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“That Wayne is a complete asshole?”
She choked out a laugh. “No, that you set up my apartment. And my job. And helped me with everything else I’ve ever had in my whole life. I feel so terrible. I was really thinking about opening my own facility.”
Hope held her at arm’s length, a small smile playing on her face. “It’s ok to want your own success. I never want you to feel you’re in my shadow. If you want to do something else, we’ll talk about it and work it out.”
“No, I want to stay right here. I’ve learned in no uncertain terms that the grass is not greener.”
“That’s where I want you too.” Hope focused over Sara’s shoulder and grabbed a box of tissues from an end table. “Here. Get it together. Alex and Jack are almost here.”
Sara quickly wiped her eyes and blew her nose, and was back in control when Alex entered with Jack just behind. Alex made a beeline for his wife, kissing her before peering behind her at the mysterious boxes in the oven. “Lunch ready? I’m starved.”
Hope snorted and smacked him in the chest. “Big surprise there. Sit down and I’ll bring it over.”
Jack kissed Sara before dancing his eyes over her face, concern narrowing them. “You ok?” he murmured.
“Yes, thanks. Hope and I just had a moment. Let’s eat.”
After they were done, Hope dabbed a napkin to her mouth and sat back. “Alex and I looked things over last night and I’ve checked our financials this morning. We’ve got two million dollars cash available to buy that piece of land.”
Next to Sara, Jack jerked in his seat, and she tried to hide a smile.
Alex tented his fingers. “We weren’t sure that would be enough to cover the expansion we’ve been planning, and if we buy the land, it certainly won’t be. We were already thinking about auctioning more of the treasure, so I’ll start planning it.”
“You mentioned Miami yesterday,” Jack said.
Hope nodded. “That’s where the auction house is where we sold the first lot. We’ll put together a second one and deliver it to Miami. Piece of cake.” A bright pink flush crept up her neck and she tossed a guilty glance at Alex. “I may be slightly headstrong, but I’ve learned a thing or two along the way.” Sara guessed she was leaving something major out, but Alex just smiled and cupped the back of her neck, massaging softly.
Sara sat back with a grin. “Who would have thought? Both Collins sisters don’t actually know it all?”
Alex and Jack reached for their water glasses at the same time, drinking with their eyes downcast. Both women laughed. “Maybe we can be a tad rash,” Hope said.
Alex turned quickly to Hope, whisking his lips over hers. “I’d never change a thing. Ever.”
Jack grasped Sara’s hand under the table. “Me either, you know.”
Tears pricked at her eyes again. God, I’m turning into a sap. “Thanks.”
Hope and Alex managed to tear themselves apart and return to the conversation. Alex turned to Jack. “Can you get hold of Dexter and set up a meeting? Maybe here at the house? Doesn’t matter where, as long as it’s private. And fast.”
“Sure, I’ll call him after work and tell him it’s about a business opportunity he might be interested in.”
Hope leaned forward, looking at Sara. “You think Wayne is ready to buy that land?”
“Yes. It’s a guess, but I really wonder if the other parcel was just a ruse to show me how much better the Half Moon Bay site is. I think his primary objective is to make competition for you two.”
Jack put an arm over Sara’s shoulders, focusing on her. “I’m sure of it. Dexter told me that someone was offering him a lot of money for it—that has to be Timmons. And if he could wreck you in the process, that only added to the allure, the son of a bitch.”
Alex panned his gaze around the table. “Well, he doesn’t know who he’s up against, does he?”
CHAPTER 37
Jack glanced at the passenger seat as he drove around the circle in front of the Half Moon Bay entrance and continued along the sand road toward Alex and Hope’s house. Dexter sat alert, watching the vegetation move past the truck, and the four southern bungalows that peeked from behind. He had tried to be up front with the older man without going into specifics, since that was the Monroes’ end of things.
When Jack had called the previous evening, Dexter asked him plenty of questions, but in the end, he was satisfied with the explanation that Alex and Hope wanted to discuss a business opportunity. Dexter’s raspy, dry laugh had come over the phone before he said, “I sure am popular all of a sudden. Got these business opportunities all around. All right then, we’ll see what your friends have to say.”
They stopped in an open area between the front of the house and a large, detached garage/shop. A neat square of lawn with two large trees lay before them. Jack’s knock was answered promptly by Hope, who was wearing a staff polo shirt and crisp black slacks. She smiled warmly at Jack’s introduction and shook Dexter’s hand. “It’s good to finally know your name. We haven’t talked in a while.”
“You too, Mrs. Monroe.”
