Page 47 of Where the Heart Is

A tiny furrow appeared between his brows. ‘Sawyer’s back in town?’

‘Yeah. My brother couldn’t make the wedding, so Sawyer came instead.’

‘Uh-huh,’ Freddie mumbled, and she knew why.

Freddie had been a year behind her at school and even then, he hadn’t hidden his crush well. He’d asked her out once and she’d said no, using Sawyer as an excuse—that they were almost dating and Sawyer wouldn’t like it—and she’d caught him casting Sawyer death glares at school afterwards.

After Sawyer left town, Freddie had joked she was free to date him, but she’d shut him down again and he hadn’t pushed the issue since. But many years had passed, and it looked like Freddie still wasn’t Sawyer’s biggest fan.

‘Make sure you have Sam look over any contract,’ Freddie said, sounding like a disapproving parent.

‘Absolutely. Though I trust Sawyer. He’s a friend.’

‘Friendship and business don’t mix,’ Freddie said. ‘Get everything in writing.’

‘I will. Though I assumed selling to an investor would be easier for the accounts. Less complications than dividing assets with a spouse?’

He nodded. ‘It is. I can forward you some information on deals of this kind. And once Sam’s looked over the contract, I’ll go over it too, check out the financial ramifications.’

‘Thanks, that’d be great.’ She handed him one of the bags. ‘Almost forgot. I got you a vanilla slice to go with that coffee.’

He smiled his thanks and took the bag. ‘You sure know the way to my heart.’

She refrained from rolling her eyes, just. ‘Email me that info and I’ll make an appointment with Sam as soon as I get the contract.’

‘That’s wise.’ He stuck his nose into the bag and inhaled. ‘These vanilla slices have to be the best in Victoria.’

‘You won’t get any arguments from me.’ Mila rattled her own bag. ‘I swear they put some secret ingredient in the custard.’

They laughed and once again Mila wondered how much easier her life would be if she could spark with a nice guy like Freddie.

‘I’ll walk you out,’ Freddie said, placing the bag on his desk but hanging onto his coffee.

She wanted to say‘No need’, but she’d said it in the past and Freddie walked her out regardless. He came across as the wisest thirty-one-year-old she knew with his old-fashioned manners, unless he reserved his chivalry for her in a never-ending attempt to impress her.

When they reached the door, Freddie placed a hand in the small of her back and she tensed. But his expression was guileless as he said, ‘Take care, Mila.’

‘You too.’

A trite response, but by Freddie’s beaming grin, he really thought she meant it.

Increasingly uncomfortable under his unwavering stare, she looked away, only to lock gazes with Sawyer, gawping at her from across the road.

CHAPTER

27

Sawyer had woken at dawn after another crap night’s sleep. It didn’t sit well with him that he’d lied to Mila but what choice did he have? If he told her the truth about who was buying her land, she’d send him packing.

So to ease his conscience, he started proceedings to acquire the land not long after he woke. Work always kept him focused. He thrived on routine, the exact opposite of the scatterbrain he’d been growing up. Back then, he couldn’t concentrate for longer than a few minutes and he’d acted out accordingly. To this day, he couldn’t believe not a single one of his teachers had picked up on why he couldn’t focus in class. Instead, they’d labelled him as the class clown and dismissed him, shifting their attention to the smart kids.

That was the kicker in his education. Hewassmart, they just hadn’t cared enough to notice.

These days, he didn’t dwell on the past. No good came of it, other than to undermine his self-esteem, which had taken a long time to build. With every land deal he brokered, he gave an imaginary finger to everyone who ever doubted him.

His biggest nemesis at school had been Mr Zavi, who taught science and maths, Sawyer’s worst subjects. Numbers blurred before his eyes most days and he couldn’t think straight when faced with convoluted problems. Rather than offering him help, Mr Zavi would torture him, picking on him to answer questions every chance he got. When Sawyer couldn’t respond that sadist would get a smug look on his face and move on to a classmate guaranteed to answer correctly, leaving Sawyer feeling lower than a grass snake.

He’d hated that prick. Who was now walking towards him, leaning heavily on a cane.

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