Saves me a lot of time, which I know can be better spent from now on.
“I’m fine.” I grimace, clenching my jaw and settling into a piece of freezing outdoor furniture, using the robe to cover what I can.
“You’re coming tonight?” I ask, not wanting the cavalry to arrive too soon.
“Snowed in at Denver,” Rick says, breaking up a little until I stand and move around, getting better cell coverage in this valley.
“Be there tomorrow though—” he says but drops out again for good until I call him back.
“What do we know about the existing owners?” I ask, hearing his fingers busy on a keyboard, bringing up everything I’ll want to know, letting me know he’s already emailed it to me as well.
“Figaro Holdings,” he says, listing off a bunch of names I’ve never heard of, and equally obscure investments and properties.
“They're originally tied to a chain of restaurants… They almost went belly up this year. Should be a shoo-in if we offer the right—” he says, but I cut him off.
“Offer ‘em half of what you normally would,” I bark. “No point paying more for what’s already ours. If they’re fucked already, half of not enough is still something,” I reason.
The same logic that’s seen me pick up millions in real estate for a fraction, just so some poor schmuck can pay off the interest and maybe get out of their shitty loan by selling everything they’ve got.
“Alrighty, boss,” Rick murmurs, making notes to himself.
“And Rick? Call when you’re on your way. I’m tied up with another project right now… I’d rather not be disturbed,” I add.
I glance through the glass of the patio doors at Jacinta curled up on the bed. My arousal returns when she shifts in her sleep, showing me that fine ass of hers and a whole lot more before I hang up.
If we can talk half the town’s main assets out of Figaro, the remaining townsfolk should be able to get a bigger offer than usual.
It’s like breathing air for me, making plans for deals. Now or future deals. Deals on the table and deals that may never happen.
My brain’s just hardwired to turn these things over.
But it all takes a back seat as soon as I’m back inside.
Warmer for sure, and getting hotter by the second once I realize that Jacinta’s as much a wriggler when she’s asleep in bed than when I’ve got my face buried between her thick beautiful thighs.
“Perfect,” I say quietly, smiling to myself again. “You really are the luckiest bastard alive…”
Taking an easy chair, I shift it so it faces our bed. I settle myself down to watch Jacinta sleep some more while I thumb through my phone, scouring the web for a suitable place for us to escape to for a few days while my team moves into Cherry to do what they do best. What I thought I wanted to spend a week or so doing. Before I met Jacinta, of course.
They’ll be upfront, my team, outlining the proposed developments. Starting by getting the local council or regulatory bodies on board.
But from what Rick’s told me, if he’s already lined up stuff with existing owners, he should already have any other major players, good or bad lined up as well.
I sigh with satisfaction, unable to focus really.
Scanning the pictures of place after place, when all I need is just a few feet away from me.
But she’s worth a thousand Old Mill Inns.
A million of ‘em.
Jacinta makes a noise in her sleep, and I look up. It’s not the good kind of noises I’m used to her making already either.
Something’s bugging her, that’s for sure.
And when she wakes with a start, crying out before bolting upright, I move like lightning to comfort her.
“Hey, it’s alright,” I croon, rubbing her back, trying to explain she’s just had a bad dream once she orients herself a little.
Her eyes are wide with fear, but relax some once she remembers where she is.
Who she’s with.
“I’ve been sitting here the whole time,” I assure her. “You’re okay, Jacinta. It was just a dream,” I repeat, noticing how shook up she is.
“It was horrible,” she pants.
“It felt like I couldn’t wake up… You were there. And the town… the whole town was trying to find you. You’d done something horrible. Even I felt it, even though I didn’t know what it was… I couldn’t find you,” she says loudly, burying her face in my chest and sobbing.
I guess it might be time for a little confession of my own.
Right after dinner gets here… Or maybe tomorrow morning after breakfast.
Before the team gets here.
Yeah. That’ll work.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Jacinta
Once Kyle comforts me and then the food arrives, it’s like the stupid dream I had is just that.
Stupid.
While I’d slept, Kyle had ordered food for us.
“A lot of food for one person, don’t you think?” I ask, half teasing him until I notice his expression shift.