44. Tanner
44
TANNER
I t’s been a week since New York and we have become professionals at not addressing the elephant in the room. Once we landed back in Whispers, we shared a long kiss and a look of understanding, and that was that. Life has gone on as normal, and while that settles me, I still feel slight unease that she has a backup plan that isn’t me. And I still don’t like that we haven’t spoken more about it. That I haven’t given her the apology she deserves.
I step back from the love seat I have made her and admire my work. I have been spending late nights at the distillery under the cloak of working, but really, I have been making this for Victoria.
“Tanner?” Her voice is unsure as she opens the back door to her deck. I tried to be quiet. I knew she was on the phone with her mom, but I drove over and placed this on her deck, wanting it to be a surprise, and just finished wiping it down .
“Hey, baby girl,” I say sheepishly as she walks out the door and stops short, her pretty eyes widening.
“What is that?” she whispers, taking another tentative step toward me and the new timber love seat that now adorns her deck.
“I made it,” I tell her, and she looks at me sharply before looking back at the seat. “For you.”
“It’s just like my sketch…” she says in awe, running her fingers across the finish.
“I know. I saw it on your kitchen counter a while ago.”
“Tanner, this is…” Her eyes meet mine as they well up a little.
“I was an ass, and I’m sorry. We had such a great time in New York, then I was surprised that you still had your apartment. I thought you were happy here, and it scared me that you might not stay.” Nerves take over as I wait for her response, but her sweet smile calms them instantly.
“I am happy here. I am happy with you.” Her hand reaches out and grabs mine. “I have no plans to leave, but I just needed to—”
“I know. You need a fallback plan. I get it, I do. And I should have respected that,” I say, understanding that a woman like Victoria needs to look after herself. Even if I plan to ensure that she knows I am here. Always.
“Tanner, this is… No one has ever given me something like this… made me something. It’s so beautiful. So perfect.” Stepping up to me, her hands wrap around my neck and her lips meet mine.
“Want to take a seat?” I ask, smiling against her mouth. With a little squeal, she sits back against the wood, humming as she taps the seat beside her .
Sitting on her new love seat, watching the sunset, her head resting on my shoulder, everything feels like it’s back on track.
“Okay, so what are we doing about the expansion into accommodation?” Connor asks me as we sit around the boardroom table with Sawyer. My mind isn’t on the business, my whiskey, my son, or this conversation. It is firmly on Victoria.
“Well, Marie’s place is off the table,” I confirm to everyone, needing that cemented in both their brains. Just the mention of that property has me back to thinking about Victoria. I know she loves it here. We haven’t said the words to each other yet, but I feel it. Deep within.
“She has it looking nice,” Connor says, nodding. He appreciates her design skills, and when I told him about her ideas for my ranch, he was blown away. He now wants to build his too, which will be next door to mine, his land size similar but with a slightly different outlook.
“You must really love her,” Sawyer says with a frustrated sigh, and I send him a look that says to kindly shut up.
“In terms of the business, you are changing the strategy and now building something entirely different. Not to mention, she is doing the interior design of your new ranch—something you have had for decades and never made a move on till now. I would say Sawyer has made a fair assumption,” Connor says with a small, knowing smile, and my eyes thin .
“We need to pivot. Marie’s place was never a done deal. That is why we had flagged the eastern side of the distillery as a plan B. As for my ranch, it is about time I moved out there. I am getting old. I need some space.”
It all makes sense, but if Victoria hadn’t come along, I wouldn’t be moving.
“The Tanner I know would not have given up so easily. The Tanner I know would have offered her millions to get that piece of prime land,” Sawyer says, leaning back in his chair and assessing me.
Sawyer is successful in his own right, but most of his business comes from us. We are, by far, his largest and best client, due to all the deals we do. He is spending more and more time here in Whispers, and a thought occurs to me that Jerry, Whispers' only town lawyer, will be retiring soon, and so the town will need someone new. If only he didn’t hate the country so much.
“I am allowed to change my mind,” I tell them with a shrug, the two of them now watching me.
“I think you love her. Especially if that new woodworking project is anything to go by,” Connor says. I look at him but remain quiet, but he can see it in my eyes.
“Shit, I am right,” he whispers in awe before his small grin turns wide and he sits forward with renewed enthusiasm. “I mean, I knew when you brought her to the fundraising dinner, then stayed in New York for a few days, that you were making a public statement. But shit, love is pretty serious, Dad.”
“Oh, hi, boys. Sorry, I didn’t know anyone was in here,” Jasmine says, pushing through the door, interrupting our conversation. I frown. This is the second time she has done this now, and while she has a large floral arrangement in hand, I don’t normally bother with flowers in our boardroom unless we have special guests. Of which Sawyer isn’t.
“We are just in the middle of something,” Connor says, looking at her, confused.
“Sorry I just had a spare arrangement this week and thought I could pop it in here. I will just put this down and be on my way.” She gives me a wide smile as Sawyer looks at her intensely. I nod to her, and she takes a few steps inside and places the arrangement on the table before retreating quickly with a wave.
“She is odd,” Sawyer says the minute the door closes.
“She’s fine,” I grumble, not wanting to think about her and needing to get the meeting back on track.
“She is just keeping the distillery looking good, plus trying to gain more business, I think,” Connor says, and I agree.
“How many people need a florist in a small town like Whispers? I mean, wildflowers grow all around here. Your garden alone could probably serve as a florist, given the size of it,” Sawyer says, looking at me.
“I am pretty sure the florist is one of the busiest businesses in town. Especially now that more people are moving here, having events, weddings like Huxley’s and things,” Connor explains, and Sawyer nods in understanding.
“Well, with the new accommodations, we can probably put a package together. Something with the local community of businesses, which would be nice?” I offer, looking at Connor .
“A romance package with flowers, maybe a food hamper from Rochelle too, and it would be good if we could use the natural springs?” Connor suggests.
“They are Victoria’s now, but we could talk to her about it. Let’s get it all built first and then look at packages, but I think something like that could work well. Open up a new revenue stream that is not just about the whiskey.”
I know not everyone likes whiskey, and if we can offer something else that is just as enticing, then people will come and maybe enjoy one or both, expanding our product offering.
“You should open a spa,” Sawyer says sarcastically, but my eyes meet Connor’s immediately.
“That is a very good idea…” Connor murmurs as we stare at each other. The silent conversation we are having gets both our minds working overtime.
“We could have whiskey-themed treatments…” I say, tapering off, thinking about my night in the city with Victoria and the way the whiskey ran over her body. I know nothing about day spas or treatments, but I also know Victoria doesn’t drink whiskey or have the appreciation for it yet, and she’s my motivation here, keeping in mind everyone else who might feel the same as she does. If I took her to a distillery, she would be bored. Unless they offered something for her that she could do that would entice her to visit too.
“Definitely something we should think about. Especially with all the rich clientele that are starting to move out here. Whispers doesn’t have anything like that, and coupled with the mineral springs, I think it has a lot of potential,” Connor says, and I agree. The expansion into accommodation and now potential spa sounds like an exciting prospect.
“Let’s get a consultant in as well and see what might work.”
Connor’s already tapping out some notes on his laptop, eager to try something new.
“Sorry to interrupt…” Lacy says, walking into the boardroom, and my shoulders tighten in frustration at being interrupted once more until I see the sheriff right behind her.
“Tony?” I ask, standing, immediately on guard.
“Hi, boys. Tanner, I wanted to come and talk to you as soon as I heard.”
I nod for him to continue, my heart pounding.
“Talk is around town of a strange man popping up these last few days. I couldn’t get ahold of him, but Rochelle saw him this morning. He was asking about Marie’s Place.” He nods to me, and my body hums.
“What did he look like?”
“She was busy, so didn’t get a good chance to check him out, but he had dark hair, looked like he was from the city. Could it be this Josh guy we are looking for?” Tony asks, and my gaze meets Connor's. It has to be Josh .
“I’ll go over to Victoria's to make sure she is alright and let her know.” I nod to the room full of people who look at me.
“Need us to take a look around town?” Connor stands, ready to do whatever needs to be done.
“My boys will handle it. I am just doing a courtesy by telling you. We can’t go arresting or roughing up an innocent man. Could be a tourist. Could be no one. But the minute anyone sees or hears anything, call me,” Tony says, and my nostrils flare.
“It also could be the asshole who left her for dead by tampering with her truck,” I state, letting him know that I will not be calling him until I am ready for him to clean up my mess. Grabbing my cell and keys, I’m out the door, rushing to get to Victoria.