Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Austin…”
“Look, I know it’s not my place to speak for Peyton. She’s an attractive woman but…she’s a little young for you.”
Ryder wanted to be offended, but…it was no more than what he’d been telling himself.
And then told himself it didn’t matter.
“I mean, it’s not like you’re ancient or anything,” Austin went on. “But…she’s definitely not for you, so…if you have any questions about her, please ask me. Don’t be…you know…that guy.”
Yeah, he definitely didn’t want to be that guy.
Sliding his hands into his trouser pockets, he sighed. “I really would like to help her.” Then he shook his head. “And that’s a legit offer, not some excuse to be with her.”
At least…not that he was willing to admit out loud.
“Like I said, I can’t speak for Peyton but I can’t see her taking you up on that.”
“Maybe she just needs a few days to calm down…”
Austin clapped him on the back. “Don’t hold your breath.” His phone rang and he walked over to his desk and looked at it. “Listen, Ry, I need to take this call. Why don’t we get together next week and talk about your plans?”
“Sure. No problem.” With a nod, he walked out, and it wasn’t until he was standing in the middle of the parking lot that he realized he had no place to go. In his mind he figured he and Austin would spend some time discussing plans for the property and then maybe go get something to eat–like the café–and that was when he planned on asking Peyton out. Now he had the whole afternoon and evening ahead of him and wasn’t sure what to do with himself.
Knowing he couldn’t stand there all day, he got in his car and decided to drive around for a while. It was this sort of thing that often gave him his greatest inspirations. This town–this sleepy little coastal town–had drawn him in from the beginning. It started with the house Austin renovated for him and just took off from there. Now he owned three houses in town–the renovated one that Austin and his fiancée Mia were currently living in, and two smaller ones. He’d rented out one of them to Austin’s younger brother Garrett and his fiancée Emma and the other one he was currently living in. Once he moved out, he’d turn it over to a management company to be used as a vacation rental. Real estate was always a good investment, he believed.
After the houses came the ten acres of property he purchased thanks to a tip from Austin. And after that, he took on the local veterinary clinic that Garrett was running. That one had totally not been part of his plan, but after a bit of persuasion, he decided it was a smart investment as well. A soft laugh was out before he could stop it because it seemed he owed a lot of his dealings to the Coleman family. Never before had he entered into this many dealings with the same people, but Austin hadn’t steered him wrong yet.
Probably should have talked to him before buying that property then…
Yeah, hindsight and all that.
Still, as he drove through town, he spotted several vacant buildings. Spaces he wanted to fill with the kind of places that would round out the town, except…they would need a lot of work to fit what he had in mind.
So maybe he could understand why Peyton felt the way she did about the buildings. It was odd how they had that in common, but…he wasn’t going to let that sway him. And there certainly was no way he was going to back out of a deal simply because some…some…girl basically called him a bully.
Who could go frack himself.
She had a lot to learn about business and how to be professional about deals that don’t go her way, which was why he felt so strongly about mentoring her.
And, on some level, her bold declarations made her that much more attractive to him.
There is definitely something wrong with me…
Austin was probably right, though. She was too angry with him right now and wouldn’t take him up on it, but maybe in a week or two she’d feel differently. Maybe if he simply bided his time and came up with the right strategy, she’d want to work with him in a way that would benefit them both. Ryder’s plan was to put a restaurant in the resort, and it was clear that Peyton had a knack for that sort of thing. Perhaps he could teach her about business and she could consult with him on the kind of things he’d need for the food portion of his plan.
Feeling invigorated and inspired, Ryder smiled.
It was good to have a plan–a business model.
And that involved wooing Peyton Bishop in a completely professional manner.
For now.
3
“So when are you coming home, Parks? I seriously miss you.”
Her younger sister laughed softly. “I’m not sure. It turns out I really like it down here. Luckily I can work remotely so…”
“You don’t work remotely, you job-hop. It’s completely two different things.”
“Tomato-tomahto,” Parker replied.
“Parker…”
“What do you want me to do? Lie to you? I really don’t know when I’m going to be home because I’m enjoying myself here in Florida. I’m house-sitting and doing some odd jobs and…I don’t know, it sort of fits my mood right now.”
“Which is…?”
“To have no real responsibilities. I’ve tried college, I’ve done some traveling, and I haven’t decided what it is I want to be when I grow up.”
“You are grown up,” Peyton reminded her. “You’re twenty-three years old. It’s time to start making some decisions about your life and figuring things out.”
The loud sigh was Parker’s first response followed by, “Okay, I can see you’re still in a pissy mood and if being like mom makes you feel better, then have at it.”
“Wow, that was insulting and insensitive on so many levels.”
“Look, I get it. You’re still disappointed about losing the property to Austin’s super-hot friend, but it’s over and done with and you need to move on! What would you have done if it sold at any other time over the last year? Would you be this pissed off about it?”
“Of course I would!”
“Liar.”
“What? Why would you even say that?”
“From everything you’ve been saying for the last few weeks, your anger is more about Ryder buying the property than anything else,” her sister reasoned. “I think if it were anyone else–specifically someone local–you wouldn’t be so…squinky about this.”
“Squinky? Seriously?” Peyton asked wearily.
“Fine, um…pissy, ragey, murdery…better?”
“Come on, Parks, you have to admit that I’ve got a good reason to be upset. This guy is swooping in and trying to change Magnolia Sound! It’s not right!”
“To you,” Parker countered. “Is anyone else complaining?”
“I…I’m not sure.” But now that the idea was out there, she knew she’d be asking around town to find out if she was alone in this rage toward Ryder Ashford.
“You need to let this go. I know you’re disappointed and I hate it for you, but…it’s not going to change anything.”