CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Izzy escorted them into the large building that April had seen but not ever been into. The council building was tucked away behind the most popular row of shops along Main Street, diagonally opposite the old church.
It smelled familiar in the way most offices did, like paper and dust and a heavy fake-floral diffuser. April had promised Iz that she’d be polite but firm, but the ball of anger was still burning in her chest and she had to fight to keep it in check.
Izzy knocked on a door painted a drab gray and, when a voice called “Enter”, led them inside. “Mayor Walston. This is Luke Pointer and April Jones; they’re here about the dispute in upper Main Street.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you, Isobel.” He shook Luke’s hand and reached for April’s, pumping it firmly before murmuring, “I was very sorry to hear about your father.” Now used to the condolences being dropped on her left, right, and center, April just nodded and thanked him. “What seems to be the problem?”
Luke opened his mouth but April cut him off with a triumphant look.
She always had beaten him in Debate. “Sir, the destruction of the historic buildings on upper Main Street is a travesty. I myself have almost finished renovations on my late father’s bar, which I’m remodeling as a flower store.
This costly development project not only damages my business, thanks to the disruption, but also dissuades new businesses from taking the leap that I have when they see how local entrepreneurs like myself are experiencing difficulties at every turn, approved by your council.
” April took a breath, allowing the mayor to absorb what she’d said so far, hope filling her when he didn’t immediately shoot her down but instead steepled his hands and looked at her over the top of his fingers as if to say, Carry on.
“Magnolia Springs thrives on small businesses: we shop local, eat local, and when our neighbors succeed we all feel the result of those successes. Allowing these works to continue is in direct opposition to the community we’ve founded and would be detrimental to the hopes of future businessmen and women alike. ”
Izzy’s mouth was open and April tried not to appear too smug. She used to clean up at Debate in high school; it was good to know she still had it.
Mayor Walston’s dark eyes assessed her. “I don’t disagree with you, young lady.
However, it’s more than time that upper Main Street was revitalized.
The vast majority of shops and businesses along there are vacant and derelict.
This must be remedied—not only for the sake of the town, but for me to deliver on the promise I made my constituents when I was re-elected last year.
” The deep timbre of his voice was matter-of-fact, but the hand that stroked over the smooth mahogany skin of his chin said he was expecting a response.
April looked to Izzy, who gave her a half-shrug.
“Right. But I don’t think knocking down buildings that are part of what makes our town special is the way to do that.
Those are quick but impermanent fixes that won’t create lasting change.
There must be tens, if not hundreds of people who’ve submitted business proposals for Main Street over the last few years, but who haven’t been able to secure council support?
” Walston opened his mouth as if he was about to cut April short, so she rushed on before he could stop her, “What if we found a way to work with those people? That way, the buildings can be repurposed as is and it’s a win all around. ”
Luke had been silent until that point, but at this he raised a brow. “How would you propose doing that?”
Walston’s gaze hardened, and she cast around wildly for a retort.
“The town loves a community day. Like, the Halloween Orchard Fest and the Christmas market, right? Why not introduce a spring festival? The Spring Flower Festival,” she said eagerly, falling in love with this plan even as it came to her on the fly.
“Encourage the existing local businesses to decorate their stores with springtime displays for a week and the town can vote on their favorite. Then whoever wins the vote can choose one business proposal submitted to the council to receive a start-up grant and … a free design consultation with Ethan Blake.”
Luke, Walston, and Izzy were all blinking at her and she wondered if the idea had sounded better in her head. But then the mayor clapped his hands together once and stood. “I like it.”
A smile broke across her face as relief swam to the surface.
“But—” Crap. “The deal with the developers has already been agreed.”
Her stomach dropped. “Oh.”
“What if—and of course I’m not saying there is; obviously, I have a duty to my client,” Luke began and she jerked her head up to stare at him as he looked steadily at the mayor. “What if the buildings or the land were protected?”
What did he know? He’d been far too quiet in this meeting, and that wasn’t like Luke at all. He’d given her a run for her money in Debate, and yet he’d barely said a word to the mayor—and while she’d have loved to think it was because of her natural prowess, she suspected he had an ulterior motive.
The mayor considered Luke, curiosity lighting his eyes. “Mr. Pointer, what’s the latest you could begin demolition to meet the contractually agreed completion date?”
Luke seemed to have the answer waiting. “We could delay until next Monday at the latest to still meet our deal terms.”
“Very well. If you can find something that negates the sale by the end of the day on Friday, then construction will be halted and the Spring Flower Festival will be considered.” He looked between them, bemused. “That’s three days—I suggest you don’t waste a moment of it.”
Three days? If they couldn’t find something to stop the redevelopment, her grand opening would be totally marred by construction beginning right next door. April swallowed hard, fighting to stay calm.
Don’t sell yourself short.
She could do this.
“Of course. Thank you, sir.”
What the hell had just happened? And why had it seemed like Luke was helping her?
Izzy walked them out of the building again, a large grin on her face. “You did so good! Where did you come up with that idea? A flower festival? That’ll be so good for the store!”
In all honesty, April hadn’t even been thinking about the store—but Izzy was right, it would be a great opportunity if the festival happened after she’d opened. If they could reverse the sale of the buildings, that was.
Izzy left them by the entrance to the council building, saying she had a few things she needed to check on and rushing back inside.
As they exited, the rush of cold spring air pulled April out of her thoughts.
She grabbed Luke’s arm, pulling him to a stop next to her, ignoring the firm muscle she felt shifting underneath his suit.
“What was that in there?” she demanded.
Luke kept his face a blank mask. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, and I’m the damn tooth fairy, Pointer.”
“Look, April, you’ve got three days to try and sort this,” he said, his voice tight. “Do you really want to waste your time interrogating me instead of looking into the land status?”
OK, so he definitely knew something. But why wasn’t he letting on?
As April studied his face, she felt her anger receding slightly. What was it he’d said? That he had a duty to his client? So maybe he physically couldn’t say more to her. Maybe he was giving her as much as he could to give her a chance.
Luke stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
“Jones, if there’s anyone who can figure this out, it’s you.
” There was a gravelly note to his voice, something deep and sincere that she hadn’t heard directed at her before.
“You’re the smartest person I know, and tenacious to a fault.
Three days might not seem like much, but tight deadlines never stopped you from beating me at high school …
why start now?” He reached up, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear, and the fleeting contact sent desire skittering down her spine.
“And I’m sorry. I should have given you a heads up about the construction starting, that was low of me. You just got in my head a bit, after …”
His voice trailed off and she swallowed thickly. She knew from the strained look in his eyes that he was remembering the last time they’d been alone, just as she was.
“Thank you,” she murmured and reached up onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek.
He blushed, the pink flush making her grin as he shrugged. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Sure,” she said and watched him walk away. As he disappeared round the corner, she drew a shaky breath. She could deal with whatever that was later. For now, she had a business deal to ruin.
The group was huddled in her mom’s living room, every pair of eyes watching April for guidance. It was Tuesday evening, the earliest everyone had been able to gather since the events of that morning.
“I don’t know where to start,” April confessed.
Izzy wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “You told me that you thought Luke was trying to help. That he pointed us in the right direction. So let’s start there.”