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When Graham and Alice returned to The Den, there was no real way to get back in to his room privately, or sneak to the shower, or pretend that nothing had happened, so they didn’t try. The rest of the staff was already gathered in the living area, and the hum of conversation that they’d heard through the open windows came to a stop when Graham cracked the door.
Everyone politely pretended they weren’t craning to see if it was Graham alone, or if Alice with him, except Breck, who turned completely around on the couch, propped his chin on both hands, and greeted them cheerfully.
“Welcome back, your lordship!”
Darla gave a chiding murmur that couldn’t hide her amusement and Laura threw a pillow at him.
“There’s a bottle of wine on the counter,” Mary pointed out.
“Oh, good,” Alice said, opening cabinets at random until she found the glasses. “You want one?”
Graham shook his head.
While Alice filled her tumbler, the others discretely rearranged themselves on the chairs and couches so that the only free spots were together.
Graham stalked to take one of them, Alice following. He settled gingerly into place, wishing he had taken a glass of wine simply to have something to do with his hands. Alice flopped down beside him, pushing her sandals off with each opposite foot and tucking her legs up under her. They weren’t quite touching.
Everyone grinned.
“We’ve been talking about how we might save the resort,” Jenny said quickly. “We’re thinking about trying to raise the money ourselves. If we can, they have to sell it to you.”
“If you’re in,” Laura added.
Graham grunted.
“Great minds think alike,” Alice said. “We were just talking about that.”
Jenny had her computer in her lap. “We’re definitely going to ask Conall, and Magnolia. Laura and I are still fighting legal battles over the life insurance policy that Fred stole when our parents died, but Fred’s estate is running out of appeals to make, so we should get it soon. It will be a pretty good drop in the bucket.”
“I... have a few things of value,” Bastian said uncomfortably.
“You can’t sell your hoard,” Saina said to him, dismayed.
Bastian took her hands in his. “It’s not worth a lot,” he said, looking embarrassed. “But this is greater treasure.” He looked around at the others in The Den. “If the resort isn’t here, I don’t have a hoard worth having.”
Saina kissed him. “I know people who can fence anything we need.”
“I have some jewelry,” Lydia said thoughtfully. “Nothing spectacular, but some of it is gold.”
“I’ve got a watch,” Tex said. “It might have some value as an antique.”
Jenny was busily tapping onto her keyboard as everyone volunteered what they could and guessed prices that seemed pathetic compared to the monstrous number they were aiming for.
“What about Scarlet?” Alice asked. “She must know some well-to-do people to ask.” Graham wondered if she was thinking about the mysterious offer for the information on Scarlet, and her own dire straits. Fifty million would go a long ways.
Lydia, sitting nearly in Wrench’s lap on the crowded couch, shook her head. “Scarlet told us not to look for Grant Lyons.”
“To protect Graham,” Alice reminded them. “But you all know now.”
“Your...” Darla smothered Breck with the throw pillow before he could finish the lordship part.
“We were thinking we would try to do it quietly and surprise her,” Laura said. “She’s so private and proud, I think she might try to stop us.”
Graham knew she would, and his nod caught Laura’s attention.
“Are you in?” Laura asked him.
“I’ve got nothing of value,” Graham apologized.
“The sale has to be in your name,” Laura pointed out. “You’d be the owner.”
“Do I have to be?” Graham asked with a scowl. “Can’t I sign it away to Scarlet?”
“Yeah, you can do that,” Jenny said confidently, to his relief. “That’s quite straight-forward.”
“Good,” Travis said with a grin. “I don’t want Graham the Grouch calculating my bonuses.”
“Are you bleeding?” Lydia asked suddenly, leaning over to Alice.
Alice looked down at her leg. “Nope,” she said, peeling the red spot off. “Strawberry.”
“I thought I smelled strawberries!” Amber laughed. “I couldn’t figure out why.”
“I think there’s one in your hair, Graham,” Mary observed shyly.
“Hypocrite!” Breck exclaimed in outrage. “All the grief you give us for damaging your precious flower gardens and you’re off rolling in the strawberry beds! Flowers are one thing, but we eat those.”
Everyone stared in wonder at Graham, and it took him a long moment to realize that it was because he was laughing.