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“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 timeshe 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.”
