He shook hands with Penny. "I hear you've been instrumental in helping to convince Sebastian to sell his company to us."
"This is Greg," I told Penny. "He is one of my older half brothers. He runs some sort of investment sideshow business."
"And who is offering the land for your use."
"Do we need to strategize for the meeting?" Parker asked from the hall.
"Hunter should definitely not be there," Mace said. "You know how he aggravates Meg."
Greg shook his head. "I seriously wish Hunter would get his act together. Well-placed groveling would go a long way to greasing the wheels of the city with Meg."
"What do you know, Greg?" Hunter spat, joining the group.
I looked at each of my brothers. Was this the perfect time to put my latest plan into motion? I thought it was. "No. Hunter absolutely needs to be at this meeting."
"He does?" Mace said. Honestly, my brothers were incredibly dense. It was a struggle trying to dumb things down for them.
"Yes. Someone go make sure the room is set up. Penny." She looked up at me expectantly. "Could you please go to Hazel's coffee shop and purchase one of those giant cups of pumpkin-spice latte, with extra whipped cream, the caramel drizzle, and the little cookie crumbs Hazel dusts on top?"
"Uh—"
"Also please purchase a selection of Halloween-themed desserts."
"Who are you, and what have you done with Garrett?" Mace said.
"You going to eat all that?" Parker asked, horrified.
I smiled. "Let's just say I've developed a sweet tooth."
43
Penny
Ireturned with the coffee and treats right as Garrett and his brothers were settling down in the conference room. Garrett took the coffee and cookies from me and set them in front of Hunter.
"Get those away from me," he grunted. Garrett ignored him.
I was trying to ignore Bronwyn, who was at the meeting. She glared at me when I sat down next to her. I bet if I’d told her what Garrett had been doing to me the previous night, that would wipe the smug look off her face.
Garrett's older brothers were on their phones, but they stood up when Meghan, Hazel's sister and the deputy mayor of Harrogate, walked into the room.
"So glad you could join us, Deputy Mayor," Garrett said, pulling out her seat for her. "We know you're busy with the city."
"I can't believe I'm up here again for another one of the trademarked Svensson specials of trying to hoodwink the taxpayers of Harrogate."
"‘Hoodwink’ is a loaded term," Hunter replied coldly.
"What Hunter forgot to say," Garrett said loudly, "is that he's very happy to see you. He even went out of his way to buy you coffee and a Halloween cookie."
"I did?" Hunter said, looking shocked.
"The cookie is chocolate, and it even has a cat wearing a pointy hat on it," Garrett said as he handed Meg the bag and the coffee while we all looked on in shock.
"It was a very thoughtful gesture from Hunter, wasn't it?" Garrett continued.
Hunter looked behind him. It was comical, and I struggled not to laugh.
"Did you poison this coffee?" Meg asked suspiciously.
