Page 9 of Where She Belongs

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.”