5. Tegan #2
The way that he cast his glance at the table and scratched the back of his neck told me that he was uncomfortable with the question. When he answered it, he surprised me again. “Cherokee Falls.”
I lifted an eyebrow and slowly lowered my cup. “You come from the wealthiest area of Cherokee Springs, and you’re judging me?”
He turned his lips down. “Not judging, beautiful. It was pure curiosity that had me asking. Just wanted to make sure that your motives were pure and that you weren’t in for a disappointing experience.
My parents were something out of a fiction romance.
He was the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and she was the rich, private school girl, destined to marry someone from her privileged world. ”
“I’m guessing your grandparents weren’t happy when she chose your father.”
“Not at first, but in time, he won them over. They watched him work hard to put himself through college and medical school. No matter how many dates she was forced to go on with other men, he never gave up. When he finally graduated from medical school and earned his MD, he approached my maternal grandfather and had a long conversation with him. My grandfather called my mother and grandmother to the living room after the conversation, and my father proposed, and my mother accepted.”
I laughed. “That is a beautiful love story.”
“I’d like to think so. My mama loves my daddy, and my daddy will burn the world down behind my mama. I’d hate to think of how it would have been had my grandparents remained against them.”
“They probably wouldn’t have been together,” I replied confidently.
“What makes you say that?”
I giggled. “Because if he’s out there burning the world down behind her, he’s either going to prison, or he’s going to be killed. Either way, he would have had a target on his back, and there’s no guarantee their relationship would have survived that.”
I sat back in my seat, crossed my leg over the other one, and bounced it rhythmically as I bobbed my head to the Lofi music playing through the speakers. The crowd started thinning out, and I glanced at my watch.
“You have to be somewhere else right now?”
“No. You’ve got my time and attention for a little while longer.”
His eyes sparkled, and he regarded me from a low-lashed gaze. “I’m trying to occupy all of your time in the future.”
“Oh, is that the type of time you’re on?” I asked, glad that he clarified his intention toward me.
“That’s exactly the type of time I’m on.”
“Mm. So much for being a member of the welcoming committee.”
“Definitely welcoming you to the community, beautiful.”
I smirked. “And you’ve got other things on your mind.”
“I do. What about you? You have someone out there threatening to burn the world down behind you?”
My smirk dropped. “Not hardly.”
“You should have someone out there doing exactly that and more.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m not on that type of time.” I bobbed my head to the music again.
“You like this music?”
“I do.”
“Good to know. Any other type of music you like other than Lofi?”
“Jazz and R and B. What about you?”
“Hip-hop, soul, funk, and blues. I have an eclectic mix always playing in my shop.”
“I like that. I planned to play soul and R and B Lofi all the time. Give it that coffeehouse vibe.”
“How are things coming along for you with your launch party?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Now that you’ve did whatever you did to Evan, things have been flowing smoothly. Now, back to the purpose of this meeting, . . . about that assessment . . .”
He chuckled. “You may have been right.”
“About which one? The threat or the bribe?”
“Does it matter?” He leaned across the table, and his presence wrapped me up in a warm security blanket.
“I just don’t want it to come back and bite me.”
“Trust me, it won’t. You’re completely safe.”
“Why did you do whatever you did?”
“Told you, we need some good people who are vested in this community. Everyone is looking forward to your bakery. When Mrs. Vanessa from VC’s Winery and Book Boutique came by to welcome you the first day you popped up, she made it her business to let everyone know that you were good people.”
“And everyone buys into whatever Mrs. Vanessa says?”
“They do. She’s good people, and she’s like the mother of the rest of the business owners around here. She’s down-to-earth, youthful, fun, warm, and nurturing, but she’s full of wisdom and positive energy.”
“Yeah, I got that vibe from her when I met her.”
“Right. So, we definitely want people like you around.”
“I’m glad to know that I’m welcome, though she’s the only one who dropped by.”
“That’s because everyone has been so busy, but we all have plans to come through to support you on your launch party day.”
I had sent out invitations to plenty of people in the community, including every business owner on the street, for my launch party.
I glanced at my watch again. “I have some people coming. I need to get back to the shop.”
“That’s cool. I hope to see you again soon—before your launch party,” Harlem declared.
“As long as you don’t threaten anyone else, we should be good,” I teased as we walked to the door.
He paused on the sidewalk before I crossed the street. “Maybe you need someone to burn the world down behind you too.”
I felt good as hell as I sashayed across the street. Yeah, maybe I did need someone who would burn the world down behind me. I would like that a lot.