Darius met her eyes and gave her the practiced, reassuring smile he had perfected over decades of deals. “No, of course not. But since you and Emma were going to be out, I thought I’d just ensure nothing was falling behind at the company. A few quick calls, that’s all.”
Isabel studied him for a long moment, suspicion clear in her gaze. “You could come with us, you know. You and Penny.”
“That’s a good idea. Ask Penny,” Darius said smoothly. “I think it will be good for both of you to go and have some fun. Linda seems like a wonderful person.”
“Mmm,” Isabel replied, clearly not convinced. “I will ask Penny.”
“Good.” Darius gave her a charming smile. “If Penny goes with you, you’ll also feel more at ease as no matter how nice and friendly Linda is, she is still a stranger to us.”
“Yes, you’re right,” Isabel said. “I’ll speak to her when she’s back.”
“I’m glad.” Darius glanced at his wristwatch. “I’m going to make a few phone calls.” He held up his hand before she could protest. “Just to ensure all the emails and meetings that needed to be moved around were handled.”
“Okay, Darius,” Isabel said with a sigh. “But this time, I’m not going to try and beg you to join in the fun. If you’re going to be nose-deep in work, then that’s your loss, and I’m not going to feel guilty about you missing out.”
“Deal,” Darius told her with a charming smile. “I want you, Emma, and even Penny to relax and enjoy yourselves here inSweet Blossom Bay. Now that we have this house, we may just be coming back here a lot more.”
“That sounds like a very good idea,” Isabel told him. “I used to love this house when we came to the bay as kids. But I didn’t know just how breathtaking it was until we stepped inside. Now I’m totally in love with it and so is Emma. I think even Penny is taken with the place.”
Guilt hit Darius in the chest at his sister’s words. He, too, had taken to the house the moment he’d stepped through the door. It had felt oddly like he’d just come home. But he squashed the feeling and refused to think about it again as he hadn’t bought the property to keep it as a summer vacation house. It was part of a bigger plan, and he couldn’t afford to get attached to it. He also never thought his sister, great-niece, or Penny would get attached to it like this, and it was only their first day here. He let out a breath. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea after all, as when the time came, there were going to be three very angry ladies. Well, two as Penny knew what he’d bought this place for, even if he saw the disapproval on her face every time they spoke about the project.
“I’m going to find Marlene and go over the menus for the next week,” Isabel told him, pulling off her big hat and walking away.
Darius watched his sister disappear down the hallway, then headed upstairs to the loft study he had claimed the moment he saw it that morning. The room was perfect. It had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bay, soft morning light pouring in, and a large desk facing the water. He had known instantly this would be his favorite workspace in the house.
He closed the door, sat down, and pulled out his phone. There were several messages from his cousin, Baxter, who worked at his company.
Baxter:Darius, I hope you’ll see the owner of the properties we need to acquire while you’re in Sweet Blossom Bay. That has to be done by the end of summer, or we can’t move ahead with the project for another year. The board is getting restless. Investors are asking questions. We need this locked in.
Darius’s jaw tightened. He had told his cousin to stay out of this particular deal. Baxter had nearly chased away two interested investors already with his aggressive tactics. The board was growing anxious about the timeline, and several major investors had begun making quiet inquiries about the Sanibel project. The urgency was real. If they missed the summer window, the entire development would be pushed back a full year, costing millions in delays and lost momentum.
Darius rubbed his forehead. He had come here to close the deal quietly, to enjoy the summer with his family, and to finally secure the last pieces he needed. But every time he thought about the properties, he saw Linda’s warm smile from the pizza place and the easy way she had invited Isabel and Emma to the festival. He looked out the window. Then there was this house. There was something about it, and he’d instantly realized why the previous owner was reluctant to sell it. It wasn’t just a house; it was a beautiful, majestic home where you could feel the family’s history in every room.
The place, even without anyone living here the whole years around before he’d bought it, had been well taken care of. It was a home built and filled with love. As cheesy as that sounded. It was true, and he felt it in the very fiber of his being. Since he’d managed to acquire the place, something inside him changed.
Darius’s enthusiasm for the major project had died, and now it made him feel… anxious and even a little sick to the stomach for some reason. He gave a soft snort at his fanciful thoughts. What did the locals say about Sweet Blossom Bay? It drew lost souls home. Or something like that. Maybe he was a lost soul. He knew his sister, Emma, and Penny were. Each of them had suffered a big loss over the past five years, and they had barely set foot in Sweet Blossom Bay when the three of them already seemed different. More relaxed, and the shadows haunting their eyes weren’t so prominent. That was after not even a full day here. He breathed and shook his head, hoping that by the end of summer, it would not be too much of a fight when he started to launch the Sweet Blossom Bay project.
Darius set the phone down and leaned back in the chair, staring out at the glittering bay. Linda was a local. She knew everyone. She might be able to help him approach the owner of the properties he still needed without raising suspicion. Not directly involving her, of course. Just using her knowledge of the community to make the right introductions. It would be easier if the owner trusted someone from Sweet Blossom Bay.
The thought of using Linda, even indirectly, sat uncomfortably in his chest. He pushed it aside. This was business. Nothing personal. The owner of the properties was refusing a meeting and not taking his calls. Darius needed to use whatever means he could to get close to him. Linda gave him the perfect way to do that as she was a local who knew just about everyone in the small community of Sweet Blossom Bay. A soft knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts.
“Darius?” Isabel called as she opened the door. “Lunch is ready.”
He stood, forcing a relaxed smile. “Perfect timing. I’m starving.”
As they walked down to the dining room together, Isabel glanced at him sideways. “You look like you’re thinking too hard again.”
Darius chuckled. “Just work things. Nothing important.”
They sat down at the table where Marlene had laid out a beautiful spread consisting of fresh salads, grilled fish, warm bread, and sliced fruit. Darius helped himself and took a bite, savoring the flavors.
“You know,” Darius said, after a while, “it’s not even been a full day, and both you and Emma are already looking happier than you have in months.”
“I guess there is something about this place. It feels… soothing. Like the bay is wrapping itself around us.” Isabel smiled as she took a forkful of food.
“I know what you mean as I feel the same way.” Darius nodded slowly.
“Maybe fate brought us here for a reason. And for you, that reason’s name is Linda?” Isabel gave him a teasing smile.
