Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
In the back of my mind, I wondered what Lexi was going to say when I told her about the job interview across the country. If she’d worry. If she’d think I was abandoning her. In my head, I heard her say, I always seem to choose leavers.
But it wasn’t the same, was it? She hadn’t really chosen me. And she certainly didn’t love me.
Still, I decided not to mention it right away.
ELEVEN
lexi
I’d taken my ring off this morning before work, but all day long I caught myself looking at the finger where it should have been. Was it strange that I kind of missed it? I knew the whole entanglement with Devlin was just for show, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so happy.
In fact, when Tabitha strolled in at three o’clock, she took one look at me and asked, “Did you go to the spa or something on your days off?”
“No. Why?”
“You just look different. You’re glowing.”
I shrugged. “Must be the crisp fall air. It’s beautiful today, isn’t it?”
She made a face. “Whatever. I’m just waiting for my money so I can get out of here. Do you know what’s happening with the sale?”
“There might not be a sale.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? Gran says there has to be. And I got a phone call from some guy wanting to talk to me about it.”
A chill snaked up my spine. “What guy?”
“I don’t know. He left a message for me yesterday.”
“What was his name?”
“I don’t know,” she said dismissively. “Rob? Bob? He said he represents some company that wants to purchase Snowberry and he’d like to talk. Evidently, Gran isn’t returning his calls.”
“How did he get your number?”
“I think my dad gave it to him.” She studied her manicure. “He must have taken a break from being a complete shithead and remembered he had a daughter. Funny, since he completely forgot my birthday last month.”
“What was the name of the guy’s company?”
“Something about diamonds?” She shrugged. “I haven’t called him back yet.”
“Don’t,” I said firmly. “I mean it, Tabitha. Don’t call him back. We’re not selling to that company.”
“I don’t take orders from you,” she said indignantly. “And why wouldn’t we sell to that company, if they give us the best offer?”
“Because we’re trying to figure out a way to prevent this place from being demolished.”
“As long as I get my money, I don’t care what they do with this place,” she said, looking around with distaste. “We’re lucky the land is worth something.”
Grabbing my bag from beneath the desk, I slung it over my shoulder. “I have to go.”
Ten minutes later, I burst into my condo and slammed the door behind me. Devlin was sitting on the couch, his laptop open on the coffee table, a notepad and pen beside it.
“What’s the name of the guy who screwed you over at your company?” I asked him. “The one who’s on the Black Diamond account now.”
“Bob Oliver,” he said, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Why?”
“Because I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’s trying to cozy up to my Uncle Roddy and my cousin Tabitha and get them to push Gran on the sale to Black Diamond.”
He nodded grimly. “Sounds like him.”
“What should we do?”
“What we’re doing.” He slid his glasses back on. “I made some calls today, and I’m continuing to crunch the numbers, but it’s going to take a little time to put a proposal together. We need estimates from contractors and aerial lift manufacturers. We need to consult a new chef. But in the meantime, we’ll need to make sure your grandmother doesn’t sell out from under us.”
“She gave me to the end of the month,” I said, crossing the room to sit beside him on the couch. “I don’t think she’d go back on her word.”
“You don’t know Bob Oliver. The guy’s a sleazeball, but he’s a good talker. He can con an old lady in the blink of an eye. And believe me, he will do anything to take me down a notch. This isn’t just business for him.”
I chewed my bottom lip. “So should we tell Gran now?”
“I think we have to. Tomorrow.”
My stomach lurched, and I put a hand over it. “Okay. Tomorrow.”
“Don’t look so scared. She wants what we want.”
“Right.” I took a deep, slow breath. “But Tabitha and her father are going to fight us.”
“We can win.” He reached over and put a hand on my knee. “Trust me.”
“Okay.” I inhaled and exhaled again, his touch reassuring. “I trust you.”
Devlin and I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening sitting at my kitchen table going over renovation ideas. In addition to collecting data, he’d actually drawn a map showing his vision for the new and improved resort.
“The biggest projects, in addition to investing in better snowmaking technology and one high-speed lift, will be the main lodge.” He pointed to it on the map. “The ground floor will be completely remodeled to include retail space, and the lower level will house a spa and heated saltwater grotto.”