Page 6 of Taming the Boss

Gavin turned and walked back down the hill to the two men as Xavier and I followed.

“Thank you for coming on this brisk afternoon. I was surprised to see anyone since it’s so close to the holidays.”

“I just bet,” Gavin muttered.

“Let me tell you a little about the building, and the surrounding land as part of the deal.”

Dennis droned on about the square footage of the building, the current zoning, and the surprising amount of land included. The starting bid set me back on my heels.

I hadn’t realized there was that much land included.

Maitland shouted a price ten percent over the starting bid, and I bit back a hiss. Even with my well-padded account at the moment, I’d probably have to get a loan for additional funds.

Gavin shouted out a higher bid.

Maitland volleyed with another five percent increase.

Gavin’s fists tightened as he increased, as well.

I glanced at Xavier, who opened his mouth to put his offer in. Then he stopped. “This might be crazy,” he said under his breath.

“How crazy?” I asked.

Gavin’s shoulders went back as he shouted another bid.

“I know this town and all the starched shirts in government. Maybe we go in together.” Xavier’s voice was barely above a whisper in the whipping wind.

Gavin was slightly in front of us, but he turned his head.

“The three of us?” I asked.

Gavin took a step back. “You’d be willing?”

“This is crazy,” I muttered.

His green eyes locked on mine. “Maitland can’t have this spot. He’s going to bulldoze it all and kill the beach to turn it into a spa,” he said under his breath.

Another step into a resort town.

Seven minutes from the town proper.

I wasn’t even sure why I cared. But then I remembered the smiling Hamilton kids. I’d never thought about a future outside of my business, but I couldn’t imagine I’d want to live in a town overflowing with elite tourists. The small-town flavor would fade into high-end shopping areas.

I’d seen it happen in Seattle.

The moneyed set pushed out the working class. Made it impossible for them to afford to stay there or make a life. Many neighborhoods had been decimated in the name of progress. But it didn’t need to be like that.

It didn’t need to be cold and lifeless like where I’d grown up.

“Keller?” Gavin asked.

I glanced at Xavier. This was probably the craziest thing I’d ever done. “You in?”

“Hell, yeah.”

“What’s our number?” Gavin whispered.

“What do we need?” I countered.

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