Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Tate glanced at Jason seated next to him. They were all corralled into a small room at city hall and it was crowded. There wasn’t much in the way of elbow room. Clearly, the residents of Rocky Ridge were outraged about the possible changes being planned.
Tate sat back in his seat, reveling in the satisfaction it brought him to see the town pull together like this. There weren’t many left like Rocky Ridge that found value in keeping things simple. It wasn’t easy living the country lifestyle, but it was totally worth it.
Jason sat with his arms crossed, reading the room the way he read weather. Then motion at the back of the room caught Tate’s attention and every other thought left his body.
The woman who just waltzed into the town meeting could only be described as a vixen.
And at the same time, she was utterly ethereal.
She wore fitted jeans and a blouse that was clearly high-end.
Her blonde hair swung just below her jaw and the heels she wore clicked against the linoleum floor with each step she took.
There was something about the way she held herself that made it perfectly clear she didn’t belong. She wasn’t from around here.
And yet at the same time she demanded respect. The loud roar of voices seemed to quiet almost immediately, turning into a low hum. Whispers around him asked who she was and what she was doing here.
Could this be the developer?
A sinking sensation started in his gut, twisting it until he had to shift in his seat to ease the discomfort.
He didn’t want to view this woman as the villain of his story.
He wanted to get to know her better, find out what made her tick.
For the first time in his life, he was willing to throw out all his preconceived notions about city folk just so he could try to convert this woman to country living.
She took a seat in the front row and offered smiles to those around her. He was too far away to hear her voice or find out her name. And it wasn’t like he could ask about her without drawing suspicion his way.
“She’s not worth it,” Jason mumbled.
Tate cut him a look. “What are you talking about?”
One side of his mouth quirked upward. “You and I both know exactly what I’m talking about—or rather, who. If she’s the person coming to change our town, you know what the people here will do. They’ll ostracize her and anyone who decides to side with her. It’s not a good idea.”
Out of anyone, Tate would have been the one to warn someone against making a bad decision in regard to this very situation. The fact that it was Jason gave Tate pause.
He nodded, but even as he did so, he couldn’t help but continue wondering about her. She was fascinating. And his interest only continued to grow when the meeting began and she raised her hand.
“Yes, hi. I just moved into the farmhouse out off Orchard Avenue. And I’d like to point out that changing the zoning of a property so close to farmland would also disrupt the agriculture and animal life.
As someone who may want to utilize her land for the purposes it was originally meant for, this could be detrimental to my livelihood and the future livelihoods of anyone who comes after.
I’m sure the folks in this room can attest to how awful it would be for the livestock to have to be forced to deal with that sort of change.
I read in the proposal that a helipad was requested.
The sound issues alone wouldn’t be conducive to raising farm animals. ”
There were some murmurings in the group. Those who agreed and some who didn’t, but still admitted these problems brought up additional issues that might come to light. Sound pollution. Light pollution. All of it would disrupt the way things were in Rocky Ridge.
Tate’s eyes remained locked on the woman at the front of the room. She hadn’t said her name. But she’d moved into the Black’s old residence. She was his neighbor, not the developer.
A heavy sigh escaped him, easing the tension in his chest.
Jason chuckled at his side but didn’t offer any commentary or to point out that Tate was already a goner when it came to the girl.
Tate would have denied that fact until he was blue in the face anyway. The woman was an enigma, but that didn’t mean Tate was interested in dating her.
Right?
He cut his brother a sharp look. “Don’t even start.”
His twin merely chuckled again. Then his focus drifted to the woman and he frowned. Tate could practically see the cogs whirling in his brain and he sat up a little straighter. “Rylee had blonde hair,” he said.
“Yeah, so?” Tate muttered. Then he sat up a little straighter. “Wait, you’re not thinking… What happened to us agreeing the probability was next to none?”
Jason’s eyes remained narrowed on the back of that woman’s head. Then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, you’re right. That would have to be one heck of a coincidence. Fifteen years of nothing and then suddenly she’s here? It was a stupid thought.”
Yeah. Just wishful thinking.
The little girl from his childhood had moved away with no intention of coming back. Someone who planned on coming back wouldn’t just abandon a house for almost two decades.
“I’m going to talk to her.”
Jason whipped his head toward Tate so fast it would have been hilarious if Tate didn’t feel so judged by that one look. “Have you already forgotten what I said? She’s not worth it.”
“She’s not the developer.”
“You don’t know that.”
Tate laughed. “Do you even hear yourself? You’re starting to sound like you believe in conspiracy theories. Why on earth would a developer move onto a farm and then come to a meeting to go against what she’s trying to do?”
Jason opened his mouth then closed it. He thought for a moment then his eyes rounded.
“To take us down from the inside. She could spend a few months getting us to trust her because she agrees with us. Then she could slowly start changing our minds by pointing out how it could be helpful. Then another vote comes around… and…” He snapped his fingers.
“Just like that, her project is approved and she gets what she wants.”
Tate stared blankly at Jason then scoffed as he swung his attention to the front of the room again. “Nah, you’re so full of it. That’s only the kind of stuff that happens in the movies.”
Jason shrugged. “And where do they get the plots for movies from? Real life. Everything is based on a little bit of truth. It’s in the Bible.”
Tate chuckled again. “Can’t argue with the Bible.”
His brother went quiet beside him and Tate peeked over. Jason was locked onto what the town council member was saying, weighing every word the way he weighed a horse he didn’t trust yet. At least one of them was paying attention to important stuff. Tate was thinking about supper.
Tate nudged his twin with his shoulder.
Blowing out a heavy breath, Tate murmured, “You want to know what I feel like getting for supper tonight?”
Jason shrugged, still watching what was going on in the meeting.
“Pizza.”
His twin perked up. “With pineapple?”
Tate hid his grin with his hand. “Yeah. With pineapple.”
“I’m game for it,” Jason said.
“You really need to be reminded that people who like pineapple on pizza are weird,” Tate said quietly, his focus drilling into the back of the newcomer’s head. “It’s like a secret society.”
Jason chuckled. “I know what you’re trying to do.”
“Do you?”
He sighed and glanced in Tate’s direction. “I don’t need a lecture about my pizza choices. We’ve been over this a gazillion times. Just because we’re twins doesn’t mean we’re exactly the same.”
Tate snorted, turning to face his brother fully. “All I said was that pizza sounds good.”
Jason’s smirk stretched even wider, but his attention remained on the front of the room.
Just then, the room erupted in organized chaos as the meeting came to a close and people started merging for the door.
Tate shot to his feet, but he couldn’t see the blonde woman anywhere.
She’d managed to disappear into the crowd.
His eyes darted back and forth and he attempted to slip closer to the front, but it was like trying to swim upstream.
The current was too strong and by the time the people parted, she was gone.
He cursed under his breath. It wasn’t like he didn’t know where she lived, but showing up at her place out of the blue seemed a little on the stalker side.
He definitely didn’t want to present himself as such.
And seeing as he wasn’t interested in dating right now, he didn’t want to give her any false impressions.
Jason sidled up beside him, his shoulder bumping into his. It was one of the many ways they communicated—or checked in with each other.
When Tate glanced over to him, he was surprised to see Jason looking more relaxed.
“I know you’re trying to prioritize my feelings over your preferences because you hate pineapple.”
Tate gaped at his brother then recalled what they’d been talking about and threw his head back with a laugh. “I don’t hate pineapple, Jase.”
“Oh yeah? Then where do all those little pineapple slivers come from when we buy a Hawaiian pizza? The girls are too lazy to pull them off. And you hate fruit.”
“There’s that word again. I don’t hate anything.”
“Except when someone attacks your family,” Jason said pointedly.
Tate draped his arm around his brother and pulled him close.
“Yeah, except that.” He couldn’t help it.
The second they exited the building, he looked for the woman again.
He couldn’t shake this feeling that she was going to be an important part of his life, and he just wished he could figure out why.
Jason sighed as they headed for the truck. It was one of those long-suffering sighs and Tate dragged his attention over to his twin.
“What is it now?”
His brother didn’t speak right away. All he did was shake his head and run his thumb across his lip like he did when he was nervous or thinking about something he wasn’t ready to talk about.
Tate stepped in front of his brother to stop them both from continuing toward the truck. “What is it? Today has felt… weird.”
Jason shook his head again. “That’s not it.”
“So it is something.”
He furrowed his brows and looked away. “We don’t have to get pineapple on the pizza.”
Tate laughed. “Oh, we’re getting pineapple.”
“Then I guess you should go talk to her.”
That threw Tate off. “What? You just told me she wasn’t worth it.
I’m guessing it has something to do with the fact that she’s clearly from the city.
And we both know that will only end in trouble.
And you’re right. She’s either going to get bored and move, or she’s here for ulterior motives.
City folk don’t belong here. And even if all of that weren’t an issue, I don’t have time for a relationship. ”
“And that’s why you should talk to her.”
“Okay, now you’re really confusing me.”
Jason sighed again, his head hanging. “It’s like I said. You always prioritize other people. If you think that behavior isn’t noticeable, then you’re dumber than you look.”
Tate arched a brow. “Ouch.”
“Just think about it, okay?”
“But you said—”
“Logically, I stand by my previous statement. I don’t think it’s worth the trouble. But…” Jason placed his hands on Tate’s shoulders and gave him a little shake. “As your brother, I should be telling you to go for it. That’s what brothers do, right?”
Tate chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what brothers do. But it doesn’t matter because I’m too busy.”
Jason opened his mouth, probably to argue, to die on this hill, but Tate stopped him by mirroring his stance and clapping his hands on his brother’s shoulders.
“I’m too busy pretending I’m in love with Hawaiian pizza.”
His brother snorted.
“Just don’t tell the girls. I don’t think they’d ever let us buy it again if they realized you’re the only one in our family with such eclectic tastes.”
“Deal.”
Tate patted him again then pulled away. “One good thing came from tonight, though.”
“What?”
“Did you see how many people turned out? I swear everyone and their dog came.”
Jason didn’t miss a beat. “There were no dogs in that room. I would’ve noticed.”
Tate laughed, shaking his head. “Just another one of those sayings, Jase.”
“Well, it’s a dumb saying.”
More laughter. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right about that, too.”
“I’m right about most stuff.”
Tate climbed in behind the wheel of his truck and grinned at his twin. Yeah, Jason was right about most stuff. But worse than that, he knew it.