“Which commissioner?”
“Janet Rodriguez. She’s new, about as green as your reporter friend.” He laughed.
“What’s her story? Why is she anti-development?”
“She’s an environmentalist.”
I groaned. They were my worst nightmare. A political environmentalist who was anti-development would create a firestorm of problems.
“Anyone else I should be concerned about?”
“Nah. If you land this deal you’ll have enough support from the voters. I can’t let Mitchell Lachlan’s son down.” He meant it as a compliment, but my skin crawled and my stomach knotted. I didn’t want any damn favors because of my last name.
“I appreciate that, Carlos.” I had to work from clenching my jaw.
The waitress appeared with the check. I snatched it before the commissioner could grab it.
“Lunch is on me,” I offered.
He wiped his face, taking extra time with his mustache. “Well, thank you.”
“Thanks for the info, Carlos. I’m glad we could meet for lunch.”
“Sure thing. I’m looking forward to your project getting started. Jobs for Padre are always a good thing in my opinion.” He slapped me on the back as we stood from the table. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you get this pushed through the council. You have my word.”
I smiled. It was exactly what I was counting on. “I’ll be in touch.” I watched as he walked out of the restaurant. I sat to wait for the waitress to pick up the bill with my credit card.
“You’re Mason Lachlan.” Sydney dropped into the commissioner’s empty chair, looking pleased. The tips of her cheekbones were flushed pink. Her eyes almost had a glimmer.
“And how did you figure that out over lunch?”
“It wasn’t that hard.” She waved her smart phone in front of me. “Lunching with the longest sitting South Padre commissioner? What did you talk about?”
“Our golf game.” I lied.
“Come on. You can’t seriously think I would believe that.” She laid the phone on the table. I noticed her long nails.
“I don’t know what you believe, but I have another meeting I need to attend.” I thanked the server for the check and signed the receipt.
“I read about you,” she spouted.
“Find something interesting?”
“Mostly just basic info.”
“Sounds boring.” I didn’t know what she had unearthed over the course of lunch. I tried to keep my eyes off her lips when she talked.
“No, not at all. You’ve accomplished so much for someone who’s twenty-eight.”
“As opposed to someone’s who’s twenty-two? Did I get that right?” I didn’t know why I kept baiting her—only I liked the way she looked when I got under her skin. It was fucking sexy as hell.
“My age is not a part of this conversation, but it’s twenty-three. You are the topic.”
“Twenty-three.” I waggled my eyebrows at her. “Hate to disappoint you, but I’ve got to run.”
“Here’s my card.” Sydney shoved a square business card into my hand as I tried to leave the table. “At least consider giving me an interview. You could get ahead of the pushback the locals are going to give you.”
“I don’t get pushback.”
“This isn’t like other places, Mr. Lachlan.” I liked how she said my name. This girl was a spitfire. She didn’t seem the least bit intimidated by who I was.
I tucked the card into my wallet. I had no intention of calling her. “It was a pleasure seeing you again, Miss Paige.”
I brushed past her.
“You’ll change your mind,” she called behind me.
If only she knew how rarely that happened.
4
Sydney
I watched Mason Lachlan walk away for the second time today. Everything about him was cool and certain. While I was turning into a puddle in the Texas heat, he looked unfazed in his crisp white shirt. I tried to ignore how he smelled when he passed by. Even his cologne was like confidence in a bottle.
My quick online search had brought up several business profile articles on the young developer. I skimmed them quickly over lunch while keeping an eye on his meeting with Commissioner Hernandez.
He was named one of the top young entrepreneurs. Economists predicted his net worth would exceed a billion dollars by the time he hit his thirtieth birthday if he continued to acquire deals at his current rate.
His company, The Lachlan Corporation, was the fastest-growing land investment company in Texas. I kicked myself for not knowing who he was. It was only another piece of evidence that I was reporting in the wrong field.