Normally, I would already be home, but I’d offered to bring Quinn back to the plaza and the brewery, instead of driving her home. She was a regular member of the group now. Although I wasn’t naive enough to think it had anything to do with me, or the skills she was learning in the group.
I glanced toward the gazebo at the far end of the plaza, having walked far enough away to give Quinn and Mason alittle bit, but not too much, privacy. They were standing close, and she was laughing at something he’d said.
She pressed a hand to his arm, and I was about to intervene when she spun on her heel and, with a wave at Mason, jogged over to me.
“You know, Mason could have brought me,” she said. “He was going?—”
“I can take you home, kiddo. It’s my responsibility.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t look mad as she squeezed me before crouching to pet the dog. “Have a good night, Uncle Pres. And thanks again for letting me join the group.”
I chuckled as she ran off and disappeared into the brewery. I wasn’t sure her dad was going to thank me, but then again, like it or not, she was going to grow up sooner or later, and Mason was a good kid. “Come on, Summit.” I tugged the pup’s leash. “Let’s go.”
I made a point to turn in the opposite direction of Wander & Whisk, where I knew Jess’s rehearsal dinner was taking place. I’d tried to deny my feelings for her. The feelings I’d always had on some level, that had only come back to life since spending some real time with her over the last little while and getting to know her all over again.
Because what was the point? Whether I liked it or not—and I didn’t—she was getting married.
I blew out a breath on a sigh and, with a shake of my head, started to walk in the opposite direction when I heard a man’s voice.
It wasn’t the voice that made me pause, but the fact that he spoke Jess’s name that stopped me.
The two men had their backs to me as they leaned against the raised garden beds, smoking cigars.
I’d only seen Trevor Burton a few times, but I knew rightaway it was him. Especially when his buddy exhaled a mouthful of smoke and said, “Tomorrow’s the big day, huh?”
There was no reason I should be eavesdropping, particularly considering the whole idea of Jess marrying another man made my stomach turn, but something told me I needed to hear what these city boys were going to say about my friend.
“Finally.” Trevor tipped his head back and exhaled his own puff of smoke that wafted my way. “I’ve been working on this deal for way too long.”
Deal?
“One step closer to getting the stupid people in this stupid little town to trust me enough to stop dicking around with their approvals, and we can move forward.”
A trail of ice slid down my spine.
“You’ve really been playing the long game with this one, huh?” Trevor’s buddy elbowed him in the ribs, chuckling. “But it’ll be worth it.”
“Fucking right, it’ll be worth it,” Trevor agreed. “This is the biggest deal of my life. I’m set to make millions.”
“And you’ll get a pretty little wife in the process. Nicely done.”
“You know it. She’ll be perfect on my arm for investor dinners. Think of the deals we’ll close.”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides. I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. This asshole was marrying Jess because of what she could do for him. Not because he loved her. She deserved better.
So much better.
I took a step toward the men, ready to tell Trevor exactly what I thought of him and show him exactly what I thought of his perfectly polished persona. I hadn’t been in a fistfight since I was a hot-headed teenager, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t throw a punch if the situation warranted.
I took another step, Summit happily trotting along next tome. The gravel crunched beneath my boots, and both men turned.
Trevor squinted into the evening light. “Can I help you?”
“Couldn’t help but overhear what you were talking about.”
Trevor’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Is that right?”
“Sure is.” I didn’t raise my voice or puff out my chest as I closed the distance between us.
