“Talked about what? When? I never agreed to sell Land’s End. I certainly never agreed to sell it to Colton Herrington. Will you imagine for a second how I felt when he showed up at the door?”
“I didn’t make the connection. I spoke to his representative in Atlanta, then I spoke to Rand Garvy. Nobody mentioned a Herrington.”
“No kidding.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Barry.
“How can it not matter? He’s my ex-fiancé.” Not that she’d agree to sell Land’s End to anyone. So, she supposed, in some ways it was a moot point.
“We can’t afford to keep it,” Barry offered reasonably.
“We don’t owe any money on it.” The occasional mortgages, taken out by previous generations, had long since been paid off.
“That’s not what I mean. You know we can’t afford the upkeep.”
“We’re managing,” she countered.
“We’re not managing. This place needs...” He glanced around the big room. “Well, everything. The roof, the walls, the foundation. The castle is nearly two hundred years old.”
“Only the original section.”
“Yes, the original section. The others are barely over a hundred.”
“It’s our home, Barry.” Tessa didn’t understand why he was springing this on her.
“It was our home. Times change, Tessa. Do you have any idea what the property is worth now?”
“You want to turn our children’s heritage into liquid cash?”
His expression turned stony. “We don’t have children.”
“But we will. Someday, we will. And Land’s End belongs to them every bit as much as it belongs to us.”
“Are you suggesting we move back here, the two of us? Maintain the house, keep up the yard, cover the expenses?” he challenged. “Are you actually planning to live in Tucker’s Point?”
“What’s wrong with Tucker’s Point?”
Barry rolled to his feet. “I have a medical practice in Atlanta. I’m not coming back to Tucker’s Point.”
Her shoulders drooped. “So, because you don’t want to live here, I lose my family home. Is that it?”
“Do you have to be so melodramatic?”
She gestured around the big room, full of her childhood treasures. “You’d cash it all in? Just like that? Put an end to what everyone else built?”
“I’m not going to blow the money on women and liquor. I’m going to expand the medical clinic. Not to pull out the morality card, Tessa, but I’m saving the lives of children.”
“Well, that was a low blow.”
“You’re the one who accused me of cashing it all in.”
She pointed to the half-polished suit of armor. “You remember that? Great-grandpa made that.”
He gazed at the shining suit and a nostalgic smile grew on his face. “It’s a little hard to forget.”
“I found it down in the basement. You should see all the stuff that’s down there.”
He nodded to Aunt Sophie’s painting and the brass candlesticks. “I see you’ve pulled some of it out.”
“It’s nothing short of treasure. It’s bringing back memories I didn’t know I had.” She dropped into the armchair across from him. “We can make it work, Barry. Maybe we have to close up the house for a while, just pay the taxes, but we don’t have to sell. Not yet. Not to him.”
“We can’t base a decision on the buyer, Tessa. That’s completely illogical.”
Tessa didn’t find it illogical at all, but that wasn’t her strongest point, so she let it drop. “I’m saying I don’t want to sell, period. This place is too important to sell.”
Barry sat down again. “It needs work. It needs work soon. It’s not just a matter of closing the doors and turning off the heat.”
“Why are you dropping this on me like a bombshell?”
“I thought we’d agreed.”
“When did we agree? At what point did that conversation take place?”
“Two years ago, when Sophie gave me her power of attorney. She understood the financial drain. I told her then that I was looking at rezoning.”
“Two years ago?” Tessa parroted back in astonishment.
“Yes.”
“Nobody told me.”
“I told you. You said we couldn’t move Sophie. I said that was fine while she was alive, but we’d have to make some hard decisions for the long term.”
“I didn’t think you’d sell before she was cold in the ground.”
“I didn’t expect to get serious interest this soon.”
His words took Tessa’s thoughts back to Colton. Colton was here, at Land’s End. She knew breaking up with him had been absolutely the right thing to do. No matter how much fun they’d had together, she was always battling a sense of inadequacy that made her jumpy. His circle of friends and business colleagues—they all operated so effortlessly in the upper echelons of Boston.
Tessa was constantly struggling to measure up. As a child, she’d learned her instincts didn’t always lead her down the proper path. And she simply couldn’t spend the rest of her life analyzing every choice she made and every word she uttered, for fear of embarrassing Colton.
But breaking up with him had also been the hardest thing she’d ever done. There were things about him that she desperately missed—his insight, his sense of humor, his ability to rush fearlessly into any situation and bring it under control. And, of course, his lovemaking.
She didn’t want him here, reminding her of everything she missed. She didn’t want to see him. She didn’t want to talk to him. She wanted him gone, and as soon as possible.
“I’m not going to agree to sell,” she stated with conviction. “And you know you can’t sell the estate without my agreement.”
“Tessa, think about what you’re saying.”
“I have!” she shouted.
Barry held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. I can see you’re not going to agree right here and now. No problem. But Colton Herrington is here today. It’s my house, too, and I’m showing him around.”
Tessa opened her mouth to protest, but Barry talked right over her. “If he’s not interested, fine. Then we’ve got some more time. If he is interested, we can fight again in the morning.”
“You’re staying over?” Tessa found herself asking.
Barry tipped his chin toward the big window where snow was sticking to the trees and the grass. “I think I’d rather travel in the daylight tomorrow.”
“I’m determined to change your mind about this,” she warned him.
He smiled patiently. “And I’m determined to change yours.”
* * *
COLTON STOOD NEXT to the rotund boathouse on the spit that stretched from the tip of Land’s End out into the bay. They’d already walked the length of the rocky beach, across the expanse of lawn and around the back of the castle to the narrow strip of woods that gave privacy from Beech Tree Road. Now they squinted through the falling snow, gazing at the ocean and the picturesque town around the bay.
Tessa’s childhood property offered everything Colton could have dreamed of in a seaside resort. Sure, it would take a lot of work to get it there, but he could already picture the final result. It was going to be spectacular. He made up his mind to do whatever it took to complete the purchase.
“What do you think?” asked Rand from beside him.
“The beach will take at least six months to upgrade,” he responded, mindful of Emilee listening. If he seemed too enthusiastic, she’d probably tell Tessa and Barry to jack up the price.
“We’ll need dozens of truckloads of sand.”
“She told you she won’t sell,” Emilee interjected.
“She’ll listen to reason,” Colton responded, not even remotely s
ure if that was true.
Tessa was usually very reasonable. But every once in a while, she’d inexplicably dig in her heels, and dynamite wouldn’t blast her from her position. He could never figure out why. There was certainly never a pattern to it.
Once, he’d bought her an emerald necklace, surprising her with it when he’d picked her up to attend a charity event. But she’d flat-out refused to wear it. It wasn’t as if it was overly expensive. And it looked fantastic with her dress. There wasn’t a reason in the world that she should have refused. But she had, and no amount of logic had been able to sway her.
As his mind wandered further, he couldn’t help but remember taking her home that night, back to the small apartment she’d rented with Emilee since they were students. Tessa’s goodnight kiss had nearly blown his mind, and he’d tried to talk her into coming back to his place and spending the night. It was only twenty minutes away. His car was waiting, and they could have made love and slept in each other’s arms.
Again, she’d inexplicably refused. He’d spent the next three days frustrated and plotting to get back on her good side. Which he had. That weekend, they’d dined on his balcony, enjoying a five-star meal created by his chef, candles, white tablecloth, six courses and an award-winning bottle of California wine.
It was the night he’d decided he would propose, the night he’d realized they were made for each other.
It had taken him two weeks to get everything ready, finding the perfect diamond, having it set in platinum, writing and rehearsing his lines. He’d picked her up in a stretch limo, dressed in a tux, spiriting her to a private dinner in a rooftop room at Andantina’s. There, he’d gotten down on one knee as the Fourth of July fireworks went off outside the window. She’d looked so incredibly beautiful that night, in a sparkling red gown, her hair upswept, crystals dangling from her ears and her neck.
Then again, she looked equally beautiful today, in blue jeans and a flannel shirt. It was hard to believe, but over the past few months, he’d forgotten exactly how beautiful she was—even without makeup, even without designer clothes, even when she wasn’t flashing that million-watt smile.
“It’s ironic,” said Emilee.
Colton blinked himself back to the present. It was ironic. For a second, he had to assure himself Emilee couldn’t read his mind. He shifted in his dress shoes, realizing it was getting very cold as the sun slipped down in the sky.
“What’s ironic?” Rand stepped in to ask.
But Emilee was looking at Colton. “They’ve been predicting a storm for days now. It hasn’t materialized. If we’d waited a little longer, you could have helped us move the kayaks.”
Colton narrowed his eyes in puzzlement.
“We were hauling the kayaks into the beach house, and Tessa mentioned that you could have helped.”
Something in Colton’s chest tightened. “Tessa was talking about me?”
Emilee stared hard at him, scrutinizing his expression. “What are you really doing here, Colton?”
He didn’t miss a beat. “Buying some property for Herrington Resorts.”
“Don’t you dare mess with her head.”
“Excuse me?”
Emilee took a step closer, wrapping her leather coat more tightly around her in the freshening wind. “I know you, Colton.”
“You barely know me at all.”
“I know enough. You’re used to getting everything you want in life. You use people and situations like pieces on a chess board.”
“Barry was the one who decided to sell.” Colton resented the implication he’d somehow orchestrated this. He was taking advantage of the opportunity, sure. But he wasn’t some mastermind.
“I’m not talking about the property,” Emilee continued. “I know that you walk away from women. Women don’t walk away from you.”
“You’re making assumptions.” Emilee had no idea who’d walked away from whom in his past.
“I’m making observations,” said Emilee. “And I read the gossip columns.”
“A bastion of accuracy on my personal life,” he scoffed.
“They’re close enough.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
“I’m saying, don’t let your ego make you hurt Tessa.”
“I’m not here for Tessa.”
No matter how beautiful she was. No matter how much he missed her. She’d made her position abundantly clear, and he had no place in her future.
He admitted to himself that Emilee was partially right. He normally did get what he wanted in life. But one of the reasons for that was that he didn’t waste his time on lost causes. Tessa was a lost cause.
Emilee tossed her hair in the gusty wind. “I think you’re here to convince yourself it was your decision to split up. And that means you’ll have to convince Tessa she still feels something for you.”
“Does she still feel something—” Colton snapped his jaw shut, angry with himself for asking.
“You’re not good for her.”
“That may or may not be true. But I’m here to buy some land. Full stop. Tessa and I are over.”
Emilee looked as if she was going to say something more, but Colton’s phone rang inside his coat pocket and he took the opportunity to step away.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Herrington? Captain Parker, here.”
“Captain.” Colton acknowledged his airplane pilot.
“Sorry to disturb you, but we’ve just been advised they’re shutting down a runway due to the snow.”
“Right now?” asked Colton, glancing at the cloud-filled sky. Flakes had been falling when they’d arrived, increasing in intensity, but it didn’t look like anything serious at the moment.
“It’s getting thicker by the minute out here. We’ve got a half-hour window to get off the ground before they close the airport to private traffic. Can you get here in time?”
“Not a chance.” They were an hour and a half away. “How long will they restrict traffic?”
“They’re saying at least twenty-four hours.”
“Are commercial flights still getting out?”
“They are. Jack tried to get us some hangar space, but there’s nothing available. We can wait it out here, or we can meet you back in Boston.”
“You better take the window,” said Colton. He didn’t want to risk storm damage to the company jet, or risk marooning it in Maine. There were other executives who had it booked for the next few days. “We’ll grab a commercial flight tonight.”
“Would you like me to call Lily?”
“Yes, please. Have her email me the details when she’s got them.”
“Will do. See you back in Boston, Mr. Herrington.”
“Have a safe flight.”
“What’s up?” asked Rand as Colton ended the call.
“Airport’s closing to private traffic. The boys have to take off in the next thirty minutes.”
Rand glanced at the sky. “It must be worse down the coast.”
“Sounds like it is. Lily’s going to book us a commercial flight.”
“My toes are getting numb,” said Emilee.
“Do you suppose it’s safe to go back inside?” Rand asked her.
“It might never be safe for you two,” Emilee retorted.
Colton tucked his phone back into his jacket pocket. “My money’s as good as anyone else’s.”
He scanned the beach one last time. Tessa’s place or not, this was exactly what he needed—a comprehensive and complex project to occupy his mind.
He was going to get over her. There’d never been any doubt about that. But keeping himself busy for the next few months was a very good strategy. By the time he was finished here, he’d never have to think about her again.
* * *
> WHEN TESSA SPOTTED the group heading back to the house, she decided the best tactic was to stay out of their way. Barry had the right to show Colton or anyone else around the castle whenever he wanted, but Tessa sure didn’t need to stand around and watch.
But first, she zipped up the stairs to her bedroom, quickly made the bed, straightened the clutter on her dresser and checked the en-suite bathroom for embarrassing undergarments. Sure enough, there was a lacy bra sitting on the counter and a pair of purple panties dangling over the edge of the hamper.
After tidying up, she took the back staircase to the basement. There was plenty of work for her to do down there. Hopefully, by the time she was finished, Colton and Rand would be long gone, far away from Tucker’s Point. She took a narrow hallway to the wine cellar.
In addition to hundreds of bottles of wine, the room was stocked with old crystal decanters and a multitude of stemmed glasses, along with silver serving trays and small glass plates. Successive masters of the Ambroise castle had carried on a tradition of wine tastings in the cellar on special occasions. Though no one had done it in years, there remained a massive maple table in the centre of the room. It was surrounded by leather stools for guests, plus an imposing armchair at the head. The chair was first used by Payton Ambroise, who built the castle, to preside over ceremonial occasions.
Tessa started with the serving trays, working her way through the collection, setting aside any that were familiar, planning to choose a couple of them to move upstairs. At one point, she heard her brother’s voice in the distance. She froze, tempted for a wild moment to duck out of sight beneath the table. But the voices faded, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at her watch, decided four in the afternoon was late enough and hunted down a corkscrew.
She chose a Spanish merlot, flagged Gran Reserva. No point in skimping on quality on a day like this. She polished a cut-crystal glass and twisted the corkscrew into the cork. It came out firm and plump, and the aroma of the wine wafted into her nostrils. She poured the ruby liquid into the glass and let it breathe for thirty seconds. It was a compromise for the first few sips, but she’d drink slowly, letting the flavors open up along the way.
“I wondered where you’d gone,” Colton’s voice rumbled unexpectedly from the cellar door.
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