I spoke to her, I could barely get in a word edgewise, and God knows I never have that problem normally,” said Luke.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Jack in a harsh tone. Forcing himself to stay calm, he added, “This will help Gwen. But it’ll help a lot of other people, too.”

“Hmm.”

Silence settled between them. Jack began tapping his fingers against his knee. Was he going to have to beg Luke? He wasn’t that desperate. Besides, he had too much pride. He’d rather get the money from someone else.

~Who else has that kind of money? ~That was the problem. Jack didn’t know anyone else who did. He could go through a bank, but his credit history was negligible. It had seemed pointless, given his lifestyle, until this moment. Now Jack regretted how committed he’d been to living off the grid.

“I’m not going to tell you yes,” said Luke finally. “I want Gwen to come to me herself. If she can put together a business plan and some financials, show me the ins and outs of this venture, I’ll definitely consider it. She’s already been successful with the bed and breakfast. Clearly she isn’t an idiot with business.”

Jack let out the breath he’d been holding. “I’ll let her know,” he said.

“You know, it’s funny. I’ve known you since you moved here, and I do think of you as a friend. But I don’t think I really know you. You’ve always been a mystery. You keep to yourself. You’re still single at your age—”

“Get to the point, Wright.”

“I’m just saying that it’s ~interesting~ that you suddenly want to help a woman, and not only that, but you were willing to ask for money on her behalf. You’ve never, in all the years I’ve known you, asked me for money.” Luke’s eyes flashed. “And God knows I’m used to people asking me for money.”

“You know I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was worth doing.”

“Of course not. I trust you way more than most people. You never bullshit me. That’s invaluable, my friend.”

* * *

On his drive home, Jack’s mind wandered. Luke’s answer hadn’t been what he’d been hoping for, but at least there was still a chance of funding for Gwen. Would Gwen be pleased? Or would she find it too much of a pain to put all of that together without a guarantee of getting a loan?

Jack had always been more of a saver than a spender. He’d had to be, when he’d had to buy groceries and pay the bills as a kid. He and his younger brother Danny had had to shift for themselves. Their mom had been an addict who’d spend their last dime on drugs instead of on food. By the age of seven, Jack had known to hide any money or benefits from their mom so she wouldn’t spend them first.

As soon as Jack had gotten away from their mom–leaving Danny behind, for which Jack still felt guilty–he’d begun scrimping and saving. He’d work any jobs he could, especially ones that paid under the table.

When he finally had enough to get out of Seattle, he’d moved to Hazel Island on a whim. He’d wanted to get as far away from the city as he could, and he only had enough money for the trip to the island.

Once he’d arrived, he’d looked for work, but despite getting a few odd jobs here and there, he struggled. It was only when a local fisherman hired him to help out during fishing season that Jack learned the trade. And when he’d saved enough, he’d bought his own boat and begun his life as a fisherman.

A few years after he’d started working as a fisherman, Jack had been able to buy the small plot of land where he’d built his tiny house. He managed the upkeep himself. He’d done such a great job of living independently that Jack had almost convinced himself he could be alone for the rest of his life and remain content.

He enjoyed women here and there, of course. When he had an itch, he’d get it scratched and then move on. No strings, no commitment. His life was just fine that way.

And now at age thirty-five, Jack had a nice-sized nest egg. He could spare a portion of it for Gwen. Besides, he would reap the rewards eventually. ~I’m doing it for myself~, he kept telling himself. ~This isn’t for Gwen.~

He’d always shifted for himself. It was easier that way. He knew what happened when you had to depend on someone else: they let you down. Better to keep people at arm’s length, he figured.

He kept telling himself that, even as he returned to a silent house and a cold bed.