This morning I caved and put my stupid note to him in the mailbox. I can’t explain why. It makes no sense. The thought of someone other than Edward reading it fills me with terror, yet the thought ofhimreading it makes me equally uncomfortable. I’m not sure why poets and songwriters act like falling in love is such a beautiful thing—for me it’s been mostly mortification and regret, and a not inconsiderable drain on my attention. I have a resort to run. I don’t have time to dwell on a possible relationship that has no future.
I remind myself of this as I find myself staring off into space, once again replaying every key moment with Edward. I give myself a shake and return to reviewing accounts payable.
A polite knock interrupts me. My treacherous heart leaps at the thought that it’s Edward—he did say he’d come back—but I quickly return to reality when an icy blonde woman of indeterminate age sashays into my office.
Is she Edward’s mom? If so, I can’t trace any resemblance.
“Are you Elinor Greenwood?” she asks, coldly assessing me and probably finding me wanting.
“Yes,” I stand to shake her perfectly manicured hand. “Do you have an appointment?”
“You are not at all what I was expecting,” she says, limply shaking my hand.
“And I wasn’t expecting you at all. You are... ?”
“Lucinda Steele of Steele Properties. I’m Edward Frechette’s boss.”
“I see,” I say, returning to my seat.
“Ibetyou do,” she says with undue innuendo. “I understand you’re the one in charge around here. You seem like a smart woman, Elinor. Too smart to be taken in by the likes of Edward. But then again, who can blame you? I, too, once fell for his charms.” Is she insinuating that she once dated Edward? I don’t think I want to know. “He is, you must admit, quite appealing,” Lucinda says with a knowing smile.
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
“Oh, I think you do. Edward visited Norland Park with one object, which he failed to accomplish. The only reasonable explanation isyou.”
“I don’t follow.”
“I’m not sure what he told you, but we have a plan—investors and a major hotel chain on board to makeover this whole place. Wemusthave Bumble Cottage. We’ve been waitingyearsfor this project. And then he meetsyouand—well... you must be very convincing.” She sniffs. “Which I wouldn’t have guessed, looking at you.”
I think she’s trying to insult me, but I’m still missing something.
“You clearly have the wrong idea about Edward and me.”
“DoI?” asks Lucinda. “Are you going to tell me that there’s nothing going on between you and Mr. Frechette?” For amoment I’m frozen under her intense stare. I struggle for words.
“We—we are barely acquaintances.”
“That’s not howhemade it sound.” What did Edward tell this woman? There’s no way he told her about the almost kiss. He would never. “You know Edward... sometimes he can be too much of a ‘nice guy’—especially when a pretty face is involved.”
Again, I don’t know what to say. I’m so taken aback by the whole encounter.
“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then I’ll spell it out. Edward refuses to sell Bumble Cottage. Which leaves our whole project at a standstill.”
“Are you saying Edward owns Bumble Cottage? I thought his mom did.”
“Are you kidding me? If Barbara Norland owned the cottage, she would have sent you packing. Instead, you seduced sweet Edward, and now he’s not cooperating.”
I cannot believe I’m hearing this. My mind is reeling.Edwardowns Bumble Cottage.He’smy landlord. The fact that I almost kissed him feels a million times worse. It looks like I was trying to influence him.
There’s a tap on the door, and before I can say anything, Edward walks in, carrying a large flat package under his arm. “Ellie!” His smile is so warm and so personal that I almost forget I’m upset with him.
“Ellie?” his boss echoes, raising a brow at me like it’s a dirty joke before swiveling in her chair to face him. “Hello, Edward.”
“Ah!” He starts back like he’s seen a large spider. “Lucinda! What are you doing here?”
His boss turns the chair back around to face me. “I’m doing what you should have done last week: settling this deal.”
