Chapter One
I’m a fan of flying in theory, but not in practice.
It’s pretty incredible how we can soar through the sky and traverse these United States in a matter of hours, but when it actually comes to following through, I’d rather drive.
There’s no way the company would’ve let me take off the three days it would take to drive all the way to Opal Canyon in my beloved car, so I’m stuck trying to pick up a rental.
“My name’s Kitty, like a cat. You know, the animal,” I say, leaning against the desk, a heartbeat away from meowing. “The rental was supposed to be for three days, a subcompact. I double-checked the information last night.”
“Sorry, ma’am, you’re still not in the system.” The rental clerk shakes her head.
“What about Katrina? Same last name.”
She clicks her mouse, her face falling into a frown. “Not that one either.”
“What’s the cheapest rental you have?” I ask, pulling out my wallet. The company credit card stares me straight in the face, begging to be used.
“All we have is a compact sport.”
“I’ll take it.” I slap the company card onto the desk.
This entire trip is the higher ups sending me to spin my wheels. There’s no way they sent me all the way here thinking I could actually woo a potential client who has vehemently refused to work with every other member of my department.
Though, on the off chance I could land this account, it would be big. They call it the kingmaker—or in my case it’d be the queenmaker. The company is looking to go national, and it’s on the brink of becoming a household name, not only in the tri-state area, but across the entire country.
The problem is, Alexander Reese—the owner of Opal Canyon Confections—is an incredible businessman and a notoriously hard sell. He’s revitalized the economy in this small town and put it on the map, quickly soaring to local legend territory and becoming a beloved figure.
“You’re all set.” The agent slides the keys across the counter.
I grab them and wrestle my rolling luggage away from the desk, walking out into the blistering sun.
The guys weren’t kidding. With the amount of humidity, the heat sticks to you and doesn’t want to let go. I’m actually looking forward to the twenty-minute drive from Karlington to Opal Canyon in the cold air conditioning.
As soon as I reach the car, my cellphone rings. Shit. I promised Beth I’d call her when I landed, which was nearly forty-five minutes ago. Knowing her, she’s been checking the flight path on her second monitor to make sure I arrived safely.
“Hey,” I say, holding my phone to my ear as I toss my luggage in the back and slide into the driver’s seat.
“Don’t you ‘hey’ me. I’ve been waiting and trying to finish up this stupid report,” Beth snaps. The sound of her furiously typing in the background tells me she’s still at work. “It’s four on a Friday and you’ve made me actually focus on my work.”
“I’m sorry on both accounts. The plane ride was uneventful, but the car rental is another story.” I tinker with the mirrors and put her on speakerphone, seating her in the little cup holder beside the steering wheel.
“I really wish Tyler didn’t bail on you at the last minute. You’d think he’d jump at the chance to have an all expense paid weekend in Opal Canyon.”
Yes, Tyler. I figured after we broke up a couple of weeks ago, the whole romantic weekend was cancelled. I even messaged my ex-girlfriend Mara, asking if she’d want to go since we’re still on good terms, but she couldn’t get time off from work on such short notice.
“I’m too far from any tourist attractions, and besides, Opal Canyon is pretty small. There isn’t much to do. I want to get this over with. Most of this weekend is going to be spent in my air-conditioned room with takeout.”
“Not so fast.” The typing in the background stops. “This is the first actual vacation you’ve had in the ten years we’ve been friends. You should have fun. Take chances.”
I roll my eyes. “Sure, I’ll go to the cute little cafe near the motel and order the matcha instead of the vanilla latte.”
“I didn’t say go absolutely wild. Say yes to a few things. Be adventurous.”
The laugh that escapes my lips catches me off guard. Pretty sure my high school graduating class voted me most likely to stay in my hometown.
I slide the keys into the ignition. The console lights up with the time: three forty-five. My appointment with Mr. Reese is at four thirty, and I have at least a twenty-minute drive ahead of me.
“Hey, I’m going to have to let you go. I promise to check in the moment I get out of the meeting. Love you.”
“Love you,” she parrots as I end the call.
Beth is right: if I’d brought Tyler or Mara along, I would be playing hostess while stressing out about this potential client.
It’s my pattern. Slowly but surely, whenever I’m in a relationship, I slide into the passenger seat of my own life.
I’ve even touched on the subject a few times with my therapist.
There’s way too much to unpack for a three-day weekend, but at the very least I can try to let my hair down a little. Hopefully, I’ll do better than white-knuckling my way through this entire meeting. Maybe I’ll even charm the pants off of Mr. Reese.
The small town of Opal Canyon isn’t too far from the city, even with the traffic, so I make it to the Opal Canyon Confections office with a couple of minutes to spare.
The building is brand new with large tinted windows and modern architecture, not quite fitting the classic small-town vibe I had imagined. Mr. Reese built this business up from his garage, leading to the most profitable popcorn brand in the region.
Directly inside is a large color photo of Alexander Reese, the legendary minotaur himself, with his arms crossed, wearing a white shirt rolled up to the elbows. His fawn-colored fur covers his entire body, and two impressive onyx horns curve out from his brow.
I grip my briefcase and approach the chimera behind the front desk, and her golden eyes flit up from the computer with a smile.
“Katrina Clare from Hodgins & Kulbert, I’m here for a four-thirty meeting.”
Her clawed finger drags across the scroll wheel, clicking several times. “Yes, here you are. It’s the office down the hall and to the right. She’s expecting you.”
She?