Page 25 of Dumped for a Christmas Tree Farmer

I turn to the woman, looking down at her pink dungarees, Converse, and white fluffy earmuffs. She’s going to sell me this property, and she has no idea yet.

“Call me Mav. What’s your name? Ethel is it?”

She laughs. “Ethel is my great-aunt. I have power of attorney for her affairs, so I will be your landlord. Or landlady—” She glances at Charlie, who has yet to take his eyes off her. “I’m a lady.”

She shakes her head, frowning, before turning back to me, blowing out a big breath. Charlie is mesmerized.

Keep it together, man.

“I’m looking to purchase the whole building, actually. What amount works for you?”

Business has been good this year, and buying up new properties is always on my agenda. My portfolio is growing, and whilst impulse purchasing isn’t my usual style, needs must when your should-be-fiancée is throwing a temper tantrum by a guy that wears plaid.

“Oh, the building isn’t for sale.” She wrings her fingers in front of her belly, casting nervous glances at Charlie. What is wrong with him right now?

He finally speaks up and loses any profit I hope to make by spending my money for me. He’s supposed to negotiate down, not up. “He’ll double it. Whatever your number is, he’ll double it. And give you a finder's fee for selling it to him on such short notice.”

“Charlie—” I try to warn, but the no-longer-timid woman interrupts me.

“Are you trying to bribe me to sell my aunt’s property?” She turns to face him, all pretense of being shy vanishing.

Charlie stares, mouth agape, a slight panic in his eyes.

“No, of course not. He’s just an incentivized buyer, that’s all.”

“And it’s nothing to do with the fact his ex-girlfriend called me asking to rent the property?”

Charlie snaps his head toward me, his eyes thunderous. “You brought me down here on the holidays to outbid Holly, who has apparently dumped you?”

“One, you hate the holidays. Two, she didn’t dump me—”

“She did,” the landlady interrupts. She still hasn’t told us her name. “Publicly, in front of the whole town. Made out with our resident Christmas tree farmer for everyone to see.”

“Mav . . . Are you emotionally spending right now?”

Charlie puts a hand on my shoulder, and I slap it off. He rears his head back in mock surprise, and I can’t help but roll my eyes. Dumb lawyer is showing off for the cute blonde.

“Shut up, you’re here to negotiate.” I turn to the woman. “Miss Ethel’s-Power-of-Attorney, what’s the price?”

“My name is Isabella. But everyone calls me Bella.”

“Isabella Byrne,” Charlie whispers.

God dammit. He just said his own goddamn surname.

“No . . . it’s Isabella Montgomery.” She frowns, looking at me as if to ask, should I be worried about this guy? No, Bella, he’s just got heart eyes for the first time in years.

“Are you going to rent the space out to Holly?”

“I’m going to ask for a business plan, a finance plan, and some examples of what she’ll be selling here before I say yes or no. I want whoever is here to be here for the long term.” I haven't lied . . . I will be doing those things. I’ll just make sure Holly quickly realizes this is not what she wants and comes back to Seattle with me.

She eyes me suspiciously and turns to Charlie. “Are you the accountant?”

“I’m the lawyer,” he says, puffing his chest out, smiling like an absolute goof.

“Of course you are.” She rolls her eyes. “Let’s talk before this guy tells you to stop offering me money.”

I let them hash out the details as I look around the property. This could be a great space. The town is doing well, considering small towns aren’t doing well at the moment. It’s only a three-hour drive from Seattle, which helps. How anyone would want to live here permanently, I have no idea. Nothing is growing, changing, adapting. There probably hasn’t been a new building here for thirty years. Renovations need to be approved by the town council to ensure they are in line with the town’s aesthetic. Sure, in the city there are rules and regulations, but progress is generally seen as a good thing.