Angela closed the pizza box. "I'm sorry you had to deal with Bill. He's a pain."
When she walked past me to place the box in the fridge, I took it from her. "I'm sorry you had to deal with him. You shouldn't have to."
She gave me a weary smile. "He hates my store, and he won't stop until I'm gone."
"Is that going to work?" I couldn't imagine Eve listening to him.
"I only have a short-term lease; it was presented as a probationary period. Eve said she wanted to see if my shop would do well here. But I think it was to appease Bill. He thinks he has a chance to oust me. I'm sure it would be easier on Eve if she gave in to his demands."
I placed the pizza box in the fridge and closed it. "He thinks that the shop isn't family friendly."
She rolled her eyes. "Malls have lingerie shops next to teen clothing and toy stores. What's the difference?"
"None I can see."
She sat in her seat. "I'm following all the rules. We have to sell a certain percentage of holiday products year-round to go with the theme of the town, and I'm doing that."
Now I wondered if she wore gingerbread men on her panties, and if so, were they the cotton or lace ones? "People like that are always upset about something. I'm sure it's not you."
"Thanks for getting rid of him. I hate how I can't walk down the sidewalk without worrying about running into him."
"What's he say to you normally?"
Her shoulders hunched slightly. "That no one wants me here. Children shouldn't have to see what I'm selling." Her face flushed. "As if I'm running some kind of smut shop."
"Yeah, that's what he said to me too. He insinuated that you're selling other stuff under the counter or from the back room."
She threw her hands in the air. "I don't sell anything you didn't see me pack up yesterday. If women's underthings are illicit, then I guess I'm guilty. But no one else has complained, and I do a good business in this location. Obviously, someone wants me here."
"I don't see a problem with what you're selling. But it might not be a bad idea to have a back-up plan, like that online shop you were talking about."
She sighed heavily. "I'm working on it. It might take some time to get the website up and running. There are so many things to consider."
"It's cute how interested Ayla is in the business."
"I talk to her all the time about it, and when the shop is doing well, we celebrate. She's aware when times are lean. She's as invested in the success of the store as I am."
"You're setting a good example for her. She's watching you build a business from the ground up. That's invaluable."
"You think?" Angela asked.
"Oh, yeah. She sees you work hard and continue to try even when things don't work. I'm sure she's proud of you."
She stood and walked toward the doorway. "I'd better get back to work."
"I'm going to inspect other businesses this afternoon." I didn't think Bill would return today.
"Good luck with that," Angela said as she disappeared down the hallway.
I needed to prioritize inspections while we were waiting for her shop to dry out. Then there was the other issue of needing to create some space between us. The more time I spent with her, the more I liked her, and I couldn't afford any distractions. This was a big job, and I wanted to prove that I was up for it.
Ischeduled inspections the rest of the week to keep me away from Angela and her adorable daughter. So far, the buildings I checked had the same pipes as Angela's, so I put together a crew that could help with replacement.
By Friday, I needed to stop by Angela's to check on the damage. After lunch with Cooper and Ford, I knocked on her door.
A woman I didn't recognize waved me in. She held a professional-looking camera, and there were lights set up throughout the space, including a Victorian-looking chaise lounge.
I stepped inside, wiping my feet on the mat. "What's going on?"
