Grind (Powertools The Original Crew Returns #3)- Jayne Rylon Page 0,37

they clutched each other’s hands on the table. Joe’s stare winged between her and Dave and said, “Please say that’s what this means. I don’t want to have to choose between my blood and the crew anymore.”

“I mean, I think we need to have a crew meeting right after we’re done here, but I wanted to know if it’s even possible before I start planning a new future that’s equally as impossible as the one I’m letting go of.” Kayla drew out the insurance paperwork from her back pocket and put it on the table. “I also don’t know if I can afford as much land as we’d like for a spa, a reception hall, weekender retreats, long-term stay cabins, a more private section for naturists, and then the Powertools houses we’d build on the other side of that bend in the shoreline for a bit of privacy.”

“Wow. I thought our expansion was fancy.” Eli laughed. “Powertools is going to be busy for the next five years!”

“I still need to do a ton of budgeting and financial planning to see if these ideas will pan out.” Kayla toyed with the piercing in her lip, making Dave want to lean over and kiss it. But he figured he’d save that for later when they were, hopefully, celebrating, “But, uh, Tom… If you’re even willing to sell, do you have any idea of the fair market value of the land? Or what you’d be asking for it?”

When he named a number far lower than what they’d speculated, Dave braced himself.

“Come on.” Kayla stood abruptly.

“Too much?” Tom raised a brow. “I could—”

“No! I’m not trying to steal it from you. It’s gorgeous and yours. Don’t insult me like that. I’ll find a way to pay what it’s worth.”

Tom’s face softened then. Instead of arguing, he walked around to hold Kayla’s hands in his and peer directly into her eyes so she could clearly see he wasn’t messing around with her. When she settled, he said, “Hang on one second. I have something I want to show you, okay?”

Kayla hesitated, but nodded, her face losing some of the pink that had flared in her cheeks.

He went into the living room and rummaged around in an antique desk before returning and handing her a sheaf of papers.

“What’s this?” she asked even as she flipped through them.

“That’s the appraisal I got on the land when Joe asked me about it. Because he’s as fucking stubborn as you are and wouldn’t let me give it to him for his birthday.” Tom shoved Joe’s shoulder as he mumbled, “You kids.”

Dave held his breath as Kayla perused the legalese. Better her than him. She was so much smarter about stuff like that. He was in awe of her and how she’d managed her company on her own all these years. Even more, he was excited to see what she was about to unleash on Middletown now that she was rediscovering her confidence.

“Are you shitting me?” Kayla flipped the paper over as if expecting to see more than what was on the front sides. “That’s it?”

“What can I say?” Tom shrugged. “Middletown used to be literally the middle of nowhere. A sleepy valley and a town with the essentials for those who farmed, camped, or hunted here. It’s only the Hot Rods and now Hot Rides who are putting us on the map. This is a good time to get in, before things skyrocket.”

“I offered him that plus five percent,” Joe told Kayla. “And I still thought it was a hell of a bargain.”

“It is.” Kayla looked up at Joe and smiled. “You really won’t be mad if I steal it from you?”

“You’re granting all my wishes, Kayla.” He reached across the table and held her hand. “You have no idea how many times I’ve daydreamed about this happening even though I never imagined it actually could. I’m sorry as hell about Bare Natural, but I’m not going to lie: I think this is where we were meant to be and I know you’re going to make a killing here.”

“I’ll raise the bid to this plus ten percent to beat out your nephew.” Kayla grinned up at Tom. “With the settlement, we’ll still have plenty of money left over for the construction on the grounds and cash flow to hold us over until we can reopen.”

“That’s not necessary,” Tom said, but Ms. Brown poked his ribs. Figures, as a mother of two independent women herself, she would understand Kayla’s need