Free Animal Prints: Sweet Small Town Contemporary Romance (Michigan Moonlight Book 1) by May Williams Page B

that since the weekend, too. Your thoughts?” Tom asked
    “I’ve got three possible answers.” Ian ticked them off. “One, he’s softened in his old age and wants to play nice.”
    “Great sentiment, but you know it’s bullshit.” It was the answer they’d both like to believe, especially since their mother’s death, and the promise they’d made to her to attempt a reconciliation with their father.
    “Two, he saw that I needed the commission to join the civilian world and finish the book.”
    “Again, a heartwarming thought,” Tom commented. “But you’re not thinking like the old man yet.”
    “I’m getting there. Three, he’s using me for a reason, but what?”
    “You think Dad didn’t know you’d be dealing with a beautiful, single female? Come on. He had you target her first, not the brother and sister. Since you’re my identical twin, I’m happy to say you’re a good-looking guy. Dad’s trying to use the fact that Colette might be attracted to you.”
    “Damn him,” Ian muttered.  
    “Yep. My other question is, why does he want this particular piece of property? How much is he willing to pay for it?”
    “He authorized me to go to ten million.” His brother snorted in disbelief on the other end. “I did some research. The property’s valuable, but closer to the two or three million dollar range for development reasons.”
    “Have you seen it?” Tom asked.
    “No, I’m going on Saturday to take pictures of the farm. I told Colette I’d make a webpage for her.” Ian turned down the lane to his villa at Boyne. “You don’t have to say it. I know it’s a lame way to see the land and Colette again.” Being twins gave them the uncanny ability to think alike, which sometimes pissed him off and sometimes made everything easier.
    “Which is more important?”  
    Ian hesitated. He was telling himself he didn’t know the answer to his brother’s question, but in his gut, he did. “Would you believe I’m not sure?”  
    “No.” His brother would already understand that Ian’s desire to acquire the property and commission along with it was seriously undermined by his attraction to Colette. “Maybe I can see what’s so special about the Peterson property,” Ian suggested. “What if I can tempt Dad with similar land? You know he’s only going to build some fancy-ass gated community anyway. Cherry Ridge can’t be the only location in the Petoskey region to sell overpriced homes and condos to the well-to-do with the assurance that the rabble of the world can’t get in.”
    “I’ll guess you’ll find out. What about the siblings?”
    “Haven’t met them yet. The sister owns a café in Petoskey. Thought I might stop in there this week. Somehow I don’t think it’ll make any difference.”  
    “Older or younger sister?”
    “Older, I think.” Friday morning, he’d drive into Petoskey to eat at Hemingway’s Haunt for a late breakfast. The sister clearly had some influence on Colette or the bum conversation wouldn’t have come up.  
    “Can you believe she asked if I was a bum?”
    “You are a bum,” Tom answered quickly. “You’ve got a one bedroom apartment four states away from where you’re at. Of course, you’re a bum.”
    “Screw you,” Ian muttered. His brother wasn’t serious, but he made a point. He didn’t have a place to call home. And that mattered to Colette. Family mattered to Colette. Maybe it could work to his advantage to be acquainted with the sister…the thought of family brought him back to his own father, though.“Damn it, Tom, what made me think I could trust the old man?”
    “I don’t know. Wishful thinking, being a dumbass, expecting him to act like a father?” Tom suggested. “Turn it around on him. Explain your situation to Colette. Maybe she’ll be compassionate. Doesn’t seem like she’ll sell, but you might come out the winner in other ways. Take it from a married man: trust is necessary in relationships.”
    “And from