“So you’d rather see the building just rot away until it can’t be saved?”
“No, of course not.” Why was she twisting his words?
The bartender arrived with her order, and she held up a hand. “I’m sorry. Could I get that to go, please?” Her tone was brisk and clearly showed her irritation.
She paid her bill and slid off her barstool. Gavin felt an inexplicable urge to stop her.
“I didn’t mean to run you off?—”
“Didn’t you?” she countered, her eyes betraying a hint of hurt. “Have a nice evening.”
She turned and hurried out the door.
Guilt poked at him that he’d annoyed her enough to make her leave, but he could at least finish his meal in peace now. But somehow, that thought didn’t comfort him.
The guilt jabbed at him again as he stared at the empty stool beside him.
Because really, wouldn’t he like the theater to be opened again? Not that he’d get involved with it. He’d seen firsthand what happened when he tried to help out the town with one of its projects. He wasn’t going to let that happen again. Especially with a woman with a half-baked plan and a surprising sense of conviction.
The brisk walk back to Darlene’s B&B did little to quell the storm of emotions rolling through Tori. Gavin’s words echoed in her mind, mingling with frustration and the reluctant knowledge, infuriatingly, that his words held a bit of truth. The man was impossible. And rude. And just maybe exasperatingly right about her plan. She hadn’t even seen the inside very well. Just stolen a few quick glances. Why had she decided that buying it would be a good idea?
Only… she wanted to. She wanted to breathe life back into it. Let other people experience the joy she used to feel when she went to a play there. Maybe if she did this for the town, maybe then… who knows? Maybe she’d feel like she was paying back for the mistake she’d unknowingly made back home. And New York held no appeal for her now. Not with the wheeling and dealing in the industry. Not with the noise and crowds.
Maybe she could settle down here in Magnolia.
She stepped into the B&B, its warmth and coziness in sharp contrast to her encounter with Gavin.
“Oh, back so soon?” Darlene’s voice held a blend of surprise and concern.
She managed a half-smile. “I… um… I decided to get my dinner to go.”
“I’m glad you’re back. I did find out a little bit about the theater. The strange thing is, it was just purchased a month or so ago. I hadn’t heard that.”
“So it’s not for sale?” Her heart sank. All her plans crumbled into fine grains of sand.
“That’s another strange thing. It is for sale. Again.”
“I don’t understand.” She tried to piece together the puzzle.
“I don’t either, but I arranged for you to pick up the key from the Realtor’s office in the morning. He said you could look around inside. He’s going to be on the mainland, but his secretary will give you the key.”
“That’s great. I can’t wait to see it. Though I wonder why someone would buy it and then list it right away?”
“I’m not sure either.” Darlene shook her head.
“Thank you for finding out all of that for me.”
“Ah, don’t thank me. If you could really purchase it and get it opened again, it would mean the world to me. I have so many memories of times spent there. I hate to see it just deteriorate like it has.”
“Well, tomorrow I’ll give it a look. See if I think it can be restored.” Her hopes rose again as she climbed the stairs to her room. The thought of restoring the theater and giving back to this town that had given her so many wonderful memories reignited her determination. She sat at a small table in her room and spread out her dinner, still a bit annoyed that she hadn’t been able to eat it fresh out of the frier at Sharky’s. But she couldn’t bear to spend another minute talking to that insufferable man. If she never had to talk to Gavin again, it would be too soon.
As she ate her meal alone, his words and his dismissive attitude lingered in her mind, a persistent annoyance. Aggravated—at him, at herself—she got up from the table and looked out the window, her mind full of plans for the theater and the unsettling thoughts of the man who had unwittingly stirred her determination even further.
Chapter7
The next morning, Tori stood in front of the grand, aged facade of the theater with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and apprehension. What would she find when she went inside?
She slid the key into the lock on the front door and turned the key. The lock didn’t budge. She pushed on the door, tried again, then pulled on the handle. Frustration surged through her. So close.
