Bidding On The Bachelor. Kerri Carpenter

message was exactly what she needed to hear.

      Carissa still might not know the how or the why. But she finally knew the where.

      Bayside, Virginia, here I come.

      * * *

      Here I come, Jasper thought.

      After months of proposals, number-crunching, presentations, research, wining and dining, not to mention good old-fashioned face-to-face meetings, Jasper was going in for the kill. He needed Arthur Morris to agree to his terms. Since Jasper had taken over Dumont Incorporated, he’d done well. Numbers were up in all divisions, but a deal like this would really go far in persuading the board that he was the right man for the job.

      He rolled his shoulders. The fact that he still had to prove his worth stuck in his craw. But Jasper wasn’t one to dwell on the negative. The board wanted him to bring in more big deals. Game on.

      He’d come so far. Especially considering that he wasn’t supposed to be here at all. His older brother, Cam, should have been heading up the family company, but Cam had decided to buck tradition and started a construction company instead. That opened the door for Dumont child Numero Dos and Jasper had barged right through. He’d always wanted to head up the company. Unfortunately, most of his life he’d been under the impression that he would never get the chance.

      He thanked Cam every day for following his heart. His brother was happy, which made Jasper extremely happy. Because he was now at the helm of Dumont Incorporated and ready to impress everyone.

      “As you can see, Mr. Morris, Bayside would offer you everything you’re looking for.” As they walked around the waterfront, Jasper pointed out landmarks to Arthur Morris. “There’s a lot of tradition in this town. When it’s not the height of tourist season, there are still festivals, charity events and a lot of other town activities. We’ve recently built up the area to the west of the bay and put in a great park. They hold farmers’ markets on Sunday and an artisan and craft fair every Saturday that brings in people from all over the state.”

      He noticed Arthur working his jaw and jumped in before he could object. “At the same time, Bayside is an up-and-coming hot spot according to Virginia Magazine. Also, the Washington Post recently named the town one of Virginia’s best-kept secrets.”

      Jasper fanned his hands out in front of him and made a box to highlight the site. “Putting the apartments here is a prime location, central to the town square, shopping, nightlife. Not to mention, it’s an easy jaunt to both the elementary and high school for anyone with kids.” He turned and put an arm around Arthur’s shoulders. “And then there’s this.”

      Arthur nodded. “It is one hell of a view. I’ll give you that.”

      And Jasper had timed it to make sure they got the peak sunset with its array of colors blending into the water of the bay. The docked boats were bobbing along as tourists and citizens strolled along the man-made walkway that circled a good portion of the water.

      Jasper was an expert negotiator and he knew he’d made his case. Still, after he’d learned of Arthur Morris’s love of crabs, shrimp and lobster, he added one last detail. “And the seafood is pretty out of this world, if I do say so myself.”

      Arthur turned to face him. “After the dinner we had last night, I’ll agree with that.” He patted his round belly. “Still full from it, but don’t think that will stop me from getting more before I head out of town later tonight.”

      Jasper smiled, but on the inside his emotions were having a dance party. “I thought you’d like that restaurant.” He’d also managed to arrange the best table, with the best view, and had the chef prepare a special menu just for them. That was a definite perk that came with the Dumont name.

      “Listen, kid,” Arthur began, and Jasper folded his arms in front of him, intent on the next couple of sentences. “This has been a great pitch. But honestly, it comes down to the other numbers you put together for me. After that amazing dinner, I studied every sheet cover to cover. The prices you’re offering go a long way and I think the return on investment is worth the risk.”

      Jasper nodded, reining in his excitement. He’d been working on this deal for two years and he wasn’t going to rush now.

      “So I’m saying yes,” Arthur finished after what felt like ten minutes of silence.

      “Great to hear it, sir.” Jasper shook his hand and continued to play it cool. “We’re thrilled to welcome a Morris complex to Bayside.”

      They spoke about a couple other details for the next several minutes as they walked toward Mr. Morris’s rented car. Before he could drive away, Jasper had to know one thing.

      “One last question. What made you say yes?”

      Mr. Morris nodded as if he’d been expecting this very question. “Your father met with me regularly over the years. He gave me some great pitches.”

      “And yet you never said yes.”

      “He nagged me the same way you did, that’s for sure.” His smile came fast and brief. If Jasper had blinked, he’d have missed it. “But you went the extra mile.”

      “By plying you with the best seafood on the East Coast.”

      “By showing me the town. Really showing me. You love Bayside. That came across clear as day. I feel like I know the people who live here. They’re not just numbers and stats in a spreadsheet. That made my decision easy.”

      Now it was Jasper’s turn to smile. Only he held it in. He kept his usual calm business face.

      “I have to say, though, I used to hear stories about you. Heard you were quite the little party kid back in the day. Weren’t we all as teenagers? Happy to see you’ve grown out of it.” Then he shook Jasper’s hand, got in the car and drove away.

      Only when he knew he was completely alone did Jasper let the grin out. And a fist pump for good measure.

      Today is a good day. Jasper could feel the spring in his step as he made his way toward the center of the town and The Brewside Café, the addictive coffeehouse he frequented on a daily basis. While he walked, he took in the town he’d lived in for most of his life.

      He’d always loved Bayside. He’d only left for college, business school and a couple years of working for another company to gain credentials. All that time, he’d missed the large bay with boats of varying sizes going in and out, the picturesque town square with the identical white siding and inviting blue awnings and shutters.

      He reached for his phone and quickly scrolled through some text messages before seeing Simone’s name. He grinned. Simone Graves was a feisty little redhead he’d been noticing at the gym for the last couple of months. She liked to go to Zumba classes and Jasper enjoyed seeing her shimmy around the room in her tight-fitting clothing. He’d finally asked her out, but they hadn’t set a date and time yet.

      Up for a drink tonight? he wrote to her.

      It only took a minute for her to write back.

      Wish I could. Stuck at work. This was accompanied by multiple sad emoji. But she proposed a different night to meet and Jasper accepted.

      Whistling, he continued toward The Brewside. But before he entered the coffeehouse he decided to take a moment. So he changed course and headed toward the water, Mr. Morris’s parting words ringing through his head.

      I used to hear stories about you. Heard you were quite the little party kid back in the day. Happy to see you’ve grown out of it.

      Well, he had been a lover of parties and the original good-time boy. But he’d also been just that—a boy. A kid. A teenager who’d been told from birth that his older brother would take over the family business. Sure, he’d been expected to work for Dumont Incorporated but he’d never been groomed to be in charge.

      After all, he was the “second” son, after Cam. Overlooked and undervalued at every turn. His mother had always said he was the most good-natured