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I hang up the phone and give my assistant a grin that I’m sure, based on her expression, looks more than a little manic.
“Someone’s in a good mood,” Coral says.
“We got that property.”
“The one you want to convert into condos?”
“Yes. The first of many, I hope.”
“How do you plan on getting the others?” Coral asks. She and I both know that the land out here is limited. And I don’t want to buy up the wineries since that’s one of the big selling points for people looking to buy into Sonoma County. Which means my choices for real estate are even more limited.
“Don’t worry. I have my ways.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” She knows me too well. “Anyway, here are the calls that came in for you while you were preoccupied.”
“Thanks.” I take a wad of small papers from her.
“So, when will you move into the new place?”
I look up, and she’s making a cheeky face at me.
“Yeah, right.” I chuckle. “Can you imagine me ditching my gorgeous apartment to kick it like Davy Crockett on the frontier?”
“No, I certainly cannot. For one thing, you’d stick out like a sore thumb in your Armani suits.” I snort. She’s one to talk. Coral’s clothes might look like comfortable business casual outfits, but I know how much cashmere costs.
“But I will need to put on the show. Pretend like we live there, at least for a little while.”
“Why?”
“To convince the neighbor of my good intentions.” I give her my most charming grin. It’s the look the wolf probably wears before he sneaks into the hen house.
“Except that you don’t have any,” Coral points out.
“They don’t need to know that.”
She walks away. “I swear, I become more and more morally bankrupt every time I walk through that door.”
“You also become richer!” I shout after her. I’m the reason she can buy her comfortable cashmere clothes, after all. I may be devious when it comes to finding business deals, but I always pay my people what they’re worth.
She just waves me off without turning to face me again.
Then, I’m left alone to reminisce about the said neighbor—or at least his granddaughter. Something about her quirky personality and devastating looks keeps her running through my mind. Every time I see her, I’m captivated by her gorgeous hazel eyes. It’s like they’re trying to gaze straight into my soul.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a framed picture of Dylan. I’m not the only Cornel man with eyes for a Dale woman. After we’d met the Dales, I asked Dylan what he thought of Mina, but he shot me down. He only does that when he’s too embarrassed to confess he likes someone. It’s not like I could blame him. Her mother has since completely ensnared my thoughts too.
***
“I don’t understand why we need to do this,” Dylan says in the car later that night while we bring a few of our personal items to the farm.
“I told you. We need to at least put on the front that we live here.” Being closer to that captivating woman is just the cherry on top.
“But we don’t live here.” Dylan shoots me a contemplative look.
“No, not permanently. However, if we want to earn these peoples’ trust, we need to act like we’re one of them. And please spare me the complaining. The more time we spend here, the more time you get to hang out with Mina.”
He squirms in his chair. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I mess up the already rambunctious pile of dark blond curls on top of his head. He’s all me in the face, but he inherited his mother’s hair. He made the same comparison himself once after finding one of the pictures of her that I thought I’d destroyed.
