“Or more mashed potatoes?” Aggie suggested, her tone dripping with faux innocence.
His expression barely shifted as he took a handkerchief from his pocket and brushed the potatoes from his shoe onto the floor. “I was hoping we could have a private chat, Cora. About the future of The Salty Spoon.”
Cora gestured to the group. “We can talk out here.”
Nathaniel’s gaze swept the room, pausing briefly on Aggie, Bea, and Winston. It was cool and dismissive, as if Lolly’s friends weren’t worth the effort of a proper acknowledgment.
Then, almost lazily, his attention shifted to Jack. The second their eyes met, the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. Nathaniel’s lip curled ever so slightly, like he’d gotten a whiff of something rotten.
“Harlow,” he said, his voice smooth as glass, though ithad a bite. He gave a small nod, but there was nothing respectful in it.
Jack didn’t flinch, didn’t blink. His jaw tightened, and Cora could practically feel the heat radiating off him. It was like watching two wolves size each other up, neither willing to back down. The kind of standoff where one wrong word would set off a fight. She half expected one of them to start growling. Or worse, pee on the floor to mark their territory.
“All right, boys,” Aggie’s voice sliced through the testosterone fog like a sharp blade. “How about we all take a step back before someone feels the need to compare the size of their...rolling pins?”
Cora had to bite down on a laugh as both men snapped their heads toward Aggie, identical looks of stunned disbelief plastered on their faces. Aggie smiled sweetly, adjusting her glasses.
“Now,” she continued, “Mr. Fancy Pants here was about to tell us why he’s so dead set on turning our beloved café into...what’s the plan again? A soulless chain restaurant? Or maybe a fancy storage box for his cash?”
Nathaniel’s jaw flexed, a muscle ticking in his cheek. He smoothed down the front of his tie, the gesture precise, trying to regain control. His fingers drummed once against the table before curling into a fist at his side. “Worthington Properties is in the business of re-invigorating local businesses that need?—”
“Cut the crap, Worthington,” Jack interrupted. “Why this place? Why now? There are plenty of other lives and legacies you can trample on. Why Lolly’s?”
Nathaniel’s nostrils flared. His hand tightened on the back of the nearest chair, knuckles whitening as his gaze flicked to Jack. “It’s just business. Surely you can appreciate that,” he said, his voice dripping with false sympathy. His eyes flicked to Jack’s dusty boots, lingering there for a beat too long before rising again, a smug smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Though I understand how hard it can be when things don’t quite work out.”
“Look,” Cora said, her voice tight but clear. “I don’t know why your family has its sights set on The Spoon, but I need to understand. Lolly would have never gone into business with you unless she didn’t have a choice. And if there’s something I’m missing, I deserve to know what it is.”
Nathaniel’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes. She couldn’t tell if it was amusement or annoyance. But whatever it was, it made her want to throw a biscuit at his smug face.
He took a measured step closer. “Cora, I can appreciate your passion. But this isn’t the time or place for sensitive conversations.”
“You’re dodging,” she said flatly.
“I’m postponing,” he corrected. “Come by my office tomorrow morning. I’ll give you the answers you’re so desperate for. Assuming, of course, you’re ready to hear them.”
Cora resisted the urge to gag.Did he really just say that like a soap opera villain?
“We’ll be there,” Jack said immediately, putting extra emphasis on thewe.
Nathaniel’s lips twitched into something resembling a smile, though he looked more like a cat eyeing its dinner. “Of course. Shall we say nine a.m.? And Cora?” His eyes locked with hers, and she swore her soul shriveled. “Try to come with an open mind. You might be surprised by what we can accomplish together.”
As he turned to leave, Bea suddenly piped up, her voice cutting through the tension. “Oh, Mr. Worthington. Would you care for a roll for the road? They’re fresh. We just picked them up at the senior center’s insurance program.”
They all turned to stare at her, blinking.
She smiled innocently. “What? It’s rude not to offer guests refreshments.”
To Cora’s surprise, Nathaniel actually chuckled and took the roll from Bea, tossing it in the air like a baseball, before heading toward the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Cora,” he said over his shoulder, his voice dripping with smugness. “And please don’t keep me waiting.”
The door swung shut behind him, leaving a trail of condescension in his wake.
Cora exhaled, shaking her head. “I can’t believe you offered him a snack, Bea.”
Bea shrugged. “It was the polite thing to do...and he’ll never know it fell on the floor before he got here.”
Jack choked. Cora blinked at her.
Bea smiled sweetly. “Five-second rule.”
