Chapter 37 Logan
Logan
Ihaven’t talked to Gwen in hours, but I’ve been keeping an eye on her ever since I walked away at the gazebo this morning. The few glances we have shared, paired with secretive smiles, have been fueling me all day.
The way she makes me feel seen and cared for is something I have never experienced and something I never want to be without.
My chest aches at the thought of potentially having to give her up thanks to the greed of the men playing puppet master with Willow Grove.
Though after the conversation I had with Camila, I worry that the dream of making her mine officially is just that.
Not something I can make reality. At least not right now.
But even that wouldn’t be enough, because why would Gwen wait for me to sort this mess out when the mess in question is going to heavily affect her if I’m not careful? When the current plan that has been planted in my head that feels like the best option for everyone will crush her?
We need to talk sooner than later. I need to come clean about what is actually going on behind the curtain at Town Hall and about how my father is the Wizard in his own version of Oz.
Just a greedy man hiding behind a persona.
I’ve tried to bring it up a few times, but the universe decides to step in every time the thought even crosses my mind to finally spill.
I watch her now as she throws her head back laughing at whatever she is talking about with her sister and grandmother. Her long red hair cascades down her back in waves, making my hands itch to dive into the strands and drag her to meet my lips.
The Willow Whisk booth has been a hot spot since opening, like everyone knew they would need to stop there first to get their boost for the rest of the day.
And that probably has something to do with the social media posts I had Piper create just for them.
After seeing how well the reach was with the Harvest Festival posts, I talked Piper into making a few more posts for some of the local shops.
The reach was insane and the reactions were heart warming.
I threatened Piper with a full time job at Town Hall after I take office if she kept up the good work.
It was obvious the extra money put toward marketing helped, because I had never seen our town crawling with so many people.
Walking around the square, checking in with everyone to make sure all is well and no one needs assistance, pride swells within me at how good the event is rolling out.
Kids run around laughing, couples share treats, and groups of friends are huddled around vendors excitedly showing each other what they’ve found.
I pass by the local florist who is selling single stem roses, buckets of mums, and bouquets of colorful flowers. A quick glance over my shoulder, I grin to myself as a thought forms.
“Logan Spencer, how the hell are ya, son?” Eric Stallers and his wife, Patty, greet me with happy expressions.
“Doing good. How’s business these days?”
“You know, same old same old.” Patty grins. “Can’t complain too much except that the grandkids don’t visit as often.”
I chuckle. “I heard Marshall moved out to California.” Their eyes light up when I mention their grandson and my old hockey teammate.
“Started his own tech company,” Eric leans toward me, lowering his voice. “But don’t ask me what he does. I’ve tried to get him to explain it a dozen times, but I finally just gave up and choose to be blissfully ignorant yet happy for him.”
“Can’t say I blame you on that one, Eric.” I spot a bouquet filled with oranges and red and I know I found the right now. “If I purchase a bundle, could you have them delivered for me during the festival?”
Patty’s mouth part quickly before tipping into a grin. “Logan Spencer, do you have someone you are sweet on?”
“That’s one way to put it.” I point toward the bouquet then fish out my wallet from my pocket.
“Oh, this makes me so happy. Eric, grab him a blank card. You have to leave a note so they know!” Patty wraps up the flower stems in butcher paper, expertly tying them with quick fingers while her husband rings me up.
I fill out the card with a simple note and hand it over to her to tuck into the flowers.
“And who shall I be handing these over to?”
“Gwendolyn Prescott, please.”
Patty places a hand to her heart, her eyes going wide. “She’s a lucky girl.”
“It’s me who is the lucky one.” I wink at Patty as she pretends to swoon. “Let’s keep it between us, though, for now.”
Eric wraps an arm around his wife. “Your business is safe with us. We value the beginnings of a relationship too much to add in any unnecessary drama. Trust us, we can keep a secret around these parts.”
“You’re good people, thank you.”
Turning away from their booth, I start toward the food truck area hoping to grab a snack when I hear my name called.
“What’s up, man?” I ask Matt when he stops in front of me.
“Gwen really knocked this out of the park, didn’t she?” He looks around the square with a low whistle. “Is this the best turnout we’ve had?”
I nod my head, taking in the families walking by laughing together over funnel cake and hot apple ciders.
“Opening up to the public more helped a lot. You should have seen Gwen’s planner for this.
” I release a low whistle which is almost impossible against the grin on my lips at the thought of her. “She’s been planning this for years.”
“Tell me about it. I remember how often we would all get together afterward and she would go on and on about what she would do if she could head the festival. It means a lot to us that she finally got the chance.” He scratches at the scruff on his chin, looking side to side which makes me weary for what else he’s about to say.
“Speaking of planning. When were you planning to tell everyone that the town is about to be bought out by a company?”
A chill runs down my spine as I straighten. This was what I was dreading. The news dropping like a bomb in the middle of town without a chance to smooth out the details and prep for minimal casualties.
“What are you talking about?” I try to buy a little time to think of an answer, but all my response does is make Matt stare at me like I’m an idiot.
“Don’t lie to me, not about this. I just had my business threatened.”
I rear back. Red coloring my sight. “Who threatened you?”
Matt blinks at me. “Fucking hell, Logan. Why aren’t you denying this right now?”
Darting a look around us, I find a secluded table toward the back corner where we can have a conversation in private. I nod my head toward it and begin walking without another word. If he wants to talk, we need to do this in as private of a setting as possible.
He doesn’t say anything until we are both seated at the table. A couple walks by, no doubt sneaking away for a makeout session with the way they are giggling and staring at each other like no one else is around. When they finally pass, Matt levels me with a stare.
“Talk. Now.”
I blow out a breath. “I’ll tell you everything, but first I need to know who talked to you and what they said? Was it my dad?”
He shakes his head, the muscle in his jaw popping.
“No. An old college classmate who started a building firm in the city after we graduated is here. Said he was here checking out the land around Willow Grove for development. Something about a resort taking over. Tell me this is just a bullshit rumor, man.”
I rub my hand over my mouth in exasperation. “I wish I could.”
“What the fuck,” he growls out. “How could you let this happen?”
I promise you, I didn’t.” I beg him to listen. “This is all my father. Unfortunately, he brought me in a little too late, but that’s why I came back. Not just to take over as mayor, but to try and put out whatever fires he started in his greed.”
“And? Have you?”
I hang my head for a second, debating silently how much I want to go into detail.
I can’t keep it in anymore, though. And now that someone knows something, I need them to know everything.
Matt isn’t my first choice to confide in, that would be Gwen.
The situation runs through my mind though as I weigh the situation.
Matt’s a contractor. A well loved one, too.
He probably has knowledge I could use to combat this master plan.
So, with a deep sigh, I raise my head and tell him the truth.
“No,” I raise my hand to stop whatever he’s about to say. “But I managed to block it from getting worse. I don’t think we can get out of the contracts my father has in place with Triton–-”
“He partnered with Triton?” The horrified look on his face tells me I am right to feel the way I do about them.
“Unfortunately, they have those contracts on iron-clad lockdown. There’s no way to get out of it now.
They will be building their mega resort nearby and using Willow Grove as its ready-made Hallmark town.
However, they came in recently with new requests, including a clause that would effectively destroy the small businesses in this town. ”
“What the fuck is your dad thinking?”
“Only about the insane amount of zeros landing in his bank accounts to set him up for life. He saw his retirement plan, and he took it, no questions asked.”
“I always knew he wasn’t the great guy he played on TV, but shit, this is a new level of awful.”
He has no idea how low my father will go.
This might shock everyone in our town, but this was right on course with how I knew him.
“I think I was able to block the clause from being retrofitted into the contract. That’s why today was so important.
I had to show them how important the small businesses are to the life of our town. ”
Matt leans back. “Does Gwen know?”
I look down at my hands. My fingers twist against themselves with anxiety. “She’s completely in the dark, just like everyone else. I didn’t want the news to get out without at least trying to fix this.”