I clear my throat and say,“To be clear, this is a negotiation overonlymy parking lot—”
“Over the heart of the town!”
“Heartless bastard,” someone mutters.
“Good luck filling your resort without our charm!” Someone adds.
I think the biker mechanic man just cussed me out under his breath. Someone called me an asshole. Me, the one offering to save them.
Small town charm, indeed. People everywhere continue to be horrible. Which is why I prefer dealing with paperwork, steel, asphalt and the like.
Maxine shushes them, then says to me, “This is for both sides of Main Street andallits shopsandthe gazebo. We put it writing, don’t you doubt it. We’re serious,” she cuts me off, back to being tough as nails now that the brains, Harper, has approved of the July cutoff.
The quiet realtor hands Maxine a file. She then passes it to Mildred. Mildred’s mouth barely quirks on one side. This is not how these meetings normally go.
Which is both unnerving and irritating.
I nod, “Serious until July when you will undoubtedly fail and thank me for saving the day. But I look forward to having my lawyers review yourproposal,” I sneer, letting my patronizing prick flag fly freely now. I snatch the file, turn on my heel and leave. No need staying in this overstuffed tomb of a store any longer. I pull at my collar as we get out into the waning light.
Renaldo snickers as he opens the back car door for Mildred and myself.
“Something to say?” I snipe, beyond annoyed.
“Not a thing,” he says.
I stare at him a second longer before getting into the car.
We drive to the jet and no one utters a word. But Mildred is smiling. It’s the most annoying damn smile I’ve ever seen in my life. She doesn’t have to say it out loud.
Bested by a tiny granny and a silent baker.
In Juniper Nowheresville, New Jersey.
Haven’t even signed on the dotted line yet and already this is my most bothersome project.
Doesn’t matter. I’ll soldier through. It’ll be worth it in the end. I don’t have to stay here, just check in periodically. And this was probably it, these people at theirbest. Rallying for this little showdown.
Now it’s behind us.
And I’m positive this cheesy town cannot get any worse.
CHAPTER 5
Aiden
“Huh,” Renaldo says as we pull onto Main Street.
“It’smuchworse,” I think aloud. I can’t hold in my disdain. It’s just…so green. Everywhere.
Green lights, green clovers, green ribbons and flags and how? Did they cut the red bits off of everything the town owns in the last few weeks?
Oh.
In some cases, they absolutely did. And repainted. The weird green sticks lining the streets, holding up ribbons and lights, clearly lived past lives as candy canes.
And the town sign. Wow.
“Is that paint?” Renaldo asks.
