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Silent, Braxton still studied the numbers. Whatever emotional turmoil Braxton struggled with, the man was always business first. More than likely Braxton was pushing back that slice of pain and crunching numbers in his head. Zach, on the other hand, didn’t need to see the paper.
“I’m not okay with this.” The words were out of Zach’s mouth before he thought to keep them in. Someone needed to stand up for Braxton and for what Chelsea would’ve wanted. “We can’t decide this second to sell. There’s too much to think about and we need to sit down and discuss this privately.”
Without turning, Liam snorted. “When the hell have you ever thought about a decision? You rush into everything.”
The barb hit home, but Zach wasn’t about to dredge up their past here. Or ever, if he could help it.
“Martin has convinced the mayor to offer a very generous amount.” Sophie stared at him across the room. Apparently thinking he was crazy. “You don’t want to sit on this.”
Zach didn’t give a shit what her boyfriend, Martin, had done or how generous the mayor’s offer was. Both were assholes as far as Zach was concerned.
Even though Zach was currently working on a project for the city, the project he was near completing was all business. This deal that Sophie was proposing on their behalf was crossing into the personal
territory.
Beyond Braxton’s hatred for Mayor Stevens, Chelsea loved that property and it had been her dream to own it someday. How could they just sell?
The pre–Civil War home had housed slaves in the underground tunnels that led from the main house to two other homes on the estate that overlooked a lake. No boring museum would be going in there. He’d find a way to . . . hell, he didn’t know, but he knew he wasn’t selling to the assholes in suits.
“You have to pay the taxes somehow,” Sophie argued. “This is the best way to pay off the debt and not have to worry about what to do with such a large, empty estate.”
Still sitting forward in his seat to look at the paper, Braxton glanced over his shoulder at Zach. He merely stared back, waiting for Braxton’s thoughts. Hurt settled in Braxton’s eyes, but there was an overlying mask of anger.
Braxton shifted back around and faced Sophie. “We need to discuss this. We can’t decide right here.”
“And we’ll get the damn taxes paid,” Zach muttered just as Sophie opened her mouth. “Let us worry about Chelsea’s property. You can tell your boyfriend and the mayor we don’t want the offer.”
Sophie’s shoulders stiffened, her eyes narrowing in his direction. “I’m only trying to help everyone here. You don’t have to be a jerk.”
Yeah, well, he felt like a jerk, so how else was he supposed to act?
“What do you want to do with the property?” Liam asked, turning in his seat just enough to see Zach.
“Pay the taxes and figure it out from there.”
“I don’t have time to invest in that place,” Liam countered. “I understand why Braxton would hesitate, but you have to think about what a liability that property is going to be. I don’t want to sink money into something that will have no benefit to me.”
Zach uncrossed his arms and stood straight up. “Well, I’m not ready to get rid of that land. Chelsea loved that old house and she had a vision. She used every bit of her savings and her portion of the inheritance from Mom and Dad to buy the place, and you’re ready to just give it away for some museum? Or if that’s not enough, perhaps you’ve forgotten about—”
“Enough.” Braxton glared from one brother to another. “We’ll discuss this once we’ve all had a chance to think. Bringing up Anna won’t solve the problems.”
Anna. The woman Braxton had been engaged to until she’d shown her true colors and left Braxton days before the wedding. She’d run straight into Rand Stevens’s waiting arms. The two were both shallow, and Zach hoped they were miserable together for many, many years.
“I’ve thought of Braxton, but we can’t let that situation stop us from using common sense here.” Liam came to his feet, hands on his hips and blue eyes blazing. “I’m getting that headache off our hands. We’ve already paid the mortgage on it this month and still have the taxes due. I’m done.”
“Fine. Then be done with it. I’ll cover your part.” Good thing he had a chunk in savings, but even that would run out if he didn’t come up with a plan. “Consider yourself dismissed.”
Braxton rose, holding up his hands. “This is a record. You two went five whole minutes without griping at each other. We’ll give Sophie a definite answer in a week. Can we all stop and think about what Chelsea would want us to do? Leave my past out of the decision making.”
“Chelsea wouldn’t want you guys fighting,” Sophie muttered.
Zach’s eyes cut to her. Her face had paled, showcasing the dark circles beneath her eyes. Damn it. Why did her silent vulnerability always make him feel like a bastard?
“I’ll take a week.” Zach agreed with Braxton. “But I’m not changing my mind. Selling is a bad idea right now.”
He turned to go, when Sophie called his name. Glancing over his shoulder, two sets of eyes were on him. Liam kept his back turned.
Zach raised a brow, waiting for Sophie to say something. Was that moisture in her eyes? She blinked twice, as if willing unshed tears away. Pushing away from her desk, she came to her feet and straightened her shoulders.
