Tempting the Negotiator. Zana Bell
bird’s demise.” Sass was at her most sincere. “We’ve looked into options to save it and already have several we’d like to put to you.”
“We need Jake for that. He’s the expert on the fairy tern. He’s writing a book about them.”
“Really?” It was hard to think of Action Man reading a book, let alone writing one. She really didn’t like the way the guy kept knocking her off-kilter. “Well, as he’s not here, let’s get back to the resort development.” She handed Rob another piece of paper. “You will see here we’ll be generating a lot of jobs for the community.”
And so the meeting continued for another twenty minutes, with Sass and Rob circling each other as only civilized people locked in legal combat can. By the end, each had developed a healthy respect for the other, but Rob surprised her when he pushed all the papers aside and leaned forward, hands clasped and looked into her eyes. “Sass, would you do one thing for us?”
“I’ll try,” she said, instantly wary.
“You say you’ve come to listen, not to steamroll over us. That’s a relief and we’d appreciate it if you’d take time to become acquainted with the community and Aroha Bay. Will you do that? We have so much riding on it all.”
Me, too, buddy, she thought. Me, too.
Her professional smile remained bright. “Sure, I’ll be happy to. In fact, I was going to ask, do you have any books about the area? I’d be interested to learn more about the layout of the land and even some of its history. It all helps to get a better picture.”
Rob beamed, clearly delighted by her interest. “Yeah, I’ve got a couple of excellent ones that I’d be delighted to lend you, as a matter of fact.”
“Great. I also want to meet with the—” Sass broke off as she flipped through some papers “—the Aroha Bay Organization for Resort Development, the ABORD Committee. I believe they are all for the resort.”
Rob grimaced.
“Yeah, well, I’m here to listen to all sides,” she continued, “before I make my recommendations. My report to the company will of course be confidential, because in the end the final decision rests with them. Whatever conclusions I come to, they’ll be made with due consideration and in everyone’s best interests.”
As those words slipped out, she experienced a small twinge of conscience. The bottom line was she’d been sent to get these guys to not only accept the resort, but in the end to be glad about it, thus saving her company time and money in court.
“Fair enough.” Rob’s smile had all the sincerity hers lacked. “Jake will show you around, then.”
Her smile froze. “No need. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“We wouldn’t hear of it! New Zealand is not easy to get around in without a car, and there’s no better guide than Jake. He knows the land like the back of his hand, plus he can tell you about the birds. He’s nuts about them. You guys’ll get along well, I know you will.”
She smiled again, but inwardly she cursed.
“We can begin at once,” Rob continued. “We’re taking Jake’s boys to play paintball this afternoon. It’ll be the perfect opportunity for you to get to know us in relaxed circumstances.”
“Great,” she said. “That’ll be just great.”
IN THE BEDROOM UPSTAIRS, Jake was about to hammer the nail into the wall when Moana said, “Rob told me you have to take this lawyer under your wing.”
Jake missed the nail and hit his thumb. He cursed and flicked his hand furiously. “He wants me to what?”
Moana picked up the nail and handed it to Jake, who glowered, but turned back to the job. “C’mon Jake, we’ve got to win her over. If it comes to a head-on confrontation, we’ll lose. They have far more money than we’ll ever have and will bankrupt us by playing it out over months, even years. We’ve got to be sneaky. Woo her.”
Jake snorted. “That’s highly unlikely. I’ve never encountered such a cold customer in my life.”
Three brisk raps and the nail was half driven into the wall. He really wanted to bang it all the way in.
Moana nudged him to one side, hung the picture, then stepped back to admire it, head cocked. “What’s the big deal? She seems fine to me. All you have to do is be nice. Show her the birds. They’re so cute she’ll love them. Take her swimming and surfing. If she falls in love with Aroha Bay then she’s bound to come on our side.”
Jake ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s not that simple. We’ve already got off on the wrong foot.”
“How?” Moana looked at him in surprise.
He shrugged. “It was hate at first sight. There’s no chemistry between us. Besides, I’m way too busy with the book and everything right at this moment. Get someone else to show her around.”
“Who? Rob and I are tied up with the baby. Sass is so gorgeous that Pete’ll try to flirt, while Alison’ll murder her if we leave them alone two minutes.”
“Yeah, Allie’s really committed to the terns.”
“Especially since you came on the scene…” Moana smiled as she saw his expression. “Okay, don’t believe me! Getting back to this lawyer, it’ll only be for a week. You may even grow to like each other.”
“What? Me and Miss Pain-in-the?” He laughed. “That’s never going to happen.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“OKAY, WE NEED TEAMS. Rob, you can lead one, Jake the other,” Alison said, taking charge as they all gathered around the bins of overalls and helmets at the paintball center.
What the hell she was doing here, Sass wondered, playing games with the people she’d come to fight? They’d all come out together in the van after dropping Jacob off with a babysitter, picking up the boys and then stopping for this Alison woman, who’d checked Sass out as if she were a bug from under some stone.
“I’ll take Moana,” said Jake.
“Oi, you can’t choose my wife like that,” Rob protested.
“Just have. Whatcha going to do about it?”
“Steal Sass,” Rob replied. “All Americans were born knowing how to shoot a gun, right?”
“Does a water pistol count?” she asked.
“Good enough.” He put on a Darth Vader voice. “Come over here to the dark side, my child.”
“And I’ll be on Jake’s team,” Alison said quickly, “to stop him from getting too bossy.”
“That’s not fair,” Brad pointed out. “You’re the two best shots.”
“Well, you’re the third best, so we’ll have you,” Rob said. “Besides, it’s all in the strategy. With Sass’s brain and mine, they stand no chance.”
“Yeah, yeah! Talk is cheap, brother. I’ll take Pete. You can have both twins.”
Moana was busy sorting gear. “Here, Sass, try these on for size.”
She caught the overalls Moana threw to her. They were paint-stained, damp and very grubby. She looked ruefully down at her own clothing before wriggling into them.
“You’ll need this, as well,” Jake said, handing her a helmet. His overalls were likewise grimy, but though baggy on the backside, they were taut across his shoulders. He looked like a raffish action hero.
Sass jammed the helmet down over her French roll. It felt clammy.
“Team photos,” Alison cried, squeezing in next to Jake. “You go over there, Sass, with your team.”