Evie's Awakening: A Sweet, Small Town Romance (Love in Holiday Junction Book 3)

by Tami Franklin

  “Oh, I see.”

  “I knew you would.” He grinned. “Now, do you want to come in for a nightcap?” He wiggled his eyebrows, and Evie felt suddenly nauseated. How had she thought of this man as a friend? As maybe more?

  “Sorry, I don’t have time,” she replied. “I have to make some calls to stop the demolition tomorrow.”

  It took him a few seconds to comprehend that. “Stop it? Why?”

  She leaned in. “Because we’re moving forward with Tobara two-point-oh,” she said with a wicked grin. “Well, when I say we, I mean me, of course.”

  “Of course?” He looked so confused, Evie almost felt bad for him.

  “And Hart Enterprises. Did I mention, my father’s named me CEO to replace him?”

  “He has?”

  “He has.” She picked a piece of lint off her sleeve. “Oh, and Gray?”

  “Yes?”

  “You’re fired.”

  “Here, have a sign,” Lena said, holding out a placard reading, No Condos, No Thanks!

  Liam took it with a small smile. “Good turnout,” he said, taking in the crowd around him. “I can’t believe you got this organized so quickly.”

  Compared to the first protest at the textile factory, which consisted of Lena and a handful of others chaining themselves to the front door, this one was standing room only. Despite the fact the sun had yet to rise, almost all of Holiday Junction had turned out, filling the sidewalk along the front fence and spilling into the road. TV crews were set up across the street, lights illuminating the crowd and casting long shadows on the ground, and reporters circulated through the crowd, grabbing sound bites before the official protest began.

  “People care,” Lena said with a shrug, before moving off to hand out more signs.

  It was a little after five-thirty in the morning, and Mandy Harris had a few of her baristas wandering through the crowd, handing out coffee. Liam took a cup with a grateful smile and sipped the hot brew, wincing when he burned the roof of his mouth.

  “Didn’t expect to see you here.” Gage Turner appeared next to him, in uniform, watching over the proceedings with a practiced eye.

  “Could say the same about you, Chief,” Liam replied. He took another sip of coffee. “It may not do any good, but I couldn’t sit out while everyone else took a stand, could I?”

  “You never know. It’s worth a shot,” he said. “Lena promised to stay off the property this time, at least. I’d hate to have to arrest her again.”

  Liam huffed out a laugh. “You’d actually arrest your girlfriend?”

  Gage smirked. “Only as a last resort.”

  Liam laughed. “Well, I think this will be a pretty peaceful demonstration,” he said. “I don’t see anyone chaining themselves to a wrecking ball, not even Lena.”

  “Yeah.” Gage sighed. “She’s trying to stay positive, but I think we all know this is a last-ditch effort. Things will be changing around here. I guess there’s only so much you can do to fight it.”

  Liam nodded. “Yeah. I don’t have to tell you I wish things had gone differently.” He could see Lena talking with Vi up on a makeshift stage. “I wish—”

  He wished a lot of things. That he hadn’t trusted Evie Hart. That he had the killer instinct necessary to fight a behemoth like Hart Enterprises.

  That he hadn’t been such an fool.

  Gage seemed to read his mind. He placed a heavy hand on Liam’s shoulder. “You know no one blames you, right?”

  Liam shrugged, his gaze falling to the ground. “Maybe they should.”

  “You played by the rules. You were honest and did the right thing,” Gage said, his jaw tight. “It’s not your fault that they didn’t.”

  “But I should’ve—”

  “Should’ve what?” Gage interrupted. “Everyone in this town knew that fighting Hart was a long shot. He’s got the money, the power. There was only so much anyone could have done. And that includes you.” He gave his shoulder a squeeze and then released it. “You’re not a miracle worker.”

  “May I have your attention, please!” Lena said, her voice crackling through the portable microphone setup. “Quiet down, everyone!”

  She waited a few moments for them to comply before continuing.

  “Okay, remember, this is simply a show of protest,” she said. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt or to do anything illegal.” She did a quick scan of the area until she found Gage and gave him a little smile. He huffed out a quiet laugh.

  “The demolition crew should arrive in about—” Lena checked her watch. “Fifteen minutes or so. We have someone watching at the highway turnoff and we’ll start chanting when we get word they’re almost here. They thought they’d sweep in here early and tear this place down before we knew what was happening, but they thought wrong!”

  Applause and cheers rang out and Liam marveled that the protest had more of a celebratory feel than one of defeat. He supposed this had brought the town together, and maybe that was something to celebrate, even if they hadn’t gotten the outcome they’d hoped for.

  “Stay together and stay safe, everyone,” Lena said, once the noise died down. “They may have won this battle, but we want them to know we’re not going down quietly!”

  “Well, that’s my cue,” Gage said with a yawn. “Gotta get the crowds out of the street. I’ll see you later, Liam.”

  He nodded. “Chief.”

  Gage wandered off, sneaking a kiss from a blushing Lena before he met up with his officers and a few volunteers who would be keeping the crowd under control.

  Liam leaned against the fence and sipped his coffee, waiting.

  Half an hour later, he was still waiting.

  The crowd was getting restless, he could see them checking their watches, tapping at their phones, wondering what was taking so long. After a few more minutes, he wound his way through the crowd to where Lena was standing next to the stage, talking with Kade and Vi.

  “What’s going on?” he asked her. “Why the delay?”

  “I have no idea,” Lena replied. “I just called Tony down at the turnoff, and he hasn’t seen anyone yet.”

  “Maybe they’re trying to wait us out,” Vi said. “Hoping people will have to leave, and the media will lose interest.”

  If that was the hope, by seven o’clock, they were getting their wish. The TV crews started packing up, and at Lena’s dejected look, Liam crossed the street to see what he could find out.

  “Big fire at the cannery off I-87,” one of the reporters told him. “Sorry, but the news doesn’t wait.” By seven-fifteen, they were all gone, and the crowd had dwindled by about a third.

  “You know they planned this,” Lena said, lip curled in irritation. “They delayed it, knowing we couldn’t keep this up.” She sighed and Gage wrapped an arm around her shoulders, kissing her head.

  “There’s still a big crowd,” Liam said. “And some of us will stick around for the long haul, you know that.” His phone buzzed, and he was surprised to see Arthur Callahan’s name come up on the Caller I.D.

  “Sorry, I should take this,” he said, unsure what the man could possibly have to say to him. He turned and walked a few steps away. “Hello?”

  “It’s over,” Callahan said.

  Liam frowned. “What’s over?”

  “The demolition,” he replied. “Dan over at McCormick’s Demo just called me. Said Hart called it all off.”

  “Wait, what?” Liam shook his head, feeling a bit slow. “So they are delaying it?”

  “Nope, not a delay,” Callahan said. “Dan says they got word from the top that the mill’s staying. I guess you’ve won.”

  “But that doesn’t make any sense,” Liam said. “Why would they do that?”

  “Guess you better ask Evie Hart,” Callahan replied. “Dan said the call came directly from her.”

  Liam’s heart thumped heavily in his chest. “Okay, thanks, Callahan,” he said weakly, disconnecting the call.

  “Liam?” Lena called out t
o him. “Is everything okay?”

  He turned and approached them, still stunned. “It’s over,” he said. “They’ve called off the demolition.”

  “What?” She gaped at him in shock.

  “I don’t get it either,” he replied. “But it sounds like Evie stopped it.”

  “That can’t be,” she said. “Are you sure? How do we know this isn’t another trick?”

  “McCormick’s is the only demolition team within a hundred miles,” he said. “Callahan says they were told the whole project’s been called off. There’s no reason for Hart to change teams. They’d already won.”

  “Callahan said this?” Gage said, glancing over to where his officer was monitoring the crowd, not looking in their direction.

  Liam winced. “He’s not going to get in any trouble, is he?”

  Gage laughed. “You think I don’t know he moonlights?” he asked. “Nah, he’s fine. And if he says it’s off, then it’s off. He wouldn’t say it unless he was sure.”

  Liam’s mind whirled. “He said Evie called it off personally.” He was aware of them all watching him carefully, but he couldn’t even focus on it. “Why would she do that?”

  Vi reached out to touch his arm. “I can think of one reason,” she said quietly.

  Liam cleared his throat, a rush of adrenaline surging through him. “I need to go talk to her,” he said.

  “I’m afraid she’s gone,” Gage replied, his brow furrowed.

  “Gone?” Liam blinked.

  “Left yesterday on that plane of hers,” he said. “Back to New York, I assume.”

  “Oh.” And just like that, the adrenaline fled, leaving him deflated . . . hopeless. She was gone. And his last words to her had been so harsh. Yes, he’d been angry, but that was no excuse. She had a job to do, and maybe she was telling the truth that she’d had no idea what Sparks had been up to. He hadn’t even given her a chance to explain.

  He’d cut her off, turned his back . . . and Evie had responded by calling a halt to the project that meant everything to her.

  “Go after her,” Lena said.

  “What?”

  She rolled her eyes. “She hasn’t left the planet, Liam. Get on a plane and go after her.”

  “He could just call her,” Gage said.

  “Call her?” Lena shook her head. “No way, Sheriff. This has to be done in person.”

  “But—” Liam said.

  “Does Lester Jenkins still have that helicopter?” Vi asked Kade.

  “Yeah. I actually saw him earlier,” he replied, scanning the crowd. “There he is. I’ll go grab him.”

  “What are you—” Liam watched Kade go.

  “There’s a flight leaving Seattle at nine-thirty,” Lena said, checking her phone. “If you leave now, Lester can get you to Sea-Tac in time.”

  “Now?” Liam wasn’t sure exactly what was happening. Lena grabbed one arm and Vi the other, propelling him toward Lester Jenkins’ ancient pickup. Kade and Lester walked up as they reached the truck.

  “Heard you need a lift to Seattle,” Lester said.

  Everyone was staring at Liam, waiting for a response. “I guess I do,” he said slowly.

  “Well, get in and let’s get going,” the old man said, hitching up his pants as he circled to the driver’s side. Liam got in and rolled down the window, breathing deeply as he tried to calm his racing pulse.

  As they drove away, he heard Lena’s voice crackling over the loudspeaker. “Attention everyone. We’ve won!”

  The crowd broke out in cheers and Lester ground the gears, racing down the street.

  What was he doing?

  Liam stood in the elevator, fingers drumming nervously against his thighs as he watched the numbers light up overhead. He had no idea where Evie lived, or how to find her. In fact, he really didn’t have a plan beyond trying to call her once he’d landed at JFK. To his surprise, a man in a black suit had been waiting for him at the gate and led him to a sleek, black car. Apparently, while Liam had been on the plane, someone back home had tracked down Evie’s brother, Niko, and called him to explain the situation.

  “Mr. Hart said I should bring you straight to Hart Tower,” the driver had told him as he pulled away from the curb.

  “I forgot about the time change.” Liam checked his watch. “It’s after six. Will she still be there?”

  “Ms. Hart rarely leaves the office before eight,” he’d replied, navigating the bumper-to-bumper traffic with ease. When he finally pulled to a stop in front of Hart Tower, Liam had looked up at the skyscraper, awed by the towering structure and wondering where Evie was amidst all of the concrete and glass. Now, he was mere moments from seeing her, and he still had no idea what he was going to say.

  The elevator doors opened and he walked out, his feet sinking into the plush carpet as he took in the gleaming glass and wood, the Hart Enterprises logo on the far wall above a large reception desk. Niko Hart stood leaning against the desk, and when he spotted Liam, straightened and approached him quickly.

  “You made it,” he said.

  “Yeah.” Liam sucked in a breath and blew it out in a huff. “I can’t believe I’m here, actually.”

  Niko laughed. “Well, that makes two of us.”

  “Thanks for sending the car,” Liam said.

  “No problem.” Niko grinned. “That Lou Chalmers is a force of nature. She wore down my assistant until she put the call through. I’m glad she did.”

  “Me too.” Liam cleared his throat. “So . . . is she here?”

  “She’s here. Come on.”

  Niko led him past the desk and down a long hallway. He stopped before a half-open door, glancing at Liam before tapping on the frame. “Evie?”

  “Yes?”

  At the sound of her voice, Liam’s stomach took a dive roll.

  “Someone here to see you.” Niko stepped back and gestured toward the office with a flourish. “Good luck,” he murmured to Liam as he passed.

  Liam swallowed thickly and walked into the room. Evie was studying something on her desk, running a silver pen quickly down the page. She didn’t look up, and he cleared his throat.

  “Niko, I’m really busy, so if you could get to the point—” She looked up, finally, and froze. “Liam?”

  “Hi,” he said.

  “What are you doing here?” She set down the pen and clenched her hands together on top of the desk, knuckles white. “Is everything all right? Did something happen—”

  “No, no, everything’s fine.” He moved forward, vaguely aware of the door closing behind him. “I, uh.” Liam’s gaze darted around the room, taking in the paneled walls, the windows overlooking the city, the opulence of it all. “You called off the demolition,” he said finally.

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Evie spread her hands out before her atop the desk, the papers she’d been working on crinkling slightly. “In the end, it made good business sense.”

  Liam wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but that wasn’t it. “It did?”

  She nodded. “Integrated, sustainable architecture is the wave of the future,” she said. “Yes, in the short term, it may cost more, but in the long run, it establishes Hart Enterprises as an innovative company, with an eye on the horizon. I only had to convince my father and the investors of the viability of such a plan, and they quickly agreed.”

  He stared at her. She seemed so different here in her own environment. So professional.

  Where was the girl who’d mucked out his stalls? Who’d laughed at him with flour in her hair and custard on her nose?

  “So, the textile mill—” he said.

  “Will remain intact,” she replied, tucking her hands under the desk, then, as if thinking better of it, linking them together in front of her again. “I went over the alternate plan designed by Abby, and everyone’s on board.” She licked her lips. “I know you think I lied to you all—”

  “I don’t—” he said quickly. “I mean, I did, but . .
.”

  “I fired Gray,” she said, stiff and straight in her executive chair, hair perfectly arranged, her face still as a mask. “My father agreed with me that’s not how we do business. Not anymore, at least.”

  That made Liam curious. “So, you’re okay, then.”

  “Okay?” She tipped her head in confusion. “I’m fine,” she said. “I’ve been named the next CEO. Once my father retires, the company’s all mine.”

  And with that, all Liam’s hope fizzled away. “That’s . . . that’s great.”

  “Right,” she said quietly. “So, in the end, I guess we both win. You get to keep your textile mill—”

  “And you get everything you’ve always wanted,” he said, wishing it wasn’t true. Wishing there was more that she wanted than what was in this building, this office.

  Wishing she wanted him.

  “Evie, I—”

  She stood suddenly, moving behind her chair, holding it before her like a shield. “I have to say I enjoyed my time in Holiday Junction more than I expected,” she said with a bright smile, even though it seemed a bit forced. “I guess I have you to thank for that. So, thank you.”

  Liam swallowed. “Do you think you might come back? For a visit, or . . . I know everyone would love to see you.”

  Evie looked away, her fingers tightening on the back of the chair. “Oh, I’d love to, but I doubt it will be possible,” she said. “I have so many responsibilities now. My father’s handing over a lot of his projects and once he retires . . .” The words hung in the air, and Liam felt a rush of disappointment.

  It really was over.

  “Of course,” he said with a nod, swallowing all the things he wanted to say.

  Come with me.

  Stay with me.

  I love you.

  “I really am grateful,” she said, and did he see a glimmer of tears in her eyes, or was it a trick of the light? “My time in HJ changed my life.” She swiped a hand across her cheek and her gaze dropped to the floor. “I’ll never forget it.”

  And in that moment, a sharp pain pierced Liam’s heart and he watched her for a long moment, taking in her hair, her skin, when she finally looked up, her eyes, sparkling and damp. Committing it all to memory for one last time.