Chloe #2
My eye began to twitch and my heart pounded in my ears. I was a seasoned pro, and I could handle questions, but the people here were so angry and suspicious, and most of this stuff was not any of their business.
But then, in my periphery, a solid wall of plaid moved straight at me.
My heart leaped, then bottomed out.
Gus.
Frowning, he walked slowly toward the podium. When he got close enough that I could feel his body heat, I stepped aside.
Angling forward, he spoke into the microphone.
And if I wasn’t mistaken, the man was smiling.
“That’s enough, Doug,” he said. “Ms. LeBlanc failed to mention that she and Strategic Timber have decades of experience working with local timber businesses. My entire family is delighted to have her and her team here.”
An older man in the back stood. “But—”
Gus held up his hand. “We all know it’s in the best interest of the town to preserve the timber industry. Maine timber, harvested by Maine workers, will always be the backbone of our regional economy. And Ms. LeBlanc is here to help us modernize and optimize.”
Grumbles went up around the room, and I found myself joining in. I could handle this; he didn’t have to swoop in here.
“I’m so impressed by her vision and credentials that I’ve agreed to stay on as operations manager and help her grow the company.” He stood up straight again and looked down at me.
I gave him a nod, then I turned and smiled at the crowd. It was integral to our success that I put on a united front now, even if I kind of wanted to punch him in the grumpy face.
“But what about the drugs?”
Gus leaned forward. “We are hardly the only rural community to be hit hard by the opioid epidemic. We will do everything we can, but this is a far larger problem than one timber company can solve.”
That seemed to quiet them. And I was begrudgingly impressed.
“Now, we have far more pressing matters to discuss.” He turned around and looked at the agenda projected onto the screen. “Earl, it seems, has filed another petition to ban motorboats on the lake on Sundays.”
Some man in the back, who I assumed was Earl, shot to his feet. “Your damn motors disturb the fish.”
Another man stood and shook his fist. “There are ponds, streams, and brooks all over the county that are great for fishing. Stop wasting our time.”
Others piped up from all over the room, weighing in on Earl’s proposal as Gus tugged on my elbow and led me away from the podium.
The whole way, I fought the urge to stomp on his foot with my stiletto. The way he’d butted in was bad enough, but his large, comforting presence was what really made me irate.
When we were outside the gymnasium, I yanked my arm back.
“I do not need to be rescued. You shouldn’t have interfered.”
He crossed his thick arms and glared down his nose at me. “I think you pronounced thank you wrong.”
“I’m not thanking you.” Huffing, I pulled my shoulders back. “You just undermined me in front of the town.” I sounded petulant, but I didn’t care. This was my company, dammit, and I could take the heat.
“I just stopped the pitchfork-wielding mob from coming after you.” He raised one eyebrow, smug.
I almost laughed. This entire situation was absurd, and yet I was itching for a fight. To yell and scream and stomp my feet. But I’d learned long ago that, as a woman, keeping my cool was the single most important thing I could do. So I pushed the rage down and bit the inside of my cheek.
“I didn’t realize they’d be so hostile,” I admitted.
Gus chuckled. “You should never have led with saying you were from Heartsborough.”
“Hey.” The Lovewell people had no right to judge me based on that. This place was freaking Beverly Hills compared to where I’d grown up. Snobs.
“This town is proud, and the people hate change. Trust me, they’ve treated my brothers and me way worse over the last couple of years.
Hebert Timber is a stain on Lovewell and its pride.
The chief of police has had it out for us, like we’re the reason my dad ran a successful drug trafficking ring under the asshole’s nose. ”
My stomach knotted with concern, even as my interest piqued. “I guess that explains why he won’t meet with me.”
“Officially,” he mumbled. “Soon enough, he’ll show up at the office with a minor infraction or some half-baked excuse to poke around.”
Wonderful. Just what I needed, more law enforcement with their noses in my business, messing things up.
“But if you want to talk to him, the trick is to get him on his turf, where he can’t get away from you.”
I stood straighter and took a step closer, curious. “How do I do that?”
“The Moose.”
Moose? I frowned. What was he talking about?
“How are you at darts?” he asked.
“Terrible.”
“Even better. He hates to lose. I’ll help you.” He relaxed a fraction, his posture easing, and I got a hit of his scent. The pine tree and strong man combination that I definitely didn’t like at all. Nope. It was repulsive.
But despite how annoying good he smelled, his idea was a good one. I wouldn’t let the officials in town ignore me just because they could and then mess things up when I wasn’t expecting it. I would make them meet me on my terms.
“And the mayor?” I asked.
He ran his hands through his thick, dark hair. “That one’s easy. The diner. He eats breakfast there almost every day. He’s usually with his cronies and hates to look bad. You can corner him and bust his balls in front of his poker buddies. He’ll do whatever you want.”
A rush of gratitude flowed through me. After fumbling around in the dark for the past week, suddenly, the lights had been turned on.
Moved by his kindness, I touched his arm. Instantly, I realized I’d made a big mistake. A massive mistake. His forearm was thick and warm and had a dusting of dark hair.
My fingertips tingled, but I pushed the sensation away.
“Thank you,” I said.
I hated that I needed his help. That I was floundering so badly he had to come to my rescue. But this job was way more complex than I’d anticipated, and I needed a solid plan.
“I want to help,” he said, his voice low, his tone deep, as he angled in just close enough for the gold flecks in his blue eyes to distract me. “People are afraid of me.” He shrugged. “Comes in handy sometimes.”
No shit people were afraid. And I was one of them.
Though not for obvious reasons. No, I was terrified because Gus was defying my carefully crafted low expectations.
He was smarter, kinder, more thoughtful, and more strategic than I’d given him credit for.
And he could do some real damage if I let him.
“Getting the company back on track will be a lot easier if we work together,” he said.
He wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t want to need him. And there was no way in hell I’d admit to him that I was in over my head.
Behind him, the doors to the gymnasium opened, and people filed out.
I leaned forward, and his eyes flared. His chest rose and fell, and the air between us sparked with tension. We did not get along, and we had nothing in common. It had been a mistake to think that I could work with him.
“I work alone,” I said, affecting an authoritative tone.
As a slow grin spread across his face, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
My entire body froze, and my lungs seized at the contact.
His rough fingers ghosted over my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “We’ll see about that, Dragonfly.”
And then he was gone, off into the crowd, leaving me confused and, for some inexplicable reason, breathless.