talking, I chuckled. “Literally, I mean, I don’t speak their language. They talk funny.”
“I wouldn’t have done any better. Well, maybe. I mean, I wouldn’t have tried to get my potential client in bed first.”
“Don’t remind me. I’m an idiot. I didn’t know.”
Christian chuckled. “Look, the man clearly has no interest in selling. Let it go. Lick your wounds, then come home and tell Dad it’s time to look elsewhere. Honestly, this is a first for him. Normally he finds people who are already willing to sell. I don’t know why he was so gung-ho about this one. It seemed odd to begin with.”
“I don’t know either.”
“Come on home, Lach. If he gets pissy, I’ve got your back.”
I blew out a breath and set my damaged shoe aside, peering out the window at the picturesque landscape. “I’m not sure I’m ready to face him yet. I don’t want to be here, but I don’t know that I’m ready to get chewed out either.”
“You can’t avoid him forever, and the longer you wait, the worse it will be.”
Like his words were a summon, my call-waiting beeped, and Dad’s name flashed across my phone again. I groaned. “Shit. He’s calling on the other line.”
“Answer it and tell him you’ll be home tomorrow. Take another day to put yourself together. Plan your approach. Yes, he’ll get pissy, but it will blow over. He doesn’t want me in the chair beside him, Lach. That spot’s been yours since you took your first breath. He can only stay mad at you for so long, and you know it.”
I flopped back on the bed and closed my eyes. “I don’t know how you put up with it.”
“Being second best?” Christian chuckled, but it held a sad quality. “Because it’s the only thing I’ve ever known. I was born to live in your shadow, and that isn’t ever going to change.”
It was a sad truth. If Dad opened his eyes, he would see that Christian was a hell of a better businessman than me. His ideas were unique and unprecedented. Christian moved with the times and could anticipate the needs of future generations—something Dad failed at miserably. Montgomery Developing could soar with Christian at the helm, but Dad wouldn’t hear of it.
Christian would never be more than second-best in his eyes. And me, the golden boy, was mediocre at best—but not for lack of trying. I’d spent my entire life chasing the proverbial bone that was continually thrown out of my reach.
I said goodbye to Christian, and accepted my dad’s call, roiling nausea brewing in my gut.
“It’s almost ten o’clock in the morning. Where are you, and why aren’t you answering my phone calls?”
“I am answering your phone call. I’m sorry, I was busy. I’m still in Jasper.”
“What? Why? You told me you’d have this wrapped up and be back by Monday. It’s Monday.”
“And I ran into a snag. The property owner”—who wasn’t who you said it would be, by the way—“was busy all weekend with a family wedding. He didn’t have time to meet with me.”
Not a lie, but not altogether the truth either. Regardless, it would buy me time.
Dad went silent. He couldn’t argue with that. It wasn’t like he’d called in advance and planned a meeting with the landowner. If he had, he’d have known about the wedding. “Huh. That’s inconvenient.”
“Yes, it was.”
“So you’re meeting with him today?”
“This afternoon.”
Another begrudging sound of acknowledgment. I could tell he wanted to be angry and place blame, but he couldn’t. Not yet.
“Fine. Leave tonight after your meeting. Enough lollygagging. I’ll move Henrietta’s appointment to tomorrow at ten. Don’t miss it.”
“Isn’t it premature to—”
“Why?”
I snapped my mouth closed. There was no point telling Dad he shouldn’t run with this plan. In his mind, it was a done deal. He already had lawyers and our accountant ready to move things along as fast as possible.
Until I showed up with bad news and ruined everything.
“No reason. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He hung up without saying goodbye, and I remained on the big sleigh bed for a long time, staring at the ceiling.
There was nothing more I could do in Jasper. Annoying Easton wasn’t going to get me anywhere. He’d made his point and put his foot down.
I sat up with a groan and scanned the large room. If I was heading home later tonight, then I had a day to relax and enjoy the mountain air.
It was late enough my stomach growled, so I tugged on my ruined shoes and grabbed