“It was either run the 5K or run twice that much during practice.” Corey laughed, but then he sobered and his voice took on a hesitant edge. “Hey, Matt, want to step over here?” He tipped his head toward a wooden bench.
Matt’s brows drew together. He handed a couple bottles of Gatorade to the kids waiting in line, then dried his hands on the hem of his T-shirt as he followed Corey a few yards over to the bench.
“What’s up?” he asked, taking the seat next to Corey.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this for a while, but as time went on without you ever bringing it up, I figured it was something you just weren’t planning to share.”
“What are you getting at, Corey?”
“You know that I was originally a big proponent of that chain retail store that was proposed for Main Street last year, right?”
A thread of unease traveled down Matt’s spine. That retail store had opened up many of the old wounds first created by the construction of the Maplesville outlet mall. The residents of Gauthier were convinced it would destroy many of the businesses on Main Street.
“What about it?” he asked.
“The same developers who were seeking to bring the retail store were the ones who built the outlet mall over in Maplesville. They mentioned some of the other supporters.”
“Look, Corey—” Matt started.
“I’m not saying anything one way or the other. I know that a lot of the people around here were against the outlet mall, and it’s caused a lot of negative feelings between the two towns.”
“Corey, I didn’t know the developers were going to go to Maplesville,” Matt said. He put his elbows on his thighs and ran his palms down his face. “This has all turned into the biggest damn mess.”
“Look, if itdoescome out, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. The people here are pretty forgiving.”
“I don’t know about this one,” Matt said. “The controversy surrounding this outlet mall is bigger than anything this town has ever seen. If people find out that I was the one who first sought out the developer, they’ll accuse me of trying to bankrupt the town.”
“Were you?”
“Hell no! Come on! That’s the exact opposite of what I was trying to do.”
“I’m sorry I even asked that. I know you would never intentionally do anything to hurt Gauthier, not with all your family has done for this town.”
It took everything Matt had within him to hold in his sardonic snort.
Yeah, his family had done a lot for this town. He could count on one hand how much of it was good.
The baby in Corey’s arms began to squirm and, seconds later, started to wail louder than a police siren. Matt stared at Corey’s retreating back as his friend made a beeline for his wife. He couldn’t help but wonder if what Corey said was true. Would the people of Gauthier forgive him if he just came clean and explained his intentions when he originally sought out the Lakeline Group?
Later that night, Matt lay in his bed with Tamryn nestled against his chest. He stroked up and down her arm, relishing the feel of her dewy skin.
“Why are you so quiet tonight?” she murmured.
“Because you wore me out?” he replied, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I’m pretty much speechless.”
“You are such a politician,” she said. “You always come up with the perfect response.”
Matt felt her vibrate with laughter, but he didn’t join in.
Tamryn peered up at him over her bare shoulder. Her forehead furrowed as she studied him.
“What’s going on?” she asked, twisting around so that she faced him. “You’ve been…I don’t know…off most of the afternoon.” His brows arched as his eyes drifted languidly down her body. “Well, except for what you just did a few minutes ago,” she added.
Even her adorable blush couldn’t wring him out of his sour mood.
Matt hauled her on top of him and settled his hands on her lush backside. She lay on her stomach, her breasts crushed against his chest. He could easily spend the next week in this position. Tamryn’s apprehensive expression stated that she clearly could not. She wanted answers.
He pulled in a deep breath and debated the wisdom of sharing this. There was so much he was keeping from her already; it would be cathartic to finally let some of it out.
