24. Elodie #2
He nodded terse greetings to some but avoided my gaze entirely. “Mr. Stafford’s land borders the Drifted Spirit Inn. It’s my understanding that at one time, the property was one parcel of land. I would like to purchase the farm to reunite the properties.”
I stiffened, my blood running hot as my cheeks flamed and my mind raced.
“But Elodie is the one who’s been working the land with Mr. Stafford,” Selene said, voice sharp. “She’s the one who has put in the time. She had the vision—the vision Stan himself wanted to bring to life.”
Her eyes blazed in Cal’s direction, and my chest squeezed for my sister’s loyalty. Bless her .
The group broke into murmurs of agreement and dissent. I tried to keep my face blank, but inside I was vibrating with panic.
After steeling myself, I stood. “It’s not about who wants it,” I said, my voice cutting through the noise as I lifted my chin and willed my voice to be strong and clear.
“It’s about what is best for this community.
My community.” The dig was petty considering Cal had lived in Star Harbor for a long time, but he wasn’t from here.
This decision was huge—bigger than any soft feelings I had been starting to develop for my new neighbor.
I set my shoulders. “It’s about who has earned the right to purchase it.”
Cal tilted his head as he studied me, his gaze locking with mine. “And who decides that?”
“You want it for your inn,” I shot back. “I want it for the farm—for what Stan believed in. A family destination that brings people together.”
His eyes heated, and a tingle raced up my back. “You think I don’t give a damn about that land? I’ve lived next to it for ten years. I’ve made Star Harbor my home. Have you?”
Fire burned in my lungs, but I stood tall. “And you had plenty of time to make an offer while Stan was still here. You didn’t.”
His mouth twisted as his jaw flexed. “Careful, Darling. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I pulled my shoulders back and set my jaw, hoping he wouldn’t call my bluff. “I know enough.” I raised an accusatory eyebrow, hoping no one else could see my fingers tremble at my sides.
“Enough to bankrupt yourself trying to turn a crumbling farm into a fairy tale?” he huffed.
I hadn’t intended to publicly argue with Cal, but I wasn’t giving up on Stan’s dream without a fight.
A disgusted noise rattled in the back of my throat. “Better than using it as a marketing ploy for overpriced brunch.”
Helen clapped her hands once, sharp. We both stood at attention like the tantrum-throwing children we were acting like. “Enough. This isn’t the time or the place.”
I shook my head, biting back tears as shame washed over me. I was embarrassed for how I’d acted, but Cal had pushed—just as stubborn as I was.
The damage was done. Lines had been drawn.
When the meeting adjourned, I grabbed my purse and avoided Cal’s gaze altogether. Outside the library, I stormed down the steps, the midsummer sun scorching the back of my neck. Cal followed, his dress shoes loud on the pavement.
“You really think I’m the enemy here?” he called to my back.
I stopped short and turned, hurt and shame bubbling to the surface. “Aren’t you?” I gestured toward the library. “What was that in there?”
He closed the distance, heat rolling off him like a storm. “You think I don’t respect what you’ve done here? I do. But don’t pretend this is just about a legacy for you. You want that land because it feels like something you can fix. I’m not the only one with something to prove.”
I flinched. He wasn’t entirely wrong, and that made it a thousand times worse.
My arms crossed. “And why do you suddenly want it so badly, Callum? I would love to know what magical dream you’re fulfilling by taking this away from me.”
Emotion flickered over his dark features, but they were gone before I could decipher them. Then he smiled, slow and dangerous. “Maybe I just don’t like losing.”
I barked out a laugh as my eyes rolled. “Fine. May the best woman win.”
Cal leaned in, voice low. “The historical society will decide, but it doesn’t really matter, does it? You don’t have the money.”
“And you don’t have the charm. Like you said, the Keepers decide, and they’re already Team Ellie.” I narrowed my eyes at him in playful mocking. “Ooh, I bet knowing that pisses you off.”
The tension crackled between us like a live wire, but neither of us moved. His lips hovered inches from mine. His dark eyes bore into me. When his gaze flicked to my lips, they parted on an inhale. Instead of moving forward, he scoffed and turned on his heels.
I watched, swallowing past the grit in my throat as I watched him walk away.
A flash of hurt tweaked beneath my ribs.
Sure, poking at Cal had become my new favorite pastime, but this felt different.
Personal. Watching him walk away struck a chord that I didn’t particularly want to examine.
Instead, I needed to focus on convincing the Keepers that I was the best choice for Star Harbor Farm.
It’s just money. I could find it anywhere.
That night, I stood at the edge of the field, the moonlight turning everything silver and strange.
I could hardly believe that it was just over a month ago that my wild ideas had accidentally gotten me in over my head with Stan.
I never anticipated how it would feel to build something bigger than myself, to feel as though I was setting down roots, to finally have a purpose .
I held Gideon’s business card between my fingers, the paper soft and worn from where I had run my thumb over it a hundred times.
The land was quiet. The kind of quiet I had quickly grown to love. Now it felt like a challenge hung in the air.
I was keen enough to recognize that Cal was hiding something—his strong reaction to my ideas was more than a man protecting his peace and quiet. His angry glare had hurt and disappointment written all over it. Cal had plans for the land that he hadn’t shared, I was sure of it.
A tender part of me felt guilty for making things harder on him. Whatever his plans were, he was keeping that information close to the vest. For Cal, this was personal.
I sucked in a lungful of night air and reminded myself that the whole point of this adventure was to help Stan honor the land he had loved for decades. The farm was bigger than the both of us.
Stan was gone and the future of the farm wasn’t guaranteed, but one thing had become abundantly clear—if I wanted it, I was going to have to fight like hell.
In the distance, across the dunes, my eyes snagged on a flash of white as a cold shiver raced up my back. My arms crossed over my middle.
I didn’t know what the future held for me, but I couldn’t give up. Not on Stan and not on myself. I wasn’t just going to build a barn. I was going to build something no one could take from me.