to keep it in the family. But no one would understand that as my motivation, so I say, “Yeah, you’re right.” With a strange heaviness inside me, I lift my face, and the glorious late-afternoon sun shines down on me. That’s when I remember the stream Jay mentioned. “I think maybe I’ll actually check out the property and go for a dip in the stream.”
“That sounds divine, actually. I’d join you, but I have to get home for the boys,” she says. Gravel crunches beneath approaching tires, and we both turn.
“I’d better go switch the sign from open to closed,” I say.
“I don’t think that’s why he’s here.”
“What?”
“Speaking of the devil, that’s Bryce Kent. I bet he’s here to make an offer on the farm.”
A middle-aged man steps from the car and smooths his hand over his gelled hair. He doesn’t look like any of the farmers I’ve come across so far. In fact, he looks like a greasy, underhanded used car salesman. But who am I to judge?
“Bryce,” Cindy says. “Nice to see you again.”
“Cindy,” he responds, and instead of looking at me, he looks beyond me, at all my land and buildings, like he’s sizing the place up. I suppose he is.
“I’ll leave you two to chat,” Cindy says with a squeeze of my arm. I thank her for her help today and wave her off. Once her car disappears down the long driveway, I take a deep breath, completely exhausted but also feeling somewhat proud of my day’s work, and turn to Bryce.
“I’m Alyson Reid. Jack’s niece and the new owner.” I hold my hand out to him.
“So I heard,” he says and shakes my hand. “Never knew Jack had any family.”
“I only recently learned I had an Uncle Jack who owned an orchard.”
His dark, beady eyes narrow in on me. “Then it seems to me you don’t rightfully belong here. We don’t much care for outsiders sticking their nose in business that’s not theirs.”
My head rears back. “Excuse me?”
“From New York, I hear,” he says, ignoring me.
“Yes.”
“How about I take this place off your hands, Alyson from New York who knows nothing about running a working orchard? Save you a heap of trouble listing it.”
I work to keep my cool. The man is being a total ass. “What if I’m not looking to sell?” I say. At least not yet, and when I am, I’m not so sure I’d want my late uncle’s prized possessions to go to this man.
He laughs and rocks on his feet. “Ah, playing hardball, are you? Should have expected that. Fine, if you wanted to negotiate, let’s negotiate.”
“What do you mean you should have expected that?”
He laughs and eyes me. “Fast-talking city girl who thinks she can use her charm to outsmart a country bumpkin. Let’s just cut to the chase. What’s your price?”
Fast-talking city girl? What the hell? And what charm do I have?
“I…”
“I’ll drop two hundred thousand. You can have it in your hand by the end of the week. I’ll take it as is, and you can put this place behind you.”
My jaw falls open. Is this guy for real? I don’t know much about real estate, but I Googled a few things before I came here, and this farm is valued at over a million. This guy thinks I’m an idiot. I might not be very good at very many things, but I’m not an idiot.
“I’m not interested. Now if you’ll excuse me. I have some things to do.”
“It’s the best offer you’re going to get. I’ll let you think on it a little bit. I’m easy to find when you change your mind. Just ask anyone.” He walks back to his car, and I fold my arms, staring him down until he’s out of my driveway. That’s right, my driveway. I own this place, and I’m not going to sell to some shady asshole.
I exhale a deep breath to calm myself and push Bryce Kent from my thoughts. I begin my exploration of the property, and as I go deeper into the orchard, bees fly by me. I gulp and try not to panic. Jay isn’t around to rescue me, and from our earlier goodbye, I take it I won’t be seeing much of him—except when I have to help his friend Colin with the dance routine. But if I’m going to live next to an apiary, figuring out how to not antagonize the bees might be in my best interest. I just don’t want my