“River Ann Flowers,” Libby corrected.
Keith, Libby, and Stirling looked over to the corner table and saw that Stirling Stone was correct. Drake was on one knee. River Ann Flowers’ army of girlfriends were taking videos with their phones. It was a whole thing. It was all happening in Irish Hills, the place to be!
“Yes! Yes!”
The restaurant erupted in applause as River Ann Flowers gushed over her new ring.
Libby turned back to Stirling Stone. She narrowed her eyes. What was his game?
“No stopping it now. You have turned Irish Hills into its own little tourist town, not my idea of a resort. But like I said, I know when I’m beaten.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”
Stirling Stone shrugged, and then he smiled. The man’s teeth were so white they almost glowed.
“This was fun, sparring with you. It’s been eye opening to be surprised, and Irish Hills has surprised me at every turn.”
“And you’re not going to try to takeover because we’re surprising?”
“I see what you’ve fostered here, they want to do things your way. They want to save the town too, you just helped them realize it. That’s a lot to fight against.”
Libby had the feeling she was sticking her hand outside of a shark cage. The smile, the concession, the affable demeanor; these were all designed to make her let her guard down. Stirling Stone was ready, willing, and able to bite off her hand.
“What about Covert Pier? Maybe that’s your game, siphon every idea we have over to them?” Libby’s mind was racing. What was he trying to do by telling her she won?
“I have an investment with Chef Ellston, but that’s for my Vegas hotel. Covert Pier is booming on its own. No agenda. I promise.”
Libby was in fight mode. She was not ready to relax or celebrate that they had vanquished Stirling Stone.
“So, no hearing request? I will call Mayor Eastland.”
“Actually, I think he’s over there, having a drink with the drummer from Burgundy Four.”
Libby looked over, and sure enough, the mayor was, in fact, partying with the band.
Stirling Stone, billionaire, dropped cash on the bar for their drinks. He nodded to Keith and Libby and then left as quickly as he’d appeared. Libby was unsettled. Her mind, always churning with ideas to fend off Stone, didn’t switch gears so easily.
Surely, he had some ulterior motive. This had to be a trick. Still, maybe they had done it. Maybe they had caused just enough trouble to be too much trouble for the billionaire.
“What do you know about that?” Libby asked Keith.
“I’m not surprised in the least.”
“Not surprised that one of the most powerful men in the country just called uncle?”
“Only a fool gets between Libby Quinn and whatever it is she’s got her heart set on.”
“Yeah, well, then, don’t be a fool.” Libby leaned in and kissed Keith on the cheek.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chapter Twenty
Goldie
Goldie was out in the world again. At least a little. She’d been all over town helping during the setup. And Joe convinced her to come to dinner.
Goldie wasn’t trying to disguise herself, but she also wasn’t giving full movie star vibes. She banked on the fact that the biggest names in country music were crawling all over Irish Hills. She was an afterthought.
