Chapter 3 #2
The shades couldn’t hide the look of annoyance on his face. Just inches from the door, he spun around military style, stiffly walking away. That’s when I noticed the cane in his hand. And the limp.
“I heard we had a newcomer to town,” she added, as if no big deal. “Not just a tourist passing through.”
“Meaning?”
“Oh, yeah,” Bart chimed in, obviously enjoying partaking in our private conversation. “That’s likely Mr. Prince.”
“Who?” I threw out. “And how do you know?”
Bart snuffled. “I take care of several vacation homes in the area. I had a special last-minute request to open up their house on Stag’s Leap.”
Bekka gasped. “You mean that big chalet?”
“Yup. I don’t know anything about the family except that they got money. You should have seen the list of goodies I had to take to the house.”
I eyed Bart skeptically. “Goodies?”
“You know, expensive food, wine, and liquors. Only the best.”
Great. Another rich asshole in town. Definitely an arrogant type. I could smell it from here.
Tilly appeared as if from a magic puff of smoke. “Ask your daddy about Baptiste Prince. Stowe wasn’t always the mecca of tourism that it is today.” She’d directed the comment to Bart.
Bekka and I rolled our eyes.
The diner owner caught our exchange, offering a nasty look for such a lovely person.
“Anywho, your daddy was on the city council back then as well as being a firefighter. When the fire station burnt down, there was no money to rebuild it. That would mean a forty-five-minute drive for any firefighters to come from the closest town. Mr. Prince forked out the money for the new station, new fire trucks. New everything. He didn’t stop there.
He invested in this town hugely. Several businesses were touched by his generosity. ”
“So this is one of his sons,” Bekka purred, highly interested in the topic. Why did I have the distinct feeling her interest was all about the man’s money? Not that it was a bad thing. But I wasn’t interested. Men with money were often more trouble than they were worth.
“Stop wrinkling your nose and looking so smug, missy,” Tilly reprimanded, pointing her bony finger at me.
“You know that grant you got for your small business, the one that helped you open your doors? Well, that was all because Mr. Prince set up a fund to try and lure small businesses into the area like yours. He even bought up some old rundown commercial sites, either renovating or tearing them down and building new ones for the project. Like the building Sunlight and Sparkles resides in.”
I sat back, properly chastised. She was right in that there’d been no way of opening my doors without the grant.
She nodded out the window. “Any son of Baptiste is a friend of mine.”
Both Bekka and I returned our attention to the handsome stranger. Maybe he wasn’t the arrogant ass I believed him to be.
Soon, Mr. Prince disappeared around the corner of the building and for a brief few seconds, I kept the image of his face in my mind. I hadn’t realized I was fanning my face until I dragged myself from the window.
“What?”
Bekka giggled. “You’re having a hot flash.”
“Maybe I am getting old.” With a quick glance at my watch, I groaned. “Okay. Our late lunch has been fun, but I need to get going. I have a million errands to run today.” As soon as I yanked out my wallet, she waved her hand.
“My treat. You need to take more days off or hire more help.”
“I can’t take time off and even hiring costs precious time.
Business has been phenomenal.” What a shock my little idea about a serene location where you could soothe your soul, enjoy a glass of wine or herbal tea while reading a sexy little novel, and purchase everything from fabulous local art to suncatchers would take off.
Yes, I was eclectic, and had been told my business would never work, but even when it wasn’t officially tourist season, people came from several towns away to shop at my little store.
And all because of a grant.
“I’m thrilled for you, but you can’t work all the time. You need time to… play.” I’ll be damned if she didn’t suck on her straw again.
“You’re incorrigible. Chat later. Don’t get into any trouble.”
“Ha. And don’t forget the bridal shower tomorrow night. Zoe is counting on you.”
I’d forgotten all about the festive event I wanted no part of. “You do remember what day tomorrow is. Right?”
“Yeah, a bridal shower for one of our best friends.”
A strange, cold shiver drifted down my spine, a pulse of energy that caused fear to creep into my system. I’d refused to allow that to happen for well over a year.
Bekka’s smile faded. “Oh, shit. I didn’t put two and two together. I can make an excuse if you want. There’s no need to put yourself through a volley of horrible memories.”
Sighing, I tried to think of anything decent I could say to Zoe. She’d found one of the good ones, a firefighter with a heart of gold. In my eyes, he was a true hero whereas I doubted I’d ever be able to say that about another man in my life. “No, that’s not necessary. I’ll come.”
“It might be fun. Remember it’s at the Wildwood Bar.”
I groaned openly. “I hate that place. Who in their right mind actually rides the mechanical bull any longer? That was like from the eighties.”
She shrugged. “Hey, it’s making a comeback. We need to get Zoe drunk enough and dare her to ride it.”
At least my bestie could make me laugh. “Mmmm… Okay, that I’d like to see.” Especially since Zoe was the straight as an arrow friend where both Bekka and I were misplaced gypsies.
Or witches. Depending on the moment.
Or the curse.
Maybe meeting a handsome, mysterious stranger would alter my bleak outlook on the world.
But hot sex?
My body tingled from the thought.