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)
“I’ll help.”
I lifted an eyebrow, doubtful. “I mean, you swing a mean hammer but…”
He rolled his eyes. “You need a business plan. I can help you write it. We can use the Sea Sprite as a model property, with all the projections you’ve already made along with photos of the sample room renovation. Then, once you have a list of potential properties, you can take the package to a bank and see about getting a business loan and go from there.”
Again, he made it sound simple, but somehow he made me believe what he was saying was possible. “You think it would work?”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Absolutely. As it turns out, I’m kind of good at this sort of thing. It’s what I do for a living.”
His confidence was contagious. And sexy as hell. I stepped toward him, until my chest barely brushed against his. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Let’s get to work,” he said in a voice sexier than he’d probably intended. But then again, he always sounded sexy to me.
I leaned in to kiss him, and he tasted so good, I had to force myself to let him go so we could actually get some work done. My parents and grandparents hadn’t raised a fool. I knew that when a Yale-educated corporate attorney volunteered to help draft a business plan, I’d be an idiot to refuse.
In the end, I was glad I took advantage of his offer, because little did I know, he’d be gone within twenty-four hours.
15
James
I didn’t even realize how much time had passed until my phone rang, cutting Sawyer off mid-sentence as he was explaining his methodology behind which hotel properties he’d chosen to use as inspiration. We’d been working together for hours, trading ideas, bouncing proposals off one another, crafting a business plan, and I was amazed at how well it was all coming together.
As it turned out, we were a pretty good team.
I glanced at my phone, fully prepared to ignore the call except that the name flashing on the screen was one I couldn’t send to voicemail. “Sorry,” I said to Sawyer, grabbing my phone and starting toward the doors leading outside. “I have to take this. Be right back.”
His mouth hung open mid-word for a moment before he blinked and said. “Right, of course. I’ll just—”
But I missed the rest of what he said as my top client’s voice boomed in my ear. “James, son, how are things progressing on the Cape?”
I cringed slightly as Dick Sr.’s use of the word son. The nickname had always made me a little uncomfortable. It wasn’t necessarily professional, and always served to hammer home the power differential between us. At the same time, however, it was also a secret source of pleasure to hear him call me that. Over the years he’d become a sort of father figure to me, even more so as my relationship with Richard progressed and it looked likely Dick Sr. would actually become my father-in-law one day.
Whenever he called me son, it gave me the sense that he considered me part of his world—that I was more than just his attorney, that I mattered to him. I’d been afraid I might lose that status when Richard and I broke up, and so it was a relief to hear that things hadn’t changed.
“Things are going well, sir,” I told him.
“Think you’ll be wrapping up soon?”
I pressed my fingers against my forehead, trying to ease the sudden tension throbbing in my temples. I didn’t want to admit that I’d spent the afternoon helping Sawyer craft a business plan rather than working through the due diligence. “Should be done in another day or two,” I told him.
“Make it tomorrow. I’ve got a lead on a place out on the Oregon coast I want you to start work on.”
There was something about his thundering voice that always brought to the surface my innate feelings of wanting to impress him, to please him. My instinct was to step in line the same way I had when I’d thought he was going to be my father-in-law one day.
Even so, I hesitated. Technically, because of Greg’s extension, they had another two days to accept my offer. I wasn’t sure I’d be able get a firm agreement from Sawyer and his uncles by tomorrow.
Dick Sr. broke into the silence. “You know how important this deal is to me. Red Dixon already beat me to market in Sedona and Santa Fe, and word on the street is he’s ready to break ground on his new Cape property. I’m not letting that bastard one-up me in my own backyard. Do what it takes to get this deal done so we can get ahead of the curve on this one.”
I closed my eyes and blew out a breath. Dick Sr. hated being told no, and he despised excuses even more. If he wanted this deal closed, it was up to me to figure out how to handle it. “Of course, sir.”