Chapter 6
I step into the Clover Park Chamber of Commerce meeting and notice two things at once—Mom gesturing for me to take the seat next to her, and Cal sitting across from her.
He seems relaxed and comfortable at what must be his first meeting.
Proceed carefully. I can’t let on that Cal and I had a small fling.
That I can’t stop thinking about.
I smile and greet everyone, but most of them don’t even notice because they’re already arguing about the spring fair, and the meeting hasn’t even officially started yet.
There’s Rachel and Shane O’Hare, who own the book store, café, and ice-cream place in town; Barry Furnukle, the fro-yo shop owner; Tino Garcia, the pizzeria owner; Fran Wilson, the toy store owner; and Armand, the beauty salon owner.
Armand is his last name, and he won’t share his first name, so don’t ask.
I bet it’s something like Lionel or George and it doesn’t go with his cool salon vibe.
Rowan and Cooper aren’t here like Mom said they’d be. I feel duped.
Cal’s gaze collides with mine, a hint of a smile playing over his lips. My heart thumps harder. He stands, walking over to the side table for coffee.
I drop into the seat next to Mom and whisper, “Where’s Cooper and Rowan?”
“Coop had to take a shift at Happy Endings, and Rowan stayed late to wrap up our year-end accounting. She’s a wizard with numbers and marketing. I don’t know how I got by without her.”
I’m a wizard with numbers and marketing. A small sting of betrayal tinges my voice. “I told you I’d take a look at your accounting. I have a degree in it.”
She pats my arm. “You’ve got your own business to take care of.”
Did not meet expectations.
I shift my attention, watching Cal as he adds creamer to his coffee, takes a sip, and then adds more.
I keep my voice low. “Why is a lawyer here?” Are you matchmaking again?
“Ignore him but be polite.”
“If he’s not worthy, why keep inviting him to stuff?”
She smiles serenely, taking a pen from her purse and a small notepad. “Because I’m helping him network.”
“But you invited him to Sunday dinner too.”
“That was also networking. Dad and I are very well connected.”
Hmm…good excuses. Possibly not matchmaking?
Cal takes his seat. Mom smiles at him, her eyes sparkling like she thinks he’s all that. This is definitely a setup.
Shane hits the gavel twice, and everyone settles down.
Despite his age, sixties, his hair is still red with only a tinge of gray on the sides.
“Last year’s races and events brought in a nice boost to business.
This year we want to draw in people not just locally but across the entire state.
To do that, I propose we give the fair a name that has something to do with the state of Connecticut. ”
“Bigger than Clover Park,” Mom says, “but centered in Clover Park. Great idea!”
Shane inclines his head.
“Well, it is the nutmeg state,” I say. “How about a Nutmeg Festival?”
“Good thought, but another town’s already doing that,” Shane says.
“How about Nutmeg Pie Festival?” Barry asks.
Let’s just say Barry often has out-there ideas.
His fro-yo shop is called The Dancing Cow, and he’s been known to put on a cow costume and dance for customers.
I used to feel bad for his daughter, Violet, as a kid—at least my parents had the decency to dance in normal clothes—but now that she’s grown up, she joins him sometimes.
“Is that a thing?” Rachel asks. “Nutmeg pie?”
“Can you even eat nutmeg pie?” Mom asks. “Doesn’t nutmeg kill you in large quantities?”
Barry points at Mom. “You’re thinking of almonds. Cyanide.”
Mom’s eyes widen. “That can’t be. I eat almonds all the time.”
Barry pulls out his phone. “Fact check!”
“Later for the fact check,” Shane says.
Barry puts his phone down. “The state bird of Connecticut is the American robin.” He’s big into birds. He even goes on vacations specifically to bird-watch. “Our spring fair could be an American robin festival. That would bring in bird-watchers from all over the East Coast.”
“The problem with a bird festival is…” I trail off, sensing Cal’s intense stare.
Actually it’s more a smoldering look, like he’s remembering me in the bedroom.
I discreetly pull my blouse away from my overheated skin, but it’s no use.
My body goes into a full meltdown of sexy memories with a tingling that has no right to be there in present company.
“You feeling okay, Mackenzie?” Cal asks in a deep voice like when he spoke in my ear in bed, coaxing more and more pleasure from me.
“This was a bad idea,” I say much louder than I mean to. I glance at Mom, who gives me a blank stare. Oh, she’s good. Trying to cover up her delight that I’m this affected by the man she put in my path.
Not today, Mom!
I stand. “I need some fresh air.”
“But everyone loves birds,” Barry says as I’m walking out. “Violet built this cool bird-watching app.”
I walk out of town hall and continue briskly down the street. I forgot my coat, but the cool night air feels good after the hot confines of the meeting room. Way too many people in that space. I’m a block away when a familiar voice calls, “Hold up!”
Temptation follows me.
I turn to find Cal approaching, holding my coat and purse. “You forgot these.”
“I was coming back.”
“Were you?” He helps me put my coat on, which is completely unnecessary, but also weirdly nice.
I face him, determined to power through this little public encounter without giving away my longing, no, my lust for him.
He stands there, searching my expression.
I slide my hair out from under the collar of my coat. “What?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just needed some fresh air. It was stifling in there.”
“I was comfortable.”
“Okay, well, I’ll see you in there.”
“I’ll walk back with you.”
It would probably look bad if I sprint ahead of him. We start the walk back.
“You want to get a drink sometime?” he asks.
I swallow hard. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Because.” Because you’re on the rebound. Because I can’t bear the heartbreak. Because Mom is secretly trying to manage my love life. I’m almost sure of it.
“Because why?”
I stop and look at him in the moonlight—his sincere eyes, the familiar bearded line of his jaw, the soft tumble of hair. It’s hard to remember why any of the rules matter. “This was supposed to be a onetime thing.”
“It was a six-time thing. Well, I guess it depends what you mean by thing. Technically—”
“Let’s just go.”
“I miss your face.”
I stare at him blankly. “You miss my face?”
He gestures around my face, close but not touching. “Like the curve of your cheek when you smile, the way your eyes sort of light up, the way your lips part when you’re surprised, like now.”
“Cal, as poetic as that is, I think you’ve mistaken me for a romantic. I’m not. That’s why rules and boundaries work for me. Flowers and nice words not so much.”
He leans close, bringing a hot rush of desire that nearly makes me grab him. “Is that so?”
“Yes and…” My voice isn’t entirely steady. “We had our fun. That part’s over.”
He dips his head to speak in a gravelly voice near my ear. “The fun part’s just beginning.”
A hot shiver races down my spine. “Cal.”
He shifts, his warm breath a caress on my lips. “Kiss me and tell me you feel nothing.”
I grip his coat lapel, not sure if I’m going to shove him away or pull him closer.
He stares at my mouth. My stomach dips, all of my lady parts zinging to life. I know how good this would feel.
I close the distance with a soft kiss to prove him wrong. His hand tangles in my hair, drawing me close as his mouth slants over mine, claiming me. My fingers clutch at his coat, my body swaying close, needing more. Oh God, I missed this.
A siren goes off in the distance, bringing me back to reality. I drop my hold on him, taking a moment to catch my breath. “I felt nothing.”
“Right. Same.”
“We should get back to the meeting.” Just as soon as my legs stop wobbling.
He tips my chin up. “Bye, Mackenzie.” Is that longing in his tone?
I start walking in the opposite direction, telling myself I’m doing the right thing. I walk around the block once, twice. I can’t walk in with him.
When I get back to the meeting, everyone’s packing up. I stand there in a daze. Cal’s not here. Is that it? Goodbye forever?
Mom gives me a look of concern. “Are you okay?”
I blink. “Fine. What did we decide on?”
“We’re using the state flower as a theme, so now it’s the Mountain Laurel Festival hosted by Clover Park.
We’re having a bulb and flowers sale. I expect we’ll draw gardeners from all over the state.
They asked if you could contact some master gardeners and the agricultural extension. I’ll email you the list.”
“Great,” I say, turning to go.
“Spring’s the time for new beginnings,” she says.
Cal’s deep voice echoes in my mind. The fun part’s just beginning.
I force a neutral expression, though I’m dying to find Cal and ask him exactly what he meant by that. Friends with benefits or something more? I was too rattled in the moment to even consider what he was proposing. I turn back and wave bye to Mom.
“And spring’s right around the corner,” Mom chirps, giving me a sweet smile.
She’s definitely acting weird.
Cal
I’m not sure why I’m at Happy Endings bar for Ally’s bon voyage party.
Ally is Hailey’s former business partner, and she’s about to cruise around the world with her husband.
I mean, sure, Hailey invited me for networking reasons, but I’ve already been to a couple of these networking events, and I do have a small client list from Gabe.
It’s a whole lot of Mackenzie’s family and honorary family here.