Harlequin Special Edition June 2020--Box Set 1 of 2 by Allison Leigh

Author:Allison Leigh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

“I’m sorry, Lachlan. My hands are tied. If you had more equity, I’d be able to extend your line of credit. But I can only do so much, even with Maggie cosigning.”

Lachlan’s neck burned and he stared at a point over Lena Wilson’s shoulder. The bank manager’s dark brows crinkled in apology.

“I’d have hoped the quasi-family connection might tip the balance…” Lachlan trailed off. Evan was engaged to Lena’s son Deon, a physical therapist in town. Lachlan rock climbed with the couple on a regular basis.

Lena pressed her lips together, and faint wrinkles marked her rich brown skin. She shook her head.

Disappointment flooded in, along with a hell of a lot of embarrassment, and he heard the voice of his father in his head. Being a vet tech, son? Working for your sister? You’re really going to make enough doing that?

Clearly, his dad had been right. And it wasn’t like he’d be raking it in with his training facility, either. His business plan was solid, would eventually build up to the point of him making a comfortable salary, but Stella would always hold the “most successful sibling” title.

Straightening, he tapped both hands on the desk and forced a grin. “Had to ask. Thanks for the meeting.”

“Wish I could do more, Lachlan. It’s as much about Maggie’s student loans and mortgage as it is about your lack of assets.”

Funny, knowing Maggie had her own financial burdens didn’t make his any easier to take. “Not a problem, Lena.”

“The glucosamine supplements you recommended for Grover seem to be helping with his arthritis,” she offered, guilt plain on her face.

“Glad to help. I’d better get going.”

He sped out of the bank and hung a left onto the sidewalk, busy with the usual Friday-afternoon-in-the-summer crowd. His father’s opinions on his job and his upcoming bills buzzed in his mind, persistent mosquitoes of doubt. It took accidentally bumping into a tourist to force him to pay attention. He apologized and paused, glancing around.

He stood in front of the town’s little library. He’d managed to speed-walk two blocks without really noticing where he was going.

A familiar face emerged from the glass doors of the quaint building. Caleb smiled and raised a hand in greeting, then readjusted a New York Islanders ball cap over his black-brown hair. “Lachlan. You okay? You don’t look—It’s not Marisol, is it? If she needs to come see me before next week’s appointment…”

Lachlan shook his head. “Nah. Just got—” His embarrassment hadn’t faded enough for him to admit his financial failings to his friend. He cleared his throat. “Doesn’t matter.”

“I heard you’re renting Gertie Rafferty’s place.” He punched Lachlan lightly on the shoulder. “Stole it out from under me. It would have been perfect for my brother—he and my niece are moving to town next month.”

“Ah, sorry. But I need the extra space, and Gertie seemed intent to be either my matchmaker or my landlord. Maybe both.” His gut crawled at the thought of the rent check. “And Marisol liked the look of it.

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