Page 16 of Dangerous Secrets
“Sure, we should do that.Maybe later.”
He caught Delaney’s eye, extricatedhimself from Cyndi’s embrace, and headed for their table.He lookedlike a young Brad Pitt, his sun-streaked dark blond hair tousledlike he’d just stepped off a sailboat.
“Hello, beautiful.”Hereached their table and leaned over as if he intended to kiss her.Delaney leaned back in her seat and he straightened with afrown.
“Vance.You rememberKeeley Montaigne from high school, don’t you?”
“Of course.Nice to seeyou again, Keeley.”He gave her a quick once-over, then returnedhis attention to Delaney.“You ladies look smokin’ hot.I can’tbelieve you’re here without your boyfriends.”
Delaney barely restrained an eyeroll.
“Girls’ night,” Keeleyquipped.
“Where’s the fun in that?”Not waiting for an answer or an invitation, he hooked a vacantchair from another table and sat, his back to the room.The manhe’d come in with drifted to the bar.Vance put his hand up tosignal the waitress.“I’ll have your best bourbon, neat,” heordered when she arrived.“And bring another round of whatever theladies are drinking, and put it on my tab.”He smiled.
Delaney thought about digging out hersunglasses to cut the glare from his blindingly whiteteeth.
She caught Keeley’s look, and said,“Thanks, Vance, but we’re good.”She turned to the waitress.“Iwouldn’t mind ice water, though.”
Vance’s expression hardened, whichmade Delaney remember everything about Vance was transactional.Hisgestures of goodwill weren’t about goodwill, but were designed tomake people feel obligated.
He tipped his head, gaze travelingover her and lingering on her breasts long enough to piss her off.“How’s it going at the farm?Guess you’re busy.”
“We’re gearing up for thesummer season, so yes, we’re busy.”
“A seasonal operation is apoor business model.It’s too hard to make ends meet thatway.”
“We operate our farm everyday of the year.Selling directly to the public is only part of ourbusiness.”
“But most of your profitscome from late summer to Thanksgiving, right?Too many of our localbusinesses are struggling because their operations depend on thewhims of tourists coming in during a relatively short period of theyear.The smart folks are already selling.”
“Maybe a few are, butothers are finding ways to expand the season.We’ve done that atour farm by putting in boysenberries.They’re drawing in people foru-pick berries a few months before apple season starts.”
He shrugged away her comment, leaningback in his seat while the server set their glasses on the table.“People with jobs in Sacramento are willing to live here andcommute to work.That’s driving up housing prices and making it agood time to sell land that’s prime for development.”
He wasn’t telling her anything new.She was a member of the Valley Apple-Growers Association, as wellas the local Chamber of Commerce.She went to the monthly meetings,but the Norris family didn’t bother attending.
“We’re also close enoughfor people from the Sacramento area to drive here for a day out.Farms like ours offer them something unique and fun to do.Theyalso like to visit the shops in Sisters.If Payback Valley isdeveloped the same as every other place in California, with thesame kinds of housing and identical big-box stores, then nothing isspecial and there won’t be a reason for people to visit.”She kepther tone mild despite the irritation prickling her skin.Now shewas wondering if Vance had dropped by the bar and sought her outwith a specific purpose in mind.The upside was maybe his interestwasn’t personal.
He sipped his bourbon, setting theglass on the table before continuing.“I’m interested in acquiringproperty in the valley that can be developed.Being close to thehighway, yours is prime.With the right motivation I could beenticed to expand out your way.I’d offer you a tidy sum for yourlittle farm.I’ll be talking with some of your neighbors too, butI’m willing to let you hear our offer and get in first.”
She smiled sweetly.“We sell over mydead body.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
While his tone remained pleasant,Vance’s eyes iced over.“That’s a little dramatic.With JamesMcGrath gone, there’s too much work for you and your grandmother.With the cash I can offer, you’ll both be free of the burden ofrunning that place.Land prices won’t go up forever so now’s a goodtime to sell.”
“Interesting way ofoffering condolences, Vance.James isn’t even buried yet.More tothe point, Gran and I will decide whether anything is too much forus.”Over Vance’s shoulder she noticed Mateo had moved down the barto sit on the stool next to Walker.Walker seemed to have given upon watching the game and had turned on his stool.Her table was inhis field of vision, but since he was talking to Mateo and didn’tappear to be paying her any attention, she decided his move wasn’tintentional.
Vance caught the direction of her gazeand shot a quick look over his shoulder.“I see the ex-con McGrathis back.”
She jerked her attention back to theman in front of her.The insult felt like a jab in the eye.“Walker’s not an ex-con.”
“He served time in prison.That makes him an ex-con.”
“Not if his record hasbeen completely cleared.Which it has.”
“Always defending him,aren’t you, Delaney.”
