Chapter 3 #2
“Really well.” Liv spooned food onto her plate and then lifted her glass toward her mouth, drawing his attention to her lips. “A few people asked for our business cards.” She paused to sip her iced tea, and for half a heartbeat, he contemplated replacing the glass with his mouth.
“And Irene’s daughter said she’s going to reach out about catering a high school sports banquet in November. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do it,” Liv continued, breaking whatever spell he’d been under.
After seeing her yesterday, he’d been unable to shake the feeling that something was off with her. And her frown and tone now reminded him of her comment earlier about bad news being the theme of the week.
“Why wouldn’t you be able to? Do you already have something booked for that day?” It was already May, so it was highly likely that customers had already booked events for the fall.
“We might. Lydia didn’t mention a date, and I didn’t have my calendar with me. But I’m not sure we’ll be able to cater large events much longer.”
Her response left him with more questions than answers. Based on everything she’d told him, Ocean View Catering was doing well, so why wouldn’t they be able to work on large events?
“Are you short-staffed?”
The pool of potential employees in town was limited.
In fact, he knew that some businesses only opened in the summer and employed people who liked to vacation there, so they opted to work in town for the season, or college students who would rather live and work there than return to their parents’ homes.
With a mouthful of food, Liv shook her head.
“I wish that was the reason why. Then I might be able to do something about it,” she answered once she’d swallowed.
“There’s a good chance I’ll be living at home again and preparing food in my parents’ kitchen come fall, and there is no way I can cook food for a hundred-plus people there.
” Sighing, she stabbed a piece of lobster with more force than necessary.
“We found out this week that the new owner of the building is selling it.”
“That doesn’t mean whoever buys it will force the current businesses out. Whoever bought it most recently didn’t.”
“Fredrick hasn’t been the owner for long.
His grandfather died suddenly three months ago.
Fredrick was Mr. Waldman’s only grandchild, and he left everything to him.
” Liv lifted the fork toward her mouth, but before it reached its destination, she put it down again.
“Mr. Waldman bought the building not long before Gramps opened the restaurant. Over the years, they became good friends. They had a verbal agreement that if Mr. Waldman ever decided to sell, he’d give Gramps the opportunity to buy before putting it on the market.
That way, Gramps wouldn’t have to worry about competing with other potential buyers. ”
Matt didn’t have a law degree, but he knew verbal agreements were useless.
“Fredrick won’t honor the agreement?”
“The Worm only cares about dollar signs and his appearance.”
He couldn’t contain a smile. “The Worm? Is it safe to assume that isn’t a name he uses himself?”
“No, but it fits him well.”
“Can’t your grandfather buy the building anyway?” Unless the owner had already accepted an offer, Matt saw no reason Mr. Middleton couldn’t try to purchase it.
Liv used her fork to push the food around on her plate. “We’re going to try. Dad and Gramps had an appointment at the bank today. But Rick Desmond is interested in the property.”
Much like when she referred to the meteorologist, Liv said the name as if he should know who he is. “I’ve never heard of him.”
“He’s a property developer. His company is known for purchasing properties along the coast, demolishing existing structures, and then constructing luxury hotels and condos. Last fall, it bought all the beach cottages near Sandy Cove and built an upscale boutique hotel.”
Matt hated when things like that happened. If someone tore down the building where the restaurant was located and built a hotel or condo complex, it wouldn’t only force the bookstore and the restaurant to relocate, but it would also change the entire feel of the area.
“Has he already made an offer?”
“I’m not sure. Dad and Gramps met with the Worm yesterday, and he confirmed that he plans to sell and that Rick is interested. If they’ve talked numbers, he didn’t say—not that it matters. Even with all of us as cosigners, we won’t be able to offer the Worm more than Desmond’s company.”
The building’s location was an ideal spot for a hotel or luxury condos, so he understood the property developer’s interest in it. And, unfortunately, since it was on the water, the price tag attached would be significantly higher than if the building were situated elsewhere in town.
“It’s a long shot, but if Desmond does put in an offer, I’m hoping someone will counter with a higher amount and then keep the building as is.”
Based on what she’d told him, it sounded unlikely but not impossible. “You never know. Is the building officially on the market?”
“The listing goes live Wednesday. Everyone in the building received a letter in the mail today letting us know.”
He’d heard her comment about living at home again, but for some reason, it hadn’t registered until now.
“Edith, my neighbor, knocked on my door crying when she opened hers. She’s lived in the building for fifteen years. I didn’t think to stop by yesterday and tell her.” Standing, Liv picked up her dish. “It looks like the rain has let up.”
It had been a while since the last rumble of thunder, and the heavy tapping from the rain pelting the windows had subsided.
“Where is the trash?”
“You can leave it. I’ll take care of it.” Matt gestured toward the table as he stood. “Let me walk you out.”
She didn’t speak again until they reached the front door, but she didn’t have to. While she might be standing there with him, her thoughts were a thousand miles away.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said as she tied her sneakers and then retrieved her purse.
“Isn’t that my line?” He hoped a little teasing would at least temporarily remove the frown on her face.
“Well, thanks for sharing, then.” Although not a full smile, the corners of her lips inched upward. It was better than nothing. “Are you sure you don’t mind if I use the Suburban again tomorrow?”
“It’s all yours.” Matt handed her the keys. “Bring it back whenever you have time.”
After parking in the small lot behind her building, Liv sprinted to the door.
Although not as heavy as earlier, the rain continued, and if the forecast was to be trusted, it would persist throughout the evening.
As long as she didn’t have to drive in weather similar to earlier, she didn’t care if it rained for the next several days.
She couldn’t remember the last time it had rained so hard.
On the positive side, though, the thunder and lightning tonight had been spectacular.
At the memory of the storm, an image of Matt popped into her head.
He’d always seemed like a nice person, and Owen, his ex-wife aside, had good taste in friends.
Still, she’d been blindsided when Matt offered her the use of his Suburban.
Sure, they’d technically known each other for years, but they certainly weren’t friends.
And if he didn’t stop into the restaurant whenever he came to town, she’d have zero contact with him.
Yet, when she’d explained the situation, he offered her the use of his vehicle.
She didn’t think many people would do that for someone they barely knew.
Then he’d remembered that she had another event tomorrow and unexpectedly extended his offer, solving at least one problem.
Too bad someone couldn’t help her solve the rest of them.
Before tonight, she’d discussed the situation with very few people.
She hadn’t even talked to her brother about the possibility that the building might be sold and the restaurant’s future was uncertain.
She certainly hadn’t intended to tell Matt.
To be fair, she hadn’t expected to engage in such a lengthy conversation with him either.
She’d picked up the food before coming as a way to say thank you, not to finagle a dinner date with him.
And if the weather had been safe to drive in, she would’ve turned down his offer.
Liv tossed her top into the hamper and grabbed the first T-shirt she touched. Only after pulling it on did she realize it was one she’d purchased at the last Eclipse concert she’d attended.
Like I need another reminder of him.
Matt always looked gorgeous in photos and on television, but neither did him real justice, which was something she always forgot until she came face-to-face with him.
The man was truly traffic-stopping. It was no wonder the Star Report had named him the sexiest man alive last year.
The woman he’d been photographed with recently was one lucky girl, because not only was he worthy of god status, but judging by his actions today, he was also a super-sweet guy.
Well, assuming she was his girlfriend. There hadn’t been any more photos of them together, and if she’d traveled with him to town, she hadn’t joined them tonight.
There also hadn’t been any evidence that there was a baby in the house, at least not in the portion she’d seen.
However, the house was enormous, and for all she knew, he had rooms filled with baby toys and furniture.
Although a complete waste of time, Liv replayed their time together tonight as she enjoyed her tea.
While it could’ve been an act—after all, Matt had successfully branched into Hollywood—he’d listened to her tonight.
The last few men she’d had dinner with had either nodded at whatever she said or not given her a chance to speak.
And after their dinners, Liv hadn’t thought about any of them again.
She didn’t need someone to hang on her every word, but she at least wanted the person across the table to engage in an actual conversation.
Tonight, not only had Matt listened, but he’d genuinely seemed interested.
Why couldn’t she meet someone more like him?
She’d tried Find The One, a popular dating app, for a few months last year.
Phoebe met her boyfriend through it, and Liv suspected he would be her friend’s fiancé before the end of the summer.
Unfortunately, while it had brought Phoebe’s perfect match into her life, it had only brought the opposite into hers.
Following that failed experience, Emma had pestered Liv about meeting her cousin.
Maybe pestered was putting it mildly. Whatever you wanted to call it, Liv had refused.
Emma’s cousin might be the nicest person on Earth, but he also lived ten hours away.
When she was in a relationship, she didn’t need to see the person every day, but being that far apart would make it difficult to see each other at all.
Thankfully, Emma let the matter go when she found out Finn was in a relationship.
Liv sipped her tea and forced aside thoughts of her nonexistent love life as she picked up the remote control.
Dwelling on her problems wouldn’t solve any of them tonight or ever, for that matter.
So at least for the next few hours, she’d pretend she didn’t have a care in the world and lose herself in a few episodes of her favorite new television series.
Then tomorrow, she’d make sure the food at Kay’s baby shower was so good that everyone there would want to know who’d prepared it.