Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“That’s life. Communities grow. Old businesses close, and new ones open. Some thrive, and some don’t. And did you even know Yvonne? Did you ever step foot inside this store?” Garrett’s voice rises in challenge.
“That’s not the point.”
“What is the point, then? Because, for all the people you lured out to protest, there are ten times as many in town who want to see someone investing money in Main Street. I’ve had plenty of interest in these condos and the commercial spaces.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.” I meant to say it flippantly, but it comes out sounding like a challenge.
He opens his mouth to say something but catches himself, as if thinking better of it. “You know, you’re like some sort of …” He struggles for words as he stares down at me, his eyes roaming my face. “Tiny, beautiful menace, plotting my downfall.”
“You think I’m beautiful?” My tone is patronizing, but I don’t miss the way my stupid heart skips. I heard him call me cute when I was eavesdropping on his conversation with Todd. Cute is fine, but cute is forgettable. Beautiful is harder to dismiss from a man’s thoughts, especially when I’m making his life hell.
“You know you are. And despite what you’ve convinced yourself, none of that day was an act. But now I wish I’d never stepped foot inside that store. Never met you,” he says more to himself, his focus flittering to the easel where his project design sits.
It really is a nice-looking building.
A small part of me—a minuscule part—feels guilty. Maybe he’s right, and the town does need this. Maybe my fight is a selfish one. But I’ve never been one to back down, and it’s too late now. The granny gang has made me their damn poster girl.
The song above us—if one can call it that—shifts, and the volume escalates.
“Sounds like it’s going to be a long night for you.”
“It is, so if you don’t mind …” He takes a step forward, into my personal space, his eyes locked on the door. I hold my stance for a few beats, listening to him draw breaths, chest lifting with each intake, to see what he’ll do, how he’ll respond.
Finally, his gaze falls to meet mine.
I’m excellent at reading people’s eyes, but I can’t read what’s in his. They’re cold and yet blazing.
God, he really is a magnificent creature—the symmetry in his face is astonishing. The anger and hurt over his hustling antics still burn inside me, but it’s competing with the way he makes my blood race.
He glances down at my lips, and his throat bobs with a hard swallow. “This isn’t going to end the way you want it to. Or the way I want it to, frankly.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
He takes a step back. Then another. It’s a dismissal. He wants me out of his hair.
“My sandwich is getting cold.” Spinning on my heels, I saunter out the door, as if unaffected by the way my pulse thumps.
Ned peers at me from above his glasses. “You’ve been checking that thing every two minutes. Between that and the pacing, you’re sure going to be exhausted tonight.”
I slide my phone into my back pocket and continue dusting the stoves. We haven’t had a customer walk in since eleven this morning. “I’m dying to know what happened.” The heritage commissioner was meeting with the town council at one about Todd’s building.
It’s almost three.
Ned shifts his attention back to his accounting report. “I’m sure Shirley’ll call as soon as she has news to share.”
“I have this bad feeling.” It’s lingered in my thoughts ever since my run-in with Garrett last Friday, when he promised things wouldn’t go how either of us wanted. What did he mean? Which way could it go, if not one or the other?
Between all this Polson Falls drama and Saturday’s engagement hell party, I’m a live wire.
The door chimes, drawing my attention to the bundled form.
“Shirley! I thought you were going to call.”
“That was the plan, but I was at my nail appointment. Figured I might as well stop by.” She sees Ned and her hard expression softens a fraction. “Good to see you still living life on your own terms.”
“I’m trying.” Ned chuckles.
As much as this little reunion is sweet, I’m dying for an update. “Have you heard from Michelle?”
“I did.” Shirley’s face tightens. “Those weasels found their loophole.”
The glass door to the HG temporary office flies open as I plow through. “Where is he?” I demand, not bothering with pleasantries.
Morgan is sitting at her desk with a couple. She cuts off midsentence. “Uh …”
“Garrett. Where is he?”
“Excuse me for a moment.” Rising from her seat, she smooths her hand down the sides of her black pencil skirt and approaches me slowly, as if preparing herself. “He was at a meeting with—”