Page 17 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

“Archer.” The lawyer takes my hand.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Prince.” His grip is a bit stronger. He wants to convey he’s not a pushover. Interesting given that he uses my surname instead of foregoing the formality like his brother.

“Call me Landon, please.” I gesture toward the house, and we fall in step together. “Mayor Winslow says you’re the men to make my vision a reality.”

“Mayor?” Collin glances at her.

Zoe steps between us. “We need to talk about your vision, actually. We’re changing it.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Is that so?”

“What Rainwater Bay needs is a resort. Nothing over the top, but something…” She wobbles her head and chews her lip like she’s looking for just the right word.

“Expensive?” I provide.

“No…well, maybe. We need something that’s cozy and inviting, but also magnificent. Something that highlights the beauty of the estate and makes tourists want to stay here instead of Pine Ridge.”

“No.”

“You can’t say no.”

“I just did.”

“If you say no, we will block your permits, and drown you in paperwork, and you will never move a single pebble on this property.”

“You don’t have the funds to fight me.”

“I don’t need them. I’ve got the power of the Rainwater Bay Historical Preservation Society, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, US Department of the Interior, and the National Registry of Historic Places.”

“I can still bury you in lawsuits and counter petitions for decades. You’d rather the elements destroy the house?”

“No. I’d love for you to make it beautiful again, but you have to make it beautiful in a way that helps the town. It can’t be your private retreat. Not anymore.”

I narrow my eyes and step closer to Zoe. “That’s not what you said before.” My voice is almost a growl.

“The town council has…” She sighs. “It has plans.”

“But not you? Aren’t you the mayor? Don’t you have the final say?”

Collin and Archer’s eyes ping-pong back and forth between Zoe and me. Collin hides a grin behind his hand as he whispers something to Archer, who nods in reply.

“Do you have something to add?” I ask.

Collin twists his mouth into a grimace. “Not sure if we should get involved in this quarrel.”

“Zoe.” Archer shakes his head. “This isn’t what we agreed to. You lied to us. To him.”

“We can all get what we want here. I know we can.” Zoe points to the house. “Collin, restoring the estate will be amazing for your company’s portfolio. I mean, can you even imagine the before-and-after pictures? Arch, I know how much it bugs you the way people snub your mom because of what your dad and grandpa did, how they blame your grandma for the shipping company closing. This is an opportunity to help Rainwater Bay find its footing again. Attach your name to something good. We need this.”

Archer drops his gaze to his dress shoes. “I don’t know.”

She turns to me. “You want the house restored and to build ten cabins. What if we increase the number to twenty with the opportunity to build more if this works? If people like the resort? You have hotels. This will be your crown jewel.”

“No.” I’m firm. This will not be a hotel like all the others in our portfolio. I forbid it.

“Why?” She pouts.

“I don’t want a crown jewel. I don’t want a twenty-cabin resort.”