Page 7 of Taming the Boss

“Maitland is strapped from buying up so many properties.” He rattled off a number that made my stomach bottom out.

I looked over my shoulder at the beach, the water, and the possibilities that whispered to me. “I’m in.”

We were two strangers doing business with a shit-ton of money, but I’d never felt more alive in that moment. My gut was leading me here, and I was listening.

“Gentlemen?” Dennis spoke up. “Is that your final bid?”

Gavin went conservative and shouted out a ten percent increase to the last bid.

Maitland showed his first bit of nerves. He countered, but at a damn close margin.

“You sure about this?” Gavin said out of the side of his mouth. “Last chance to back out.”

I wasn’t sure about anything, but I was in the thick of it now. “Yes.”

Gavin shouted a number that made me flinch.

“Holy shit,” Xavier whispered.

Dennis cleared his throat. “Do you have proof of your ability to back up that number, Mr. Forrester?”

“I do.”

“Mr. Maitland?” Dennis asked nervously.

Arthur Maitland bared his teeth then he turned on his heel, stalking back to his black Audi.

Xavier squeezed my arm. “Holy shit. We bought a goddamn strip mall.”

“Christ, don’t call it that,” Gavin muttered. “We bought a future for Crescent Cove.”

I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake, but for the first time in far too long, I was excited about the prospect of the future.

The next half hour was a rundown on the steps to purchasing a foreclosed property. It was a bit of a tangle, which meant I’d have to stay an extra day in this town to get the paperwork going at the bank.

Small-town life, I was learning, meant the bank was already shut down for the day.

“This calls for a celebration. After spending that amount of money without a boat involved, I need something greasy and a beer.” Xavier rubbed his hands. “And it’s fucking cold.”

“The Spinning Wheel?” Gavin tucked his hands into his jacket.

“Best greasy food with a beer it is.”

“Feel like a Guinness?”

“Nah, not tonight.”

“Where would this be for the guy who knows nothing about the town?” I asked.

“You will.” Xavier laughed. “And you can follow me.” He nodded to the sporty red number parked at the edge of the lookout. “That’s me.”

“I can’t believe I just did that.”

Xavier and Gavin both laughed.

“We practically signed in blood. No going back now.” Gavin stomped his feet.

“I definitely need a beer.”

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