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She laughs and I want to make her do that again. “You never know what lurks around the corner.”
Or in my mind. Unfortunately, that’s where all those naughty thoughts will have to stay. As I watch her sip her wine, her necklace catches my eye. I want to taste her soft skin there. I should have memorized her body better when I had the chance. What might have been…
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11
Cormac
Driving out to the construction site of the new resort is not a hassle, but it feels like one. Not only because I am the oldest brother and I shouldn’t have to go out of my way to meet with Beau—although I shouldn’t have to and he should come to see me—but it is a hassle because it takes me away from sulking in my office about Lily.
When I park next to a few beat up white pickup trucks, I take a moment to collect my thoughts. I know what’s coming. He’s going to tell me to drum up more investors for some new addition he wants for the resort. As though I’m not already busy with those we have. I’m the CFO, but he’s the COO, so it’s my job to find the money he wants to spend. Sometimes, though, I have to rein him in, and he’s always a little bitch about it.
The construction site is bustling with workers who are getting the site ready. We are in the earliest stages of site preparation, the earthworks. This is the groundwork upon which everything else will be built.
Most of them know me. Coming out here as often as I do, I’m friendly enough with them and know a few by name. The project of building a luxury resort takes time, and this conversation happens at least once a week, so I’ve had many opportunities to get to know the crews.
“Hey, Chuck.”
The crew chief tips his head up for a moment before diving onto his sub sandwich lunch.
“Beau around?”
“White trailer.”
I nod and make my way over to it. Earthworks primarily focus is on modifying the natural terrain and manipulating the soil and rock materials to achieve the desired shape, contour, and stability of the construction site. We have already removed the vegetation and the topsoil and completed most of the excavation and are about to move onto the grading of the land.
There’s a complex of trailers for the men to have offices on-site, but Beau likes to be more hands-on usually, so I often find him chatting alongside the crews and not in the offices. Knowing my brother the way I do, I knock first.
“Come in.”
A blast of ice cold air hits me as I walk into the trailer office. No woman in sight, so at least he’s in the office alone. On the inside, this places is like any other trailer. Flat brown carpeting, a cheap desk and a hall that I presume leads to a bathroom. Nothing fancy. Nothing like the resort that will stand here soon. “Hiding from your crews?”
Beau rolls his eyes and snorts a laugh, as he looks at a blueprint. “Got the feeling I’m underfoot today.”
He has the same dark brown hair as I do, but Mom’s eyes. I hate him for it—hazel eyes are better than blue. They have a green hue to them that I’ve always envied. He’s half an inch taller than me, but I have bigger shoulders, which makes me feel better about it. Petty? Yes. But we’re brothers. If we’re not petty with each other, then who can we be petty with?
“They’re pretty busy out there.” I sit in the guest chair in front of his desk. It creaks. “You know you can get better furniture in here—
“I like the crappy stuff. Keeps me motivated to stay on top of them. Look at this.” He points to a fountain. “I think it should be bigger, don’t you? Something more Bellagio, less public library. What do you think?”
It’s a trick question. If I disagree with him in any way, it’s an argument. If I agree with him, he’ll say it maybe it should be even bigger because I rolled over too easily. “What’s actually on your mind, Beau?”
“The fountain.”
“You made me come out here for a fountain?”
He smirks. “You’re too smart for me, Cormac. Always have been.”
“Skipping past the denials and going straight to flattery? That can’t be good. How expensive is the upgrade you want, Beau?”
“It’s not that expensive—
“How much?”
He pauses, looking everywhere but my eyes. Shrugging, he says, “Only another eight mm…” His mumbles are inaudible.
“Louder.”
