Alexis kept the smile on her face. “Thank you. I’m just about to get to that. After spending more time in your lovely town than I’d originally planned, I’m certain that HSG and Whistle Stop can help each other.” She grabbed the laptop computer that was set up with her slide-show presentation.
As if on cue, the lights dimmed and her first slide appeared on the large screen to her right. “HSG is proposing to build a resort on the outskirts of Whistle Stop. It’ll mean lots of jobs—”
A cheer went up in the room. The energy that vibrated through the room was contagious, and Alexis coul
dn’t help but smile. When a calm settled over the crowd, she clicked through some of the tentative sketches that her team back in New York had developed. She hoped they would impress her audience as much as they did her. Still, as nicely as the buildings were drawn, she realized that she no longer wanted to buy Cord’s land to achieve her goals. But she had yet to secure an alternative location.
She wasn’t even finished with her presentation—and the best was yet to come—when a woman called out, “I know you’re trying to help us, but don’t all of these wonderful new jobs hinge on Cord Lawson selling you Haggerty?”
“Yes, they do—”
The crowd all spoke at once. Alexis tried to regain control of the meeting, but no one paid her the least bit of attention as they all vocalized their opinions at once.
Alexis couldn’t make out Cord’s face in the shadows, but she could feel his steady gaze on her. She just hoped that he wouldn’t leave before she got to the good stuff—the part that would show him that she did care about this town—and most of all him.
Mayor Ortiz took pity on her and moved to the podium. It took a few loud bangs of his gavel to restore order to the hall. “Ladies and gentlemen, I know there is a lot to discuss, but let’s hear out our guest before making up our minds.”
A man in the back stood up. “But if this all hinges on Cord’s land, shouldn’t he be up there, too? From what I hear around town, he shot down your plan.”
This is where Alexis had to tread ever so carefully or risk alienating Cord. And even worse, creating more animosity between some of Whistle Stop’s residents and Cord. That was the exact opposite of what she’d like to see happen.
“Mr. Lawson and I are still discussing a potential sale.”
A woman near the front stood and turned to Cord. “Is that right? Are you going to sell?”
Alexis inwardly groaned. She hadn’t wanted to drag Cord into the middle of this meeting. “How about I tell you the rest of my ideas?”
“We want to hear what Cord has to say.”
“Yeah!” chorused a number of people in the audience.
“Cord isn’t going to sell to you.”
“That’s right, lady! You’re wasting our time. We’ve heard enough.”
Again, the crowd erupted in boisterous conversation. Oh, this was a disaster. And then, above the din of voices, there was a loud and clear whistle. As the lights came up in the room, Cord was standing there with his hands pressed to his lean waist. All heads turned his way.
Alexis didn’t have a clue what he was going to say. His face was devoid of expression as he stared directly at her. She knew whatever he said now would decide the course of the rest of the meeting. Her lungs burned as she held her breath in anticipation.
“You aren’t wasting your time,” he told the crowd. “I’ve gotten to know Ms. Greer, and she truly cares about the land, about Whistle Stop. She’s trying in her own way to help the town. And this place could use some more people like her, people willing to go out of their way to help the town. You’d be wise to hear her out.”
“Are you saying you’re selling your land to her? You’re going to help the community?”
“Yeah, Cord, are you going to help us?”
Cheers went up in the crowd for Cord to sell.
The mayor stepped up to the podium and banged his gavel, bringing peace back to the unruly crowd. But all eyes were still on Cord, whose face was hard as stone.
“Well, Cord?” the mayor prompted.
Cord didn’t move. The only sign of life was a twitch in his jaw. The breath caught in Alexis’s chest as she awaited his answer. She silently prayed that he’d made the choice to save his home.
“I’m still considering her offer. Now dim the lights and let her finish her presentation.”
“We should have figured we couldn’t count on you,” a faceless voice called out from the back.
Alexis tightened her hold on the podium to keep herself upright. Had Cord just spoken up in public? And had he ridden to her defense like a knight in shining armor?