Not just because her dad is tight with the Stinsons.
But because she’sKeith Stinson’s fiancée.
The same Stinsons who’ve been trying to sabotage my bar.
The same Keith who tried to block my liquor license.
Who’s now trying to push some ancient property ruling that claims part of Holloway’s Hideout is built on public land.
Bullshit, of course. My lawyers say any sane court would laugh it out.
But in Vansborough? With A. Stinson as mayor?
There’s no such thing as neutral ground.
Especially not when your business is growing. When people are starting to talk. When the Holloway name is finally shedding the weight of “trailer park trash.”
And Faith?
She’s smack in the middle of all that.
If Mayor Stinson’s proposal goes through, the old library lot will go to the city—just long enough to get funneled straight into Keith’s hands.
Right next to Easton’s Eatery.
Right across from Holloway’s Hideout.
So yeah.
Faith Easton may sing like a goddess, and look angelic in her blue dress. But she’s very much the enemy. And as big of a crush as I’ve had on her? I’m not one to try and blow up a happy couple. I try not to even speak in her presence, though, for fear of saying something stupid.
You gotta love small towns. Because my lawyers tell me that in a normal town, there wouldn’t be an actual law case based on some old maps drawn up in 1870. But in a town where a Stinson is the mayor, you never know what kind of shenanigans might go through.
Once Keith and Faith are married, boom, just like that, Mr. Easton will get that piece of land, thus doubling the size of his restaurant, and he’s also got a south-facing patio right along Green River. It’d be the only river patio in town, and could potentially blow my restaurant out of business.
But then again, why can’t we both have thriving businesses? This town’s big enough for the both of us.
The fact thatHolloway’s Hideoutis the most popular restaurant in town right now and churning a healthy profit, while I’m keeping many of my family and friends gainfully employed, is just a bonus. Up until I scored an eight-figure contract to play quarterback for Houston, the name Holloway was only associated with being ‘those hooligan cousins from the trailer park whom you don’t want to start a fight with.’ It’s nice to work toward respectability, something my father knew nothing about.
Wherever he is.
"Now, take a moment and share the sign of peace with your neighbor,” the pastor says.
Whoa, I totally blanked out as far as where we were in the sermon.
Mr. Easton spins around and shakes the hand of the guy next to me, a Stinson, but doesn’t shake mine.
He doesn’t even look me in the eye.
Faith nonchalantly turns around and sticks out her right hand in front of me and I grab hold of it.
“Peace be with you,” she drawls.
And just like that, something registers from last night.
That sweet sounding accent with a light southern drawl.
My heart slams against my chest as my body realizes what my mind is still piecing together.
