Maybe that’s one of the reasons I love Tom so much. From the night we first met, he always made me feel comfortable.
Tomismy home.
What I need to do right now is go collect my things from the hotel, check out, and file the first round of paperwork with the county ahead of next week’s zoning hearings. Once this poop hits the fan at the office, I have a feeling my name will be mud around the firm. I can only stall them for so long.
My major hope is to delay them long enough I can already have the process so far under way that the developer can’t come back with a counteroffer for Keith that makes him rethink selling the property. I don’t think that’ll happen, but a large enough payout might make anyone reconsider their options.
Once the historic designation is completed, however, and filed with the county and the state, it’ll mean the buildings and cemetery will be protected even if he does one day sell the property.
Marshaling vocal support from the town for this project won’t be an issue now that they won’t have to put any massive amounts of money into it. The effort would be compounded ten-fold trying to stop the developers from putting in a Mega Warehouse. It could be done, but with that much money behind the project, I wouldn’t be shocked if palms end up greased in some way and it goes through anyway. More difficult for a housing development to slide by under the radar when the logical arguments about additional residential impact—with insufficient infrastructure to support them—can’t be denied.
But a shopping center?
That’s mostly a plus gain for the county in terms of taxes and employment with minimum disruption to the existing landscape. I know I can apply for grants for him from a variety of organizations and even federal government agencies to help get this project off the ground for Keith.
I use the time during my drive to the motel to plan a wedding in my head. Because there’s no way I’m letting Tomas go now that I’ve won him back. I used to think not getting married meant I was more sophisticated and emotionally elevated.
Now?
I need that man to be my husband.
If he’ll say yes.
Prenup? Absolutely—to protect him. He’s got way more tangible assets than I do.
I pull into the parking spot in front of my room and spot a shiny black Jag parked in the spot in front of the next room.
It only draws my attention because it looks like—
No. It can’t be.
Except when I step out of my SUV, the door to the room next to mine opens and, yep.
There stands Freddy.
I want to strangle him. That’s why I don’t acknowledge him with anything more than a glare when I head to my room.
“Desi? Desi!” He hurries over as I insert my keycard in the lock. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Not really. Why are you here?”
It literally takes him aback that I’m not sucking up to him. “I knew you were here for the deal and thought I’d surprise you. Besides, when your mom told me yesterday you were insisting we broke up, I knew I had to come see you.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. And how’d you even know I’m here?”
“Oh, I bribed Marisol to keep me posted so I could surprise you.”
He sounds proud of himself and I silently swear at her in my head.
When he tries to follow me into my room, I stop and turn, putting up a hand, which forces him back a step. “Where do you think you’re going?” I ask.
“Uh, into your room with you, so we can talk in private.”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
He looks shocked. “Oh, comeon, Desi. I know what’s going on here. You wanted another fling with your ex. Okay, fine. You’ve had it. Time to finish this deal and come home to Miami. You have a career there, you know.”
The utter nerve of this man. “Why do you think you have any right to tell me anything about my life?”
