No Reservations (Special Ops: Tribute Book 1) (9 page)

“Personally, no. Not much scares me. But I worry about how
Becca will take it. When you have a dream for so long like she has, it’s harder
to watch it shatter to bits.”

Bridget nodded slowly. “That’s like me. I’ve thought about
this since the first time I came here for coffee my freshman year of college. I
got all these ideas for the place.”

“Like the man cave?”

“Yeah, but so many more. I want to get a piano for the
living room. I thought I could hire some music student to come and play for a
couple hours in the evenings when I’m serving wine and cheese to the guests. I
thought that would be unique, and I could probably get someone to do it for
pretty cheap. There are so many college students around here.” She felt herself
leaning further into him, unable to resist his magnetism. “And I want a roof
deck.”

“A roof deck?”

“Yeah. A lot of buildings around here have them. I think I’d
have a view for the fireworks on the Fourth. And they have fireworks on New
Year’s, too. Plus when the Blue Angels do their flight demonstration for
Commissioning Week, my guests could catch the show without having to deal with
the crowds.”

“Those are great ideas.”

“Well, when you’ve been thinking about something as long as
I have, the ideas are kind of overwhelming. Is it that way with Becca?” She
tilted her head, curious about this woman who’d stolen Maddox’s heart.

He paused thoughtfully. “Her ideas tend to come in the form
of new ice cream flavors.” He smiled. “You’ll like her. She’s a lot like you.”

Bridget realized he was probably right. “I think you’re
right.”

 “I love being right.” He cocked his head and laid a
look on her that made her quiver inside. “So let me be right again when I tell
you that you should open your doors. Do you need a sign?”

“A sign?” Her eyebrows scrunched together. “You mean like a
sign from God or something?”

He burst out laughing. “A sign for the front door. You said
you’re changing the name.”

Embarrassed, Bridget felt warmth on her cheeks as she self-consciously
brushed her hand through her hair. “Oh, yeah. I ordered that weeks ago. It’s in
the closet.”

He took her hand and the sensation of his fingers
intertwining with hers made her breath catch.

“Put it up. Open your doors. With so many people walking by
your place during Commissioning Week, it can only help.”

Bridget mulled it over.

Maddox was right. This was the time to start spreading the
word that her inn was open for business.

But maybe she could do it one better.

“You know…” She paused, pressing her lips together
momentarily, and then dared to say, “I could maybe have a happy hour here on
Friday night after graduation. An open house. All the festivities are winding
down then and people are looking for things to do. I could serve some
appetizers, wine, beer, cheese—that sort of thing. Maybe hand out
brochures.” She winced.

“What’s the matter? I love the idea.”

“I don’t even have brochures yet.”

“Oh, hell, that’s easy. We can do that in an afternoon.”

She glanced at him, savoring the word “we.” She chewed on it
a moment, relishing it as it echoed in her ears. “You think we can?”

“I’m pretty handy with a computer. You can put an
announcement up on your website, too. Wait—do you have a website?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s just not published yet.”

He narrowed his gaze on her. “Why didn’t you publish it?”

“I’m not open yet. Why would I?”

Exasperated, he folded his arms in front of him. “Because
you need to take reservations for when you will be open.”

“I needed to put pictures up. I couldn’t take them yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because it wasn’t—”

“—perfect,” he cut her off. “Yeah, I’m kind of seeing
that trend.”

Brushing past her, he stalked out of the room.

“Where are you going?”

“To get my camera. That website is getting published.
Tonight
.”

It was two hours past midnight when he’d finally convinced
Bridget to click that infernal “publish” button and let the whole of the
internet see her website. It looked great and the photos of the man cave alone
would bring in reservations.

Now he was dog tired, regretting his timing for the early
morning teleconference.

He opened his laptop and, with a few clicks, was facing Aidan.
“Hey,” he greeted him.

“You look like shit,” Aidan said bluntly. Leave it to Aidan
to cut out the pleasantries and skip right to the bare truth.

“Long night last night.”

A glimmer sparked in Aidan’s eyes. “Ah, what’s her name?”

“Bridget. And we’re just friends. I was helping her put her
website up.”

“Just friends, huh?” Aidan said, just as Becca’s face popped
onto the teleconference.

“And who are we just friends with?” She cut into their
conversation.

“Some girl Maddox helped with a website.”

“Bridget,” Maddox clarified again, irritation pinching his
mouth at the sides. He really should have gotten a second cup of coffee before
this call. “Her name’s Bridget. And she’s the innkeeper for where I’m staying
downtown.”

“Wait a sec. How’d you manage to get a place downtown?” Aidan
asked.

Maddox narrowed his eyes on the camera. “So you
knew
it was Commissioning Week?”

“Of course. I went to the Academy.”

“Thanks a lot for the warning. I nearly ended up sleeping on
a bench because of it.”

Aidan shrugged. “I just assumed you knew. So how’d you get a
room? I figured you’d be stuck up in Glen Burnie or one of those hotels by the
airport.”

“Bridget owns a bed-and-breakfast that hasn’t officially
opened up yet.”

“Why would she take you in, then?”

“I offered to fix her plumbing.”

Aidan burst out laughing. “Damn, that’s a good line. I gotta
try that one out.”

“Can we get down to business now?” Maddox asked, his
patience thin on only a few hours of sleep.

“Do you still like her?”

Maddox’s eyes rolled upward at Becca’s question. “We’re here
to talk about business. Not my sex life.”

Aidan slapped the table in front of him, making the camera
on his computer shake. “So you
are
sleeping with her!”

“I’m
not
sleeping with her. Guys, I don’t know if you
realize this, but I’m actually working hard out here. I guess I have my
priorities screwed up, but I thought you’d be more interested in whether I
found a place for our business rather than whether or not I’m fucking the
innkeeper.” He cringed, glancing at the door and hoping to God he didn’t say
that as loud as he thought he did.

Becca sighed. “You’re right. But a little romance won’t
throw things off schedule. You have to eat. So eat with her.”

“And ya gotta sleep. So sleep with her,” Aidan added,
earning an angled look from Becca.

“I’ll take that under advisement,” he gritted out through
his teeth. “So anyway, you guys saw the photos and videos of the places I think
are best. And you got paperwork on each of them, right?”

“Yep.”

“Those Main Street ones are so expensive,” Becca pointed
out.

“But they definitely get the most traffic. The one on City
Dock doesn’t have enough square footage.”

“Agreed,” Aidan concurred.

“There’s also a place on Church Circle that might be coming
up for lease by the time Becca gets here. But if we wait on it, it will throw
us off schedule.”

“Is that the one that’s a frozen yogurt shop now?”

“That’s the one.”

“Well, if frozen yogurt wasn’t making it in that space, I’m
not sure we’d be smart to put our ice cream there.”

“Bec, your ice cream is hell-and-gone from frozen yogurt.
But I’m more in favor of going with something that’s vacant right now. I don’t
want to wait around a couple months. It’s going to take long enough to get this
place up and running. If we can sign on one of these places today, I can interview
contractors and start demo.”

Aidan shrugged. “I vote Main Street. That one that’s close
to Ego Alley is on the same side as the public parking garage. That’s a good
place to be.”

“But at that price?” Becca interjected. “Plus, there’s more
competition on Main Street.”

“But they don’t have your recipes,” Maddox reminded her.

“What about that cheaper place off State Circle?” Becca
asked.

“It’s on Maryland Avenue. Not as much traffic, and a bit
further from public parking.”

“Maryland Avenue?” Aidan asked in a surprisingly eager tone.

“Yeah, about a block from St. John’s College.”

“I
know
where it is,” he retorted.

What the hell?
Maddox leaned back in his chair, his
eyes noting the change in Aidan’s features the instant Maryland Avenue had been
mentioned. “I don’t think that one’s the best choice. It’s bigger than the
others, but it’s got a vacancy next to it already, and the coffee house on the
other side of it is struggling.”

 “It’s next to a coffee house?” Aidan asked.

“Yeah. I met the owner. She said business isn’t very good
right now. I think it’s too much of a risk.”

“Yeah, if a coffee house is struggling there, an ice cream
place wouldn’t do to well either, I’m betting.” Becca frowned.

“I think we should go with the Maryland Avenue one,” Aidan announced
without hesitation.

Becca looked as baffled as Maddox. “Why?” they asked in near
unison.

“Good location, close to St. John’s and the State House, and
if it’s got a vacancy next door we can probably negotiate for a cheaper rent.”

“But what good is a cheaper rent if no one comes to try our
ice cream?”

“They’ll come.”

Maddox eyed him suspiciously. “Dude, a minute ago you were
saying we should stick with Main Street because of more traffic, but suddenly
you want Maryland Avenue. What gives?”

“What square footage is it?” Aidan asked, ignoring Maddox’s
question.

“Probably about a third more than the Main Street ones.”

“Exactly. And right next to… what did you say the name of
the coffee house was?”

“I didn’t. It’s called Crabby Before Coffee.”

Becca laughed. “Cute. Love the name. Goes with the whole
Maryland Blue Crabs theme they always have going on in Annapolis.”

“Oh, is that it?” Maddox leaned back in his chair. “I didn’t
get that part. But anyway, you guys aren’t listening to me. The owner is
struggling.”

“How do you know that?” Aidan’s eyes pinched with concern.

“We talked a couple times. She’s a friend of Bridget’s.”

“Bridget?”

“The innkeeper,” Maddox reminded him as he watched an
unexpected look of concern wash over Aidan’s features.
What the hell did he pour
in his cereal this morning?

“How badly is she struggling?” he asked.

“Bridget?”

“No,” Aidan snapped. “The coffee house owner.”

On the defense, Maddox lowered his chin at Aidan’s tone. “I
don’t know exactly. It’s not like she pulled out her financials. I didn’t ask
for her blood type or her social security number either,” he snarled back. “We’ve
only talked a couple times. She hasn’t pulled a profit yet. But she opened less
than a year ago.”

“And what’s got your boxers in a twist this morning, Aidan?”
Becca probed, eyebrows raised.

The “mom” look she shot him made Aidan slump in his chair.

“Sorry. It’s nothing. Just—forget it. But I’m telling
you we should go for the Maryland Avenue one,” Aidan reiterated. “Think about
it. Extra square footage means more equipment and freezers. That means we might
be able to hit the local retail market. Maybe even the restaurant market
eventually. That’s how you get your name out there. We need the space. And next
to a coffee place is perfect. We’ll catch that coffee addict crowd. Lure them
in with some flavors that would taste good with a cup of coffee.”

“Like the vanilla bean mocha swirl?”

“Exactly. We wouldn’t compete with each other. We’d just
complement each other.”

Maddox was skeptical. “Well, sure, if we can just pull
people away from Main Street.”

“We’ll advertise. And we’ll serve up samples down at City
Dock during the boat shows in the fall.”

“
We
? You mean you’ll be out here with us?”

He sighed. “You. I mean you. And—” he paused. “I’ll
get out there as often as I can, believe me.”

“We know you will,” Becca assured him. “Well, what do you
think, Maddox?”

“I’m still wary of being so far away from the majority of
the foot traffic. What about you, Bec?”

“I like the idea of more space. Some growing room. Maybe if
we’re going to do this, we should grow our roots someplace where we can really
blossom.”

Maddox sighed. “Well, Thomas and Quinn said they’d go with
whatever we decide. And Captain Shey will go with whatever Becca says just to
keep things calm in the family. So I guess Maryland Avenue it is. I’ll contact
the leasing agent and see if I can meet with her later today to sign away the
next few years of our lives.”

Aidan flashed a rare smile. It made the guy look completely
different.

Even Becca noticed. “Geez, Aidan, I don’t think I’ve seen
you smile in at least a year.”

His surly countenance returned. “Don’t get used to it,” he muttered,
before clicking his keyboard and disappearing from Maddox’s monitor.

Now only Becca was facing him. “Is it just me, or was Aidan
acting a little strange there?”

“No, I noticed, too.” Maddox agreed. “Don’t mind him. They’re
probably headed out soon. He always gets pissy before a mission.”

Pressing her lips together, her nod was slight. “I hope
that’s all it is.”

Maddox cocked his head. “You worry too much.”

“Of course I do. I’m a mom. And it doesn’t help that I’m
surrounded by a bunch of SEALs.”

“Technically, it’s called a
rookery
of seals.”

Her eyes rolled upwards. “I’ll bet you’ve been waiting years
to use that line.”

 “I have.” He grinned back. “I really have.”

Shaking her head, her shoulders rose and fell as she sighed.
“Thanks for all the work you’re putting into this, Maddox. I feel guilty that
you’re doing it alone.”

“Don’t. I like doing it. You know what a control freak I am.
If you were out here right now, we’d probably be arguing all the time, anyway.”

“Yeah, you are kind of bull-headed.”

“So what’s really going on out there? You look a little stressed.”

She bit her lip. “It’s hard, you know? Leaving Arizona. I
know I need to get back East. Brandon’s getting older and it’ll be good for him
to have his uncle nearby. He needs some kind of male presence in his life. Now
that Joe’s at the Pentagon for a while, I should take advantage, you know?”

“And I’ll be here when he’s not.”

“Right. Exactly. But Arizona… it’s where he last left me. I
feel like by leaving, I’m accepting he’s really not coming back.” Tears shone
in her eyes in the image on Maddox’s monitor. “It’s been years, for God’s sake.
You’d think I’d be over this by now.”

“You left Fort Huachuca. You found the strength for that,”
he reminded her. “Look, if you want to back out, I’m okay with that and the
guys will understand, too. This would be the time to do it. Maybe you don’t
need the pressure of this.”

“No. Are you kidding? This was Brian’s dream for after he
retired—
our
dream—opening up a shop like his dad’s.” Her
expression transformed to a smirk. “He never would have imagined me doing it in
a Navy town—”

Maddox laughed. Becca’s husband had been a graduate of West
Point, the Naval Academy’s arch enemy in football every December.

“—but he would have wanted this. He’d be so proud. I
just wish…” Her voice trailed, and she didn’t even need to finish her sentence
for Maddox to know what she was thinking.

He wished she were doing this with her husband,
too—not some crazy band of SEAL brothers and their former CO. He wished
that for her and her son with everything he had and everything he was.

For more reasons than he cared to admit.