Chapter 18
Foot – despite its size can get lodged in the mouth
Mercy
“Are you sure about this?” I ask Uncle Mercury as I help him up the stairs at city hall. The town business meeting is tonight and my nerves have me shaking in my cowboy boots.
“Mercy Keller, are you doubting yourself?”
I grimace. “It’s a lot of money.”
“It’s my money and I’m giving it to you.”
I freeze on the steps. “No, you’re lending it to me.”
“I’m giving it to you, and my decision is final.”
I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. “You can’t unilaterally decide to give me the money to buy Basil’s business.”
“It’s my money and I’ll do with it what I want.”
Spoiler alert. Basil was right when he said Mercury’s loaded. I don’t know how much money he has, but when I asked to borrow fifty-thousand dollars he responded by telling me he’d have the cash for me in the morning. The cash. In the morning.
After I got my heart started again, I told him I didn’t need cash. We’ve been arguing about the money every second since then.
“Why would you want to give it to me? You barely know me.”
He narrows his eyes on me. “I know you, Mercy Keller.”
He begins climbing the stairs again. I hurry to help him before he falls.
“Are you doing this because you want me to stay in Winter Falls?” I ask the question I’ve been wondering ever since he offered me the money.
“You belong here,” he mutters as I open the door and usher him inside. “Now, get me some popcorn.”
“Popcorn? This is a meeting. Not a movie theater.”
He points to the back of the room where there’s a popcorn stand set up.
“This is Winter Falls,” he says as I help him into a seat.
I buy a bucket of popcorn and a couple of cokes, although most people are buying beer. The room is crowded and the atmosphere is festive. This isn’t similar to any business meeting I’ve been to before. Although, I haven’t been to many.
“We’re here,” Indigo says as she sits next to me. She isn’t alone. Virginia and Leia are with her. She leans around me to wave at Mercury. “Hi, Uncle Mercury.”
He grunts at her.
“What are you doing here?” I ask them.
“Duh.” Indigo rolls her eyes. “Supporting you. It’s what friends do.”
“But how did you know about the meeting?”
“My boss told me,” Leia says. “Which begs the question, why didn’t you tell us?”
“Everything happened really fast. Basil offered to sell me the business two days ago and now I’m here.”
“You should have messaged me,” Leia says. “I majored in business. I could have helped with your presentation.”
I gulp. I nearly forgot about the presentation.
Virginia scowls. “Way to scare her.”
Indigo pats my arm. “You’ll be fine. The town is excited about having new blood.”
“Not everyone,” Virginia mutters. “Especially not librarians who refuse to leave you alone even when they’ve ‘retired’.”
“If you kids won’t quiet down, you need to move,” Mercury grumbles.
“The meeting hasn’t started yet.”
He indicates the front of the room where a woman is standing holding a gable. She pounds it on the table. Bang! Bang! Bang!
“It is now,” Mercury says.
“I now call the Winter Falls October Business Meeting to order.”
“Who’s she?” I whisper to Indigo.
“Rain. She’s the mayor and the local jewelry store owner.”
“Our first order of business,” Rain says once everyone settles down and is quiet. “Is Basil’s tow truck company. Mercy Keller has offered to buy the business.”
“I approve!”
What the hell? Was that Gibson? I search the room and there he is. Standing in the back with the rest of the band.
“We haven’t gotten to the voting portion of the evening,” Rain says.
Gibson shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. I vote Mercy can have Basil’s business.”
I ignore the butterflies exploding in my stomach at his vote of confidence. It’s fake. He’s fulfilling our agreement to act as my boyfriend in public. Nothing more.
“But she hasn’t given her presentation yet. We need to make sure she has sufficient funds to take over the business and run it,” Rain insists.
“I’ll give her the money.”
Oh no, he didn’t. I’m not some helpless woman who needs her boyfriend to support her. I don’t care if he’s a rockstar and probably has enough money he can use the bills to wipe his ass. I’m my own independent woman.
I jump to my feet. “I don’t need your money.”
“I’m glad we bought popcorn for this,” Indigo whispers, and I glare down at her.
She smiles. “What?”
“I’ll deal with you later,” I mutter. “One crazy person at a time.”
“I’d take his money,” Sage hollers.
“Me too. Yes, sirree bob. And if he wants a lap dance for his troubles, I’m in.”
My mouth drops open at Feather’s declaration. She smiles and mouths he’s hot at me.
I know he’s hot. I wouldn’t have slept with him otherwise. But I don’t run around sleeping with every man I find attractive. There needs to be a connection as well.
And with Gibson, there is a connection. Every time I look at him, my body warms and tingles spread through me. In anticipation of another kiss. Another round of sex.
I clear my throat. I can’t believe I’m thinking about sex at the most important business meeting of my life. I must be sleep deprived. Or exhausted from two days of arguing with Uncle Mercury. Maybe my mind is on the fritz from all of the abrupt changes in my life.
“I wouldn’t strip for him. My Orion has a fit when I’m naked in front of other men.” Petal grins. “But he doesn’t have a problem if men strip for me. What do you say, Gibson?”
Feather claps. “He can strip for sexy book club.”
Gibson’s gaze meets mine. “The only person I’m stripping for is Mercy.”
Petal claps. “I knew this would be my favorite project.”
I growl. “My life is not a project.”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Uncle Mercury pounds his cane on the floor before standing. “Mercy has the money and I vouch for her.”
I steady him with a hand on his elbow. “I’ve prepared a presentation.”
“What are you going to name the business?” Rain asks.
“Wheely Great.”
“Great play on words. I approve,” Virginia says.
“Bring it to a vote,” Mercury orders and I help him to sit.
“B-b-but,” I sputter.
Indigo elbows me. “Shush. You won’t have to give the presentation if they vote now.”
“But what if the vote isn’t in my favor?”
Leia rolls her eyes. “It’ll be in your favor.”
“How do you know?”
“I have my ways,” she sings.
“All in favor?” Rain asks and I hold my breath as I wait for hands to be raised.
I scan the room. Almost every hand is in the air. The gossip gals have their hands raised. All the members of Cash the Sinners have their hands raised. Uncle Mercury has his cane in the air.
Phew. I blow out a breath. I didn’t expect the people of Winter Falls to support me.
Bang! “The motion carries.” Rain smiles at me. “Welcome to Winter Falls, Wheely Great.”
“Happy to be here.” I stand. “Thank you for your support. I won’t forget it.”
“And we won’t let you forget it when we need a tow,” someone shouts.
“Wheely Great is happy for your custom.”
I collapse into my seat. I can’t believe it. I did it. I bought a business. After what happened with Zeke, I thought it would take years for me to build another business. And, yet, here I am. Winter Falls rocks.
Don’t ask me what happens for the rest of the meeting. I’m too filled with excitement and nervous energy to pay attention. As soon as Rain announces the meeting is adjourned, I spring to my feet.
“I did it!” I squeal.
Indigo, Virginia, and Leia rush me for hugs.
“I’m excited you’re staying in town,” Virginia says.
“I never thought a small town in Colorado would be my home but here I am.”
Uncle Mercury grunts from behind me. “Ain’t nothing wrong with a small town.”
“I didn’t say there was. Here.” I offer him my arm. “Let’s get you home.”
He bats away my arm. “You stay with your friends. I’ll be fine.”
I frown. How is he getting home without me? He shouldn’t be driving a golf cart.
Gibson joins our group. “Mercy. Can we talk?”
I sigh. He wants to talk now? He couldn’t have – I don’t know – talked to me before he snuck out of the bed we shared? I haven’t heard a word from him since.
“I’m taking my uncle home.”
“I’ve got him,” Virginia says. “I’m used to dealing with stubborn old people.”
“Who you calling stubborn?” Mercury asks.
Dylan steps forward. “Watch your mouth when you speak to my Ginny.”
Mercury studies Dylan. “I approve. You may escort me home now.”
Dylan chuckles as he and Virginia help Mercury toward the exit.
“I won’t wait up for you,” Mercury shouts before leaving.
“We should get back to Isla,” Leia says and Fender grunts in agreement before they leave.
Cash tugs on Indigo’s wrist. “Come on. Time to go.”
Indigo frowns. “Why? I want to watch Mercy give Gibson an earful. What was he thinking? Offering her money. He’s supposed to be the charming one.”
Sorry Cash mouths at me before dragging Indigo away.
“But I was having fun,” she whines.
“I’ll make it up to you.”
I giggle at their antics. Having girlfriends is fun. Who knew?
“Mercy, can we talk?”
I glance around and realize Gibson and I are now alone in the room. Well, shit.