Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Cecelia swiped the screen on her tablet.
Once again, the town meeting they’d attempted to push had been set back.
The first one had been a disaster. Out of all the small-town projects her father had attempted, this one was shaping up to be the hardest. It was getting to the point where Cecelia had nearly suggested they cut their losses and move on to another option.
But then she’d think about the friends she’d made.
And Jason.
How he’d stopped by and watched a movie with her so they could decompress without any need for conversation.
She sighed and glanced up when her father emerged from an office nearby.
His brows were furrowed, and he glanced over to another office door that was left open.
Cecelia glanced over at the same time to see a young man emerge.
He looked to be about her age if not a few years older.
He had a trim beard, and his hair was slicked back away from his face.
The boots he wore contrasted his suit in a way that would have made the typical woman take notice.
He wasn’t unattractive, but he was nothing like the cowboy she was currently pining over.
She hadn’t heard from Jason since their unplanned movie night, and she was getting to the point where it might not be terrible to reach out to him. She wasn’t usually the type to chase after someone, especially when she knew her time was limited.
And yet all she wanted to do in her downtime was to chat with him.
The sound of her father clearing his throat drew her focus again. He wore a strange look as he glanced from her to the man who was now at a water cooler getting himself a drink. Then his features smoothed out, and he flashed her a smile.
Well, shoot.
She knew that look. Her father was about to pull out the big guns. And she had a sinking suspicion she knew exactly what that would entail. Before she could tell her dad that she wasn’t interested, he spoke up.
“That man over there,” he murmured low as he took a seat beside her on the stiff cushion.
“He’s the mayor’s son, and he sits on the council.
He’s the one who sets the meeting calendar and sends out the notices.
His colleague suggested that we may be able to grease some palms and get our meeting set up so we can have an official vote. ”
“That won’t help us if the town shows up in droves like it did last time,” Cecelia pointed out.
“No, but if a certain someone forgets to post multiple signs regarding a meeting, then not as many will show. It might be our only chance to get past the red tape.” He dragged a hand down his face and groaned as he settled against the back of his seat.
“We’ve been to some pretty backward towns, but this one takes the cake.
I’ve never seen so many rules and regulations when it comes to an outside business attempting to put a foothold somewhere. ”
“Maybe,” she hedged. “Maybe it would be better if we pick a different location.”
His sharp look would have made a lesser individual flinch, but she was all too familiar with her father’s mannerisms. “Are you suggesting we pick up and leave town? Because a group of cowboys are throwing a fit about us using a piece of land that hasn’t been in use for decades?”
“Well, no. I mean we could, but I’m sure there are other parcels that would be better suited for what we want to build. This is a small enough town with plenty of space surrounding it. If I had to guess, I’d say—”
“No. We’ve already sunk thousands into that company that comes out to map the possibilities. They’ve already calculated what it will take to get utilities out to the site, how it will affect the current animals’ habitats, and all that other nonsense you insist we need to have numbers for.”
“I only insist because of situations like the one we just had. You can’t expect people to welcome change with open arms.”
“Why not? People should be thrilled to get a first-class resort among other things. We’re doing them a service.”
She bit her tongue, knowing full well that telling him these people lived here because they loved it wouldn’t go over very well.
Her father was stubborn. He had an eye for the future.
Reginald Williams wanted to take the world by the horns and thrust it into a dispensation that gave people conveniences they never dreamed possible.
It was a nice thought in a way, but Cecelia was beginning to see how little the people of Rocky Ridge would appreciate it. Whether through their own sheer stubbornness or their insistence to let their roots dig deeper, she couldn’t tell. And what was more, she couldn’t blame them.
Cecelia wasn’t suffocated when she walked out of the lobby at her hotel. She could breathe in deeply and not be smothered by the sights, sounds, and smells of living in a big city.
“—maybe flirt with him a little.”
She was dragged to the present, startled that her father was speaking. “What?”
The look he gave her said it all. He knew she hadn’t been paying attention.
When he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, she fought the urge to defend herself.
Once again, she was disappointing him. Her father heaved another sigh then leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees before jutting his chin toward the man who had just disappeared into his office again.
“Mr. Sinclair. He’s single. He’s young. I’m sure you could appeal to him in a way that I simply can’t.
Go chat him up. Ask him to spend some time showing you around.
You know, flirt with him and see if we can soften him up in order to get this city meeting in the books so we can move forward with this blasted plan of ours. ”
Her mouth hung open.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t asked her to do similar things in the past. She’d lost count of how many times she’d flirted with the guy and claimed she was just rubbing elbows with the higher ups to get what they needed done.
But going into his office to do it this time felt wrong. Her attachment to Jason was getting in the way. No, they weren’t seeing each other. That thought was laughable. And yet this was a betrayal of sorts.
Her father gave her a little nudge. “Go on then, he’s about to leave for lunch. I’m sure you could get yourself an invitation to join him.”
Then she was on her feet and heading for the open office door. As she reached it, the office went dark, and the man himself blocked her path. His eyes flared with surprise then they drifted down her body and back to her face before he smiled at her.
It wasn’t a bad smile, but it read as predatory. For once she couldn’t get hold of her usual confidence. Thoughts of Jason flooded her mind even as she attempted to smile warmly at Mr. Sinclair.
“Ms. Williams, what can I do for you?” He flashed his pearly whites and leaned his elbow on the doorjamb. His eyes flitted to a spot behind her, probably to her father, then back to her. “I hope we’re doing everything we can to make your stay in Rocky Ridge enjoyable.”
She nodded. “Oh, absolutely. This seems like such a beautiful town. I can’t believe I’ve never been here before.”
He dragged a thumb along his lower lip. “Have you been able to see much of it?”
This was where her father wanted her to play dumb.
The conversation was already heading in the exact direction they needed it to.
Then again, maybe her father wasn’t aware of how much of the town she’d managed to see while on her own.
They kept to themselves for the most part.
Heck, for all she knew, her father was taking his time to see the town on his own.
Their paths simply hadn’t crossed as much as they might have, which was a little strange if she were honest. Mr. Sinclair fidgeted impatiently beside her.
Blinking back to the present, Cece’s smile turned embarrassed.
“Unfortunately, no. But I’d love to see what this town has to offer.
You know, the places that only the locals are aware of.
” She leaned in a little closer and prayed that he’d take the bait.
All he had to do was invite her out, and she could tell her father she did her best.
He glanced at his watch. “Well, I’m about to head out to lunch and then I have a few meetings around town, but later tonight I plan on meeting up with some friends. Music. Food. Good company.” How he said the last part told her what he thought of himself.
And what other choice did she have? She could turn him down and disappoint her father, or she could follow through and see if they could get the city to schedule the meeting.
“Yeah, sure. That sounds like fun.”
His smile was wide and it almost made up for the discomfort swirling in her. “Here. Put in your number and I’ll pick you up.”
She hesitated. “Oh, I can probably meet you—”
“Sweetheart, around here, we’re gentlemen. Let me pick you up and show you just what this town has to offer.”
As Kyle Sinclair had described it, the party was going to be a small event with close friends.
What Cecelia was looking at was definitely not that.
Whoever lived in the home she was staring at had money and land as far as the eye could see.
He had a large barn that could house at least a dozen horses.
There was a pool in the backyard, but she guessed it was out of commission for most of the year.
The backyard was strung with lanterns and there were floating orbs of color on the crystal pool surface.
When he’d said he’d show her what this town had to offer, she certainly didn’t think of this.
Kyle placed a hand to the small of her back and led her toward the party.
If she had to guess, most of these people wouldn’t mind if there was a resort built outside town.
All Cecelia had to do was cast a cursory glance, and she could tell that none of the people present were anything like Wendy, Serenity, or Jason for that matter.
Her feet scuffed against the pavement as Kyle led her into the fray.
She closed her eyes briefly and reminded herself that she was here on a mission. She’d get Kyle to put the meeting on the town’s schedule and then they’d be able to move forward. She could get an Uber back to the lodge and then she could forget that this night had ever happened.
The music was loud and nothing like the country music she’d grown used to hearing while wandering the shops in town. She eyed Kyle’s friends closer and picked out the subtle differences between the people she’d grown attached to and these strangers.
That’s when it hit her, and it gave her that sinking feeling.
These people were more like the community she had back home in the city. The snippets of conversation she overheard, how they dressed, and the overall feeling she got around them only confirmed it.
Cecelia dug in her heels, causing Kyle to stumble a step before chuckling and apologizing. She shook her head as she turned to him. “It’s fine. Can I ask you a favor before we go farther into the party?”
“Sure.” He said it so easily she half-wondered if she could have asked him for the favor when they were in his office.
“I know it’s not great to discuss work when we’re at a party like this one, but—”
A knowing grin crossed his face. “You need me to schedule that town meeting that folks have been avoiding.”
The blood drained from her face as she searched his eyes. He knew. But then, of course he did. Was he upset? She couldn’t tell.
He shrugged. “That shouldn’t be a problem. Honestly, I don’t get why people are so against change. This place has to be pushed to advance eventually. Why not sooner rather than later?” He looked over her head. “Come on, I’m going to introduce you to some friends of mine.”
She turned to follow along, stunned it had been that easy. But now she was even more on edge, as if she’d done something wrong and was going to get caught. She didn’t recognize anyone at this party. So many faces and yet not a single one she’d seen in town on her excursions.
This wasn’t the tour around town she’d thought Kyle had promised.
True to his word, he introduced her to a few people he worked with. A few who commuted to the city to work or worked remotely. And surprise, surprise. All of them were interested in what her father wanted to build in town.
With each passing minute, she felt her soul slipping. She didn’t want to be here anymore. It was like she’d tripped in a puddle of mud, and she was covered in it. Even though she didn’t owe Wendy or Serenity or even Jason anything, she couldn’t help but feel like she’d let them down.
But if she fought for them and what they wanted, then she’d be letting her father down, and she couldn’t decide which was worse.
It was the dilemma of the century, considering she’d never been interested in going against what her father wanted.
She needed out.
Cecelia couldn’t stay at this party any longer, not with her soul on the line.
She needed to figure out where she stood on this matter and stay there.
It took another twenty minutes before she could find an opening in the conversation her little group was having so she could slink off with the excuse she needed to use the restroom.
And with that thought in mind, she headed for the front of the property. If she got a little way down the road, she might be able to get a taxi or an Uber, and she could head home.
Cecelia made it to the main road and glanced both ways. Then she turned to the right and started walking. She hadn’t wanted to call a ride service while she was at the house in case Kyle came out to find her.
Kyle.
Well, shoot. She’d need to message him and tell him she’d had to go home.
Her face burned, her emotions getting the better of her. Good thing no one was here to witness her shame.
Cecelia stumbled along the shoulder of the road. Her heels were not the best choice of footwear, a fact made plain when she tripped and her phone flew from her hand.
Right into a puddle.
“No. No. No!” She scrambled for the puddle and sank her hand into the muddy water. No amount of swiping at it or rubbing it against her jacket would make the device power on again.
She threw her head back and groaned.
It was only then that a truck engine registered, approaching. Before she could turn around, the vehicle stopped on the side of the road.
Cecelia held up a hand, blocking the headlights from her eyes. The truck door opened and boots crunched into the gravel on the side of the road. When he stepped into the beam, she knew who it was.
There was no missing that form she would have recognized anywhere.