Page 11 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

The estate is part of his family legacy. It’s the reason people snub him, his brothers, and his mom when they walk down the street. He should have a say in what we do and how we approach Landon about it.

Charlotte shakes her head. “We have a quorum. All in favor of both measures?

“Aye.” Voices echo around the coffee shop before I can object.Overseer?Babysitter is more like it.

But Landon Prince isn’t a baby I can put in a playpen. He won’t listen to me. And I might strangle him if his condescension continues.

“All opposed?”

I bite my tongue. This is not how this meeting was supposed to go. They were supposed to issue an injunction or cease and desist. Some legal loophole that prevents Landon from starting construction on the property.

How did I lose control of this meeting so quickly?

Do they really think they can strong-arm Landon into building a resort?

Okay, Zoe, think like the mayor.What would Dad do?

He would find out as much information as he can about Mr. Prince. Befriend Landon—even if Dad hates him—and convince him that helping the town is his idea, not one I planted in his brain. The same way Dad convinced me I love broccoli.

But Dad won’t want Landon to improve the property. He won’t want him to touch the house that meant so much to Mom, so how do I convince Dad to agree to the project for the good of the town and convince Landon to increase the scale of his project to meet the town’s demands?

I don’t know.

I need backup. Someone who cares as much about the house and this town as I do. A spy in Landon’s camp. Two would be even better. Men who deserve a say.

Chapter 4

Zoe

The drive to Pine Ridge takes thirty minutes along a curving coastal highway. I love this coast, rocky beaches to my left and never-ending forest to my right. I crack the windows on my Mini Cooper, and the salty, piney scent is better than any air freshener.

Archer and Collin Reeves are going to be my spies. Collin is a contractor, and Archer is a lawyer. Together they are the perfect team to be my inside men and make sure Mr. Prince falls in line with what is best for Rainwater Bay.

The house Landon is renovating is part of their history, so they’ll have opinions about how he does it too.

All I have to do is convince them to rebuild their family’s bankrupt legacy for someone else…and fix the animosity between Rainwater Bay and the Reeves family. No big deal. No pressure. Just a normal Tuesday.

Thankfully, they were already planning to meet at the Red Wood saloon for lunch today when I called Collin yesterday morning after the impromptu town council disaster.

The smell of sawdust, beer, and buttery pretzels floods my nose as I push through the front door. J.T. is remodeling the saloon to include an event space, according to town gossip. That explains the sawdust smell.

Collin and Archer are playing pool at a billiards table in the back, a plate of curly chili cheese fries and two beers between them. Both men are tall and athletic, with dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes as stormy as the Pacific in the winter, but that’s where their similarities end.

Collin wears a worn red and black flannel shirt with faded Wranglers, and Archer wouldn’t be caught dead in anything less than a tailored suit, even to shoot pool with his brother.

Today, Archer’s suit is a stunning navy blue with grey pinstripes that especially highlight the silver streaks in his Reeves-blue eyes.

The suit reminds me of Landon…to my annoyance. Francesca wasn’t wrong about his forearms. When I met him at the estate, he’d thrown his jacket over an old wrought iron fence and rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt past his elbows, so I received the full show. When he walked, his pants hugged his backside with precision only a master tailor can achieve.

Too bad that beautiful package is wrapped around the heart of a jerk with no soul.

Too harsh? I’m not sure, but I’m about to find out.

I place a quarter on the table rim. “I play winner.”

“Zoe! To what do we owe this visit?” Archer tugs me into a side hug, then lines up his shot. “Two ball side pocket.” He shoots but misses.

Collin whoops and slaps him on the back. “Arch, you said you’d been practicing.”