Page 6 of 40 and (Tired of) Faking It
She shifted in her seat slightly, her gaze going to the wall of windows along one side of her office. In the bright sunlight her hazel eyes sparkled with hints of gold. “That’s a lot of plans.”
“It is.” He waited patiently, forcing his gaze to stay on hers rather than dropping to the pink bottom lip she worried between white teeth.
Finally her gaze shifted back to meet his. “Also a lot of staffing. A restaurant alone, much less lodging and the outdoor concerns… You said you intend to house staff in the mansion. So you’ll be bringing them in from outside of town?”
“Of course. I’ve already reached out to liaise with a few reputable firms in Asheville and Nashville in that regard.”
Those pretty hazel eyes narrowed on him. “But not locally.”
It wasn’t a question when, really, it should be. “Ms. Easton, surely you can understand that our supply and staffing needs will be far beyond what Black Wolf’s Bluff could possibly—”
“What I understand is that you can use our town, but not the people in it.”
He frowned. He was losing her, but he wasn’t sure why. She was an intelligent woman. She should understand this. Black Wolf’s Bluff was a one-horse—or one-McDonald’s—town. What could they provide that a five-star resort would need?
“Certainly we’ll have some lower-level positions that would be appropriate for…”
“Teens out of school for the summer?” She pursed her lips, clasped her hands, and leaned her elbows on her desk. “We have far more resources than a handful of teenagers, JD. Just because we choose to stay in a rural area doesn’t mean we don’t have valuable, even five-star-worthy skills to offer. The planning commission may very well put a halt to any proposals that could cause crowding and strain on Black Wolf’s Bluff. The least you could offer is a significant jobs investment in return.”
He hadn’t truly considered the possibility of local skills. If he was honest, he hadn’t considered the people here much at all beyond a low-level resentment that they hadn’t known what terrible people his grandparents had been. He hadn’t even gone to school here—his grandparents had servants who’d driven him to private schools through elementary; then he’d been shipped to boarding schools until graduation and his move to Columbia. He didn’t personally know a single individual in town. Even his grandparents’ lawyer was located in Nashville.
While he’d been considering her words, Lily also seemed to be doing some thinking. When she broke the silence, he jerked his focus from the desk to meet her gaze. “Your grandparents haven’t troubled themselves with the running of Black Wolf’s Bluff for several years, but I knew your grandmother’s death was bound to bring changes.” A sigh escaped her. “The Lanes have a reputation for being ambitious and accomplishing anything they set their mind to. I’ve had no time to research your company—though I’ll definitely be doing so—”
He let a grin slip through. “Of course.” He retrieved a business card from his wallet and slid it across the desk.
Lily took the card without glancing at it, tapping the edge of the thick paper against her desk. “That being said, I have very little doubt that you don’t know what you’re doing, JD. I’m not going to try convincing you not to build. But…”
Lily stopped, considering him another moment. JD waited patiently for her judgment.
“You said you could help me,” she finally said, “and I think you’re right. But not me; our town. But that’s not all. I think we can help you too.”
She thumbed her computer on, pulled up a digital calendar, and spent a moment considering it. He held his breath. “The planning commission meets in one week.” She closed the program and swiveled back to face him. “Give me that week. Let me prove that the resources you need for your resort are right here, in Black Wolf’s Bluff. Whether you choose to make use of them is up to you, but if you give me this week, I think I can change your mind. And I’ll consider backing you when the planning board meets.”
She stood from behind her desk and held out her hand. “Do we have a deal?”
JD stood, anticipation thickening his blood. He thought it was anticipation of a challenge, but when he took Lily’s hand and their skin slid along one another’s, the surge settled in his groin, tightening his cock behind his zipper. Surprise had his grip tightening.
Lily’s eyes widened, her gaze dropping to their joined hands. Her throat worked as she swallowed hard. “Well?” she asked, dragging her eyes back to his.
This woman was dangerous—to his plans or his focus or both, he was no longer sure.Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,wasn’t that how the saying went?
He realized he was stroking the skin beneath his thumb, savoring its softness. This time he was the one who swallowed hard. “You’ve got a deal, Mayor Easton.”
He just prayed he could keep it without giving in to the unexpected attraction between himself and the lady mayor.
Chapter Four
Casa Blanca was quieting down from the lunch rush by the time Lily made it to her meet up with Erin. From across the restaurant, she caught sight of her friend at their usual table, her thick brown hair pulled back in a simple ponytail, her tall, athletic body encased in a flannel shirt that somehow didn’t make her look like a lumberjack, which was how Lily felt every time she wrapped herself in the comfy fabric. She held what was probably a margarita in her hand as she perused the menu, something both of them did every week when they met here, despite ordering the same exact thing every time.
What was that DeeDee had said this morning about being stuck in a rut?
As she approached their usual table, Erin picked up her icy purple drink and took a generous sip. When she spied Lily, she lifted the drink high in salute. “Happy birthday!”
“Shh!” Lily tossed her purse onto the bench seat and slid in behind it. “If anyone comes out here with a huge sombrero to put on my head and sing happy birthday in Spanish while everyone stares, I’ll seriously hurt you.”
Erin giggled, bringing her drink to her lips. Lily noticed it was only half full. “How about a margarita instead?”
As if summoned by magic, Maria’s son, Adrian, appeared at the table, a twin to Erin’s drink in hand. “For you, Ms. Lily.”
