Chapter 1 #2
“They definitely do that.” He was so excited, I couldn’t bring myself to criticize the signage too much, so I chose my words carefully.
“I’m actually really surprised by the branding for this project.
I thought maybe we’d go with something a bit more natural.
Some earthy colors and pictures of trees, or maybe a bear. Even a…mountain.”
After all, it was a development in the mountains.
“Are you kidding?” Trevor spun me and took a step back so he could look in my eyes.
I wasn’t, but I didn’t have a chance to tell him so before he continued.
“This development needs to feel rich and regal. Purple and gold are the colors of royalty.”
“But it’s affordable housing, not luxury housing.”
“There’s some affordable housing,” he corrected me. “Don’t forget, this is a multi-dimensional project. There will be other lots available as well.”
Still.
I’d been a real estate agent in town my entire professional life. I liked to think I had my finger on the pulse of what the people of Trickle Creek were looking for. And besides, wasn’t that why Trevor had wanted me involved in this project in the first place?
Of course, there was that, and the fact that we were getting married in a few months. We were going to be a team in life as well as business. Which was why I needed to speak up about this branding on what was going to be the biggest development project in our town’s history.
“I just think that maybe the people of Trickle Creek would—”
“Ah, but that’s where you’re going wrong, darling.
” He cut me off smoothly. “We’re not trying to appeal to the people who already live here.
” He took a step back and held out his arm, turning in a slow circle in the plaza.
“Our job with Timberstone is to attract people to town. We’re about growth and development. ”
I took a step toward him. “And that’s why I think—”
“You’re so cute.” He pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “But your job isn’t to think about the business side of things.”
I bit back a sharp retort. I didn’t want to fight with him—again. Not on what should be a happy day. We’d been doing far too much arguing lately. I was exhausted.
“Your job is to sell the people of Trickle Creek on what a good idea this is,” Trevor continued. “And how much it will benefit the town. And then, you can sell the lots and units themselves.” His smile dazzled me. “After all, that’s your area of specialty, isn’t it?”
He released me, and I swallowed down my concerns the way I’d been doing more and more of lately, and lifted my left hand to look at the huge diamond on it.
I still couldn’t believe I was engaged to be married. It had all happened quite quickly and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have my doubts. But Trevor was a good man, and we did make a good team—most of the time.
Even if I wasn’t feeling the explosive fireworks and butterflies that I thought I should be. That didn’t mean it wasn’t right. That only meant it wasn’t a fairy tale or some romance novel.
“Come on, Jess.” Trevor grabbed my hand. “We need to celebrate. This is a big deal. Now that we have a proper sales office, we can—”
“But the development hasn’t even passed the council vote yet,” I said as he tugged me along. “Shouldn’t we—”
“Nonsense. That’s just a formality.” Trevor pressed his lips into a thin line. “There’s no way it won’t pass. After all, you’re a born and raised local, and you’re on our side. That carries a lot of weight in places like this. I’m not worried.”
I was. But I didn’t bother telling him that. I had been born and raised in this town, but that didn’t mean I could change the minds of people who were firmly against new developments moving in.
As if I’d conjured him with my line of thought, my eyes caught on the one man in town who was the most actively against the development my fiancé was currently so excited about.
Preston Lyons.
He was on the far side of the plaza, walking toward us. Dressed in his red SAR puffy jacket, with a charcoal-gray toque on his head, he looked as if he’d just come straight off the mountain, which he likely had.
As long as I’d known Preston, he was either in the mountains, talking about being in the mountains, or dreaming about being in the mountains.
Even when we were kids, Preston preferred to spend his time climbing trees, rolling in the dirt, and scaling boulders. The exact opposite of how I’d like to spend my time back then.
And now.
Of course, you couldn’t grow up in a town like Trickle Creek and not develop a healthy love of outdoor activities. While Preston had only become more feral as we’d grown up, my tastes had become more refined. A day on the slopes, or swinging a nine iron on the tenth hole, was more my speed.
Sure, I enjoyed a hike that rewarded me with stunning views. But then I’d happily go home to my cozy bed and a warm bubble bath. Preston’s idea of a good time was bedding down under a tree on a pile of pine needles, leaving himself exposed for whatever bear or wolf happened to wander by.
No thanks.
When Preston glanced in our direction, I raised my hand in greeting. But if he saw me, he didn’t return the wave. Instead, I saw him shake his head and could almost imagine the string of curse words he was likely muttering under his breath at the sight of the development sign.
“Are you ready?” Trevor slipped his arm around me and pulled me back to the moment.
I stared at him blankly. “For what?”
“To celebrate.” He laughed. “This is a big day. I made us reservations at Creekside.”
Preston
“Seriously?” I tugged the toque off my head and slammed it down on the bar with more force than was necessary. “They have an office? A fucking office?” I tugged my zipper down roughly and pulled my parka off before dropping onto a stool.
The puppy curled around my feet and, exhausted from his adventures, promptly fell asleep.
My brother lifted his brows and gestured in the direction of the dog, but I had bigger problems. “It’s right here in the plaza, Ethan.”
He sighed and calmly lifted my wet toque and swiped his cloth over the shiny surface of the bar before dropping a coaster down in front of me.
“I assume you’re talking about the Timberstone sales office?
” He put a freshly poured pint in front of me.
“You’ll like this one. It’s a new IPA I’ve been working on. I know you like them hoppy.”
He was trying to calm me down. I lifted the glass and took a sip of the delicious brew. My brother was an excellent brewmaster, and the opening of his brewery, Peaks & Brews, had been the best kind of addition to town and the pedestrian-only plaza that was the heart of Trickle Creek.
Unlike the garishly ugly sales office I’d just seen.
“This is good.” I wiped my mouth and set the beer down. “But yes, I’m talking about that monstrosity of a sign outside. Did you see it?”
“I did.” He nodded.
“See what?”
I turned as Brody joined us.
“You didn’t see the sign?” I stared at him, open-mouthed. “How could you miss it?”
“Oh. That.” He accepted a beer from Ethan with a nod of thanks.
“Yes, that.” I looked between my brothers in a mixture of shock and disgust.
“I see you kept the dog.” Brody lifted a questioning brow as he took the seat next to me.
I ignored him, too, and continued my train of thought. “You’re both business owners in town. How can you be okay with this?”
Ethan sighed and leaned back against the bar, his arms over his chest. “Developments are hard to stop, Pres. Besides, there’s going to be affordable housing, and we need that in town.
Badly. I can’t tell you how many stories I hear of people who can’t afford to make their rent or whose landlords are moving to a short-term rental model, and they have to move out. ”
“It’s true.” Brody jumped in. “The increase in tourism is great,” he said. “But all of those tourists create a few new problems for our town, like making sure everyone can afford to live here with the increasing prices.”
I hadn’t thought of any of that. I’d been fortunate to have a stable place to live. Years ago, I bought a small cabin on the edge of town for next to nothing and fixed it up. I’d never considered what my situation would be like if I were still renting.
“Okay,” I said after a moment. “I agree. We need affordable housing. But I still think there’s a better way to do it that doesn’t involve destroying such a big part of our trail system.” I lifted my beer and drained half the glass before setting it down again.
Damn, it really was good.
“You know the part that really pisses me off?” My brothers both stared at me.
Brody’s lips twitched up in a smirk, as if he already knew what I was going to say.
I ignored him and continued, “I don’t understand how someone who was born and raised here, and understands how special our trail systems are, could possibly support a development that would destroy them. ” I shook my head in disgust.
“Uh-huh.”
“I knew it.”
My brothers spoke at the same time.
“You knew what?” I looked at Brody. “Because you don’t know shit.”
He didn’t even bother to hide his amusement. “I know you have a thing for Jess Anderson.”
“Always have,” Ethan joined in. “Too bad she’s never felt the same.”
I could feel my face heating. There was nothing worse than big brothers who thought they understood something they had no idea about.
“That’s what really fires you up, isn’t it?” Brody continued. “That she’s the one—”
“I told you.” I stopped him. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Right.” Both brothers broke out in laughter, but there was nothing funny about the situation.
“You two smart-asses think you’re so smart, but unlike the two of you, I don’t base my decisions on a woman.”
“Hey, that’s—”
“When have I—”