Page 117 of Caught in the Axe
Owen visibly startled. “Sorry?”
How was that possible? We were already in negotiation with another buyer.
“Yes,” she said. “Canadians. Big money backing. Some former Wall Street types. Anyway, they want to acquire Hebert Timber. All of it.”
“We already have a buyer.” He wiped at his face, frowning.
“But nothing is final. And this is not an offer you want to ignore. It’s big.”
Owen looked at me, as if needing reassurance, so I gave him a thumbs-up. I knew nothing of the legalities, but a big offer could change things for the Heberts.
“How big?” he asked.
As she gave him the number, the phone fell from his hand and clattered to the floor.
Holy shit. As silently as I could, I jumped up and down, clasping my hands at my chest. That was more than double the first offer.
With shaky hands, Owen recovered the phone, plugged it in again, and sucked in a deep breath, his chest rising, then falling again.
“Owen? What’s happening?”
“Sorry, Sara. I dropped my phone. Did you say what I think you said?”
“Yes, I did. This is real money. More than you’re worth, frankly, but we’ll take it. And it gets better. They intend to continue to operate the company locally and will keep on any existing employees.”
I let out a sigh of relief. If Hebert Timber could continue to operate in some capacity, it would save many jobs in Lovewell, and all the land and generations of work wouldn’t go to waste.
“There are conditions,” Sara warned.
“I don’t care what they are.” Owen had composed himself and was using his bossy professional voice. The one I loved far more than I should. “We’ll make it work. This is better than we could have hoped for.”
“Good. I’ll have the full written offer sent over as soon as I receive it.”
He hung up, took three giant steps toward me, and hauled me off my feet. My anger was forgotten as he spun me around and kissed me, his smile so big I thought it might crack his face.
“You did it,” I said softly.
“No, Lila, we did it.” He set me on my feet and held on to my arms to steady me. “I owe you so much.” His shoulders relaxed as the news set in.
Everything we’d worked for was finally coming together. He held me close, and I clung to him in return, savoring the moment. We needed to talk. About a lot of things, apparently, but I couldn’t bring myself to spoil the mood.
“Shit, there’s so much work to do.” He pulled back. “I gotta review everything, talk it over with Gus, check in on the trucks.” He was reaching for his phone again, but it was already after nine.
I put my finger to his lips. “Tomorrow,” I said. “Just enjoy this moment.”
He sagged against me and kissed me again. “There’s no one I’d rather enjoy it with.”
I should speak up. Continue our conversation and establish some boundaries. But his kisses felt so good that I let it slide.
“Then take me to bed so we can really enjoy ourselves.”
Chapter 39
Owen
I’d barely slept. My mind was buzzing, and I needed to get to work. So I left Lila asleep in my bed at the cabin and headed out early.
It was about an hour and a half drive up through the woods, but this was news I needed to deliver face-to-face. The sat phone wasn’t going to cut it.
