“Hey, Gil, how’s it hangin’?”
“Buddy, you know with me, it’s always hanging…big.” He laughed. “I haven’t seen you since that championship game you won in Pebble Beach.”
“That was some game.”
“Where you at these days?”
“Right now, I’m in Ireland, came for a charity golf thing, and am stayin’ a bit—got some meetings in London and Dublin with sponsors.”
I smiled at Saoirse, who came into the pub through the kitchen.
We weren’t open yet, which was why I had spread myself out on the bar. My laptop was open. My phone and my earbuds were fully charged—as was my brand-new 5 G mobile router that Brad had sent over when I bitched about the reception in Ballybeg.
It was a fuckin’ miracle.
“Where in Ireland? I’m buyin’ some property there. Buildin’ a new golf resort. You’re goin’ to love it.”
He’d taken the bait. It was as easy as sinking a three-foot putt on a green so smooth it practically guided the ball for you.
“Well, I’ll be damned, Gil. I’m in County Clare,” I pretended to be all surprised.
“No shit.” He guffawed. “That’s where I’m buyin’ the land. Working with some local developers. Buyin’ an entire village. We’re going to turn it into the nicest golf community Ireland has ever seen.”
Feckin’ hell!
“No kidding. Where? Maybe I should check it out.”
“Wait a second.” I heard him bang his keyboard. “Ballybeg…that’s the name of the village.”
“Right.” I knew it, but that didn’t make the confirmation slide down my throat any easier.
“Hey, Jax, you want in? Your Daddy is interested.”
Of course, he was.Feckin’immoraleejit!
“Tell me more,” I urged, like I was interested.
There was a pause, followed by the sound of him lighting a cigar. I could practically hear the grin in his voice when he spoke again. “It’s a beautiful little place. Quiet, picturesque, real postcard stuff. It’s gonna make a killing once the resort goes up.”
“Oh, you’ve seen the place?”
“Nah, got a guy there who sent me photos.”
“Buying something unseen, Gil? That’s not like you.”
He laughed. “I know Ireland, and I know County Clare.”
I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening on the phone. “So, this Ballybeg…how are you buyin’ up the…you know village, did you say?” I kept my tone as casual as possible.
“Money talks, you know that. This development company we’re working with is real slimeballs. The guy on the project isfromBallybeg, and he’s setting it up. Some we are buying outright, others we may need to persuade some.”
I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. This was how it was done. I knew that. It wasn’t right or wrong—this was…business.
“That’s the land, but you said there’s a freakin’village, probably with a church and a bakery and….”A pub called The Banshee’s Rest.
“Yeah, yeah.” I heard him take a deep puff and release. “Oh, we’re keeping a few of the old buildings for charm, you know? But most of it is gonna get a facelift—high-end shops, a spa, the works.”
“So, everyone is happy to sell?” I began to tap the wooden counter with my fingers impatiently.
