Page 28 of Megan's Mate
Her smile faded. “No, Kevin’s are brown.” Like his father’s.
“No, not the color. The look in them. Goes a lot deeper than brown or blue. How much have you told him?”
“I—” She brought herself back, angled her chin. “I didn’t come here to discuss my personal life with you.”
“What did you come here to discuss?”
“I came to get the children, and to go over your books.”
Nathaniel nodded at her briefcase. “Got them in there?”
“Yes.” She retrieved them then, because she saw little choice, sat on the deck facing him. “I’ve finished the first quarter—that’s January, February, March. Your outlay exceeded your income during that period, though you did have some cash flow through boat repairs. There is an outstanding account payable from February.” She took out files, flipped through the neatly computer-generated sheets. “A Mr. Jacques LaRue, in the amount of twelve hundred and thirty-two dollars and thirty-six cents.”
“LaRue’s had a tough year.” Nathaniel poured more lemonade. “Holt and I agreed to give him some more time.”
“That’s your business, of course. Traditionally there would be late charges on any outstanding account after thirty days.”
“Traditionally, on the island, we’re a little friendlier.”
“Your choice.” She adjusted her glasses. “Now, as you can see, I’ve arranged the books into logical columns. Expenses—rent, utilities, office supplies, advertising and so forth. Then we have wages and withholding.”
“New perfume.”
She glanced over. “What?”
“You’re wearing a new perfume. There’s a hint of jasmine in it.”
Distracted, she stared at him. “Coco gave it to me.”
“I like it.” He leaned closer. “A lot.”
“Well.” She cleared her throat, flipped a page. “And here we have income. I’ve added the weekly ticket sales from the tours to give you a month-by-month total, and a year-to-date. I see that you run a package deal with The Retreat, discounting your tour for hotel guests.”
“Seemed friendly—and like good business.”
“Yes, it’s very smart business. On the average, eighty percent of the hotel guests take advantage of the package. I... Do you have to sit so close?”
“Yeah. Have dinner with me tonight, Meg.”
“No.”
“Afraid to be alone with me?”
“Yes. Now, as you can see, in March your income began an upswing—”
“Bring the boy.”
“What?”
“Am I mumbling?” He smiled at her and slipped her glasses off her nose. “I said bring Kevin along. We’ll take a drive out to this place I know. Great lobster rolls.” He gave the wordlobstera broad New England twist that made her smile. “I can’t claim they’re up to Coco’s standards, but there’s plenty of local color.”
“We’ll see.”
“Uh-uh. Parental cop-out.”
She sighed, shrugged. “All right. Kevin would enjoy it.”
“Good.” He handed her glasses back before he rose to heft another board. “Tonight, then.”
