Page 111 of Hometown Girl

“I was told you had interest in investing in Fairwind Farm.” Beth crossed her legs and leaned on the arm of her chair.

Davis chuckled. “Is that what you heard?”

She frowned. “Have I been misinformed?”

Drew waited for her cheeks to heat red like they usually did when she was embarrassed, but she maintained complete composure.

“Yes. I’m in real estate, Miss Whitaker. I know a lemon when I see it. I respect your sense of nostalgia, but surely you must see this project is doomed. What I’d hoped my assistant conveyed to your sister is that, when you both realize you’ve had too much of this, I’ll take the old place off your hands.”

Beth pressed her lips together. “I see.”

“I would’ve purchased the property myself if I’d been in town when Harold died. My lawyer was supposed to alert me of any change in the property. He didn’t. He’s no longer my lawyer.” Davis smiled.

“I understand.”

One of his eyebrows hitched up. “I’m happy to get you out of this mess, though, if you’re in over your head. I just don’t see it as a wise investment unless I have complete control.”

“From what I understand, you’ve been investing in Fairwind for years.”

Drew wasn’t sure if Davis was surprised or impressed with Beth’s straightforwardness. Drew was both.

“Unless youdidn’thire someone to maintain the orchards?” she continued.

“Walter.”

“Yes, Walter. He said you’ve been paying him regularly for twenty years. That’s a long time to invest in a property you don’t control.”

He drew in a slow breath, smile holding steady on his face. “I made Harold an offer years ago. The land backs up to my property, and there is value in those apple trees. He wouldn’t sell, but we did eventually work out a deal.”

“What kind of deal?” Beth stared at him.

“I hired Walter to handle the orchards, and we split the profits.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Call me a Good Samaritan.”

Beth folded her hands in her lap but said nothing. Drew wondered if she was remembering the rest of their conversation with Walter. According to him, Biddle wasn’t making a penny on those apples.

“Look, you seem like a smart girl.” Davis opened his portfolio, scribbled something on the pad and tore out the sheet of paper. He folded it and pushed it across the desk. “My offer.”

Beth glanced at the paper but didn’t pick it up.

“You won’t get a better one.”

“Why is that farm worth anything to you? You have a whole estate here. Don’t tell me you need more land.”

Davis shrugged. “I have my reasons. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other business to attend to.” He nodded toward the folded piece of yellow paper. “Be sure to take that with you.”

After the door closed behind him, Beth snatched the paper off the desk, shoved it in her purse without looking at it and stomped out the door.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The nerve of that guy.

Beth stormed out of Davis Biddle’s ostentatious mansion—which had no business in Willow Grove at all—and drove in silence back to the farm.

This man, this cunning businessman, had a reputation of brilliance. Why then would he want to buy Fairwind but not invest in it, especially when, as she saw it, he’d already invested so much in the upkeep of the orchards all these years? It didn’t make sense.

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