Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
PIERCE
Iwasn’t dreading tagging along with Tinsley today, but I also didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I have.
Even after I’d wrapped up things in Rosemary’s office, I tried to help decorate the cookies, and that was a freaking mess.
Nonetheless, it was fun, and any time I get to spend with Tinsley doing everyday things is a plus.
Tinsley teased me the whole time and moved me over to dish duty pretty quickly, which wasn't bad either.
She was still in range for me to talk to, and it was only baking pans and trays.
Then we dropped off a few of the orders for Rosemary before swinging by the diner to grab food for a few people, dropping that off too.
We ended up at an older woman’s home where Tinsley caught up with her, keeping her company before we straightened up around her place. I was sent on a pharmacy and grocery run.
I have to admit that I never thought I’d enjoy doing these little tasks, but that’s exactly what I’ve done today. I’m sure most of it has to do with Tinsley, but I can’t deny that the small-town charm of New Hope has its grip on me.
We’re currently at the salon, where my girl has a few clients that booked appointments to get their nails done.
Word spread about me helping at the bakery, and now I've been wrangled into the salon office.
There isn't anything wrong with the books, but I was asked to check things over, which I'm glad I did.
This town is bursting at the seams. They need more room, not a freaking giant ski resort, but I see potential for the possibility of a small resort, and they need it and a few other things. I wonder if Hollis would send me over some of the cities' numbers.
"Can you get the door?" Tinsley asks from the table she's at while doing a third person's nails. I glance over to the door of the salon but don't see anyone there. That is until my eyes drop lower, and I see a cat.
"Is that the famous Mittens?" I ask as I open the door to let the fluffy cat enter.
"That's her. She can be dramatic."
"More dramatic than you?" I tease my wife.
"She gives me a run for my money." I love how easy the banter between Tinsley and me has become throughout the day. She seems to be warming up to the idea of me being her husband. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part.
Mittens prances with her tail high, flicking around. You'd think she was the city building inspector with how she checks everything over before getting a few snacks.
I am simply enjoying Tinsley and the town. This place is Hallmark movie shit. It's worlds away from the life I've known. None of the work we've done today thus far felt like work at all. There is an easiness here. I see how Hollis has settled into the town.
"I need to post a few pictures, and then hop over to City Hall. Then I'm done for the day."
When she opens her social media, she is logged into her honey-trap account. There are a million alerts and messages. She ignores them and signs out and into her real one, posting the pictures of the nails she did.
Advertising has shifted drastically over the last decade with social media pushing to the forefront. That whole world is fascinating, but I still find myself leery. It wouldn't be hard for someone to take you down going off a few pictures alone.
It has me wondering how many men did Tinsley give a rightful kick in the nuts? Should I find out and see if there are any threats that linger past Biff?
"You're staring hard at my phone." Tinsley slides it into her pocket. I hold her coat out for her to slip her arms into.
"You have plans for that other account?" I ask after we tell everyone goodbye and head out. I don’t want to come off as an asshole who is trying to control what she does. That’s not the case in the least.
"Does it bother you?"
"Yes." Tinsley fights a smile.
"I get it, since we've established you're obsessed with me. You're worried others might become obsessed with me too." Not far off the mark.
"We have more than established that I'm obsessed with you.
" One of the best parts of the day was when Tinsley would introduce me to people and she'd tell them about me stalking her. And how I wouldn’t take no for an answer when it came to her.
Each time the story grew in details and ridiculousness.
I denied nothing. The most important thing is the end result, which is her being my wife.
She can spin the story any way she wants.
The ending will always be the same: her being mine forever.
The townsfolk were as amused as I was by the story. I didn't care for the engaged comments. We're not engaged; we're married. I'm letting that be because our wedding was also a hot topic of conversation today, and everyone wants to help and be a part of it.
"There's another reason?" she asks as we make our way past the library and toward City Hall.
"You don't think there could be more Biffs out there?" Tinsley's step falters momentarily. "There are a lot of fucked-up people in the world, more than you realize."
She might have lived in the city for a year, but Tinsley is innocent to a lot of things. I don't want to take that from her, but I don't think she realizes the target she put on her own head.
"I'll delete it. I would rather not cause any more problems that could reach New Hope."
"Or you," I add. As adorable as this town is, I'd burn it down to save Tinsley. She doesn't respond to that, so I keep going. "You know if anything happened to you, it would hurt New Hope." I go in with a remark that I know will hit its target.
Tinsley stops when we reach the concrete stairs that lead up to City Hall. "You're right."
"Are you fucking with me?" I can't stop the chuckle that leaves me. That's another thing I’ve noticed. I know I haven't smiled or laughed as much during my short time in New Hope as I have throughout my entire life. But Tinsley is a huge part of that, as is the town a huge part of her.
"I can admit when I am wrong." I stare down at my girl.
"When it comes to super serious things, and this is one of them.
I mean, we're facing down Biff's bullshit because of me.
" Her bottom lip puffs out. "I could not only be responsible for the commercialization of this town but also end the non-divorce record we have. I mean, if I were anyone else, I might be banned from here.”
For the first time, I see real worry and regret on her, and I fucking hate it and will be fixing it.
Tinsley is all gumdrops and rainbows, and I want to keep it that way.
She is too selfless to live in that, with how big her heart is for the people around her.
My new job will be protecting that and making sure I never see the look she’s wearing again for as long as I live.
I leave the divorce comment alone. I can say it over and over, but it doesn’t matter.
All I can do on that front is prove it. "Tinsley, this was bound to happen.
I have been checking over things, and it was only a matter of time until someone took notice and sunk their claws into that land.
" It’s a no-brainer on the investment front.
"It hadn't happened before now! If they could have bought it before, wouldn't they have?" I glance around, making sure no one is in earshot. This is still being played close to the chest at Hollis's request.
"Biff got lucky. That land is outside of city limits, so Hollis wouldn't have been alerted to it going up for sale, and it hadn't hit the market."
"I don't understand." She wrings her fingers together in front of her.
"The CliffsNotes says the government owns the land.
There had been talk about a highway to connect a few towns, but it appears that was dropped.
I don't know if Biff found out about that and pulled strings to get them to drop it, or they simply had, which is a big possibility from what I'm seeing as I dig all this up; but Biff did rush in with an offer. "
I need to keep digging to figure out who dropped the highway plans and why. Did Biff pay them off or promise them a piece of the action? It wouldn’t surprise me; that’s his MO.
"How could he rush in with an offer? It's not on the market."
"Friends in very high places." Most deals are finalized before the public even hears whispers of what's going on.
Not only are we facing down the Bilton Estate but possibly a few politicians. If that's the case, then I'll know for certain the King of Thieves is helping Biff do all this.
"You have friends in very high places, right?"
"I do, but it's going to get complicated."
"I could help." I see the hope bloom across her delicate features.
"Right now I need to keep checking into things."
"But you're keeping me updated, right? You won't hide anything?" Her face falls when I don't answer her quickly enough.
"Babe." I cover her hands with one of mine to stop her from wringing her fingers. "I'm not trying to keep anything from you. A lot of things are in play; you have to trust me."
"I want to trust you."
"I'm not going to break that trust," I reassure her.
"But if you do, this marriage—" She runs her finger across her throat. The murdering gesture is in stark contrast to her sparkly gold nail polish. I only shake my head and lean down and press my mouth to hers. She’s adorable, even when she’s threatening to end my life.
And just like that, Tinsley melts into me. All of her sweetness is right there, simmering below the surface and coming out for me. When I lift my head, her eyes are hooded, and a soft smile has taken over.
"Are you going to properly introduce me?" a feminine voice asks. We both turn our heads toward the top of the stairs. Kindred stands there, hands on her hips, assessing us. I can see by the way she’s looking at Tinsley that there’s a lot of love between the two of them.
"You'll never believe this!" Tinsley shouts back, darting up the stairs.
"This is New Hope; I believe almost anything can happen," Kindred says with a smile.
"His name is Pierce Harte."
"Interesting."
"Wait, you knew already!?"
"Of course I knew." I come up behind Tinsley and hold my hand out to properly meet her. "Harte, it's fitting for you," she tells Tinsley. "I didn't love learning about your engagement from someone else, though."
"It all kind of just happened. Not all of us dance around our man for a couple of years."
Kindred cocks her head. "All right, that's a fair point." I hold the door open for them. They disappear into Kindred's office, and I spot Hollis. He nods for me to follow him.
We step into what appears to be a conference room.
"You wanted to speak," he says to me. I sent him a message an hour ago about meeting up again.
I wanted to talk to him in person and explain a few things before I asked him to hand over any numbers he has.
I don't mean money numbers either. This is about the townsfolk.
I lay it all out for him.
"Bullshit. I should have been told about the land."
"Agreed, and most would have extended that courtesy."
"Which makes you think they didn't want me to know."
"Bingo."
"I couldn't stop the highway being built, but I wasn't worried about it.
It's far enough out that you wouldn't see or hear it. The path would have circled the outer edge of the mountain.” He rubs his hand across his short beard.
"What if I give you these numbers and you fuck me?
I bet they'd be worth a lot if you're trying to get investors for the property and build, and you're really with Biff on this?
" I don’t take offense in the least to Hollis questioning my intentions. I would expect nothing less.
He’s right that the numbers would be worth a fuckload. Investors would see how lush the community is. They would see which other businesses could piggyback off the resort and profit. They’d waste no time bulldozing this whole town and all the small businesses here.
I want to be real clear with him where I stand on this, too, so I offer secrets that should never cross my lips.
"I'll send them over when I get back to my desk," he says when I'm done. "I think Tinsley's fantasized love story might be unfolding."
"What do you mean?" If he has information, I want it.
I got some from her books, and there are more to go through, but in them, it was clear that Tinsley has a dream when it comes to the things she wants in life.
These details are all part of it. Some of which you could never control, but that's not going to stop me from trying.
"A white knight coming in to save the day."
"I'm not a white knight."
"We'll see." He gives me that knowing smirk that a lot of people have around here.
I have never thought of myself as a white knight. I can be cutthroat in the business world.
For Tinsley, I'd give it my best shot, and I never fucking miss. Not when it counts.