The Merriest Magnolia (Magnolia Sisters #2) - Michelle Major Page 0,91
negotiations to making money in this godforsaken town. It’s going to be huge.”
“Call me after the New Year,” Dylan said automatically. “Give your people the holidays without bending over backward.”
Steven let out a disbelieving laugh. “Who are you and what have you done with Dylan Scott?”
Dylan didn’t bother to answer, only rolled his eyes.
“I’m serious,” the other man insisted, adjusting his mirrored Ray-Ban sunglasses. “I know this is our first deal together, but I expected more from what Wiley had said about you. You’ll barely return one of my calls let alone push through his contract.”
“You’re getting in on the bottom floor of a redevelopment that’s going to be a model for introducing premier housing and retail space to a small-town demographic. This could lead to opportunities around the country. How can you want more?”
“I want the guy your cousin told me about, the baller who worked with single-minded determination. Why should either of us give a rat’s ass about our people working over the holidays? That’s why we pay them, and money is the bottom line.”
Aggravation burned in Dylan like the brand from a hot poker. Steven’s development company was one of the most successful in the Boston area. The fact that he wanted to partner with Dylan in Magnolia was a huge achievement. Wiley had been the one to work this end of the company, and Dylan knew he had big shoes to fill.
He didn’t like being compared to his cousin, not that he had any doubt that he’d come up short. But he’d lost his passion for this potential partnership. Just as Carrie’d predicted, this town and its damn holiday spirt had gotten to him.
Corrupted him. Ruined his focus.
Ruined him for anything but the satisfaction he got from making her smile.
She definitely wouldn’t be happy when she found out about this deal and what it meant for the factory and his downtown plans.
That was part of the reason he wanted to wait until the New Year to finalize everything. It would give him more time to explain it to her in a way she’d understand.
He had no choice but to go forward with his original plan, despite how things had gone with the festival. Despite their agreement.
He’d made a promise to his cousin to take care of Sam, and that meant growing the business that would eventually belong to him.
Wiley would have loved this deal in the same way Dylan had when he’d first conceived it. Surely his enthusiasm would return once he could put Christmas and all of the cloying small-town spirit behind him.
The New Year would bring a fresh start and a clean slate.
This was his, no matter what anyone thought of it.
“Nothing’s going to happen down here until January,” he said, ignoring the other man’s frown. “Go home and enjoy the holiday.”
“My ex-wife has the kids for Christmas,” Steven said. “Elizabeth flew to Chicago to see her family. I’m going to be swiping right on a couple of my fave dating apps. You wouldn’t believe how many lonely chicks are out there on a major holiday.”
Dylan’s stomach rolled. “Probably not. Sounds, um...interesting. You do realize you’re engaged?”
“No ring on my finger yet,” Steven said with a deep chuckle. “I know having a teenager in the house might be cramping your style. Wiley had mentioned sending Sam to boarding school at one point. My son went to a prep academy in upstate New York. Best thing we ever did for him.”
“Wiley never said anything to me about boarding school.”
“I think he wanted more freedom for him and Kay. Kids are a time suck.”
The guy was truly a jackass. “Speaking of time,” Dylan said, backing away. “I need to get back to town.”
“We’ll talk soon.” Steven headed for his sleek Mercedes.
Dylan opened the door of his SUV then paused as a car came barreling down the gravel driveway that led to the factory, and Carrie’s silver Volvo station wagon came into view.
He took a few steps forward then stopped when she didn’t slow down as she approached. What the hell was going on?
“You okay?” Steven asked as he pulled up beside Dylan.
“Fine. It’s my girlfriend. Probably needs me to pick up something for dinner tonight before the grocery store closes.”
“She takes dinner seriously,” the other man said with a laugh then drove out of the parking lot.
The Volvo lurched to a stop. “Who was that?” Carrie demanded as she got out and stalked toward him.
“Just a business associate,” he said, ignoring the guilt that roared through