Page 38 of Buried Roots

I give her a one-eyebrow salute. “Cheers to that but with a different drink.”

“Here.” She takes the Cosmo and downs it before her face puckers, and she shivers. “Let’s go get another.”

“You rock.”

With a gin and tonic in hand, Dakota says, “So, have you spied any guys to hook up with? I mean, it’s a wedding.”

Humoring Dakota, I scan the room, spotting what I deem to be a decent candidate. “What’s his deal?” I lower my voice. “Four o’clock.”

“Nope. Not Calvin.” Her face squishes like she’s swallowed a nasty bug. “He ate glue. In high school.”

“Tell me you’re kidding,” I choke out through a cough.

Dakota purses her lips and whacks my back. “I wish.” After a glance behind me, she says, “I have someone you have to meet.”

She waves, and a woman in a suit approaches, her silver hair in a high bun. Dakota says, “Hello, Mayor Rosen. This is Willow Dawson, the woman restoring the Underwood estate.”

The mayor smiles at me, extending her ochre hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Dawson. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about the estate—it’s an important part of Violet Moon’s history.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Mayor Rosen.” I can’t believe the mayor knows about me. “What would you like to know about the estate?”

Dakota quietly slips away, and Mayor Rosen says, “Do you have any buyers for the house yet?”

“I don’t.” My stomach flip-flops.

Her mouth curves. “The city of Violet Moon might be interested in purchasing it. For part of our growing tourism program.”

My smile has to meet my eyes. “That’d be amazing. I’d love for the town of Violet Moon to enjoy the Château.”

“It would have to be designated as a landmark with new purpose for the state of Georgia, not just the town of Violet Moon. Meaning it must be approved by Georgia’s Secretary of State, and there are much stricter requirements.”

“Wow, okay. I’d need to know those right away.” I force myself not to fidget with my hands.

“Come by my office Monday morning? I’ll make sure my assistant squeezes you into the schedule.”

“Sounds perfect.” I’m so excited, there’s an actual buzz in my ears.

“Great. It was nice meeting you, Ms. Dawson.”

“Same.” I realize I could be working on a dream I didn’t even know I had until now—creating a landmark retreat for the entire state of Georgia.

As soon as Mayor Rosen walks away, Dakota reappears like magic. “So, how’d it go?”

“Um, thank you!” I pull her into a hug.

She gives me a squeeze before pulling away. “So, it went well, then.”

“She’s meeting with me Monday morning. I owe you, big time.”

“Nope. This is just what we do for each other. And honestly, if the city buys it, we all win.”

“True. I like the way you think.”

When Owen approaches, Dakota turns to him, her eyes brightening. “Owen.” Her voice goes uncharacteristically high as she goes in for a big hug.

After they pull away, Owen clears his throat. “How have you been?”

“Great.” Dakota turns to me and flashes her pearly whites. “Owen and I met when we were both seven years old. I caught him eating mud pies behind the hay bales at the Graham County Fair.”

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