After they’d spent another hour discussing the development, Noah shook John’s hand. “Thanks for showing me around. I’ll talk to the trust and get back to you with any questions they might have. I should know in the next two weeks if the tiny home village is a project they want to sponsor.”
“I hope they can see the benefit it will bring to our community.”
“I’m sure they will.” After Noah said goodbye, he walked back to his SUV. What John didn’t know was that Noah, his brother, and his grandfather, managed the trust.
If Jack and his granddad didn’t want to support the village, Noah would bring them to Sapphire Bay. Anyone who spent time with John and saw what he was doing would be crazy not to help. And, contrary to what he sometimes thought, his family was far from crazy.
Chapter 10
After he saw Pastor John, Noah visited The Welcome Center, seeing first-hand what the volunteers were doing. His quick tour had turned into two hours of working in the kitchen, peeling potatoes, and making sure the dining room was ready for the evening meal. After he left, he’d walked through town, eager to find out more about Sapphire Bay.
Mabel and Allan Terry had been happy to talk to him. Their general store seemed to be a meeting place for many of the locals and most tourists. He’d discovered more about the community in their hour-long discussion than he’d read about on the Internet.
Everything they said confirmed what he already suspected. The residents of Sapphire Bay wanted their community to retain the characteristics that made it special. But they also wanted to provide more resources and facilities for people who were struggling.
And that, above everything else, was why Pastor John’s latest project had a lot of support. News about the tiny home village was already spreading. Almost everyone Mabel and Allan had spoken to were looking forward to seeing the houses built. It would give the tenants a greater sense of permanence and a safe place to call home.
After he’d left the general store, he’d gone to the public library and used a small meeting room for his call with the board of directors. The meeting had gone better than anyone expected.
Noah wasn’t sure whether they’d finally seen his point of view or whether they were more selective in the battles they chose to fight. After working with the current board for four years, he’d place his money on the second option.
With a weary sigh, he turned into Cassie’s driveway. As much as he appreciated the board’s agreement to postpone the next phase of his plan, he still had to move fast. One way or another, he needed an answer from Cassie and her dad. If they agreed to work with Wilson Enterprises, it would allow him to rebrand the company and take it to another level. Without their support, he would be lucky to have a job.
He drove past Cassie’s home and frowned.
She stood in the middle of the yard between the two cottages with her arms extended, stepping backward as if she were…waltzing?
He parked his vehicle under a tree and watched what she was doing. It was definitely a waltz, but her half turns were tying her feet in knots and almost toppling her over. All she needed was to turn her hips farther around, and her center of gravity would do the rest.
After she’d tripped over her feet for the second time, she stopped moving, repositioned her body, and began again.
Noah didn’t know if she’d appreciate his help, but it was worth a try.
His smile widened as he walked toward her.
Cassie’s dark hair was caught in a ponytail. She looked cute in a baggy, red T-shirt that she’d tucked into a pair of faded jeans. Compared with the women he’d met in New York, she was completely different. Cassie might value her privacy, but when it came to helping people, there was nothing she wouldn’t do.
There was something about her that made him want to stay close, to help her be successful and follow her dreams. And right now, teach her how to waltz.
With her eyes closed and earbuds silencing everything around her, she had no idea he was there.
He listened as she counted the beat, dipping and rising in the one, two, three rhythm he’d learned as a teenager.
Now that he was standing a few feet away, he wasn’t sure how to interrupt her. Scaring her to death wasn’t an option, so he cleared his throat. Loudly.
Cassie kept dancing.
He waited until she was close, then reached out, pulled her against his hip and led her across the grass. Well, that was the plan, anyway.
As soon as their hands touched, Cassie’s eyes flew open. Her ear-piercing screech echoed around the lake, sending a flock of birds into a frenzy.
As he threw his hands over his ears, he smiled. Unfortunately, it didn’t look as though Cassie shared his sense of humor.
When she got over the shock of seeing him, she yanked out her earbuds. “Haven’t you been told it’s rude to sneak up on someone? Especially when they’ve got their eyes closed.”
He winced at Cassie’s high-pitched indignation. “I didn’t want to interrupt what you were doing.”
“You don’t think grabbing me around the waist and pushing me across the grass is an interruption?”
