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“And what’s to stop Westwood’s from wanting to do that again?” I asked, believing that was a valid question.
Wyatt let out a laugh. “With a project of this size, I’d like to think we’re going to get the expansion done right the first time. We don’t plan to spend millions of dollars every few years for something like this.”
I set my fork down and dropped my gaze to my plate. I wasn’t exactly sure what to say, given all of the things that would have had me declining to consider this weren’t even a concern.
Finally, a thought popped into my head. “What about the guests?”
“What about them?”
“Well, if you expand the park to the point you need land from us, I can only assume that parts of that expansion will have your guests in our backyard, so to speak,” I said.
Wyatt reached across the table, covered my free hand with his, and spoke in a low tone. “Rhea, we’ll have appropriate and necessary boundaries set up by means of fencing and barriers. If that wasn’t in place, and you and your family were willing to accept our offer, I would personally see to it that none of Westwood’s guests would wind up wandering onto your property.”
I nodded my understanding but remained silent as I looked away from him. I still didn’t know what to say, because Wyatt seemed to have an answer for every possible concern I had. If things were different, perhaps if the farm had just been a business and not our home, I could have given him the answer he wanted. Unfortunately for him, the farm wasn’t just a place of business. It had every Marks family memory wrapped up in it. I couldn’t let that go.
“Rhea?” Wyatt called.
I returned my attention to him. “Yeah?”
He gave my hand a squeeze. “I don’t need an answer tonight. I don’t expect one. Even if you think you already know the answer, just take some time to think about it. I can give you all the specifics of what we’re willing to offer in exchange, but it’s all negotiable. We’re not trying to get something for nothing.”
A bit of relief swept through me. I didn’t think I’d actually take the time to consider the offer in the way Wyatt probably hoped I would, but I was certainly willing to accept the time he was keen on giving me before he expected an answer.
And with the pressure off, I found I was able to relax, so I could attempt to enjoy the rest of my dinner with Wyatt.
Whether that was a good thing or not remained to be seen.
But it seemed it wouldn’t take long for me to figure it out, because no sooner did our server return with our entrees, Wyatt dove right in with the conversation. If anything, he was far more eager to switch topics from the business talk to other things.
“So, is it only dancing?” he asked.
“What?”
His features warmed as he tipped his head slightly to one side. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately, and it dawned on me the other day that there’s really only been one scenario when I’ve seen you genuinely happy. It was on your birthday, when you were out dancing. I guess I’m just curious if that’s the only thing you like to do when you’re not working.”
My eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you saying you think I’m miserable all the time?”
“Not at all. But there’s a difference between being content and being happy, don’t you think?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I think people can be happy being content. In fact, I think part of the problem in the world these days is that there’s this need to constantly seek more. Why can’t we just be happy with what we have?”
Wyatt’s lips twitched. “I wasn’t necessarily talking about material things, though. You’ll get no argument from me on that. With a family the size of mine who’s as close as we are, I’ll be the first to admit it’s the experiences we have together that make life worth living.”
And there it was again.
More confirmation that Wyatt was the perfect guy for someone like me. He placed such a strong emphasis on the importance of his family, that at the end of the day, they were what mattered most to him.
Maybe I’d been conflicted for weeks now, feeling the worst today about this situation with Wyatt, but it was clear I needed to loosen up. If I was honest when I told him I realized he wasn’t anything like I’d initially judged him to be, I needed to stop treating him that way.
Wyatt was a good guy. Maybe there wouldn’t ever be the chance for something romantic, but perhaps we could be friends. Could that be the way to salvage something here?
Believing it was better to do that instead of cutting him off entirely, I relaxed my shoulders, unfurrowed my brows, and sent an apologetic look his way. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
God, what was wrong with me? He was such a decent guy, he wouldn’t even think it was necessary for me to apologize for everything.
“I think I’m still trying to figure out how to not be so defensive around you,” I explained. “My stubbornness makes that a bit difficult.”
