Page 35 of Where the Heart Is

As for Jack’s praise, Sawyer wondered what he’d think if he knew Sawyer had been harbouring more than friendly thoughts about Mila and how he’d like to spend his time with her in Ashe Ridge.

Three hours later, Sawyer had completed investigating the subdivision ruling on Mila’s property and used his influence in the industry to figure out a workaround. Once he’d done that, he contacted prospective investors he knew who were always on the lookout for a sound business venture. But after another hour, he’d exhausted all his local contacts and none of them wanted to invest in a lentil farm.‘Too risky’,‘not the right time’,‘not interested’, and‘economic downturn’were some of the reasons he’d been given.

Which left two options and neither of them appealed.

He’d tackle the first—the less palatable but easier option. As he drove along Phil Baxter’s long driveway, focused on avoiding some massive potholes, he hoped he could hide his distaste long enough to get this deal done for Mila’s sake.

The farmhouse came into view, a modest red-brick with a white verandah, and Sawyer wondered anew how Phil and Mila would’ve made their marriage work. Would they have lived here or at Hills Homestead? Would they have rented out one of the farms to make money? Would they have had kids?

He understood the practicalities of their marriage from what Mila had told him, but she was too sweet, too special, for a man like Phil not to want more from the relationship than what she might’ve been willing to give.

Thank goodness Phil had the decency to pull out of the wedding, but he was counting on the guy still wanting to expand his holdings and buy some of Mila’s land to help her out. Which is what he assumed Mila would’ve done in the first place if not for that troublesome subdivision clause. It would’ve cost her a fair bit to resolve, money she didn’t have by the sounds of it, and he was glad he could use his influence to come up with a solution.

He parked near the barn and spied Phil washing his hands at a trough. Even at a distance, the guy looked older than his forty-nine years, with baggy jeans, a faded chambray shirt, and a plaid vest.

Sawyer clamped down on his dislike as he strode towards Phil, knowing he had to play nice for this to work. If he stuffed up, Phil would tell him to piss off and he’d be down to his last option to save Mila’s farm, something he really didn’t want to do.

Rather than walk towards him when Phil caught sight of him, the smug prick thrust his hands into his pockets and waited until Sawyer reached him.

‘What are you doing here?’ A deep frown grooved Phil’s brow. Sawyer didn’t miss the slight back step, as if he thought Sawyer had come here to punch him.

‘I came to apologise,’ he said, mustering his best subservient tone. ‘I was out of line when you popped into Mila’s yesterday. Your relationship is none of my business.’

Phil gaped for a moment, before he shrugged. ‘Yeah, well, things got complicated and seeing as I called the wedding off, I thought I’d do the right thing and take the blame.’

How magnanimous of the dickhead, Sawyer thought.

‘Actually, there’s another reason I’m here,’ Sawyer said, eager to get to the point so he could leave, unwilling to spend two seconds longer than necessary in this dweeb’s presence. ‘I was wondering if you were still interested in acquiring some of her land and expanding your farm?’

Phil’s eyes narrowed slightly, assessing him, probably wondering why he was interfering, so Sawyer continued. ‘I’m a land broker and I’ve been able to get the subdivision issues sorted.’

‘You’re a land broker?’ Phil’s brows shot up and the hint of amusement in his tone made Sawyer’s fingers curl into fists. ‘Considering the way you goofed around as a kid, I never thought you’d make anything of yourself.’

Sawyer mentally counted to five so his fists wouldn’t connect with Phil’s jaw. ‘Many of us change over the years.’

Though in Phil’s case, he doubted it. Sawyer had a sneaking suspicion the offer of Mila’s land had only been part of the attraction in marrying her. If he refused now, it would prove what Sawyer suspected.

Phil had wanted to get into Mila’s pants and thought he’d wear her down with time once they were married.

‘So, what do you think?’

Phil rocked back on his heels, his expression contemplative. ‘Why isn’t Mila here?’

‘Because I’m her friend and I’m making enquiries on her behalf.’ And he didn’t want this sleaze anywhere near Mila if he didn’t have to be.

Besides, he knew she’d be furious he’d interfered—but he hoped that once Phil agreed and he presented her with a solution to her problems, she’d be grateful he’d intervened on her behalf.

Phil shook his head. ‘Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Even with the subdivision clause sorted, I don’t have the funds to buy the land outright. We had an arrangement worked out for the financial stuff, so our marriage would’ve been mutually beneficial.’ He grinned. ‘In all regards.’

Sawyer clamped down on a surge of fury so potent he could’ve happily taken a swing at Phil and not given a damn.

He’d been right.

The prick had been interested in Mila romantically.

‘Are you reneging because you can’t get your hands on Mila?’

Shock widened Phil’s beady eyes, but Sawyer saw the truth before the prick had a chance to deny it. ‘Mila’s a lovely woman, so of course I hoped our marriage would become real over time.What guy wouldn’t want that?’

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