“But?”
“But everything down here is moving fast.” Eric leans back in his chair. “Rock Creek Ranch is drawing even more attention to the valley; tourism had a strong summer, and now everyone with money thinks they need to buy before prices jump again.”
I glance down at the page Lilly flagged.
“Everyone with money isn’t always smart.”
Eric’s mouth twitches. “That’s why I called.”
“Then wait.”
His eyebrows lift slightly. “That easy?”
“No. But it’s that simple.” I tap the page in front of me, even though he can’t see it. “You’re heading into winter. Let the season prove whether summer was real growth or just a spike. If the numbers hold, you move. If they don’t, you saved yourself an expensive headache.”
Eric is quiet for a moment.
Then he nods once. “That’s what I thought you’d say.”
“Then next time, leave one message.”
“Next time, answer the first one.” His gaze shifts past me again, landing briefly on Lilly. “Or let her answer it.”
“No.”
Lilly makes that small, almost-laugh again, and Eric’s mouth curves.
“Careful, Luke,” he says. “That’s how it starts.”
“What is?”
“Thinking you’re better off doing everything alone.”
I narrow my eyes at the screen. “I don’t recall asking you for life advice.”
“No. I called you for financial advice. You gave it. Consider this a bonus.” His expression softens just enough that I know exactly who he’s thinking about. “My wife had a few opinions about how I ran my life, too.”
“Yeah? How’d that work out for you?”
He smiles then. Not the business one. A real one.
“Best thing that ever happened to me.”
My grip tightens on the pen.
Lilly goes quiet next to me. I don’t look at her.
“Good for you,” I say, because it’s the only safe thing to say.
“It is.” Eric’s smile fades back into something easier, more familiar. “Anyway, thanks for the advice. I’ll wait on the property.”
“Smart man.”
“Occasionally.” His gaze flicks to Lilly one last time. “Nice meeting you, Lilly.”
“You too, Mr. Wolf.”
“Eric,” he corrects. “And don’t let him be a big ol’ grump to you,” he adds. “Keep organizing him. He needed it.”
