Page 18 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

“What do you want?” Zoe’s eyes plead with me to tell her my desires. To open a vein and admit my life is crap. That I need an escape.

But why should I?

What can she do about it?

She’s using me. Using my money to get what the town wants.

Typical. Predictable. Disappointing. For a moment I thought maybe my fiery little comet would be different, but I was wrong.

“I want you gone.” I spin on my heel and walk toward my car.

“Landon.” She calls after me. “My mom was the foremost expert on this estate. I have twenty boxes of research papers, blueprints, pictures, everything you need to accurately restore the house. Everything the Historical Preservation Society will require for you to renovate the house. If you agree to twenty…fifteen cabins and blueprints that show another possible twenty, I will give you everything.”

I jam my finger toward the house. “Why are you so desperate to make this happen? What happened to the bossy woman who barged into my hotel room and told me my opinions don’t matter?” I liked and respected her.

Zoe blinks like she’s holding her emotions by a thread. “I want to see my mom’s dream brought to life. You’re the only ones who can make that happen. You and Collin and Archer.” She laces her fingers together and braces them under her chin. “Landon, this is the best way to make everyone happy.”

I clamp my molars shut as my mind sorts through what she said. Her honesty is refreshing.

It’s not just a house. Not just a project the council wants completed for their own benefit.

It’s her legacy as much as I want it to be mine.

She wants a place to find peace. To bring her mom’s spirit peace.

“I can agree to fifteen if we place them appropriately. I don’t want to crowd the property.”

“Did you have the main house inspected as part of the purchase?” Collin asks.

I nod. “Your great grandfather built a sturdy home. The bones are good…mostly.”

The mayor’s shoulder’s sag. Relief? Probably.

“Let’s see what we’re dealing with.” Collin gestures for me to lead them into the house.

“Follow me,” I say.

Chapter 6

Zoe

As a child I would run through the first floor of Reeves’s house with my eyes closed and never ran into a wall. My mom would pack us a picnic lunch, and we would spend hours exploring, sorting through old books and abandoned closets, piecing together the house’s history.

Mom would tell me stories of sitting with Valerie Reeves, listening to tales of grand balls, women in satin gowns and men in tuxedos sipping champagne. Snow-covered Christmas mornings snuggled together in front of the fireplace in the family room tucked off the kitchen.

This house isn’t the same. As we follow Landon across the front porch into the foyer my heart breaks for my mom. She would hate to see what the house has become—what welet itbecome because we couldn’t bear to touch it after she died.

The entryway is flanked by a dining room without a table and a sitting room without any chairs.

I gesture to the dining room. “This might be a good spot for the reception desk.”

Landon harrumphs. “Maybe.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Meals around a table.”

“That space isn’t big enough.”