Last Chance Motel 1 (Last Chance Romance Series) by Abigail Keam

else.”
    “Maybe down the road, but I need someone now. Can you promise me that you’ll stick around forever?”
    “No, and neither can you. No one can make promise like that.”
    “You did to Beth.”
    “That was different.”
    “Yes, it was. It was true love. I want true love, Mike. I may never get it, but I don’t want to cheat myself either. I want my chance to find it.”
    “I don’t know what to say.”
    Eva leaned over and kissed Mike’s cheek. “Wish me luck.”
    Mike looked deeply into Eva’s eyes. “All the best for you, Eva Hanover, because you deserve it. I wish I was that guy for you.”
    “We can be friends. You’ll be there for me?”
    “Always.”
    “Daddy!!!!”
    Mike grinned at Eva as he gathered the cat tubs and headed toward the house. He stood on the stoop, watching Eva pull out of the driveway and head out on Highway 1. He hoped he just hadn’t made the second biggest mistake of his life.

36
    F or the next several weeks, Eva and Mike worked long hours on the motel. Juan came when he could, but his absence was hardly noticeable as Dennis took up the slack.
    Mike had to admit that Dennis was a good worker, although he loathed the sight of him. As for Eva, they were civil and polite to each other. Too polite.
    The bungalows were finally painted and the decks stained. Each bungalow was painted a different pastel color with flamingo pink trim and doors numbered with carved pink flamingos.
    Eva, Mike, and Dennis stood looking at the entire complex.
    “What do you think?” asked Eva.
    “I think it looks great. Old Florida at its best. Women should love the quaintness of it and the men will love the dock, fishing station, and kayaking,” assured Mike.
    “Not my cup of tea, but it looks quite nice,” answered Dennis. He would have chosen a more subdued color scheme but no one had bothered to ask his opinion.
    Both Eva and Mike turned to stare at Dennis, who was oblivious to their irritation with his response.
    “What do you think, Jenny?” asked Eva.
    “It’s wonderful. Looks like fairies live here. All the color! And the tree house is great too.”
    “That’s your dad’s idea. I had to pay a little extra in insurance for that bad boy, but I hope kids can play pirate on it,” added Eva. “I know I would. And shuffleboard and hopscotch are painted on the concrete slabs where those two bungalows were torn down. Your dad also attached a jumping rope to a tree for kids.”
    “What is hopscotch?” asked Jenny.
    Eva was horrified that Jenny had never played hopscotch before but tried not to show it. “I will show you how to play hopscotch later, okay?”
    Jenny nodded enthusiastically.
    A large truck pulled into the compound and honked its horn. The furniture had finally arrived.
    Eva had saved a bundle on the outdoor furniture as Mike had made the outdoor tables and chairs from the salvage woodpile. Eva had to admit that Mike had a talent for making unusual furniture that was both sturdy and fun to sit in.
    With the savings, she was able to purchase more upscale bedding and furniture for the motel. Now it was here and time to move into the bungalows.
    All of the bedding was luxurious and the best Eva could buy. The linens were made from Egyptian cotton. First all the sheets, blankets, and bedspreads were taken to the laundry room. Then each piece had to be washed and tagged with the motel’s logo before it was put on a bed.
    Eva assigned each person a specific room of the bungalows to finish.
    Juan had the bedrooms to assemble.
    Eva took the bathrooms.
    Mike was to handle the living area and kitchenettes.
    And Dennis was to make sure all the outdoor grills were ready to go and place outdoor furniture on the decks.
    It took Juan and his sons all day to assemble the bedrooms. He had to take out all the unusable bed frames and replace them with double or king size frames and mattresses.
    His wife and daughters were in charge of washing the linens but concurred with Eva that the heavy