Page 27 of No Good Deed

She laughed at that. “Of course not.”

He grinned. “City girl. It’s going to be well below zero this morning. Your legs are going to get cold if you’re only wearing that thin layer.”

She hadn’t thought of that. In the end, she changed into leggings and pulled some jeans over the top. After she pulled on her jacket and mitts, Troy nodded. “Just one more item and you’ll be good to go.”

He reached into a closet and rummaged through a box on the top shelf. He grinned and held up a knitted green cap with a blue pompom on top. The colors matched the tartan pattern at the diner. “My mom has her winter stuff here. You’ll stay much warmer with the hat.”

Piper tossed her tablet in her purse, slung it over her shoulder, and they were on their way. “Explain the town layout as we go.”

“The original settlers built the town along the creek that was once a larger river, so the roads are never straight for long. They meander a bit with the water. Actually there are several small creeks and ponds around the area.”

She hadn’t talked about her ideas yet, but confirming there were water options was a bonus.

“Most of the side streets are perpendicular to Phail Way. We have farmland all around the town, but a lot of it is empty. It’s difficult to make a living without local customers. I hope people will buy those up again once we start building. Many of them are the perfect sizes for hobby or small family farms. There are larger plots further out, some occupied, some empty.”

“And in town, are there a lot of empty buildings?”

He nodded. “Too many for my liking.”

They walked up and down roads while Troy pointed out the businesses passed down through families like his own and new ones starting up.

When he suggested they have breakfast at the No Fail Diner, she instantly agreed. She was starving and her brain was spinning. It had been too cold to remove her gloves to use the tablet, and she hoped she’d remember all of her ideas once they stopped.

Troy opened the door and placed his hand on her back to usher her in. Despite the layers of fabric, the now-familiar tingle zipped through her.

They settled into the same booth as before and she wondered if it was a family table. Most of the other booths were full, as were the stools along the counter, indicating a thriving business.

A woman Piper hadn’t met yet approached the table. “Hey, Troy. And you must be Piper. I’m Sato. Welcome to Phail, and I hope you enjoy your time with us.”

Piper smiled and shook the proffered hand. “Nice to meet you, Sato. So far, I’m enjoying Phail. There are a lot of great people here.”

Sato beamed. “There sure are. Now, what can I get you?”

After Sato took their order, the people Piper hadn’t met yet came over to introduce themselves and welcome her to town. They all thanked her for trying to help them out.

Phlummoxed with a Ph was definitely her word for the week.

When Sato brought out their breakfast burritos, the crowd returned to their own tables.

“Wow. Phail surprises me at every turn. Your people are amazing.”

Troy grinned. “They are. I can’t imagine living anywhere else, certainly not an anonymous city where you’re surrounded by strangers most of the time.”

Piper thought about her life and lack of contact with many people outside of her work. After her parents died, her world had shrunk even more.

She had a lot of familiar strangers in her life. The people in the coffee shop and the takeout places. People on the train. But not many friends. Even after the break-ins and the crash, she hadn’t had many people to call.

All her own doing. She’d never been super outgoing, and her focus had been on her career. Her string of bad luck had left her wanting more. A whole lot more.

And Phail might be just what she needed.

CHAPTER 10

On Good Terms

Over the next few days, Troy and Piper fell into a routine. They spent the early morning wandering the town and area, then ate breakfast at the No Fail Diner. He enjoyed watching her make it a point to learn the names of the locals. She chatted with anyone who approached their table with ideas. He didn’t think she was naturally outgoing because she never initiated contact, but she was friendly with everyone.

After breakfast, he walked her back to his place so she could work on her plans. After she and Oreo were secure inside the house, he opened Phail General.

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