“Do you need me there?” Parker asked.
“To make it more palatable for the city, we’re going to give the Harrogate Foundation office space there. The deputy mayor is coming on the tour.”
“So Hunter’s going to be there.”
“What’s up with them?” I asked. “They’re clearly obsessed with each other.”
“The jury’s still out on whether that’s a good thing,” Parker said.
“I predict a happily ever after,” I said, gathering the materials for the meeting.
Parker scowled. “Or it could end in a fiery storm of destruction.”
* * *
“Our own Southern belle!”Ida said, hugging me when Parker and I walked into the former shirtwaist factory. It was two streets over from Main Street, near the train station. Remy, along with several of Parker’s brothers, was already in the building talking to Kaitlyn and Olivia, the architect who would be working on the renovation.
“Did Parker overwork your grits the other day?” Ida asked as I greeted Parker’s brothers.
“I made actual grits,” I said to Greg, who was frowning. “Cheese and butter. Your brothers really liked them.”
“Yeah, I ate her grits all day,” Parker said mildly. I almost choked.
“Ah, to have a man in his twenties at your beck and call!” Ida said wistfully.
“Whenever you want,” Parker whispered in my ear. “Beck and call. Even now. Say the words.”
“Deputy Mayor!” Remy announced. “We are so happy that you could take the time to come and join us to look at this wonderful space.”
“Cut the crap, boys,” Meghan said. “Good morning, Sadie. I hope you didn’t waste your entire weekend with these insufferable fools.”
“Not all of them. Just a handful,” I said, smiling. Meghan did not return the smile. “We just wanted to show you the space and walk through the preliminary design.” I gestured to the plans that Olivia had brought with her.
“Judge Edna is coming, so let’s wait on her, since she’s on the Harrogate Foundation board,” Meg said as she checked her phone.
“My sister is coming?” Ida demanded. “What does she know about design? We have to have sexy Instagram accounts, not boring ones. Olivia, as my granddaughter I am holding you personally responsible.”
“It will look very nice,” Olivia assured her grandmother.
“We need sexy,” Ida declared.
Olivia rolled her eyes.
“Speaking of,” Ida said, lowering her voice and putting an arm conspiratorially around my shoulders. “I heard your good news.”
“About what?” I said faintly, thinking for a horrible second that she heard about my father.
“You know—that giant hunk of ten inches you’ve been palling around town with.”
“I wouldn’t call it palling around town,” I remarked.
“Bettina said she saw you two in a car.”
“We did not have sex in the car!” I hissed.
“Should you decide to, I have a gift for you.” Ida handed me a book titledThe Bad Girl’s Guide to Amazing Sex.
“I can’t take this!” I said in a low voice, hoping no one noticed what Ida was doing. “What am I supposed to do with this? Also, why is it so big?”
