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Interestingly—tragically, more like it—Dad was the one who did most of the convincing.
“I’m so sorry,” Reese says after a beat of shocked silence. “But I’m happy you’re standing up to him. I agree it’s one-hundred-percent the right move to buy him out. The farther away he is from Kingsley Distilling, the better off we’ll all be.”
“Exactly. Which is why I’m calling. Well, one of the reasons, anyway.”
“You falling for our wedding planner wasn’t enough to merit a call?” she asks, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
“The saga continues,” I say dryly.
“Must be something in the water up there.”
“There’s definitely something in the water, because that water makes the best damn whiskey in the world.”
“No question.”
“I actually have a question for you.”
“Shoot.”
I turn at a loud bang coming from the house. For a split second, I go still and listen, my shoulders relaxing only when I hear Milly burst into laughter.
So much rests on how Reese responds to what I’m about to say. I feel the weight of that anxiety acutely. Yet my lips still move into a smile.
No matter what happens with Reese, after I hang up this phone, I get to have dinner with my two favorite people in my favorite place.
My chest is so full it feels like it’s going to burst.
“I want to buy your stake in Kingsley Distilling,” I say, not bothering to beat around the bush because what the hell is the point of that? Clearly, Reese has things—and coworkers—to do, and I have a meal to get to. It’s also fucking freezing out here. “I’m hoping to compile a majority stake in the company so I can force out my dad. It’s something I should’ve done a long time ago. I totally understand if you’re not interested in selling, but I’m desperate, and I don’t see a way forward at the distillery with Wilson still in the picture.”
“Nate—”
“I really hate to ask this of you, Reese. I hate to ask anything of you right now. As your friend, it feels like a shitty thing to do.”
“It’s not shitty,” Reese replies. “It’s smart.”
I bring my brows together. I wasn’t expecting her to say that. “Thank you?”
“You’re welcome,” she replies with another laugh. When was the last time I heard her laugh this much? When we first started dating, maybe. “I think this is a great plan. Wilson is obviously a danger to you and to the company, and this is a tidy way of dealing with that problem. You really think he’ll back down?”
“He has to. It’s in the partnership agreement.”
“I know. But even if you force him out of the company, he’ll still be around.”
What she means to say is he’ll still be around to threaten Milly and me. Silas too.
“I’m hoping Silas and I can convince him to take his money and run. Maybe we won’t need to. The kind of guys Dad owes money to, they’re not exactly friendly. We could get lucky and have them pile on too.”
“I’ll cross my fingers and toes for you.”
“Thanks. I need all the luck I can get.”
Reese pauses. I don’t know what to make of the silence, and my heart begins to pound.
“Nate, I appreciate the offer,” she begins slowly. “But I’d like to make an offer of my own. I don’t think it’s any secret my heart’s not in the spirits business. Parting with my stake in your company makes a lot of sense.”
Relief opens up inside me. “Okay.”
“I’m not going to let you pay me for it, though. I’m going to gift it to you.” Words of protest gather on the tip of my tongue, but Reese stops me before I can utter a single one. “First of all, I’m the one who broke off our engagement. You were on board, but I made the call first.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Reese.”
“I know. But I think this will help give me a sense of closure on the whole thing—right whatever wrongs I made.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“You’re going to let me do it because our priority here is keeping Kingsley Distilling intact. I know how much the business means to you. I also know how much money my dad’s invested in y’all. If we allow Wilson to stick around, it sounds like he won’t be afraid to burn down everything we’ve built if it means keeping himself afloat. Don’t let your pride get in the way here, Nate.”
I scoff. “Damn, you’re good.”
“I know,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “I’m also going to call bullshit on this whole idea of ‘pulling yourself up by your bootstraps’ or whatever. I got a huge leg up from my dad when I was just starting out. He paid for my education and introduced me to important people. He gave me guidance when I needed it most, and he gave me money to get my name out there and build my reputation in our world. I did not and could not do this on my own. Just like you can’t take out your dad on your own.”
