Last Resort (The Grayton Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

beach and the streets.” She had stacks of fliers she’d printed out on her new laser printer in her newly remodeled office the night before.  
    Cole groaned. “Aww, man. Really?”
    “ Hey, don’t knock it. It’s the best way to pick up girls. Remember that summer I spent working for Petro’s?” Marcus smiled.  
    Roman laughed. “The summer you had twelve girlfriends?”
    “ The very same.” Marcus smiled. “I’m game. But if you want to sit this one out, Cole,” he said, grabbing his brother in a headlock, “maybe you don’t like girls.”  
    “ Knock it off, you two,” Cassey said under her breath. She was the peacemaker between her brothers. She’d broken up more fights and acts of roughhousing than she could count. Maybe that’s why she’d never thought of them as anything but brothers.  
    For the next two days, Cassey stayed busy as her brothers handed out stack after stack of fliers. When opening morning came around, she stood looking at her staff and her brothers in the main dining room.
    “ Is everyone ready for today?” Everyone shook their heads. “If there are any problems at all, don’t hesitate to let me know. How’s the kitchen?” She looked towards Sam, the head chef she’d hired two weeks ago. He was a middle-aged man who had a long line of impressive references.  
    “ Great. Ready to get cooking.” He smiled.  
    “ Wendy, how’s everything behind the bar?”  
    “ Ready,” her head bartender replied. “The last of the stock arrived yesterday, so we are up and ready. Can I just mention that I love that you took my advice on the blenders.” She smiled a warm smile. Wendy had been invaluable and was quickly becoming one of Cassey’s best friends. “I can’t wait to whip up some mixed drinks.”  
    Cassey nodded. “You’ve all been so wonderful.” She looked down at her watch. “Now, how about we open those doors and see what happens. Stations everyone.” She clapped her hands.
    “ What about us?” Marcus asked.  
    “ Stand over there and look gorgeous…and flirt with all the single ladies.” She smiled.  
    “ Can do.” He saluted her and then turned to his brothers. “Pure torture.” They laughed as they walked over to the bar area and immediately started flirting with Wendy.  
    Cassey walked to the front doors, closed her eyes for just a moment, and took a deep breath.
    A memory flashed in her mind. Her stepmother hovered over her as she screamed, “You will never amount to anything. You hear me girl? You are worthless.”
    Opening her eyes, she straightened her shoulders and flipped the lock on the doors. The sunlight hit her face and she smiled as she saw the long line of customers waiting outside.

Chapter Two
     
    Two years later…  
     
    C assey watched customers come and go. She knew what her financial books said and wondered why things weren’t clicking. It had been two wonderful years, and she’d paid off half her loan in that short time, faster than she had imagined. But now something was wrong. Customers weren’t coming as frequently. She had Sam change up the menus a little to reflect the changing styles. People always said how great the food and atmosphere were, but then she wouldn’t see them again.  
    They had their regulars at the bar, and the weekends during the season were still good. However, in the last few weeks, she had seen a change and customers just weren’t coming.
    She stood out on the pier and frowned. There just weren’t enough people walking by anymore. Even the shops next to her had suffered. She’d talked to the owners and all of them were baffled. Some buildings now sat empty with “for sale” signs in the front windows. Enough buildings sat empty that it was a great concern to the other business owners. Some of the business that had disappeared had been bought out, but there were still enough businesses and owners that were determined to stick it out, no matter what.
    She’d been visited a few times by