Page 45 of All Because of You

Chapter 13

It didn’t matter how hard he had fought.

Evan Walsh had lost.

“Why do you look so sad? This is a major accomplishment for you.”

Roxy’s whisper penetrated Evan’s thoughts as they watched Hank Aldrin flourish his signature across the official agreement that would bring Herman Hardware to Walker Beach. Sitting next to Hank, Evan’s dad took the pen and added his John Hancock. Just beyond the men’s place behind the table in the council chambers of City Hall, a few members of the local press and town residents gathered for the signing and press conference.

As members of the team who had helped the agreement come to fruition, Evan and Roxy stood behind and to the side of the front table along with the other members of the town council. Just being here felt like a betrayal to Madison, but what could Evan do? As his dad had reminded him, this was his job—to see that Walker Beach thrived as much as possible.

He’d never hated his job more.

“Seriously, Evan. Without you, this wouldn’t be happening.”

At his ex-girlfriend’s hiss, Evan shot her a quick glare. “Don’t remind me.” Yeah, most people would be proud, but most people hadn’t ruined the one true thing they’d finally had in their life.

He was pathetic.

As his father clapped Hank Aldrin on the shoulder, touting all the benefits this union would bring, the self-loathing in Evan’s mind deepened. When Madison had come to him last week, he should have done things differently. Should have marched right over to Dad’s house and told him he’d known what he did.

But the tiny bit of doubt had niggled him. What if he were wrong? What if the landlord situation wasn’t actually a setup but a happy blessing that allowed him to proceed with the Herman Hardware agreement and show Madison that she was better off doing something else with her time?

And what if his false accusations tore down the already weak bridge that he and his dad had finally built?

Furthermore, Herman Hardwarewasactually best for the town. The report hadn’t lied. He’d gone over it again and again. Of course, if the company were so corrupt it would stoop to surreptitiously taking out the competition, that wasn’t one he wanted in Walker Beach. Reports didn’t take everything into account.

Whatever the case, Evan didn’t have the answers. So all week long, he’d kept quiet, stuck his head in the sand, and worked on other projects. Figured that maybe if he stayed out of it, he could keep a clear conscience. But then, on Monday, the council had added a last-minute addition to the agenda—approval of the agreement between Herman and Walker Beach. Bud had voted against the measure, but the rest of the council, including Dad, had approved it without hesitation.

As the press conference concluded and Hank Aldrin walked over to shake Evan’s hand, he knew that being an ostrich was just as much a betrayal to Madison as signing the agreement himself.

“Thanks for all the work you did on this, Evan. Roxy was right about you.” As Aldrin placed his beefy hand in Evan’s, he winked at a blushing Roxy—boy, she could turn it on when she wanted to. She bowed out of the conversation and turned to chat with a reporter. “If you ever get tired of Walker Beach and want to join us in the city, you give me a shout. You’re just the kind of man I like working with.”

“Thank you, sir.” Once, he might have been flattered. But what did Aldrin see in him, really? Was it that he’d worked harder than a dog on his presentations and analyses? Or that he’d been willing to throw over the woman he loved for—

Wait. Loved?

No. He didn’t . . .

But she was the one person who hadn’t asked him to be someone he wasn’t. Who challenged him to be better than this laced-up, perfect specimen of business acumen that he was trying to be. Who brought joy to his life just by being in it.

And if that wasn’t love, what was?

Oh man. He’d messed up even worse than he’d realized.

His dad strutted over in his three-piece suit, nudging Aldrin with an elbow. “Are you over here trying to steal my head community developer away?”

Evan straightened. “What?”

“That’s right. The entire council agrees you’re the man for the job.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Evan kept his voice steady, but on the inside, he longed to leap in the air, fist pump, shout.

And call Madison.

The good news of his promotion soured in his gut.

Aldrin slapped him on the back. “Well, congratulations, Walsh. Guess I’m too late. Thought you may enjoy a bit of the corporate life, that’s all. Most young men do. Old men too.” His eyebrows waggled in Roxy’s direction, and Evan guessed the implications. “Let me know if you ever change your mind.”

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