So I unloaded all the little containers and placed them in front of Cash—the tuna, the crispy fries with the mouth-watering homemade spicy-sweet sauce, the coleslaw, the piece of chocolate cake that was a little perk for the mayor.
He put a hand over the mouthpiece of the phone. “Agreed to the divorce yet, asswipe?”
“No,” I said. “I think there’s still some paperwork they have to do.”
“The paperwork isyou, dickhead!” Cash snarled. “You’re the one dragging the divorce on for years so Jillian can’t get remarried!”
“Sorry,” I said. “I don’t want her to marry you. I haven’t given up hope on getting her back.”
“You’re lucky I don’t kick your ass right here. You’re nothing to her.”
“I still love her. And I don’t think you’re right for her.”
Cash snorted and rolled his eyes.
“Good thing no one cares what you have to say, because you’re an idiot. Get out of here,” he growled, going back to his conversation and ignoring me.
“It’s a wonderful plan,” Cash said into the phone as I crumpled up the delivery bag. “After all, some of these little businesses on Main Street don’t make very much money.”
My ears perked up as I put the straw in his fizzy raspberry limeade. From what I recalled, the businesses on Main Street actually did really well for their size.
I mean, it wasn’t big corporation money but still. . .
“Jobs?” Cash responded to some question the person on the other line had asked. “Well, when that big hotel comes in, they can all get jobs there. Most of them, anyways. Yes, well. Keep me posted. I have an in with the most powerful business owner in town. If I can convince her to sell, the others will follow.”
“What big hotel?” I couldn’t help asking as I laid out the silverware. “I don’t think anyone here wants to give up their businesses for that.”
Cash only glanced up, his dark brows drawing together.
“I don’t recall asking for your opinion, Frankie. You’re here to deliver the food, nothing more.”
“Let some outside corporation in to control Ramshackle Bay? No one is going to agree to this plan,” I insisted.
Even though I was no longer the Mayor and everyone in town hated me, I still felt protective of the citizens of Ramshackle Bay.
Cash only snorted. “They’ll agree to the idea if I sell it.Youcouldn’t sell a life jacket to a drowning man. So definitely go try to get everyone to agree with you. Now get out of here. And don’t bother Jillian with this.”
I nodded my head and left, but some devil inside made me pause right outside his office. I knew Cash was up to something shady, I just didn’t know what.
His voice was so low I could barely hear what he was saying this time, but the words “eminent domain” were enough for me.
What the FUCK was he planning for this town?
I needed to TALK to Jillian for an extended period of time—tell her about what Cash had planned, because I knew she would be opposed to it.
She loved the café, and she’d never sell it to some big corporation trying to drive all the small businesses out of town!
But how should I do it when she loathed the very sight of me?
There was only one thing to do.
I had promised to give the Perk Up & Read to her, and ever since Christabelle had threatened to use my parents’ money to take it, I hadn’t been back. I was too afraid she’d be angry with me.
But now I had to go back.
It was the perfect time, too, 2 pm. Right after the lunch rush and right before everyone would be coming in for a last cup before she closed at 3:30.
I had been desperate to show her I was a changed man, that I wasn’t some immature idiot anymore, but now that the moment had come, my palms felt clammy and I wiped them anxiously on my board shorts.
