Chapter 28
I felt as if I had insider knowledge of something big. Like I knew a secret, or had gotten away with something far bigger than anything I’d ever seen before.
In reality, I was just enjoying a peaceful morning after a monumental night.
The precipice. The moment everything changed for us.
It was a gift I didn’t know how to unwrap without smiling like an idiot.
Sunlight poured in through the windows of my open downstairs floor, warm and lazy on a weekend morning.
Tanner was in my kitchen, making coffee like he belonged there, unbothered by anything, while Rhea sat cross-legged on the couch in one of my oversized sweaters, scrolling on her phone with a concentrated look on her face.
It felt domestic in a way that made my chest ache.
Almost as if it were too perfect.
Which was probably why Rhea cleared her throat and interrupted it. “We need to talk.”
There it was.
Tanner leaned against the chair, holding a cup of coffee in his hand, and I forced my eyes to stray away from his delicious muscles to his serious face. “We found out who’s behind the purchases around town.”
My stomach tightened, and any dirty thoughts I’d been having about my two lovers disappeared with a poof. “The developers?”
Rhea shook her head, “Not exactly.”
She held her phone out across the coffee table, and I took it.
On the screen was a shell company name I’d seen before.
Twice, to be exact, once on a zoning notice at a village board meeting, I attended when I first bought the property for Honey & Hearth.
And then once again in a legal disclaimer in the newspaper I didn’t like the feel of.
“They’re not local,” Tanner said. “They’re not even regional. It’s a corporate umbrella. They buy under different names, like Bakewell, then move fast and keep everything just legal enough to avoid scrutiny.”
“And once they own enough,” Rhea added, leaning forward on her elbows, “they rezone. They jack up rents to impossible heights. Bankrupt small businesses. Run locals out of their generational homes. And turn places like Honey & Hearth into concept locations.”
I felt sick to my stomach as the words sank into my head. “They’re trying to turn Cedar Bluff into a brand.”
“Exactly,” Tanner said. “And some folks are already desperate enough to buy the pitch. They’re promising things like jobs, tourism, even using terms like revitalization as if it’s a good thing.”
Rhea met my eyes as I snuggled deeper into Tanner’s worn t-shirt from yesterday that I was wearing as she went on, “But they don’t know who they’re dealing with.”
“So, we tell them,” I said immediately. “We tell everyone, right?” Glancing up at Tanner, I searched his eyes for confirmation. “That will work, right? Everyone will see what we learned and realize it’s not good. Right?”
A knock sounded at the door behind Tanner, and before any of us could react, it swung open.
“Goldie, darling! I smelled coffee, and I have juicy, dirty tea to spill!”
Jasper, my over-the-top best friend, froze mid-stride through my foyer.
Tanner had flipped around to face the door, operating on instinct to face a threat, instead of worrying about the fact that the intruder wasn’t a threat at all.
Or at least Jasper wouldn’t have been, if Tanner hadn’t still been very naked. Which neither Rhea nor I minded one bit until my gay best friend walked in to see his impressive package.
There was a long, deadly second of silence before Jasper’s eyes lit up like Christmas morning as he stared at Tanner’s dick.
“Oh,” he drawled with a grin, “Oh, wow. Good morning, Officer, I didn’t know they let you carry a weapon off duty.”
Tanner coughed, scrambling for the blanket behind me on the loveseat as he dropped it twice before getting it wrapped around his waist. “Jesus Christ—”
“Don’t cover up on my account,” Jasper continued, waving a hand. “I’m an artist. This is a gift for so many reasons.”
Rhea lost it, full-on laughter escaping her with her head tipped back. I clapped a hand over my mouth as I tried to hold back my own giggles. “Jasper! You can’t just walk in!”
“You gave me a key!” My best friend finally looked away from Tanner’s six-pack and looked over at me. “And frankly, I have no regrets.”
Tanner groaned, covering his face with his hand, turning red over every inch. “I’m going to need therapy.”
Jasper circled him slowly, as if he were appraising him like a piece of merchandise at an antique market.
“You know, I imagined many things happening here last night after your little ménage à trois date. But I didn’t expect a sexy naked morning after,” He looked up at Tanner’s serious face as he rounded his front again. “Not from you, Mr. Law and Order.”
“Stop,” Tanner groaned again.
“Don’t stop,” Rhea said cheerfully, “Please continue.”
Jasper leaned over and stage-whispered to Rhea around Tanner’s big body, “Does it get even bigger than that? Or did I interrupt something?”
“I’m leaving.” Tanner turned and walked up the stairs as Rhea cackled, clapping her hands and kicking her feet when Jasper threw himself down on the couch next to her.
Rhea collected herself and nudged Jasper, feeding my naughty friend’s need for drama. “It gets so much bigger. And it’s always ready for more. The man has no off button.”
“I can hear you!” Tanner yelled from upstairs, and I giggled before he added. “Which is making it hard to get dressed!”
“Hard!” Jasper cried theatrically, “It wasn’t even hard, but it was that big?”
“Focus!” I called, clapping my hands as Jasper jumped up from his seat like he was about to go up to my bedroom to see firsthand just how much bigger Tanner’s package got but Rhea pulled him back down onto the couch next to her.
“We were planning how we were going to save the town from big corporate snakes trying to steal it out from under us when you barged in.”
He took a deep breath and composed himself, “Oh yeah, that.” He crossed his legs at the knee and leaned forward, “I have gossip.”
Tanner thudded back down the stairs, dressed in a pair of jeans, the band of his boxer briefs sticking out just above the waistband and still completely shirtless. All three of us watched him, not even trying to hide our open enjoyment as he picked me up off the loveseat and settled me in his lap.
“You’re wearing my only spare shirt.” He said against my ear and nibbled it for emphasis.
“I’m not sorry in the least,” I giggled, leaning into him as he held me. “But we need to focus. Jasper has the tea, and I can tell it’s good.”
“Spill it.” Rhea nudged Jasper, and he snapped his jaw closed, tearing his gaze away from Tanner and focused.
“Okay,” Jasper said. “Everyone lock your faces into something appropriately shocked, because what I'm about to say comes in layers and I’m a hoe for a good reactive audience. Storytelling is my kink and fandoms are my fetish.”
Tanner sighed, leaning his forehead against my shoulder, “Jasper—”
“Nope,” Jasper cut in, “No interruptions. This is an artistic reveal.”
Rhea lifted her mug in salute, “I’m listening.”
“So,” Jasper continued, voice dropping conspiratorially, “you know how Miller’s Hardware is definitely not for sale?”
My stomach tightened, “They’ve said that for years.”
“Correct. Generational stubbornness. Old man Miller still calls email ‘the devil’s work.’” Jasper leaned closer. “Guess who walked in last week like they were our lord and savior, Oprah?”
Rhea’s jaw clenched. “One of the corporate buyers?”
“Two of them,” Jasper corrected with a nod. “Matching suits and shiny shoes. They smelled of money and entitlement, and not in a good way. They stunk.”
Tanner tensed under me. “What did they offer?”
Jasper smiled slowly, “Five times market value.”
The room fell silent.
“Five,” Jasper repeated. “Times. Market. Value. Cold hard cash. No inspection contingencies, no delays.”
“That’s insane,” I whispered.
“And,” Jasper added, lifting a finger, “they told the Millers they had forty-eight hours to decide.”
Rhea sat forward, brow creased and serious, “That’s pressure.”
“That’s coercion,” Tanner said flatly.
“Oh, it gets better,” Jasper said. “Mrs. Miller told them to take their dirty money and thug mentality and get off her property. Loudly. In front of a store full of customers.”
I swallowed. “And then the fire happened.”
Jasper’s expression finally sobered. “Two days later.”
Rhea’s voice was low as she looked at Tanner, “We knew it wasn’t an accident.”
“I think,” Jasper said carefully, “that this isn’t the first time those men have been seen in town. And it wasn’t the first time they had been told no.”
Tanner exhaled sharply. “They were mapping. But Goldie and the Millers didn’t play along.”
“But they’ve never come to me like that!” I shook my head, trying to figure it all out, “Not until after the flood.”
“Not directly,” Rhea replied. “But they tried to buy the building out from under you to start with. And failed because of a paperwork delay on the town’s part, and then it was too late.”
“Exactly,” Jasper said, “And I think they’re not asking anymore. I think they’ve changed tactics and are trying to force people out. Good, honest, hardworking people.”
I felt cold all over, “Has anyone else heard this?”
“Oh, honey,” Jasper said gently, “everyone’s heard pieces. They just haven’t put them together yet.”
Rhea nodded once. “Then we'll help them.”
Tanner took a deep breath, letting it out evenly. “This sounds like the perfect time to call a town meeting.”
Jasper’s smile returned, sharp and delighted. “Oh, I love a public reckoning.”
I squared my shoulders. “We tell them everything. Every foul bit of it.”
“And,” Jasper added sweetly, “I come with receipts.” He pulled something out of his pocket, and Rhea took it from him and read it. “Business cards. From when they were at the Millers' and the other night when they approached you outside the bakery.”
Tanner whistled, impressed as he relaxed onto the couch. “Of course you do.”
Jasper preened at his compliment. “Never underestimate a man with good hair and a deliciously unhealthy thirst for drama.”
Rhea smirked, glancing away from us back at him. “You’re trouble. But I like it.”
“I prefer invaluable,” Jasper said. “Now, who’s ready to blow the lid off Cedar Bluff?”