Page 11 of A Gingerbread Romance

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Greta’s nervescontinued to escalate as Jonathan removed his suit jacket and took a seat at the center of the table, several spots to her right. Her eyes fell to his spotless white dress shirt, the square jaw of his handsome face. The surge of attraction was so strong she almost flushed. The man was hot. She swallowed and forced her eyes away from the hard muscles of his torso.

Jonathan introduced the other realtor at the table, Silvio’s representative, and Greta composed herself.

What a strange coincidence, this meeting. She still didn’t know what to think of it. Still, something seemed off. What could this be about? He’d mentioned he worked in real estate.

“So, I want to thank you all for coming today,” Jonathan continued, and Greta saw a bead of sweat beginning to form over his perfect brow.

She ran a hand through her hair and crossed her legs, trying not to stare.

The room went silent again as Jonathan proceeded to explain how the buildings, both of them, side by side, in which the tenants now present housed their businesses, were in the process of being purchased by a limited liability corporation. The LLC was composed of Brett something or other and Elaine—Smith, was it? The unfamiliar man and woman at the table.

Greta had seen the ‘for sale’ signs in the buildings’ windows over the last several months, small and discreet, but she hadn’t thought much about them. She’d had too many other things to worry about.

Jonathan made a big deal about introducing his clients, but because her insides were waving yellow flags, Greta could barely find it in herself to crack a smile.

That meant these people would be her new landlords, though, didn’t it? She forced a pleasant nod.

But Jonathan looked worried. And if he was worried, should she be worried, too?

Did the sale have something to do with her? She leased the space, and so did everyone else in the room. Nothing had to change just because the owner was changing, right?

Greta’s thoughts scattered as she tried to focus. Jonathan was explaining now that Brett and Elaine’s LLC had leased Lennie’s and Nancy’s retail sites to a corporation from Baltimore.

Wait—what?Her eyes shot wide.

Lennie had already decided to close his novelty shop and take an early retirement? His lease was up at the end of the month, according to Silvio, and the rent the LLC would be charging if he wanted to stay—a scenario that they obviously didn’t favor—would be completely unaffordable given his store’s meager annual earnings.

Jonathan sounded pained as he finished explaining the details. Greta glanced at Lennie.

Poor Lennie. Her heart ached for him.

A pained expression was exchanged, this time between Silvio and Lennie, as Silvio mouth the wordsI’m sorryto Lennie.

Greta’s jaw gaped once more as Brett told everyone about the new tenants. They were restauranteurs who’d be putting in a new eatery with a somewhat high-priced chef. B List for sure, but still pretty impressive for New Haven Falls, right?

Greta wanted to raise her hand, ask questions. A pit in her stomach began to form, but she waited as Elaine took the floor.

The new place would sport the latest trends in dining, Elaine revealed with excitement, including outdoor sidewalk seating in the spring and summer and live acoustic sets on the weekends. The property value of the block would rise quite a bit by the time the project was complete.

Greta crossed her arms. In spite of Lennie’s store closing, all of that sounded great if only she weren’t bracing for what they were going to say about her building, her business, her rent.

For a moment, as Elaine went on about the numbers they’d run to see if the population of New Haven Falls could support another eatery like this, Greta had been thrilled to hear that it could. That would mean maybe her business would bounce back this year, too, if a new restaurant went in because it would bring even more foot traffic. Would they need to stay open later?

She swallowed over the lump in her throat as Jonathan stole a glance at her. His gaze said it all.I’m so, so sorry.

He was responsible for this deal, and this was the work he’d referred to last night, wasn’t it? Why hadn’t he told her then? How could he have kept this from her?

The discussion moved on to Nancy next. She’d also chosen to vacate the property. Her small boutique clothing store couldn’t compete with the plans the couple’s LLC had for the building. Furthermore, the restaurant tenants wanted to knock down a few walls to extend the dining room and install an even larger kitchen than the original plans had outlined. So, they wanted her space, too.

The second floor of that building was already empty. Silvio hadn’t been able to rent it for the past year, as it turned out, so there was no issue.

Apparently, the entire deal had already been inked and was only being formally announced today.

Greta’s hands began to sweat. What was coming next? She and Lily exchanged a worried look. Lily looked as clueless and concerned as Greta felt, so Greta reached below the table, grabbed her hand, and gave it a squeeze. Lily squeezed back, and Greta put her hands back in her lap.

“The reason we’ve asked you to be here today, Ms. Ross and Ms. Stalworth,” Jonathan went on, and Greta noticed he didn’t make eye contact with her as he spoke the words, “is because Brett and Elaine have a similar requirement for each of you due to the purchase of your building.”

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