Heart of Christmas (Curiosity Bay #4)

20. Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

MacGregor

Owen stared at me for a split second and paced in front of my fireplace. “It’s such a great opportunity. If I can figure out how to leverage this deal without any hiccups, it will cement our future with the other firm. The partnership would be unstoppable.”

I kicked my feet in front of me and looked over at my tree. My other brother had managed to keep it alive, and the fir tree looked pretty good.

Unfortunately, Owen had just landed for his annual holiday trip, and it usually took him about two days to decompress and stop talking about work.

“Can you imagine if we jump on this place before anyone else finds this jewel of a location and then— Boom !” He smacked his hands together, and I jumped.

“Is there not one second of your time where you’re not thinking about work?” I brought my legs in and propped my elbows on my knees as my chin dropped into my palms so I could watch him. His pace slowed marginally.

His brows furrowed, and he shook his head. “What else would I think about?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you’ve met someone, or you want to meet someone.” I shrugged. “Or you’d like to consider your future and where to settle down.”

Owen laughed and slid his hands through his hair. “You’ve gone soft. You sound like Mom and Dad.”

“How so?”

“They’re always on my case about slowing down and relationships, but you have to jump while the iron is hot in this business. My friend, the iron is scalding.”

I stood. “I’m not your friend. I’m your brother. You need to cool it. Want a beer?”

“Sure, I’ll take one.”

I walked into the kitchen, grabbed two beers from the fridge, and popped the lids off.

He hadn’t moved from the fireplace where I’d left him, but Jasper followed me.

I handed my brother the beer and bent down to scratch Jasper’s ears.

He loved that. I bet Audrey would get a kick out of this corgi mix.

“So, we’re about a year from making any proposals. I’m in the middle of research, you know. We’ve got the feasibility studies going. I’m looking into local zoning laws, environmental regulations, and pretty much the overall suitability of the land for the resort. My hunch is that it should come back with flying colors since there’s a mom-and-pop lodge next door. I mean, it’s already been proven that one exists. So, if we get any pushback, we can point next door. Hopefully, we’ll be able to build and overtake them. You know, offer them some lowball number and buy them out for expansion someday.”

My brows rose in surprise. I wasn’t sure when my brother had turned this new leaf, the asshole leaf, but I didn’t particularly like it.

“You’d want to chase out a family business?” I asked.

“They’d get compensated,” he said matter-of-factly.

“But you might ruin them when you build your monstrosity of a resort next door.”

He grinned and laughed. “Then, they’ll be ecstatic that we’re offering anything.”

“Wow. You’ve actually done it.”

My brother finally sat in the leather wing chair next to the fireplace. “Done what?”

“Turned into Mr. Scrooge.”

He rolled his eyes. “Let’s not get dramatic.”

“I’m not being dramatic. I’m being realistic. All you care about is the next big deal. It’s like you’re a junkie for money.”

“Could be worse.” He eyed me and took a swig of his beer. “What’s got you all riled up?”

“I’m not riled up. I’m just disappointed that you’ve forgotten about people.”

Owen shook his head. “I haven’t. Not at all.”

I clicked on the TV and stared at the screen, football images blurring in front of me.

“Anyway, I’ve got a great team to build a really strong proposal that we can hopefully present to the landowner next fall.” He cleared his throat for attention, so I turned to look at him as he cracked his fingers. “And then we can let the negotiation tactics begin. That’s the fun part.”

“If you say so.”

“Oh, come on. Where’d my MacGregor go? The guy who loved buying the latest and greatest cars, fancy watches, and traveling everywhere.”

I licked my lips, thinking about how to pick my words correctly.

“You were after the same thing as me until recently,” he added.

“Not that recently.” I patted the sofa for Jasper, who hopped up and curled beside me. “I stopped working with you about six years ago.”

Owen looked next to me. “Is it the dog? I mean, I don’t get it.”

“I know you get off on this stuff, but I don’t. It turned for me when I realized I had nothing to go back home to. I’d go to an empty hotel room.”

“But there’s always a full bar downstairs.” He waggled his brows, which just made me cringe.

“Of what, though? Empty encounters?”

“With a side of fun,” he added.

“You’re too much, Owen.” I laughed and stretched my arms behind my head, linking my fingers together.

“I just think the holidays have you all emotional.” He eyed me again before taking another drink.

“Maybe. But I’d rather have someone by my side to share the good times and the bad rather than somebody to share only the good,” I offered, shaking my head.

He shook his head. “You’re not making any sense.”

“Probably not.”

“Hey, how was that wedding you went to on some island?”

“It was pretty amazing.”

“Yeah? Meet anyone?”

I debated what to say, considering the last thirty minutes of our conversation. “I met an old acquaintance.”

“Oh, yeah? Make for a great wedding night?”

“Dude, you sound like we did in our early twenties.”

“Is that bad?”

I laughed and sighed. “Just old.”

“So, you’re saying you did…”

“On the contrary.” I looked over at the game. “I haven’t slept with a woman in a long time.”

“Why’s that?”

“What’s the point?”

“I can think of some reasons.”

I chuckled, knowing there was no talking sense into him.

“I’m thinking about flying out there again before the holidays. Bring Jasper.”

“Out where?”

“To Marigold Island.”

“Wait. For the girl?”

“She’s a woman.”

“Fine. Woman. Sorry. But why?”

“I think there’s something there, and I don’t want to miss out.”

“Did you guys talk about things?”

“In a way.”

“So you’ve barely known this woman, and you want to fly out and… what?”

I shrugged. “I know her from long ago, and she’s only gotten better. She’s amazing.”

“Yeah, but when you fall, you fall hard. Remember what happened with your fiancée?”

I froze. That had been a topic my entire family knew was off-limits.

And I had never fallen hard.

“You thought you were in love, and you got down on your knee in under two months.”

I sipped the beer, feeling the carbonation burn the back of my throat.

“You’ve got a lot more to lose now than you did then. I’d just be careful.”

“Life isn’t about money.”

He laughed and shook his head. “It would be easier if it was, right?”

“The engagement was meaningless and a mistake. You know that.”

“Well, in the middle of it, you didn’t seem to think that. What if it’s the same this time?”

I pulled Jasper onto my lap and ran my palms over his fur. “In the beginning, middle, and end of my engagement, I tried to do what was right for the situation. I knew it was a mistake the moment I did it.”

“Whatever.” He shrugged, and my insides seized up.

It was just like Owen to go low to bring a person down to earth and win an argument, but this topic wasn’t like that. I did what I thought was right. I took my emotions out of the equation to be an honorable man, and I didn’t need it thrown back in my face by my ruthless brother.

“I think all this greed has colored your outlook on life, Owen. I really do.”

“Say what you want, but I’m over here living my best life, not conflicted about another human being, and by the looks of it, you’re all torn up.” He stood, grabbed the remote from me, and changed to a different football game. “Do Mom and Dad know?”

“Know what?”

“That you’re hung up on someone?”

“No, and I’d appreciate it if you kept it quiet.”

“How’s that going to work when I flew in for the holidays, and you’re going to fly out?” His eyes widened.

“I’ll figure something out. Who knows if I even decide to do it? I have to feel the situation out first.”

“I was going to invite you in on this deal, but I’m guessing you want no part of it.”

“If it has to do with potentially killing a thriving business in a small town, no. I’m out.” I shook my head with a laugh. “But thanks for offering.”

“I do my best.”

“Hey, where is it, anyway?”

“A place in Wisconsin called Buttercup Lake.” He smiled. “Cute town.”

“Yeah, I’m sure the town can’t wait to become overdeveloped.” I rolled my eyes as I thought about Audrey.

Her last text drilled deep into my heart, but I sensed she was on the fence, and if I showered her with too much of anything, she’d fall right off in the wrong direction.

She’d always been defiant and feisty, one of the many things I loved about her. But if recent events were any indication of things to come, it made navigating things particularly difficult.

I looked down at Jasper and smiled. He might be the golden ticket I needed. He was cute, loving, and very loyal.

All things I had to prove to Audrey that I had too. I could tell she was stuck on the MacGregor who’d met her at a hotel bar with my fancy watch and constant chatter about traveling the world.

But the thing was that she saw through all that. She cut through the B.S. and saw me, heard me like nobody ever had.

The idea of letting that go now that I know what happened long ago made my chest burn with regret. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I just kept texting with her and never fought for her. She was worth the risk, but I also needed to give her time to think about what she wanted.

It was tricky.

I’d never been a guy who believed in clichés or corny love-at-first-sight stories, but I knew the connection with Audrey had been different. One night of sharing propelled me into a decade of trying to find those feelings again, to recreate something we’d achieved that night.

When I saw Audrey at the wedding, all those effortless emotions came rushing back, even though they were met with exceptional brutality.

I get it now. Her zingers were meant to hurt.

But even at that moment, I couldn’t help but find myself memorizing the way she tucked a strand of hair under her unique hairpin or the way she laughed with her entire body as her eyes reflected her happiness, and even to the contrary when her fiery gaze landed on mine. She managed to spit a storm of rage with just one sentence, and I wanted more.

Just like now. I wanted more of Audrey. I wanted a future.

I needed her to trust me and know I only wanted what was best for her. We’d been texting back and forth since I got back to Wyoming, and every message made me feel like I was a kid again. I couldn’t wait to see what she texted or replied. It felt like all those hours that first night wrapped up into mini sessions that equaled falling for her more.

It wasn’t just Audrey’s beauty. It was her quiet strength and resilience that I loved.

She was the one woman who made me want to strive for something more beautiful and scary than ever before and risk my heart just for the possibility, even if it meant failure.

I glanced at my brother. “Just do me a favor and cover for me. Don’t make it sound like I’m flying out just for the possibility of love. Keep it cool. They don’t need to know it’s about a woman.”

My brother eyed me and nodded just as I heard my mom’s voice echo through the house. “I let myself in. How are my two troublemakers?”

I laughed and stood, holding Jasper in my arms.

“Doing good. Just trying to get Owen to let loose a little and quit talking about work all the time.” I hugged my mom, and she glanced at my brother, who stood from the chair with his beer in hand.

“That can’t be an easy task.” She eyed him.

“I have no choice.” Owen hugged my mom. “I’m being held hostage while MacGregor talks incessantly about love and some girl on an island. He’s planning on shooting over there with Jasper because, apparently, the dog will make her fall for him, if nothing else.”

I glared at my brother, who shot me a wicked grin, and I knew there was no denying anything now.

Audrey ruined me for other women years ago, and I had nothing to lose.