Page 28 of A Tempting Seduction

“Entry-level housing. One- and two-bedroom units, some with small yards, others configured as townhomes. We're talking about homes that working families can actually afford.”

I studied the floor plans. Nine hundred square feet for the one-bedroom units, twelve to fourteen hundred for the two-to-four-bedroom homes. Simple layouts, but well-designed with good natural light and functional kitchens.

“What kind of pricing are we looking at for these?” I asked.

Walker whistled when Renzo told us the price points.

“The goal is to give people a chance to build equity instead of throwing money away on rent.”

Walker straightened up from his makeshift seat. “Those numbers would work for a lot of folks around here. Teachers, retail workers, people just starting out.”

I felt something stir in my chest. Excitement, maybe. Or hope. “What about those?” I asked as I pointed to the smallest units.

Renzo looked at me with curiosity. “Those would be the one-bedroom townhomes. Seven to eight hundred square feet, shared walls but private entrances. Small yards in back, one parking space in front. Why?”

I glanced at Walker, then back at the blueprints. The weight of possibility settled over me.

“Wouldn't it be amazing if Blue Ash Village could be a thing of the past?”

Walker's expression shifted, understanding dawning in his eyes. “Goodness, Ford. You're right.”

“What's Blue Ash Village?” Renzo asked.

“Trailer park about four miles south of town,” Walker said. “Some people call it Blue Rear Village, if that tells you anything about the reputation.”

“It's where people end up when they don't have anywhere else to go,” I added. “The trailers are old, half of them aren't properly winterized, and the whole place floods every time we get heavy rain. It’s nothing like a real mobile home park.”

Renzo frowned. “Sounds like a health hazard.”

“It is.” Walker stood up and moved to the window, looking out at the construction site. “Don’t get us wrong, not every place was garbage. Some people really gave a blasted and tried to keep things nice. But we grew up knowing kids who lived there. Smart kids, good kids, but they were ashamed of their address. It was sad.”

“Yeah, if Nolan could have lived in one of these low-cost homes, it would have made a huge difference for him.”

Renzo's head snapped up. “Nolan O'Rourke? The one who works with Onyx Security?”

Walker and I both nodded.

“Nolan spent the first years of his life in the Village,” I said.

Renzo was quiet for a moment, studying the plans with new eyes. “These entry-level homes would give people dignity.”

“More than that,” I said. “They'd give them stability. A foundation to build on instead of just surviving. This project could really help some of the folks in Jasper Creek.”

“You know what's smart about this whole setup?” Walker said, studying the blueprints again. “Most developers would build all luxury or all mid-tier to maximize profit per unit. But having all three tiers in one development? The luxury homes subsidize the infrastructure costs, the mid-tier brings steady sales volume, and the entry-level creates a built-in workforce for the whole area.” He tapped the site plan. “Every teacher, retail worker, and service employee who buys one of these starter homes becomes invested in keeping property values up. It's not just good for the community, it's a self-sustaining business model.”

“Exactly!” Renzo rolled up the blueprints with careful precision. “Harvey mentioned that this development was about more than profit. I'm starting to understand what he meant.”

“Don't get me wrong,” I said. “We're running a business, not a charity. But there's no reason we can't do well by doing good.”

“Especially when the millwork contracts for this project will keep us busy for the next two years,” Walker added with a grin.

Renzo laughed. “I like the way you think, both of you. This is exactly the kind of project I wanted to work on when I decided to stay in Jasper Creek.”

We spent another hour going over construction timelines and material specifications. The scope of the project was impressive, but manageable if we coordinated properly. Larson Brothers Millwork would handle all the interior trim, custom cabinetry for the mid-tier and luxury homes, and built-in storage solutions for the entry-level units.

By the time we finished, the sun was starting to sink behind the ridge line, casting long shadows across the construction site.

“First beer's on me,” Walker said as we locked up the trailer.