7. Tanner
7
TANNER
I push through the door and into the boardroom back at the distillery, Sawyer hot on my heels. My strides are long, my adrenaline high, my ears ringing as my blood feels like it’s coursing around my body at a speed that has me antsy.
“That was interesting…” Sawyer says, taking a seat at the large oak table I built over a decade ago. Woodworking is a hobby of mine, this desk one of my biggest projects. It is not the shiny polished timber you would find in the city. This is all recycled, damaged, dented, and from the old barrels. Stained in places, it’s sanded back to reveal the inner workings of the wood. It is unique, just how I like things.
“I can’t believe she turned down a million dollars,” I say in awe, unsure of my next move. She surprised me when we barreled up to her place, offering money she has probably never seen and yet still rejected. She wasn’t what I was expecting.
“We could up our price? Perhaps offer her another few hundred thousand, pay for her flight home and any incidentals so she isn’t out of pocket for coming here,” Sawyer suggests, and what he offers makes sense. I want that property, and I will do anything to get it.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I sigh, and even though it is early, I walk over to my whiskey bar and pour myself one finger. My new neighbor has me feeling off-kilter. She is feisty and stubborn. Assertive and clearly knowledgeable. I like her.
Jerry said she was pretty, but she was fucking stunning. The image of her standing there barefoot, her toes polished a soft shade of pink, her hair blowing in the small breeze. She is naturally beautiful. I shake my head. Not only do I already know she is going to be a massive pain in my ass, but she’s also way too young for me to be having these kinds of thoughts.
“Something tells me she still won’t take it,” I murmur, throwing my drink back, not even feeling the burn I desperately need right now.
“I want you to put through the paperwork with the town planner,” I tell him abruptly.
“But you can’t. You don’t own the land,” Sawyer says.
“Adverse possession. That property is as good as mine.” I’m confident that I will get it.
“I don’t think that will work.” Sawyer shakes his head at me, frowning.
“I did everything for Marie. I have spent more time on that land than that niece of hers ever has. I’ve been in the field and managing the land more than even Marie in her later years. Plus, I know the town planner… Maybe I can make him some sort of offer… ”
“If you are talking about bribery, then I don’t want to know. But let me put in the paperwork to attain via adverse possession, and we’ll see what happens. It’s a long shot, but I might as well try. She is crazy to turn down that money,” he murmurs, rubbing his chin in thought.
“Or smart,” I throw back at him with a smirk. She was confident but polite, and I can’t help but wonder how far I can push her. The fire I saw in her eyes sure makes me want to.
“What do you mean?” He looks at me in question.
“Well, Sawyer the Lawyer …” I say, teasing him with what will no doubt become his new nickname around here. He gives me a dirty look, which I ignore. “She clearly knows the worth of the place, so she has done her research. Now we have shown her our hand; she knows that I want it and will pay top dollar for it. If we put in the paperwork, that can be our backup plan—because that will take a while to process—but in the meantime, maybe we can play it out?” I take a seat in the large brown leather chair at the end of the table, still thinking about the woman who has breezed into town, seemingly without a care in the world, and is turning her hand to living in the country. It is a brave move. Very brave.
“So we leave her to it and wait for her to fail?” he asks, and I ponder his words. I love this town and everyone in it. It is not in my nature to just let people fail. I help a lot of people, donate to the local charities, help fund the local school. I have the means to, and this town has been good to me.
Leaning back in my chair, I run a hand through my hair. I had my heart set on that place for our expansion. I am used to getting what I want, when I want it. But… I don’t mind a little bit of friendly competition.
“I’ll get Connor to do some research on her, find out what he can, and I will chat with her some more this week and see what I can work out with her,” I tell him, resting my body back into the soft leather, happy with my decision. Sawyer raises his eyebrow at me.
“So you plan to go visit her again?” Sawyer asks, a small smile dancing on his lips. I pay him too much money for his teasing, but I indulge him anyway.
“Spit it out.”
“Well, she was fucking beautiful for a start,” he says, and I growl. His eyes widen, and so does his smirk. “She is obviously single, because she is here on her own and there was no ring on her finger…” As he continues, my shoulders stiffen. He is right; there was no ring adorning her hand. I know because I was looking.
“Don’t start, you’re as bad as Connor.” I know exactly where he is going with this. “She looks half my fucking age, not to mention now my new enemy number one. I want that land, Sawyer.” I can’t go there. She looks young enough to be my daughter. Hell, she is probably better suited to Connor. That thought alone gives me a pang in my stomach.
“Who knows? She’ll need a neighborly hand at some point, no doubt. You always used to help her aunt. But maybe you should stay clear of her, as I said, let her fail, let her have a tough time so she doesn’t want to be here anymore once she knows how hard this life is,” Sawyer offers, and I nod to him, knowing that it makes sense. It is the right move. Leave her alone, wait for her to fail, and then pay her out and watch her scurry back to the city with her tail between her legs.
“I don’t think she will last long,” Sawyer says with a scoff.
“She might surprise us.”
Sawyer gives a fake shiver. “I love it here, but to move here? Be out here permanently? No thanks.”
“Take the jet, go back to the city, and I’ll call Connor to see if he can start digging around and find out more about her. In the meantime, let's see how she fits in around Whispers. As you said, I’m sure a city girl like her will hate it.”
“And you will leave her alone? No driving over there to help her out?” Sawyer asks, and I look at him with a scowl.
“I’m not promising anything.” I stand up and walk back to the small bar positioned against the wall, pouring another glass of my latest batch and throwing it back, this time feeling the burn I am after.