The guy turned toward me, one side of his mouth curled up in a sneer. “I don’t remember asking for your opinion, son.”
I knew his type. I’d been following a few steps behind guys like him and fixing their messes since I started working in construction. He’d be just about as likely to take my advice as he would to jump off the top floor of the bank building down the road.
“It’s the right thing to do,” I said.
“Says who?” His brows knit together and his eyes turned hard. “I’ve been doing this a hell of a lot longer than you and I stand behind my work. Not everyone’s got an extra thirty grand lying around. Sometimes you’ve got to do the best you can with what you’ve got to work with.”
Wouldn’t do any good to argue with the guy. Wouldn’t do any good to get into a fight at the building supply store, either. Notwhen I was trying to separate myself from the bad boy label this town had saddled me with all those years ago. So I put my hands up, palms out, in surrender. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, buddy.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I sleep just fine. But hell, I’d sleep a lot better if I had someone as fine as that Winslow girl keeping me warm at night.”
My gut clenched, and my fingers curled into fists. I was ready to take a swing when the older guy behind the counter looked up at me and gave a slight shake of his head. “Talk like that will land you on the wrong side of Harrison Winslow, Franklin. I’d hate for it to get back to him that someone’s been disrespecting his daughter.”
Franklin’s face fell. “I was paying her a compliment, that’s all.”
The older man finished ringing him up while I silently seethed inside. Peyton wasn’t mine to protect anymore. Hadn’t been for a long, damn time. Still, it didn’t sit right with me that a man could make a comment like that about any woman and not have his teeth knocked out.
When Franklin finally left, the guy behind the counter watched him go, eyes narrowed. “Be careful around that one. He’s got Harrison Winslow in his back pocket and won’t think twice about dragging your name through the mud.”
“Thanks, but my name isn’t worth a damn thing to the Winslow family.” That ship had sailed, the train had left the station… I could think of a million ways to say it but the bottom line was that Harrison Winslow already thought I was trash, and I wasn’t wasting my breath to try to change his mind.
“Bide your time and you’ll get a chance to take a crack at that loser.” He didn’t say anything else as he swapped out the tile for the right design, but his words rang in my head as I loaded up the truck.
I thought about texting Levi but didn’t want to bother him while he was helping Brooklyn. And there was no way in hell I’d reach out to Peyton. She probably wouldn’t believe me if I tried to warn her that Franklin’s fix wouldn’t last.
I shouldn’t give a fuck about what might happen to her, not after the way she’d turned her back on me. She never gave me a chance to defend myself, just took her daddy’s word that I’d been the one to fuck up.
It was out of the way, but I found myself driving back to the fairgrounds on the way home. If Franklin was willing to cut corners on a foundation repair, no telling what he might do to save money on the festival bid.
A small crew of guys was framing out some vendor stalls. I didn’t recognize anyone, but that didn’t surprise me. If Franklin wasn’t from around Mustang Mountain, it made sense that his crew wouldn’t be either. As I rolled down the main dirt road, some of them turned to watch me pass. No one smiled, and no one lifted a hand to wave. Not being friendly didn’t mean they were doing shitty work, but something felt off.
Fuck it. I wasn’t trying to be anyone’s hero. If Peyton wanted to tie her reputation to Franklin, that was her funeral. She could sink or swim on her own. She’d made it pretty clear to me she didn’t want or need my help with anything.
With a final glance in the rearview mirror, I left the fairgrounds behind. I’d do best to do the same with thoughts of Peyton Winslow. Some things were better left buried, and I needed to quit digging them up.
CHAPTER 4
PEYTON
The smellof freshly baked bread greeted me the moment I stepped inside the Mountain Delight Catering Company. I’d placed an order of bagels and breakfast pastries to go, hoping the treats might ease the tension at the vendor meeting I’d called. It was time to put an end to last-minute requests and demands. With the festival less than two weeks away, I needed to finalize the set up so Mr. Franklin could finish construction on time.
As I walked to the pick-up counter, Lily greeted me. She’d booked a booth at the festival to sell baked goods, including a special 150thAnniversary cupcake. I couldn’t wait to taste it.
“Hey, Peyton. We’re almost done packing up your order. I’ll ring you up and it’ll be ready in just a minute.” Her fingers flew over the keys on the register, and I tapped my card against the screen.
“Thanks for taking care of me on short notice.” I tucked the receipt into my bag and offered a smile.
The smile she gave me in return was a little shaky. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course. What’s up?”
“Is everything going okay with the festival?” She stepped behind the counter, grabbing an insulated takeout container andfilling it with coffee from the commercial pot. ”Someone was in here the other day and I overheard them talking about vendors pulling out of the event.”
Heat prickled the back of my neck but I forced myself to stay calm. “Oh? We lost a vendor from Silver Creek who realized she double booked herself, but I’m not aware of anyone else canceling. Are you coming to the meeting?”
“I can’t. I’ve got to make a delivery in a half hour, but I was planning on following up with you afterward to find out what I missed.”
Just then Brooklyn came out of the kitchen with a large white bakery box in her hands. “Hey, Peyton. Want some help getting these into your car?”
