Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“There’s still a lot of paperwork involved,” I told them, clearing my throat. “I’ll need to stay in town for a few days, go through the books, check through old records, conduct due diligence.” I couldn’t stop myself from glancing toward Sawyer, wondering if he’d react to the news that I’d be sticking around for a while.
He stared straight ahead, jaw clenched and lips pressed tight with anger and hurt.
I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the pang in my chest at his expression. “Otherwise—” I spread my hands wide. “—the offer is pretty straightforward.”
Mark glanced at his brothers before letting out a laugh. “Sounds good to me. Where do we sign?”
“Uncle Mark—” Sawyer began.
“I’m sorry,” Mark told him, his voice more gentle than I’d have expected. “I know you have fond memories of this place—we all do. But with Karlie being due soon and business slowing…” He didn’t need to finish to make his point known. I could tell he was fighting back emotion himself, but if the pregnant woman from the bar last night was his daughter, I could understand his desire to give her the financial stability a quarter share of a shabby motor inn wasn’t going to provide.
“You said you were going to give my plan a chance,” Sawyer argued. “That you were going to keep an open mind and at least hear me out.”
Mark gestured toward me. “That was before this man offered to make us millionaires.”
Sawyer slammed a hand on the table. “But they’re going to tear it down! Everything the Gilleys have built over generations will be gone. All the memories and history and—” He cut himself off, clearly overcome with a storm of emotions.
Brian, the owner of the pub, spoke up. “Mr. Allen, if you don’t mind, I think we’d like a moment of privacy to discuss this amongst ourselves?”
“Of course.” I gathered my things and started from the room. I tried one last time to catch Sawyer’s eyes and wished I hadn’t the moment I succeeded. It wasn’t the anger or the sadness I saw in them, it was the betrayal.
I ducked my head and pushed through the doors, letting them fall closed behind me. I let out a sigh as I made my way to the lobby to call Dick Sr. with the good news.
The Gilley men could talk all they wanted, but I already knew what the answer would be. I’d known it the moment I’d seen their reactions to the offer amount. They’d basically won the lottery, and already I could see them mentally spending the money.
All of them except for Sawyer.
But that didn’t matter. It would be three against one. I’d been told to make an offer the Gilley family wouldn’t refuse, and that’s exactly what I’d done. But that still didn’t mean that a part of me wished that in another world, in another situation, the Gilley men might have refused anyway.
That Sawyer might have walked away from the meeting victorious. But there was only one piece of property, and we couldn’t both own it. They would sell, my client would prevail, and the only remaining question was just how much Sawyer Gilley was going to hate me when all was said and done.
4
Sawyer
I wanted to punch him. And kiss him. That was the problem. Even though James had just exploded my entire life, I still couldn’t stop thinking about him. Or wanting him.
“Take a breath, Junior,” Uncle Brian said before sitting back with a sigh. “No reason to panic just yet. Let’s talk this through like adults.”
I glanced over at him. “You and I both know I’m not considered an adult in this room.”
Uncle Mark leaned his elbows on the table. “Not true. But the three of us damned sure have more experience dealing with these things than you do. So you might consider we have more reasons for wanting to accept the man’s offer than fucking over your family.” His pointed glance made me feel like an ass. He was right. I wasn’t giving them any respect the same way they weren’t giving me any.
I sighed, uncrossing my arms and placing my hands on the table. “Sell me on it, then,” I told him. “Tell me why Nana and Grandpa would have gone along with this when we all know they agreed to the renovation plan before Grandpa’s stroke.”
Mark flared his nostrils, but before he could open his mouth, Uncle Greg cut him off.
“You know the reasons for selling already, the good we could do with that money. The security it would bring all of us. The financial boost it would bring to our friends and neighbors when a new resort comes in bringing money-spenders. Mom and Dad aren’t here anymore to run the inn.”
I opened my mouth to argue that I would obviously run it, but Greg continued. “And we don’t think it’s in your best interest to tie yourself to something that’s only going to pull you into years of debt with so little guarantee of success. Besides, with a new resort in town, everyone in McBride can benefit, not just the Gilley family.”