His stomach rumbled reminding him how hungry he was. After a big day of prepping the ceiling in the small ballroom, he was ready to move onto the larger room. Putting new support beams in both the ballrooms so they could knock down the existing wall between them was going to be hard work. His team would painstakingly remove the old timber boards so they could replace them when the work was done, giving a smooth continuous look to the double height room. It looked boxy now but once it was all opened up and they knocked down the wall and leveled the ceilings, the room would come into its own. But to get to that point took time and patience, especially when it came to old buildings like the hotel.
Mari wanted it to look as though it had always been one large room rather than the way it was now. Without the doorway between the ballrooms, it would be more glamorous, spacious. Easier to hold bigger functions and allow her to really ramp up her wedding business. It’d taken Christian weeks to get the plans just right.
Ethan locked his truck and stopped at his mailbox on the way to the front door. Nothing but bills and a trade magazine he would look at later if he stayed awake that long. He didn’t like his chances.
By the time his steak was under the grill, he’d had a long hot shower, forgiven his father for being so stubborn and pigheaded, thought over what Christian had said regarding his inability to get over Mari and half decided his friend was right. None of the women he’d dated since she’d left had been right for him. He could see that now.
But a lot of time had passed since they were teens hanging out at the bleachers pretending to watch their favorite sports team. The chance of them connecting on the same level now was slim to none. Perhaps it would be easier to remain friends and not even attempt trying to drag their old romance out of the closet. Because every time he thought of her with his brother, feelings of jealousy reared their ugly head. He should have been the one to marry her, to raise their child. Getting used to that news was going to take time no matter how brave a face he put on.
Chapter Seven
“So, how did he take it?” Bella walked into the bar with Dakota and April trailing behind her.
“Good morning to you too.” Mari hugged all her sisters.
“Well, give up the gossip, girl. You know how this works and we’ve been waiting to hear what he said.”
April perched herself on a stool. “Was he very angry with you for keeping the secret from him?”
“Yes, he was and I don’t really blame him. Like I told you, I tried to get in touch with him.” She sighed. “I know I could have tried harder, called Pearl even, but I was hurting and Rake offered me a way out that was easier than it should have been.”
Dakota spoke up. “Yes, but Ethan has to understand the position you were in. He’d just bawled you out along with his father. What did he expect, hearts and roses?”
Mari laughed. Trust her sisters to bring things into perspective. “I understand his anger and he listened to what I had to say. At the end of the day, we both have to band together and try to give Noah the best outcome we can. Simple as that.”
“I like your train of thought.” Bella gave her the thumbs-up. “Because it’s not about you two at all, it’s all about Noah. Poor kid has lost and gained a father. That’s enough to give anyone anxiety issues.”
“And I won’t let that happen. Noah comes first regardless of what Ethan and I think of each other now.” She meant it too.
Last night had been difficult. After fielding questions from Noah about the Bensons, she’d gone to bed only to toss and turn, her legs twisted up in her sheets as she remembered how close she and Ethan were as young lovers, how long it’d been since she’d had a man in her life, especially one who made her heart race as Ethan did. And just how long it had been since she’d had someone in her bed. The relationship she’d had with Rake hadn’t been built on love at first, even though a version of that had come later. It’d been built on mutual respect, need, and trust. Trust she’d found hard to give after the life she’d left. Rake didn’t blame her, not one bit. They were two of a kind, unlikely allies. Both suffering hurt.
Rake convinced her she could overcome her past, build a new life and she believed him. He’d backed her in her quest to learn, to grow, and to eventually open her own wedding business. When she married him, it hadn’t been because he was the great love of her life. It was because they cared for each other and had made a life together when all the odds were stacked against them. Two souls on a journey neither of them had expected to take.
“There’s nothing else to tell.”
“Well, I don’t agree. Any man who looks as good as Ethan does is worth talking about.” Dakota tapped her fingernails on the polished bar and gave her a wink. “And that telltale blush of yours isn’t doing you any favors, girl.”
Mari whipped her hand up and touched her cheek before thinking. Damn, how could she not’ve thought about it? A face that told everyone what she was thinking was a dead giveaway and her cheeks were flaming. Busted!
She waved a hand in front of her face trying to cool down.
“You never really talked about what happened when Dad divorced your mom. We know you stayed here after she died and lived with the Bensons but Dad never told us
