Read Online The Sticky Cowgirl (Lone Star Sweets, Book 2) by Lissa Matthews - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lissa Matthews
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there?”
“Yes, sir. We —”
“You’re building condominiums, right?”
“Yes, sir.” Samuel kept his response short and sweet. His visitor was no-nonsense and wasn’t interested in explanations. Sam could appreciate the need for a bullshit-less conversation. Jock was concerned for his daughter. Sam understood that too because he was as well.
“So, build around her.”
“I’m afraid that’s not how it works.”
“You’re the one in charge, right? Make it work that way then.” The gruffness was back in Jock’s tone and Samuel sympathized. He often felt that same way since meeting Samantha and having to deal with his unrelenting stepfather. Samuel knew there had to be better ways to do this kind of thing. Neither she nor Brandt were willing to budge and all it did was serve to make Samuel’s job and peace of mind more difficult.
“Mr. Dawson —”
“Now, I’m just a simple cowboy tryin’ to understand, but you got an architect, don’t ya? A builder and an engineer too, right?” Samuel nodded “Well, there you go. Alter your building plans to include her storefront. She’s got established customers. She’s successful where she is.”
The man made it sound easy. “Forgive me, sir, but I get the feeling that you’re not as simple as you’d like me to believe.” Samuel wanted nothing more than to give both father and daughter what they wanted, but it was out of his control and out of his hands. “I can appreciate what you’re trying to do, but Turner Enterprises isn't going to alter their plans. Your daughter has been offered more than her little business is worth. Everyone else has sold. She's the sole holdout.”
Jock scoffed. “Of course she's holding out. Dawson’s don’t give in to bullying.”
Samuel wanted to smile, but held it in check. Though, just barely. “We can invoke eminent domain, Mr. Dawson. I don’t want to go down that road. It doesn’t make any of us look good and it’s not the way I do business, but it’s one of the only options she’s leaving me.”
Jock sighed and if it were possible, his eyes hardened a little more than they had been when he first walked in. “Son, I don’t know you, but I’ve seen your kind a million times. We don’t need new overpriced, shoebox-sized apartments. What we do need are lawyers who will stand up to you. Small business built this country, built this land we’re standin’ on.”
He couldn’t argue with Jock so it was time to try a different tactic. “There’s no reason her business can’t flourish in another part of the downtown area. She could take the money we’ve offered to open another location. If eminent domain is brought into it, we aren’t obligated to give her a dime.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to help her at the same time you’re trying to hurt her, Mr. Stevenson. There’s no reason you can’t leave her alone. There’s no reason you and your bosses can’t find another place to put up your empty towers. You keep harassing her and she’ll dig her heels in even more. She built up that little sweet shop of hers all on her own and if you force her out, you’ll be lucky if she doesn’t chain herself to the front doors every chance she gets. She loves that building. She has memories there.”
“I understand your concern, but perhaps you should be having this conversation with her.”
“Already have. Wouldn’t be here otherwise. I know my daughter. She’s got the stubbornness of a mule and I’m afraid she got that honestly. Now, I’m not here to cause you trouble, but we need to come to some sort of agreement.”
“Mr. Dawson, there’s no agreement to come to.”
Jock regarded him and Samuel fought the urge to squirm. He wasn’t a man who scared easily, nor did he give up, but the look from Samantha’s father freaked him the hell out. There was disappointment written in that unwavering gaze. And while Samuel had been on the receiving end of Brandt’s disappointment, it somehow
“Yes, sir. We —”
“You’re building condominiums, right?”
“Yes, sir.” Samuel kept his response short and sweet. His visitor was no-nonsense and wasn’t interested in explanations. Sam could appreciate the need for a bullshit-less conversation. Jock was concerned for his daughter. Sam understood that too because he was as well.
“So, build around her.”
“I’m afraid that’s not how it works.”
“You’re the one in charge, right? Make it work that way then.” The gruffness was back in Jock’s tone and Samuel sympathized. He often felt that same way since meeting Samantha and having to deal with his unrelenting stepfather. Samuel knew there had to be better ways to do this kind of thing. Neither she nor Brandt were willing to budge and all it did was serve to make Samuel’s job and peace of mind more difficult.
“Mr. Dawson —”
“Now, I’m just a simple cowboy tryin’ to understand, but you got an architect, don’t ya? A builder and an engineer too, right?” Samuel nodded “Well, there you go. Alter your building plans to include her storefront. She’s got established customers. She’s successful where she is.”
The man made it sound easy. “Forgive me, sir, but I get the feeling that you’re not as simple as you’d like me to believe.” Samuel wanted nothing more than to give both father and daughter what they wanted, but it was out of his control and out of his hands. “I can appreciate what you’re trying to do, but Turner Enterprises isn't going to alter their plans. Your daughter has been offered more than her little business is worth. Everyone else has sold. She's the sole holdout.”
Jock scoffed. “Of course she's holding out. Dawson’s don’t give in to bullying.”
Samuel wanted to smile, but held it in check. Though, just barely. “We can invoke eminent domain, Mr. Dawson. I don’t want to go down that road. It doesn’t make any of us look good and it’s not the way I do business, but it’s one of the only options she’s leaving me.”
Jock sighed and if it were possible, his eyes hardened a little more than they had been when he first walked in. “Son, I don’t know you, but I’ve seen your kind a million times. We don’t need new overpriced, shoebox-sized apartments. What we do need are lawyers who will stand up to you. Small business built this country, built this land we’re standin’ on.”
He couldn’t argue with Jock so it was time to try a different tactic. “There’s no reason her business can’t flourish in another part of the downtown area. She could take the money we’ve offered to open another location. If eminent domain is brought into it, we aren’t obligated to give her a dime.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to help her at the same time you’re trying to hurt her, Mr. Stevenson. There’s no reason you can’t leave her alone. There’s no reason you and your bosses can’t find another place to put up your empty towers. You keep harassing her and she’ll dig her heels in even more. She built up that little sweet shop of hers all on her own and if you force her out, you’ll be lucky if she doesn’t chain herself to the front doors every chance she gets. She loves that building. She has memories there.”
“I understand your concern, but perhaps you should be having this conversation with her.”
“Already have. Wouldn’t be here otherwise. I know my daughter. She’s got the stubbornness of a mule and I’m afraid she got that honestly. Now, I’m not here to cause you trouble, but we need to come to some sort of agreement.”
“Mr. Dawson, there’s no agreement to come to.”
Jock regarded him and Samuel fought the urge to squirm. He wasn’t a man who scared easily, nor did he give up, but the look from Samantha’s father freaked him the hell out. There was disappointment written in that unwavering gaze. And while Samuel had been on the receiving end of Brandt’s disappointment, it somehow
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