Page 43 of Dangerous Secrets
“I’ve got a significantportion of the start-up cost in savings.”Her brows went up.“Anydebt we take on will be structured so you’re free from anyliability.”
“If the revenue generatedis put toward earnings for the entire farm, then liability willalso be shared.”
Like hell.No way would he put her orthe farm at financial risk, but he’d argue that point later.“We’llfigure out the details down the road.Like I said, I’ve got thecash for initial startup.”At her questioning look, he explained,“I’ve been planning this for a while.I’ve got a couple hundredthousand invested so if I needed to, I could finance the startupand keep the remainder in reserve.”
“A couple hundredthousand?How could you possibly have that much moneysaved?”
He shrugged.“I needed money if I wasgoing to present you with a viable plan.This was my goal, soeverything I saved, I invested.”
“That’s still alot.”
“What can I say, I pickedgood investments and dumped almost everything I earned into them.Besides, what did I have to spend money on?Bud doesn’t eatmuch.”
“And neither do you,apparently.”She chewed on her bottom lip.“You’ve beenthorough.”
“Yeah.I’ve been workingon it for a while.My target date was to come home and be ready toput the plan into operation this fall.With your approval, ofcourse.”
She gave him a measured look.“Ithought you only came home because James was dying.”
He held her gaze.“My plan had been tocome home at the end of September after the summer fishing seasonwas done and I’d sold my boat.The timing would’ve worked since itwas after apple season winds down.Pop’s condition sped up mytimeline.I told you that first night, I’m home forgood.”
She shook her head.
“You still don’t believeme.”
“I don’t know what Ibelieve anymore.I’m surprised you didn’t clue me in sooner, as inyears sooner.You want to undertake a major expansion of thebusiness that’d involve me and what I’ve built here, but you didn’twant to give me a heads-up?”
He tilted his chin.“I wanted to talkwith you in person.I’d talked with Pop and asked him not to sayanything.I’d mentioned it to Clara because she’s the propertyowner, plus she’s savvy.I understand you’ve built up the retailside of the farm and it’s your baby.I don’t want to step on yourtoes, and I wanted to see if my plan was feasible given yourcurrent operation.It is, so that’s where I am.”
“What would you do withall those plans if I’m not interested?”
“You’re interested.I canread you pretty well, Laney.You’ve always had trouble hiding whatyou’re thinking.But if you’re really opposed, I’d find someplaceelse to set up.”
“I’m not opposed.As Itold you, I was considering hard cider production, but further downthe road.”
“What you’ve got at thefarm works perfectly.Cider Mill Farm already has a reputation forproviding guests with a good time.I haven’t seen your salesnumbers, but your retail area is well laid out and organized.Thefact is hard cider production dovetails perfectly with what you’vealready got going.That there’s space in the mill for the expandedoperation is an extra bonus.”
“You’re talking about aproject that brings major changes to the farm and could take yearsbefore becoming profitable.How do I know you won’t need to breathesomeplace else again?”
“I’m not going anywhere.”His gaze held hers.“Look, I know you don’t trust me.I get it.I’ll prove you can trust me.
“I’ll start by saying I’mhome, and I’m staying.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Where exactly are wegoing?”
Walker took his eyes off the road fora brief moment.He loved looking at Laney.She’d pulled her curlyblack hair back into a ponytail, and dangly earrings sparkled inher ears.With those long, long legs encased in hip-hugging jeans,he figured she was just about perfect.
Since theirtalk two days ago, he’dmoved ahead with his commitment to finding who’d framed him forMelanie’s rape.If he was going to make a future for himself andbuild the business he wanted, he couldn’t have that unresolvedissue hanging over him.
Beyond that, whoever raped Melanie hadnever paid the price for the lives they’d destroyed.Leaving thesituation unresolved meant risking someone coming back to threatenthe future he was embarking on.
And he wanted to fan the flicker ofhope he refused to let die: maybe he and Laney could betogether.
She drummed fingers on her leg andlowered her brows, which told him she was halfway to being pissed.He figured he’d better explain why he’d asked her to come with him.She hadn’t changed much.She’d always wanted to know what was goingon and hated being kept in the dark.
“I told you, I need yourhelp with something.”
