Page 17 of A Christmas Negotiation

“And you’re happy about that?”

“No. No. I was just thinking about Sam and his reaction to this whole situation. He wants to fix everything. He gets so worked up about it, wanting to hold everything together. It’s just so damn sweet. Every time he gets upset about it, I fall a little more in love with him.”

Now Isabel was the one having to fight back tears. The struggles she and Sam had been through when they were young had been much harder on him, and Isabel still had a good deal of guilt over having been away at college when it happened. “You really love him, don’t you?”

“It might sound corny, and I’m not a super sentimental person, but he is my soul mate. We work together in every way. I can’t imagine my life without him.” Mindy gathered the letters in her hands and squared the edges on the floor. “And I nearly lost him. I pushed him away so many times.”

Isabel had never pushed anyone away, but she’d had many men shutter her out of their lives. It hurt an unimaginable amount, which was a big part of the reason Isabel had not initially liked Mindy. She hated the thought of her brother having his heart broken. “I feel like everything happens for a reason. Maybe you had to go through those early tests to know for sure that you’re right for each other.”

“That sounds a lot nicer than my version, which is basically just me being an idiot.” Mindy shifted to her knees and got up from the floor. “So what do you think is going to happen with Eden’s?”

“I think we’re going to have to count on Mr. Summers’s good graces and hope that they’ll agree to a reduced settlement and a payment plan.”

“Do you think these letters might help?” Mindy asked. “What if we showed them to him? Showed him how much his father really loved my grandmother? It might make him see that the loan really was made out of love. It’s not our fault his parents couldn’t make their marriage work.”

Isabel shook her head. “No. Absolutely not. I think you should put those letters back where you found them, and for the time being, I wouldn’t tell anyone about them other than Sam and your sisters.”

“Okay, then. What’s next?”

“I’m guessing that I’m going to get a phone call from Jeremy Sharp tomorrow morning saying that the note was authenticated. And that’s when we start negotiating from a disadvantage.”

“You don’t think you’re better than him?”

Now it was Isabel’s turn to smile at an inopportune time. “It’s not a matter of better. Jeremy is plenty skilled. He’s a shrewd attorney.”

Mindy narrowed her sights, and Isabel immediately worried that her future sister-in-law was onto something. “Is it just me or is he superhot, too? I mean, I know Sam thinks he’s a weasel, but there’s no accounting for his taste. Especially not when it comes to hotness.”

Isabel’s cheeks flushed with warmth. There had been many times at dinner the other night when she’d caught herself holding her breath in awe of Jeremy’s appeal. “He’s extremely handsome. There’s no doubt about that.”

“It was sexy the way you two were arguing at that first meeting. It felt like there were sparks flying. Or is that stupid of me to say?”

Isabel already felt bad about not coming clean about Jeremy with her own brother the day of that meeting. She wasn’t sure she could keep it from Mindy, too, especially when they were becoming so close. “I have to tell you something. But you have to promise not to breathe a word of it to Sam. At least not until the case is settled.” She bit down on her lip, waiting for Mindy’s response, hoping like hell that she could truly be trusted.

“I don’t like the idea of secrets. But I also don’t like the idea of you feeling like you can’t tell me anything. Because you can.” Mindy nodded eagerly. “So, yes. My lips are zipped. I won’t say a peep to Sam.”

Isabel took in a deep breath for confidence. “I slept with Jeremy.”

Mindy slugged her in the arm playfully. “Shut up. Are you serious?” Her eyes bugged out. “Wait. When?”

“It was actually a few days before the first meeting. I had no idea who he was, and he had no idea who I was. It was pure coincidence.” Isabel went on to share the most general of details from their night together, sparing Mindy the part about Jeremy’s quick departure.

“So, how was it?”

“It was fantastic, but it was a one-night thing. You don’t have anything to worry about. There will be no conflict of interest there. Jeremy’s all business and he’s devoted to his client. That goes much further than you might imagine.”

“I trust your judgment, Isabel. Completely. I know you’re an amazing lawyer and I’m sure you won’t have a problem keeping it all aboveboard. So, how do you like our odds of saving the store?”

Isabel didn’t want to sugarcoat anything, but she didn’t want to set her future sister-in-law up for disappointment, either. “The optimist in me is thinking fifty-fifty.”

“Really?” Mindy asked. “That bad?”

Isabel reached out and caressed Mindy’s arm, wanting to be at least a little reassuring. “I’m going to do everything I can to keep you from losing.”

“Everything?” Mindy asked with two perfectly arched eyebrows.

Isabel was now second-guessing the decision to spill the beans about Jeremy. She really hoped she didn’t end up regretting it. “Nearly everything.”

Mindy and Isabel put away the letters, tidied up the office, and went their separate ways. It was a chilly day, but the sun had come out, so Isabel decided to walk back to the Bacharach. When she arrived, there was a sign on the door:All guests: Please see the front desk for information regarding your stay. There will be no new check-ins until further notice.