I step over old logs and what look like building materials that were probably stripped from the cabins at some pointin time. Through what looks like a half-assed construction zone that…why the fuck are there tiki torches up here?
I shake my head. Gus. It must be Gus. I love him to death, but he’s the reason behind everywhat the fuckmoment I have in this place. He probably cleared the trail up here and discovered a sweet little party zone for himself.
I step over some weirdly arranged logs. Wiring that goes…somewhere? I keep my eyes to the ground, looking for booby traps along the grass because this all seems like more of a minefield than an abandoned cabin.
And when I finally get to the front of the cabin, I see him.
Standing by the driver’s side door of his car, his hands clasped in front of him and his entire body turned toward the driveway.
And… I didn’t even think about driving up here. The roads take you through the original village of Sunflower Hill, and they do more circling than the downward spiral my brain has been taking me on since I started this hike. I only ever attempted to drive up here once, and I ended up getting turned around somewhere on a road that really should have been a one-way.
I gave up after that and decided walking was the right way to go.
But Ryder, apparently, has found his way up here with the BMW. I’m curious how he’s going to get out, considering the driveway likely hasn’t had a lick of maintenance in at least a decade, if not longer.
“Hey,” I say, stopping a few feet from his car.
And apparently he was not expecting me to pop up from behind, because as soon as he hears my voice, he jumps, his phone flying through the air and landing with a soft thud on the ground between us.
“Jesus Christ, Evie,” he says, holding a hand over his chest. “Give me a heart attack, why don’t you?”
I shrug. “You knew I was coming.”
He pauses before bending to pick up his phone. “I did, didn’t I?”
Because we both know that when it comes to him, I’ll show up every time. Even if my gut is screaming at me that this situation hits too close to home.
Except Ryder isn’t my mother’s piece of shit husband. He’sRyder.
He doesn’t hesitate to drop everything to help me close up the farm for the season. He likes sleeping with one hand on my hip and takes care of me when I’m sick. Wades right into the stream to save my water wheel and goes head to head with the mayor on my behalf.
And I’m hoping with every fiber of my being that he’s going to squash the last niggling bit of doubt that’s dragging me down.
He slips his phone back in his pocket and steps toward me, taking my hands in his. “I’m really glad you came. Even if I might need medical attention for how fast my heart is beating.”
I shake my head. “I wouldn’t just… not show up.”
He lets out a long breath. “I wouldn’t blame you, though.” He presses my hands together, holding them between his to warm them. “I promised you I would be transparent with you, but I got carried away with an idea that I really think you’re going to like.”
I wait for him to mention theotherbroken promise. “You also said you wouldn’t touch the cabins.”
He nods. “Yes. And I did break that promise, but I thought that might have been the right move, considering they’re owned by Reed.”
I blink. “What?”
“The LLC listed on those cabins is Reed’s. And while I know you toldmenot to touch them, I thought you might think differently if you knew you might be negotiating with Reed in the future.”
I narrow my eyes. “What game is Reed playing here?”
Ryder shrugs. “I think he was playing a little bit of chess. I think he was banking on you being as stubborn as you always are and blocking an easement on your land.” He shakes his head. “That property was bought ten years ago by a development company and sold a year later. We dug into it before buying, but the only reasoning we saw was tough terrain. Which makes sense, but it’s not the whole story. I think a certain someone’s grandmother threw a fit when they asked about an easement, and the terrain—along with the crazy lady next door—had them searching for greener pastures.”
I stand up straighter at the mention of my grandmother. “Well, I’m proud of myself for standing up for the farm just like she did.”
“Me too,” Ryder says easily. “Apparently your reputation precedes you because I think that’s exactly what Reed expected you to do, which leaves me with no option other than buying up these cabins to put a driveway up here. Considering my very personal reasons for trying to build here, he probably thought it was a perfect plan.”
I eye him when I speak. “So is that what you’re doing?”
He pauses before speaking. “I bought both the cabins.”
