“Rick.” Robert approached his truck and held out his hand. “I wondered where you had gone off to. Picking up your dog, I see.”
“That’s right.” It was all he could say without blurting out his wish for Robert to leave. “You brought a friend with you.”
“This is my realtor.”
Rick didn’t need any further information about the man. Holding a tape measure in one hand and a tablet in the other, he was here to size up the property.
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” The man had a firm handshake and stared Rick in the eyes. “When Mr. Fletcher told me you might be interested in selling the property to him, I wanted to come here and check it out. He already went over the terms with me, such as you wanting to keep possession of the cabin and the surrounding yard space.”
“The terms.” Rick laughed and shook his head. “We haven’t agreed to any terms yet.”
Robert stepped forward and slapped the realtor on the shoulder. “What Rick is saying is that we are in the middle of discussions, and he is quite interested in the recent written offer I presented to you in our office this morning. Rick, here, hasn’t signed on the dotted line, yet. In the meantime, I figured we might as well get the ball rolling. A property of this size needs measuring, which we will want the surveyors to do, of course. What I thought we’d do is make sure all appropriate paperwork is in order. When we’re ready, I’d like the transaction to be as smooth as possible.”
Rick imagined what it would feel like to strike Robert across his chiseled jaw. While Rick may not have tossed the recent offer in the trash bin, he wasn’t ready to allow the men to stroll onto his property and “start the ball rolling”.
Another vehicle pulled into the driveway and parked next to Rick’s. It was an SUV with the resort’s logo splashed along the side. Something about seeing the resort’s vehicle on his property made Rick’s stomach turn.
“Ah, they’re here.” Two men jumped out from the truck and greeted Robert with a handshake. “These are my developers. They wanted to discuss our plans for the property and the best use of the space. I figured we should involve you in the conversation, Rick, since you expressed concerns in the past.”
“I appreciate that, however, I am too busy to—”
“Don’t worry, Rick.” Robert rested his hand on Rick’s shoulder, giving him an uneasy feeling. “I already spoke with your father about our meeting today. In fact, he had his assistant adjust your calendar to allow us as much time as we need to go over things.”
Of course, his father was meddling in the deal. It made Rick want to end the discussion sooner than later. What kind of deal had his father already worked out with Robert? Whatever they worked out wouldn’t be to Rick’s benefit.
The sound of a click caught Rick’s attention. The realtor was snapping photographs of the cabin exterior.
“Hey.” Rick raised his hand and stepped in front of the realtor’s phone. “Why are you taking pictures of my cabin? I’m not selling it.”
The realtor wrote a note on his tablet and stepped to the side, positioning his phone for another picture. “I am aware you might not be interested in selling the cabin. However, Mr. Fletcher noted you both needed to complete the deal, and there was the possibility you might revisit previous conversations.” He lowered his phone. “Was I mistaken?”
Rick turned to Robert, and his disgust for the man grew. Robert was used to getting what he wanted and with the help of Rick’s father, he was ready to get his hands on Rick’s property no matter what. “I never wanted to—”
“Walk with me, Rick.” Robert gestured to follow him behind the cabin, leaving the realtor and property developers to examine his property alone. Rick didn’t enjoy leaving the men to wander and snoop around, but needed to speak his mind to Robert in private. Besides, Hudson would monitor them, even if he was a terrible guard dog. He glanced over his shoulder at Hudson, who lay at the feet of one developer, eager to get a few minutes of sleep.
Rick and Robert walked along the side of the cabin to the backyard, where everything was as Rick had left it. The day before, he trimmed the grass and weeded the gardens. Anyone could see he put time and effort into making his space attractive. It was not something that happened overnight. He had to dig up overgrown roots, clear away piles of debris from leaves and twigs to waste from the previous owners. He transformed the space into something livable and beautiful. It was a private oasis for him to enjoy nature in silence.
Robert stopped by a pruned rosebush and plucked a leaf from its branch. Rick bit his tongue. He wouldn’t dare to damage a plant on the resort. “Rick, I thought a great deal about my last offer. It wasn’t enough to convince you on the spot, however, I believe it is as far as I can go. In fact, I considered taking it back. It is going to cost me a lot to expand, and if I am going to spend that kind of money, I need to make sure I get a good return on my investment.”
“It sounds as though you have a problem.”
Robert tossed the leaf to the side. “I don’t. You do. I am revising my offer to include the cabin. If I am going to pay you three million for the place, I might as well have all of it. Besides, you already complain about my guests. Do I want to deal with you calling me every few months because someone came too close to your fence?”
Rick scratched his head and laughed. “Are you trying to talk me into the deal or out of it?”
“I want you to look at the bigger picture. You might enjoy this place now, but I have heard you’ve got your eye on something else... or should I say, someone else?”
The color drained from Rick’s face. Had word spread around town already?
“Do you think she is going to want to live in a cabin like this? A woman like that needs the best you and the city can offer, not some run-down cabin in the middle of Lemon Grove. You had your fun and now it is time to settle down.”
“I’m not sure what you heard, Robert. Molly and I have only just started to—”
“Molly?” Robert took a step back and laughed. “I was talking about Valerie. Your father told me all about your reunion in the city, and he’s convinced the two of you are getting back together. Who is Molly?”
Rick didn’t want to tell Robert anything that might get back to his father. He didn’t need the drama. Molly was the woman he cared about, and not Valerie, who his parents would rather see him with. His father would have much to say when he found out.
“Does your father know?” Robert pressed. That man would not let it go, and now Rick’s lack of response was only feeding his curiosity.
“As I was trying to tell you, we’ve only just met each other and there are no plans. And my father was wrong.” He might as well say that much.
Robert smiled and soon let out a loud cackle. “I suspect it will upset your father when he hears this news. And this Molly of yours, has she seen the cabin? Is she prepared to live here? I assume she isn’t from Lemon Grove since I don’t recall anyone with that name around here.” Rick said nothing, leaving Robert to laugh again. “My boy. If you are going to impress a woman, you need to have something to offer. This place is doing nothing for you, not to mention the fact that you make your living from your parents’ business. If you call this setting out on your own, you haven’t shown you have what it takes to cut the apron strings and be independent.”
“You are crossing a line, Robert,” Rick said through his teeth.
“I am trying to be honest with you. Women want men who make their own way. Sell your cabin and you set yourself up with a nice little fortune. Buy your young lady a nice apartment somewhere in the city. You’ll both be happier there.”
Rick tried to wear a fake smile to hide his hatred for the man. Despite his dislike for Robert, he was right. Rick had little to offer Molly besides a cabin and a dog. Would she have as much respect for him knowing his father employed him? It wasn’t as if Rick had to fight for the job and go through the same interview process so many others have needed to do. His family handed him the job. Same with t
he paycheck that came with the job. It is why his father continued to hold the job over his head whenever Rick didn’t do what they wanted. If Rick were to be in a serious relationship with Molly, who knew what other tricks his family would pull along the way. Even if his father didn’t interfere with the relationship now, he might get involved later when he wanted to manipulate Rick into another decision.
He only hoped that Molly wasn’t interested in being wooed by expensive gifts or a man who had to come up from the ground floor. Rick wanted her to like him for the man he was today. His family history shouldn’t matter in her decision to be with him. Rick could walk away from all of it if doing so would make her happy. He’d even walk away from the cabin if it meant they would be together. But from what he could tell, she liked it in Lemon Grove. Like him, she was escaping the city to get away into nature. It was a bonus that they had found each other, and now she was assessing her next move. He could see it on her face whenever they were together. Her forehead scrunched when they discussed the café and the possibility of proposing the expansion to her friend. She wore the cutest expression and one that didn’t match her confident opinions. When she knew what she wanted, Molly was firm in her beliefs. Her shoulders rolled back, and she stood straight. There was a fire behind her eyes and a tone that warned him not to argue, but when talking about the café and Lemon Grove, she grew quiet. A decision as big as uprooting one’s life was not one to make lightly and wasn’t one that Rick felt she could make right away. He couldn’t decide to move to the city that quickly, although the thought was growing on him. The way he felt right now, if she would not move, he would.
“Well?” Robert said. “Do you agree with me?”
“I’m not agreeing or disagreeing with you. Molly likes Lemon Grove. I would like time to see what happens between us before deciding on something like selling.”
“You’re going to let a girl decide for you?”
“That’s not what I’m saying. We’ll decide together once we know what this could look like long-term.”
Robert’s smile turned downward, and he walked to the edge of the yard. “I don’t have time to wait. My investors need me to be breaking ground in the next few months. I’ve offered you three million for this property, Rick, when it is hardly even worth one million.”
Rick laughed and shook his head. “I’d argue with you about that one.”
“You’re wrong. It is worth a lot more to someone like me when it’s sold to a development company and not to a private family. Who else is going to develop here, Rick? Lemon Grove has nothing to offer a smaller business. Lemon Eagle Resort is in the best position to invest in Lemon Grove. By turning us down, you will never get the same price for this property. As the cabin ages, the value will only go down. If we move on, we won’t come back and offer this kind of money again. You are going to regret it when your relationship ends and you made a bad financial decision for nothing.” Robert reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. He pressed it against Rick’s chest and held it with one pointed finger. “You are either stupid or even more stubborn than your father. I can’t figure out which. I hope, for your sake, I’m wrong on both accounts.”
Rick took the card and watched Robert stomp back to the front of the cabin as Hudson came bounding toward them. Robert stepped to the side, narrowly missing a collision with Hudson, who stopped at Rick’s feet.
“Are you ready to go inside?” Rick asked.
Hudson wiggled in place and nudged Rick’s hand with his snout.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
As they rounded the front of the house, Robert huddled with the men at the back of the developers’ truck. They were quiet as they spoke animatedly, pausing only to scowl at Rick as if he had wasted their time. It wasn’t his fault Robert brought them to Rick’s property without a proper invite. If they were that upset by the situation, they should take it up with their boss. This property was Rick’s for as long as his name was on the title. If he wanted to sell he would, and might if that was what it took to be with Molly. She hadn’t asked him to sell. At least, not yet. All he needed was to know she wanted him forever and he would leave this place behind. It would hurt, but she was worth it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Vendors had their goods on display in the transformed park. The sun shone down on the green space where they erected stands of various sizes with table displays under tents for shade. Eager sellers smiled from behind their tables, each eying potential customers. Molly had already watched the nearby parking lot for Rick and after receiving a message from him saying he was running late, she wandered through the park while she waited for him to arrive.
She had never been to a Farmers' Market before, but already she was in love with the atmosphere. Baked goods from the vendors and the nearby food trucks filled the air with the smell of their delicious wares. Her stomach rumbled, knowing soon she could sample the pulled pork from the barbeque truck or the taco van. Hopefully, the trucks wouldn't leave before she and Rick were ready to eat. Long lines were already forming, making her worry there would be nothing left.
Molly strolled up to the first table where a woman sat knitting, paying little attention to Molly’s attendance. The knitted towels were bright in stripes of neon and not a pattern Molly would want in her own kitchen, but they had character and were interesting to look at. She ran her hand over a towel. Rough wool made little sense, unless the creator designed them for decoration or to loosen dried on food.
“Are you going to buy anything?” the woman snapped.
“I'm just looking for now,” Molly replied.
“Then don't touch.”
Molly pulled her hand back and slinked away. That wasn't what she had expected from a local in Lemon Grove. Perhaps the reaction was because she was from out of town? Molly had only wanted to examine the material and decide if she was interested in purchasing something. She hadn't expected the woman to snap at her, and for that, the woman would not have Molly's business.
She moved on to the next vendor, hoping for a little more civil treatment. Baked goods lined this vendor's table. They had placed a few pieces of fudge on a plate with toothpicks sticking from the top, keeping the plastic wrap from touching the gooey surface.
“Are these samples?” Molly asked the woman behind the table.
The vendor picked up the plate and moved it away. “I only provide samples to people who live in town.”
“Oh.” Molly lowered her head and looked around the market. Did everyone feel this way? She hadn't expected people to be so rude at the market. Most store clerks in the city would want to make a sale, but these women seemed intent on not having her business. Did she give off an out-of-town vibe that made them want to avoid her?
“Are you doing a little shopping?” Rick asked behind her. She turned and saw his handsome, wide smile. “I see you found Amanda’s fudge. Have you sampled her chocolate almond fudge? It's delicious.”
Molly forced a smile on her face to acknowledge his compliments on the fudge she had been denied. She wanted to tell him how rude the vendor had been, but let it pass for now, especially given that she didn't want to cause a scene in the middle of the park. “I'm afraid not. I'm just browsing, for now.”
“Then you must try it later. Amanda usually sells out, so don't wait too long.” He gave the vendor a wink, and the sour woman perked up, holding her hand to her cheek. “Where are we off to next?”
Molly glanced over her shoulder and spotted a group of women huddled together whispering to each other. Now she understood what the rudeness had been about. Patsy had mentioned how the other women in town often asked about Rick, and this was their reaction to Molly getting his attention. Would she receive the same icy reception from the other vendors? Molly shrugged. “I was just wandering while I waited for you to get here. I'm not sure what all there is to see.”
“There is going to be music down at the far end in a few minutes. Why don't we head in that direction?”
“That sounds like a plan.”
Rick took her hand in his as they walked past the next few tables, causing the women to gawk at the sight of Molly and Rick strolling hand in hand. Molly enjoyed herself, if not because of the company, but from seeing the reactions. The women could think what they wanted of her. They were the ones being rude. If a vendor wanted to treat her kindly, Molly would purchase something from their table. Now, with Rick present, the vendors seemed to be warming in their interactions. Molly knew it was only for Rick's benefit, and not because the vendors further down the row liked her any better.
Despite the rudeness, Molly cultivated a pleasant smile toward each vendor they visited and allowed Rick to guide her from table to table. He seemed oblivious to the snarky comments and the grimaces from each of the women. Instead, Rick introduced her to each of his friends and unintentionally offended every woman in town by parading Molly around in front of them. Molly marveled: he was clueless... yet kind.
“You have an awful lot of friends in this town. I wish the city were like this. People walk by me all the time and don't care at all.”
He laughed as he pressed his hand against her back to guide her around a group of people. “I may have introduced them as friends, but they are more like acquaintances. You don't want to get too close to people in town or they will share your personal business with everyone else. Besides, just so you know,” he whispered, “I am well aware most of these women aren't interested in being my friend.”
Molly smiled. “I think I figured that out already... about the gossip, I mean.”
“Oh?” He looked down at her. “Tell me. What's the gossip?”
“Not you, too. You didn't strike me as the type to want to know all the news.”
“I only meant I wanted to know what the gossip was about me these days. Not what they are saying about others. They all like to talk and I've heard some stories about you already.”
Molly froze. “Really?” She felt herself grow pale. Knowing people had been sharing gossip about her reminded Molly of the high school days she was happy to leave behind. While she tried to convince herself that the stories they started didn't matter, deep down, they did.
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