On the drive down the mountain, a splash of color caught my eye. A brand-new development sign was hammered into a pine tree.
Future Site of Timberstone Homes
I pulled over, and Brody pulled up next to me.
“Oh, come on,” I groaned as I unrolled my window. “I thought this wasn’t approved yet?”
“It’s not,” Brody confirmed. “At least not yet.”
And not ever, if I had anything to say about it. I shook my head, and the puppy in my lap whined. The problem was that I had no idea how to stop the development from coming in and destroying a big part of the trail system we enjoyed in Trickle Creek.
I’d only recently learned that not all the trails sat on donated land that belonged to the Trickle Creek Trail Society, and that included the first few kilometers that had beenlentto the society by a private owner. An owner who had recently sold to a development company from the city.
I didn’t like it. Not even a little bit.
“Before you get all worked up, take the kid home,” Brody said, reminding me of my passenger. “And then meet me at Peaks & Brews.”
It sounded like a good idea to me. Adamngood one.
I jerked my head in a nod and started to roll up my window again before Brody’s voice stopped me.
“Try not to jump off any more cliffs or pick up any more strays on your way over.”
Jess
It was big. And bright. Andpurple.Never mind the gold accents splashed all over it.
Nothing about the garish sign announcing Timberstone Homeslooked like it belonged in a cute mountain town like Trickle Creek. Yet, here it was, hanging over the vacant storefront in the plaza that had been temporarily leased as office space for the new development.
I took a step back and tilted my head to the left as if a new angle might make it look different.
It didn’t.
“Isn’t it perfect?” Trevor Burton stepped up beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close. “The colors really pop, don’t they?”
“They definitely do that.” He was so excited, I couldn’t bring myself to criticize the signage too much, so I chose my words carefully. “I’m actually really surprised by the branding for this project. I thought maybe we’d go with something a bit more natural. Some earthy colors and pictures of trees, or maybe a bear. Even a…mountain.”
After all, itwasa development in the mountains.
“Are you kidding?” Trevor spun me and took a step back so he could look in my eyes.
I wasn’t, but I didn’t have a chance to tell him so before he continued.
“This development needs to feel rich and regal. Purple and gold are the colors of royalty.”
“But it’s affordable housing, not luxury housing.”
“There’ssomeaffordable housing,” he corrected me. “Don’t forget, this is a multi-dimensional project. There will be other lots available as well.”
Still.
I’d been a real estate agent in town my entire professional life. I liked to think I had my finger on the pulse of what the people of Trickle Creek were looking for. And besides, wasn’t that why Trevor had wanted me involved in this project in the first place?
Of course, there was that, and the fact that we were getting married in a few months. We were going to be a team in life as well as business. Which was why I needed to speak up about this branding on what was going to be the biggest development project in our town’s history.
“I just think that maybe the people of Trickle Creek would?—”
“Ah, but that’s where you’re going wrong, darling.” He cut me off smoothly. “We’re not trying to appeal to the people who already live here.” He took a step back and held out his arm, turning in a slow circle in the plaza. “Our job with Timberstone is to attract people to town. We’re about growth and development.”
