Chapter Seven
Maddox
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On Monday afternoon, I headed to Essex. Gabe and Leo were meeting me there. My phone buzzed, and I assumed it was one of my brothers even though we’d already discussed the agenda for the day.
Looking down, I frowned at the screen, and then my blood went cold. Dad was calling. What the hell does he want? The last time I”d spoken to him was when I played mediator between him and the rest of the family when we”d bought his shares in Whitley Industries.
I didn”t want to not answer, though. If he wanted to confront me, then so be it. I accepted the call using Bluetooth, gritting my teeth.
”Maddox, this is Dad,” he said.
”Hi,” I replied.
”Is this a good time?”
”What is it about?” I asked, because it was never a good time. ”I”m going to Essex,” I decided to inform him.
”Right. I have to say, I didn”t realize you boys would be so against me coming back to Boston.”
”Really? You thought that after you destroyed everyone”s lives, we would want you back here?”
There was a pause, and then he said, ”That was a long time ago.”
”It took us years to rebuild Whitley Industries, Dad. Years. You left it in shambles.”
”But now you”re all doing brilliantly, judging by how much my shares were worth. Anyway, I”m calling with good news. At least, I think you”ll take it as good news.”
”I”m listening.”
”I”ve decided to open a hotel here in Australia. I got your message loud and clear.”
I exhaled sharply. Fuck yes.
”That”s good. I wish you all the best.”
Truly, I did. I hoped he succeeded and built an empire for himself. I just didn”t want him anywhere around us.
”The same to you and Gabe,” he said.
Nothing more was said, and after he hung up, I focused on the road. There was no need for him to actually inform me of his plans, so I appreciated that he did. I hadn”t even realized it, but I”d been on edge ever since this whole debacle with Essex, anticipating his next move. In the past, I’d been the one to keep tabs on him, but now Gabe was spearheading the task.
I decided to push it to the back of my mind once I arrived in town.
We”d agreed on building a temporary structure on the premises where we could meet with the architect and the construction group to discuss business. Currently, my brothers and I were still discussing the outdoor area. Since the plans for the actual hotel were already finished, construction would start soon. Work on the distillery would begin later. Luckily, I wasn’t involved in that at all—it was all Gabe’s deal.
We spent about an hour discussing the landscaping on the property we actually owned. Then he pulled up our potential plans for Samuel and Cami’s land.
”Obviously, this involves actually getting the neighboring property,” he said. ”If not, I”ll discard all this and start from scratch.”
”We”ll get it,” I said confidently. ”But I have a request.” I looked straight at him, fully aware that my brothers wouldn”t let me live this down. ”I want to keep the land, especially the trees, as is on the neighboring property. One of the reasons the owners don’t want to sell is that we”re cutting down too much of it.”
Aiden, the architect, frowned, glancing down at his laptop. ”I need some time to think this over. Generally speaking, everything”s possible. It”s just a matter of cost.”
I looked up at my brothers. Leo frowned, probably confused, but Gabe gave me a shit-eating grin. ”I like where you”re going with this.” Then he glanced at Aiden. ”The cost isn”t a problem.”
”Are you going to fill me in?” Leo asked.
”Samuel will be more inclined to sell if we can preserve the land,” I replied.
Leo”s expression instantly changed from confused to amused. ”Samuel or Cami?”
”Both.”
”Let me get this straight,” Aiden said. ”You want to preserve the adventure park too?”
I shook my head. ”No. We”ll remove it, but we’d like to be more considerate with the vegetation, the trees and such.” I was certain Cami would be more inclined to consider the offer if we didn’t bulldoze all her white cedar trees.
Despite the way things went down last time I saw her, something in her beckoned to me. Her protectiveness toward her dad, and even her connection with this place. She and I were similar in some aspects, just as Gran had pointed out. I cared about building a legacy; she wanted to preserve that of her family. I was usually an opportunistic bastard when it came to business, letting numbers decide. But in this case, I needed to approach things differently.
”Well, well,” Leo said. ”I’ll mark this day on the calendar.”
Gabe whistled. ”I agree.”
Aiden was looking around the table at us as if we”d all lost our minds. Maybe I had, but I also had a good feeling about this.
”How fast can you draft up a new plan?” I inquired.
He shook his head. ”At this point, you”re burning money.”
I pinned him with a stare, cocking a brow. ”We”re the clients, and it”s our money. If we want to burn through it, that”s our problem.”
”Fair enough,” he said, holding up his hand in self-defense. ”I’ll get on it right away.”
”Perfect.”
He gathered his files and shook everyone’s hands, promising to get back to us with the new plans sometime soon.
After Aiden left, Gabe headed home to Boston as well.
”Planning on leaving soon?” Leo asked me.
”I want to grab dinner in town first,” I said. It was late, and I was hungry.
He nodded. ”I”ll come with you. I”ve wanted to get a look around Main Street for a while, and I could go for a good burger.”
”Why do you want to see the town?”
”I want to get a feel for it, see if it’s a good fit for clients looking for vacation homes.” Despite leading one of the biggest real estate companies in the country, Leo was still very hands-on. But it was probably what led to his phenomenal success.
”Sure. Let”s go.”
I didn”t like that Aiden didn’t give me a timeline for the new plans. I needed them quickly—at least the basic sketches. I was going to call him and put more pressure on him later this week. Time was of the essence, and I knew if I had those plans to show Cami, she”d see that this was an excellent deal.
Leo and I drove our respective cars and parked just off Main Street. Essex certainly had its charm. Once I got out of the car, I noticed my brother morph into business mode. He kept cataloging everything up and down the street, looking intently at the mix of Federal- and Colonial-style buildings. His real estate mind was clicking away.
”They”ve done a great job preserving historical buildings,” he commented.
”I agree. Now come on. Let”s go inside and grab something to eat.” I pointed at the sign that said Lisa’s Burgers.
“Burgers! Great!”
The restaurant was in one of the Colonial buildings, and there was already a lot of commotion inside. Clearly, we”d hit a popular time for dinner. I looked around for an empty table and noticed a familiar redhead sitting alone by the window.
”Find anything?” Leo asked.
”Yeah, that’s Cami.”
He narrowed his eyes, following my gaze.
”Damn, she”s hot as hell. I can see why Gran is starting to have ideas.”
I scoffed. ”Gran is very off base, but I don”t have the heart to tell her. Let’s go over to her and say hi.”
”You think that’s a good idea?” Leo asked.
”Yeah.” I’d made up my mind. ”The architect said he could draw the plans. I don”t have to wait until he”s actually done with them to bring this up to Cami.”
”Right. And you’re sure you”re not just looking for an excuse to talk to her?”
”Don’t be a dick.”
Leo wiggled his eyebrows.
I sighed. ”Whatever it is, say it. You”re bursting with it.”
”You”ve got a reputation of someone who doesn”t give an inch in negotiations.”
”I change tactics as needed.”
”Yeah, but your tactic is usually bulldozing over your negotiation partner. And now you’re having the architect change the plans.”
”Are you done?” I asked.
”And you”re in a bad mood. Damn, I”m on to something.”
We headed straight to her. She glanced up from the menu when we reached her table, her bright green eyes instantly dimming when she saw me.
”Hi. I’m Leo Whitley,” my brother said, extending his hand. ”Nice to meet you, Cami. I”ve heard a lot about you.”
”I”m sorry, I have no idea who you are. I suppose you’re related to Maddox and Gabe?”
”Yes, I’m their brother. I”m the realtor who found the property.”
Cami nodded tightly.
”Are these seats taken?” I asked, pointing to the two chairs at the table.
”No,” she said. ”I came here alone. I was just about to order.”
”My brother and I want to have dinner here too. May we join you?”
”Actually,” Leo said, ”I just got a text from my assistant. I have to head back to Boston.”
Really? This late in the evening?
He winked at me.
Oh, for fuck”s sake. Could he be any more obvious?
He turned to Cami. ”It was nice meeting you. Now, a word of advice... or warning. Depends how you want to interpret it. My brother is very stubborn and very proud. We all share those unfortunate traits.”
”Uh, right. I’m aware,” she said, staring at him, dumbfounded.
”He”s also extremely hard to please. He’s been riding my ass for, like, a million years to find him a house. He isn”t happy with any option I bring him. And trust me, I’m giving it my best. I always go that extra mile for the family.”
”Leo,” I said in a warning tone.
He raised a brow at me. ”What? Maybe an inside perspective from a family member is going to help.” He pointed back and forth between us.
Cami glanced at me, but I didn”t detect animosity, just pure confusion.
Damn, she’s cute.
”But,” Leo continued as if he wasn”t being completely intrusive, ”he”s a great guy. I can vouch for him. I think that was what Gran was trying to do when she joined him on his last visit.”
”That”s enough,” I said.
The corners of Cami”s mouth twitched. Then her mouth opened up in the most gorgeous smile. I was so caught in it for a few seconds that I forgot I was in the middle of telling my brother off.
”Thank you for your input, Leo. I”ll try to keep that in mind,” she said.
”Yes, please do. Some days I want to kill him, too, but then I remember I can”t because he”s my brother.”
”Noted.”
”Okay, then, my job here is done. I”ll see you,” he called to me. ”Cami, nice to meet you,” he said again before heading toward the front door.
I pulled a chair back and sat down as Cami watched my brother leave. Then she turned her gaze to me, licking her lips. I had to stop obsessing over her mouth.
”What in the world was that about?” she asked.
”That was my brother”s attempt at helping,” I said in a neutral tone, trying not to laugh. Leo’s antics were funny, but some people didn’t take them that way.
”Mmm,” she said noncommittally, glancing at the menu. ”We should order before that group there”—she pointed at the other end of the room—”or we’ll wait forever for our food.”
”Sure, what”s good here?” I asked.
”The house burger is a hit. As well as the beans as a side dish.”
I glanced down at the menu. I didn”t like beans, but I found fries, which I enjoyed.
Cami waved at someone, and a waiter joined us.
”Hi, Cami. What can I get you?” He looked at me and then at Cami.
”Bart, this is Maddox Whitley.”
The guy narrowed his eyes infinitesimally
”You”re the one who wants to build that fancy-ass distillery and hotel.”
”Yeah, that”s me,” I said. ”Pleased to meet you.”
He just grunted.
Oh, for fuck”s sake.
”What can I get you?” he asked again.
”I”ll have the house burger and beans,” Cami said.
”I’d like a Coke, the house burger, and fries,” I added.
”Very good. Be right back with your orders.” He turned on his heel and headed toward the kitchen.
”So, what brings you here?” she asked once we were alone.
I leaned back in my chair. ”My brothers and I met with the architect. We’ve finalized the plans for the hotel but not those of the other lot. He’d already drawn up the initial plans, the ones we sent your Dad, but—”
I stopped because her shoulders stiffened. She licked her lips, pushing a strand of her red hair behind her ear. I found myself wondering if she liked to go out with wet hair in the morning after her shower.
”Listen, I”ve asked the architect if he can alter the plans so the hotel”s garden would include the trees—your forest—as is. We would not develop that area. He said it”s possible.”
Cami blinked. ”But... you already paid for a set of plans.”
I looked at her intently. Her eyes had widened slightly, and I could see she was pleased. ”Nothing”s set in stone. Even after we get the property—”
”If you get it.”
I smiled. ”You’re right. If we get it, it still needs to get approved by the local council and so on. At any rate, I”ve instructed the architect to prepare another plan. Would that idea make you more eager to sell?”
She raised a brow. ”Why would you even go through that trouble? It must be costing you a fortune.”
”Because it”s important to me for this deal to go through,” I said. Even as I spoke, I knew it went deeper than that. But I didn”t want to explore those reasons.
The waiter brought our food and the drinks at the same time.
”I”m impressed with the speed,” I said.
Cami nodded. ”Trust me, it”s good that we got the order before the other group.”
”You didn”t answer my question.”
She snapped her gaze up, and I immediately felt bad for my terse comment.
Damn it, why do I do that?
”I”d have to talk to Dad. But yes, part of the reason I was resisting the sale is because I didn”t want the land altered.”
”I understand, but what”s the other part?” I asked even though I had an inkling from what Samuel had told me.
She took a sip of soda, looking me straight in the eyes. ”That”s a very personal question.”
”Right,” I replied. ”But if I don”t know, I can”t fix it.”
She laughed. ”You can”t fix everything, Maddox. But I’ll think about it. The fact that you”re even willing to contemplate changing the plans earns you a few points. Will Leo be involved in running things with you and Gabe?”
I shook my head as I swallowed a mouthful of burger. It was fantastic. I planned to visit all the restaurants on Main Street before we opened so we could give guests recommendations.
But I was getting ahead of myself.
”No, he just helped us with the property. He tagged along today because he wanted to take a look at Essex.”
”Hmm,” she said, and her green eyes drew me in. This woman had it all, and I wanted to get to know her better.
”You don”t believe me.” I grinned, and that earned me smile.
”Well, you did show up with your grandmother at the park and now somehow ran into me with your brother. Forgive me for thinking that it”s all premeditated.”
She gave me a little wink, and it was my turn to laugh. ”I”ll put all my cards on the table.”
On instinct, I leaned in closer, and she didn”t pull back.
”The visit with Gran was premeditated. She had a plan. As for today, it really was serendipity. We just wanted to grab a bite.”
She smiled slowly. ”I believe you.” She pursed her lips. ”Wait, you said your grandmother had a plan. What was it?”
I looked at her intently, weighing the pros and cons of informing her about my grandmother”s matchmaking tendencies. But that would require a full history of my family, and even so, she”d probably think we were insane.
”She hasn”t confirmed anything. At this point, I”m only guessing. But she likes you.”
Her eyes were incredulous. ”She only met me once.”
”She makes up her mind fast.”
”You”re close to your grandma?” I could tell that pleased Cami.
”Yes. Believe it or not, I”m not an ogre. I”m close to everyone in my family.”
She smiled at that. I was hoping this conversation was putting us in a friendlier territory. And not just to help with negotiations either.
”You”ve got more siblings besides Gabe and Leo?”
”A bunch. Nick, Jake, Colton, Cade, and Spencer.”
”You”re serious?” The shock on her face had me smiling again.
”You didn”t google the Whitley family? It’s huge with unusual family history.”
Cami frowned. ”It never even occurred to me.”
”Well, that”s about all of us. Plus our grandparents. We”re all very close. And extremely competitive.”
”Aha,” she said. ”Let me guess: you”re the type who plays to win, not just to enjoy the game.”
I tilted my head, studying her. She was definitely more relaxed now. I wasn”t a fool; I knew I hadn”t won the battle. She”d told me that my idea of preserving the forest only solved part of the problem, so I wasn”t calling this a victory yet. Still, we”d managed to have dinner without pissing each other off. I was taking that as a win.
”It depends. I”m adaptable.”
She smiled. ”How good is your darts game?”
”I”m no slouch.” Where is she going with this?
She nodded toward the other end of the room where there were several dart stations. ”Then once we”re done eating, we can play.”
”And if I win,” I said carefully, weighing my words, ”you”ll tell me what the other part of the problem is in selling your place.”
”Fine.” A smile played on her lips.
”You answered far too quickly.”
She grinned. ”That”s because I hold a five-year winning streak at darts. I”m the undisputed champion of Essex.”
Impressive. ”Challenge accepted.”
I hadn”t played darts in a few years, but it was probably like riding a bike.
***
Turned out I sucked. Cami was a pro, hitting the target every time. I couldn’t help checking her out when she was focusing on her aim. Her curves were so damn sexy and drove me insane. She was wearing a short skirt that rode up her thigh every time she leaned slightly forward, with those wool tights women are into these days, but I had no problem imagining her bare skin underneath. She’d taken off her sweater to reveal a tank top that displayed her cleavage when she threw her dart.
The first glimpse had been involuntary.
Every time after was 100 percent voluntary.
She was just too damn gorgeous.
”So, Maddox, is this a very unlucky evening for you? Or do you usually brag about nonexistent skills?” she teased half an hour later.
I liked her sass. Cami definitely knew how to put me in my place.
”Maybe I just wanted you to win.” Yeah, right.
She didn’t buy it and shook her head, then waggled her finger in front of me. ”You just owned up to being competitive. You can’t fool me.”
I laughed. ”I’ll let you in on a secret. I haven”t played darts in quite a while. Eight years or more.”
”Then why did you agree?”
I shrugged. ”I thought it sounded like fun.”
”Cami, are you sharpening your skills to beat the shit out of everyone again?” a man”s voice said from behind us.
Her demeanor instantly changed. She straightened up and rolled her shoulders back as if preparing for a confrontation, putting her hand on her stomach and sucking in a breath. Whoever this was put her on edge.
”And you must be Maddox Whitley,” the guy said. He smiled at Cami before shaking my hand.
”I”m sorry, but I’m at a disadvantage. What”s your name?” I asked.
”Bill Smith. I work for the town council. I”m in charge of approving all the new developments in town, hence why I know who you are.” He was a geeky-looking dude, and I didn’t like him from the start. And the way he affected Cami bothered me.
”Nice to meet you,” I said. Not really.
”Anything you need, this is my card,” he said, taking one out of his wallet and handing it to me. I noticed Bill’s gaze travel over Cami, and I wanted to punch him in the jaw.
I slid it into my own wallet, offering him a knowing glare while adding, ”Thank you.”
He glanced at Cami again with too much interest for my taste. ”How long are you playing? I can buy you a beer.”
”Thanks,” she said, ”but I won”t stay long. Just enough to beat Maddox. And as you can see on the scoreboard, that won”t take much more.”
She definitely seemed uncomfortable, especially when Bill gave her a sly smile. I didn”t like it. He obviously had an interest in her, and I was going to nip that in the bud.
“We need to get back to our game,” I said.
”I”ll see you around, Cami. Nice to meet you, Maddox,” he replied before leaving us.
After he left, she grabbed another dart and adjusted her stance to throw it but instead lowered her hand again.
”Is he still around?” she asked me.
”No, he”s at the bar. What was that exactly?”
”Um, just... you know... Bill.” He really bothered her, and that made me uneasy. It brought out my protective instincts—and protecting Cami would be my honor.
”No, I don”t know. I”ve never heard of the guy before today. You clearly aren”t a fan of him.”
She shrugged. ”Bill is a staple in Essex. His family moved from New York when we were in middle school. They own a lot of property around here. His dad used to be the mayor. Bill didn”t follow in his dad’s footsteps and become mayor—mainly because the town didn’t want him to be—but he is very influential on the town council. Anyone who wants a permit needs his approval. We went out once in high school, and since then, he’s asked me out a few times over the years, but I”ve always turned him down. He”s been married four times, and each wife left him because she caught him cheating. He’s very persistent.”
”Cami, if he’s bothering you—”
She cut me off before I could say more. ”No, no. It’s not that. I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with him tonight.” She looked directly into my eyes. ”I’m glad you were here.”
I leaned in so close that I smelled her perfume. It was a delicious flowery scent.
”I”m glad I was here too.”
She gave a winning smile and then threw her dart. ”Will you look at that? I won!” she cried. ”Well, this evening has been fun, Maddox.”
”I can say the same.”
I didn’t get her to confirm what her other reason for not selling was, but it didn’t matter. We’d made progress.
She put on her sweater and turned to look at me. ”But,” she said in a teasing manner, ”I still haven”t decided if I like you.”
I leaned in closer. ”Good night, Cami. I’ll see you around. The hotel’s construction is starting tomorrow.”
She sucked in her breath, and her cheeks turned red. Despite what she”d said, I knew she”d decided. She did like me, she just wasn”t ready to admit it, not even to herself.
But I’d change that soon enough.