Chapter 2 #2
I’d had that thought often lately and not just around these plans.
The Henley family was famous for their big and lasting love stories.
Love that struck out of the blue and knocked the generations before me on their asses.
But I had never come close to finding that type.
Of course, it was sort of hard to be hit out of the blue when I knew damn near every person in the town and had since kindergarten.
Right now, dreams were all I had. Somehow, it felt as if expanding the business was a lot more attainable than love, but what did I know.
“I’d never leave you high and dry, sis.” He leaned against the reception desk. “What has got the beast rearing its head?”
My mouth fell open and I glared at Logan.
“I am not a beast.” I mean, the past few months had taken their toll on my temper, which was always a little incendiary to begin with, but a beast?
Really? “That’s so wrong, Logan.” I was nice and pleasant…
and okay, maybe, on occasion, a little beast-like, but it was rude of him to mention it.
“Hate to break it to you, but that little display was definitely beast-like.” He stared my way, concern evident in his gaze. “Was that Fitzgerald again?”
“I am going to kill our cousin. Do you think I can get away with it? I have a feeling I’d be justified.” I paused, scrunching my face in thought. “Though I guess the family may be upset.”
Logan threw his head back, a laugh booming out of his big chest. “I’m not even going to answer that. First off, you’d never kill your ride-or-die bestie. Second, it’s probably not that bad.”
Oh, it was. It may even be worse than “that bad.”
It had been two weeks since Ever had made her illogical phone calls.
Most of the companies that had reached out actually backed off once I voiced our conditions.
However, one of those, Fitzgerald, wasn’t as quick to step away.
They had grand ideas, including a building that would totally dwarf our little town, but those ideas came with a lot less input from us than I was willing to offer.
Even if we were an integral part of the planning, what they wanted was not what’s right for us and more importantly, not right for Henley Falls.
They did not like hearing that.
“Yes, I may, and yes, it is.” Not to be overheard if anyone came into the lobby, I leaned in closer to him.
Not that we had guests at the moment, but family wandered in all the time.
“They have interest, but it doesn’t align with what we want.
” They’d said all the right words about collaboration, but I suspected it was to soften me up before they made an offer to buy us out.
Absolutely not.
Not in any way, shape, or form.
“So, they want to buy us out,” Logan stated flatly, echoing my thoughts. “You know, that’s what the parentals are worried about. That we’ll get some sort of dollar signs in our eyes and give up everything the Henleys have built up over the years.”
I couldn’t deny what he said because it was the truth.
What bothered me was why they thought that.
Why did all the parentals think we had such loose ties to the land we called home?
Just as some of us left to pursue dreams away from Henley Falls, they did the same thing.
Only one of Aunt Martha’s kids had stayed here in town, but no one thought the others had abandoned the family.
They simply had dreams and wishes that gave them wings to fly and leave here.
None of us wanted money in return for the freedom to leave here. I didn’t understand why they thought we’d have put so much into our plans for the place if we would be willing to take the largest pile of cash someone could throw at us.
It wasn’t true, and more importantly, it wasn’t fair to think it. Maybe they didn’t have our backs after all, if this is what they thought of our dedication.
“Then I guess they can worry all they want, but it’s not going to happen.
I told that ass from Fitzgerald that we are not selling.
He’s using words he thinks I can’t understand, like I’ve barely made it off the mountain to learn how to read and write.
” I squinted, my anger growing as I thought about those calls.
“I really dislike that man. He thinks I’m too stupid to figure out his game, and at the same time, so smart I’d never turn down the offer he’ll eventually make. He hasn’t figured me out yet.”
“That’s for sure. No one should play with you.” He straightened and made his way around behind the reception desk to put his hands on my shoulders and squeeze. “Have you heard from Conti-Montgomery yet?”
“Nope.” Not a peep, which obviously meant they weren’t interested.
That’s the one I was more upset by. Their Montgomery brand felt exactly right for what I was looking for, though they hadn’t had any new properties recently, so maybe it was another pipe dream of mine. “I’m just so fucking frustrated, Lo.”
“I know,” he whispered as he wrapped me in one of his big bear hugs. The man had over a foot of height on me and used it to his full advantage to make me feel protected and safe.
“Between one not calling and one calling all the time, I want off the ride. Ignoring them both may be the way to go.”
“And that’s fine. These guys aren’t our only options. Let’s see if we hear from them. If we have to, we give up on Ever’s crazy ass idea and continue moving forward on our own. It’s not impossible; we just have to make it work.”
I hugged him back, thankful for the support, knowing I needed it now more than ever.
“Henleys dream big, Reese, but you know what we do even better? We take action. We see those dreams through. That’s gonna be you, my darlin’ girl. You’re gonna dream and do, and I’m gonna love to see it.”
Gramps had been trying to soften the blow when I didn’t get a role in the school play.
Now his words hit hard because no matter whether either of those two things happens, the last wouldn’t.
He wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t wrap me in those sturdy arms of his and tell me how proud he was of me, how he knew I could do it, and that hurt.
He’d been gone two years, and I still waited for him to walk through the door, same as Grams, and tell me he believed in me.
Yet he never did.
“I gotta get to Owen’s,” he said in reference to his bestie, who was also Ever’s brother. “He needs some help moving something. I’ll be back later if you want to talk.” With a quick kiss to the top of my head, he was off, and I was alone once again.
Alone with thoughts that piqued my annoyance with every minute.
Maybe I was thinking too big, too grand…too much. “I hate those words,” I mumbled under my breath, angry at myself for letting my mind go there. There was nothing “too” about these plans; I just needed to find a way to see them through.
My cell rang, a New York phone number flashing on the screen. “I am so not in the mood.” Taking a deep breath, I tried to remember I worked in hospitality and let that come out in my voice. “Ridgeview Bed and Breakfast. How may I help you?” There. Nice and polite, no anger on display at all.
Silence dragged on over the line. And there went the no anger thing. Like I had time, or, more accurately, the patience, to sit here and entertain a crank call.
“Hello?” I snapped.
A deep voice, with an almost underlying seductive quality, finally responded.
Uh-oh.
I don’t know who this person was, but from his voice alone I knew it would not be good. And by not good, I really meant trouble, particularly for me. Parts of me that had gone a long time without any attention were currently standing up and taking notice.
Well, fuck.