“Don’t stop,” Rhea said cheerfully, “Please continue.”
Jasper leaned over and stage-whispered to Rhea around Tanner’s big body, “Does it get even bigger than that? Or did I interrupt something?”
“I’m leaving.” Tanner turned and walked up the stairs as Rhea cackled, clapping her hands and kicking her feet when Jasper threw himself down on the couch next to her.
Rhea collected herself and nudged Jasper, feeding my naughty friend’s need for drama. “It gets so much bigger. And it’s always ready for more. The man has no off button.”
“I can hear you!” Tanner yelled from upstairs, and I giggled before he added. “Which is making it hard to get dressed!”
“Hard!” Jasper cried theatrically, “It wasn’t even hard, but it was that big?”
“Focus!” I called, clapping my hands as Jasper jumped up from his seat like he was about to go up to my bedroom to see firsthand just how much bigger Tanner’s package got but Rhea pulled him back down onto the couch next to her. “We were planning how we were going to save the town from big corporate snakes trying to steal it out from under us when you barged in.”
He took a deep breath and composed himself, “Oh yeah, that.” He crossed his legs at the knee and leaned forward, “I have gossip.”
Tanner thudded back down the stairs, dressed in a pair of jeans, the band of his boxer briefs sticking out just above the waistband and still completely shirtless. All three of us watched him, not even trying to hide our open enjoyment as he picked me up off the loveseat and settled me in his lap.
“You’re wearing my only spare shirt.” He said against my ear and nibbled it for emphasis.
“I’m not sorry in the least,” I giggled, leaning into him as he held me. “But we need to focus. Jasper has the tea, and I can tell it’s good.”
“Spill it.” Rhea nudged Jasper, and he snapped his jaw closed, tearing his gaze away from Tanner and focused.
“Okay,” Jasper said. “Everyone lock your faces into something appropriately shocked, because what I'm about to say comes in layers and I’m a hoe for a good reactive audience. Storytelling is my kink and fandoms are my fetish.”
Tanner sighed, leaning his forehead against my shoulder, “Jasper?—”
“Nope,” Jasper cut in, “No interruptions. This is an artistic reveal.”
Rhea lifted her mug in salute, “I’m listening.”
“So,” Jasper continued, voice dropping conspiratorially, “you know how Miller’s Hardware isdefinitelynot for sale?”
My stomach tightened, “They’ve said that for years.”
“Correct. Generational stubbornness. Old man Miller still calls email ‘the devil’s work.’” Jasper leaned closer. “Guess who walked in last week like they were our lord and savior, Oprah?”
Rhea’s jaw clenched. “One of the corporate buyers?”
“Two of them,” Jasper corrected with a nod. “Matching suits and shiny shoes. They smelled of money and entitlement, and not in a good way. They stunk.”
Tanner tensed under me. “What did they offer?”
Jasper smiled slowly, “Five times market value.”
The room fell silent.
“Five,” Jasper repeated. “Times. Market. Value. Cold hard cash. No inspection contingencies, no delays.”
“That’s insane,” I whispered.
“And,” Jasper added, lifting a finger, “they told the Millers they had forty-eight hours to decide.”
Rhea sat forward, brow creased and serious, “That’s pressure.”
“That’s coercion,” Tanner said flatly.
“Oh, it gets better,” Jasper said. “Mrs. Miller told them to take their dirty money and thug mentality and get off her property. Loudly. In front of a store full of customers.”
