No Vacancy (The Aveline Series Book 2)

Chapter 29

DARCY

I was fabricatingthis newfound interest on a whim. I was pulling it from outer space and hoping that Penn didn’t call me out on it. Which was why I was surprised when he smiled, having bought the entire idea that I could have actually decided to like him so quickly. The arrogance of this man was unreal.

He responded with, “And what if I still want the restaurant? Are you still willing to go on a date with me if I think a restaurant is needed here?”

I kept my face straight, not wanting to give away any emotions, but I felt my guard going back up. I knew Penn wasn’t going to give up on the restaurant so quickly, and it reinforced my need to get him out of Aveline.

I wanted to tell him he could shove that restaurant idea where the sun don’t shine, but instead, I forced a grin and pretended to think. “Mmm...yes, but I would say there are a million other places around here that would make the perfect place for a restaurant. Just not the hardware store.”

“And if I can convince you otherwise?”

Not a chance in hell.

“Penn Murphy, if you can convince me that my dad’s hardware store is the only place for your restaurant, then I will hand him the pen when he signs it over to you.”

Penn rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Well, alright then. How long do I have?”

“For what?”

“How long do I have to try to convince you?”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re here a week waiting for your car, right?”

“Yeah. Well ten days if you want to be exact.”

Andie Anderson needed ten days. Darcy Miller only needs seven. I’ll have him abandoning his car just to get away from me. “Okay then. A week, and if I’m not convinced by then, you have to find a new place for the restaurant.” I lowered my eyes. “Either around here, or you can leave Aveline all together.”

Penn stuck out his hand as though we had just made a business deal. “Deal. And I still get that date.”

I took his hand in mine. I pulled my lips together, fighting back a smile. “Deal.”

This poor sucker had no idea I was single handedly going to sabotage him. I had no plans to let him try to win me over, and when I was finished with him, he wouldn’t be able to get out of Aveline quick enough.

Looking at him sitting on my couch with absolutely no idea what I had in store for him almost made me feel sorry for him.

Almost.