Page 49 of 40 and (Tired of) Faking It
“Looks?” She certainly had more than one fantasy about his looks. “His money? He’s certainly got the presence to command a room, and that includes every woman in it.”
“Exactly,” Evan agreed. “There’s bound to be rumors about someone like that. Don’t take it personally, Lily.”
Oh, she didn’t plan to. Not anymore. Nor was she going to take it sitting down.
Evan stood and came around the desk to stand in front of her, concern staring out of his eyes. “You’re a great mayor; you know that, right? And a great woman. I’ve learned a lot having the privilege to work for you, not the least of which is to admire you very much. If people have a problem with you dating, let them. Your work speaks for itself.”
It warmed her heart that Evan would take the time to give her that reinforcement. She squeezed his hand as a quick thank-you before moving toward her office. “I need to get my remarks ready for tonight’s meeting.”
“You really think this is a good option for the town?”
She stopped, turning back to him. Whatever her answer, she knew Evan would believe her, as would others. Which was why she’d thought long and hard about her response.
“I have faith that JD is going to keep the town in mind as he develops. That’s the best we can hope for.”
“He holds our fate in his hands,” Evan said. “I hope he recognizes the enormous responsibility that is. One project like this, and a town this small… It’s a huge deal.”
“It is.” She pushed her hair behind her ear. “Come to the meeting tonight and listen to what he has to say. Make up your own mind. Whatever the town decides, I’ll support, but yes, I do think this is a good deal.”
She truly believed that. Things would be changing in the future, one way or another. She just needed to make sure all the options were presented so the planning commission could make their decision with full knowledge of what this deal would mean going forward.
“Could you run interference for me today? I want to make sure I’m thoroughly prepared for tonight.”
Evan’s grin gave him a boyish look far younger than his years. “Sure. Always happy to interfere with people who want to give you a hard time.”
She laughed. “And I definitely appreciate that.” She entered her office, circling the desk to put her purse away. Instead of sitting immediately, she walked over to the window and stared outside. The weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders. It felt good. She believed she was doing her best for every person walking below her.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t worried about the outcome, but she’d accept whatever that outcome was. For now, though, she had work to do.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lily had been avoiding him. He’d called her cell three times, none of which had been answered. Same with work. She wasn’t returning messages. He’d even dropped by her office on the way to the meeting, but Evan had informed him that she was already out for the day. He was smart enough to know why she was pulling away, but that didn’t mean he was going to let it go. Or let her go.
That’s right. John David Lane was finally on the hook. And he couldn’t be happier about it.
Now he just had to make sure Lily was caught too.
Walking toward the conference center where the planning commission meeting was being held, he glanced around at the crowd, seeing some welcoming faces and some not so welcoming, but he was used to that. He hadn’t gotten this far in the development business without people being unhappy with him. He was tempted to tell them they’d be even more unhappy if Lily hadn’t interfered, if she hadn’t changed his mind about the town. If she hadn’t mitigated the sour memories of his grandparents with proof that this town was worth investing in. Until Lily, this had all been about the resort. His dream project.
Now it was about the resort and Black Wolf’s Bluff. There was room for both, and he intended to prove it.
In the wide foyer that extended the length of the building, JD moved through the crowd until finally, near the doors to the meeting room, he spied Lily speaking with Erin. His woman was dressed for battle—a slim black pencil skirt, silky blue camisole, and a killer jacket that showed exactly how professional she was. It did great things for her narrow waist too. And he’d bet when she turned around, that skirt had a slit that would reveal things that made him salivate. But that was for later. For now he moved toward her, determined not to let her get away, not before he said his piece.
“Lily.”
She turned her head, pretty hazel eyes widening as she took him in from head to toe. He’d never been so grateful for Tom Ford. Then the warmth that he’d come to expect from her each time she laid eyes on him made its appearance, and his chest expanded in response.
“I need to speak to you.”
Lily turned back to Erin. “I’ll see you inside, okay?”
Erin’s smile exuded both support and, when it turned on JD, amusement. She took the time to pat JD’s bicep on her way past. “About time you showed up.”
And what exactly did that mean?
Rather than ask, he moved into Lily’s space, using the width of his shoulders to block out the rest of the room. “What’s going on with you? You haven’t answered the phone all day.”
“I know.” She clasped her hands together in front of her, clutched hard to her stomach, almost as if she was holding herself back. “JD…” She took a deep breath, seeming to gather her words. “We need to talk. I know we do. And I want to; I really do.” And he could see, despite her justifiable distraction, that she meant it. “We’ll talk after the meeting’s over, but for now I need to put my job first.”
