A Stonecreek Christmas Reunion

by Michelle Major

  Griffin’s fingers stilled on the mouse and he stood. “Took as in stole?”

  Christian held up his hands. “Intellectual property rights are tricky to enforce. He had the idea and the software to support it. I traded him shares in the tree farm for rights to bring LiveSoft to market. Grant was happy as a clam until hurricane season last year. His whole property was wiped out. Poor schmuck.” He moved toward the desk and lowered his voice. “But do you know what the best part is?”

  “No idea.”

  “As part of the app, users input a ton of vital statistics. It’s more than just shopping habits. They enter workouts, grocery lists, sleep cycles, vacation plans and career goals. I know what cars they drive and the value of their homes. It’s all in one place, managed by my company. No one bats an eye, and marketing firms pay huge money for that intel.”

  “Are you allowed to sell it? I thought part of the draw of the app was confidentiality. My brother said he tried to work with you, but there are so many hoops and nondisclosures to be a designated partner.”

  “That’s true.” Christian nodded, and Griffin wanted to wipe the self-satisfied look off his face. “Subscribers pay money because they think we’re protecting them. Marketing firms pay money to get access to our lists. I’m selling data on the back end. It’s a revenue cash cow all the way around.”

  “What happens when your customers realize it?”

  “Dude. Not going to happen.”

  “You think you can keep something like that secret?”

  “I pay my tech guys very well for that secret.”

  Griffin felt his stomach tighten at the thought that his town was getting mixed up with such a crook. Yes, LiveSoft was on top now but what would happen when its shady practices were exposed? He didn’t care how much Christian paid anyone, there was no keeping secrets in this day and age.

  “It’s your business.” Griffin tried not to let his disgust show on his face. “I guess.” Maggie wanted to woo this fraudulent jerk and Griffin wanted to support her no matter what. He only wished there was a way to entice the company but leave its CEO far behind.

  “Yeah, and the board only cares that I’m making money for them. We’re talking about taking the company public once the location for the headquarters is selected. It’s going to make me a very rich man.”

  “Sounds like you could be based in Stonecreek but travel wherever and whenever you want. Best of both worlds.”

  “That’s a good point.” Christian nodded. “It could work out fine, especially if I have someone like Maggie Spencer on my arm.”

  Griffin stepped around his desk. “I don’t think so.”

  “Seriously?” Christian scoffed. “Come on, dude. That woman is hot for me. She’s giving off so many signals she’s more overworked than a traffic light in NYC.”

  “It’s Maggie’s job to make sure you’re happy,” Griffin said through clenched teeth. “She wants to win the competition. You might not care for small-town life, but LiveSoft is an exceptional opportunity for Stonecreek. It matters and, therefore, you matter.”

  “Nah. She likes me. Trust me. I can read women.”

  “What a talent.”

  “I heard she used to be engaged to your brother?”

  Another subject Griffin had no intention of discussing with this man. “Yes.”

  “Do you think he could give me any tips on how to get in her pants? I thought I was close the other night, but she got cold feet.”

  I’m going to kill him, Griffin thought. “Trevor and Maggie have been friends for years,” he answered instead. “Just because the wedding didn’t work out doesn’t mean he’ll help you take advantage of her.”

  “Whoa, there. No one’s taking advantage. Let’s just say...” Christian winked. “A merger between myself and the lovely Ms. Spencer would be mutually beneficial.”

  “Right.”

  “You want to go get a drink?”

  “Not tonight.” Or ever in a million years, he added silently.

  “Too bad. Maggie and I are meeting at O’Malley’s. Maybe we’ll grab dinner after and...” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Who knows where the night will lead.”

  Wait. What?

  “You have a date with Maggie?” he asked and something must have leaked into his tone because Christian frowned.

  “Is that a problem?”

  Hell, yeah. A big one.

  “Nope. But I’m going to take you up on that drink after all. If you don’t mind a third wheel?”

  “No worries, dude. Just be sure to make yourself scarce once she gets a little tipsy. If you know what I mean?”

  He was pretty sure Christian meant he had plans to get Maggie drunk and take advantage of her. No way in hell would Griffin let that happen.

  He still couldn’t understand why Maggie was going out with Christian after the night they’d had together. He hadn’t told her he loved her but he’d made love to her. She had to understand what that meant. Or did she?

  Chapter Eleven

  Maggie walked into O’Malley’s that night, immediately greeted by Chuck and several regulars.

  “Your guys are in the back,” Chuck told her.

  Her tongue suddenly felt too big for her mouth. “My g-guys?” she stammered.

  “It doesn’t seem fair.” Jenna Phillips, one of the bar’s longtime waitresses and Maggie’s former babysitter from when she was a girl, bumped her hip like they were dancing. “I’ve been divorced for five years and can barely scrounge up a date on Match and you’ve got two hot men vying for your attention.”

  Maggie shook her head. “No one is vying for me.”

  Jenna laughed, low and husky from decades of Marlboros. “When was the last time you checked the LiveSoft competition page? I wouldn’t have guessed you’d become the Stonecreek Siren, but I guess it fits. Griffin looked like he wanted to strangle that slick CEO when they walked in earlier.”

  “What is a Stonecreek Siren?” Maggie asked, her head beginning to swim.

  “Who, you mean,” Chuck clarified. “It’s you, darlin’. At least according to the comments on social media.”

  Maggie hadn’t actually viewed any of the latest photos or videos uploaded to the LiveSoft site. Work had been crazy and she’d been too busy at night with her renovation project. She also had to admit that she didn’t relish the idea of watching herself take center stage. She’d asked Morgan to view it and make sure she hadn’t come out looking like a total fool. Her sister reported back that everything was great, but now Maggie realized the teenager probably hadn’t even bothered to look.

  Great. She was the Stonecreek Siren.

  “It’s putting us way ahead on likes and follows,” Brett Russell, one of Stonecreek’s police deputies—off-duty now—reported. “I set it up to get notifications. If we win, we’re hoping some of that increased tax revenue will head in the department’s direction.” He pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket. “We’re up to—”

  “Don’t tell me,” Maggie blurted, holding up a hand. “I’m nervous enough already.”

  “Public voting is only one part of the equation,” Chuck said from behind the bar, as if she didn’t realize that already. “The board and senior management team have to review our proposal. I assume you did a good job on it?”

  Jenna, Brett and the rest of the bar patrons waited for her answer with intense stares.

  She laughed at the thought of being put on the spot by the happy-hour crowd, but nodded at Chuck. “I did my best.”

  No one looked particularly convinced that her best would be good enough, but then Jenna winked. “Did you bring the cameras tonight? Might be some fireworks.”

  “The cameras aren’t mine,” Maggie told them, as if they didn’t know that already. “Christian is here to meet with the town council and spend some time at Harvest, but they won’t film aga
in until Christmas Eve.”

  “What did you get him for Christmas?” Brett asked.

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “I haven’t had time to do any shopping, but Christian isn’t on my gift list. He’s a business colleague.”

  “You went on a date with him,” Jenna pointed out, none too helpfully as far as Maggie was concerned.

  “It was a dinner with his assistant filming the whole time. I didn’t want them to use the footage of Jessica in the pageant. I’m guessing you already know that.”

  “Yeah.” Jenna shrugged. “But it doesn’t go with the Stonecreek Siren bit quite as well.”

  Maggie blew out a frustrated breath. “Chuck, can I get a glass of pinot grigio?”

  The bartender nodded. “On the house, Ms. Mayor. I’m already counting on being the favorite watering hole for the LiveSoft crowd.”

  “No pressure,” Maggie muttered under her breath but gave the burly bar owner a thumbs-up.

  He poured a glass of Harvest Pinot Grigio, and Jenna handed it to her.

  Maggie walked toward the game room at the back of the bar. Christian and Griffin stood on the far side, facing a dartboard that hung on the back wall. Both of them turned as she came around the corner, and a group of men playing pool at a nearby table waved a greeting.

  “Hey,” Christian called. “You want to play the winner?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not much for darts.”

  “Come on,” he coaxed as she moved closer. “I’ll give you some pointers.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. She smiled but shifted away, flicking a gaze at the other patrons and then to Griffin, who was watching her with steely eyes.

  “I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said to him.

  “I bet.”

  Anger and frustration warred in his tone. She wished she could explain that she’d agreed to meet Christian tonight to tell him there could be nothing between the two of them other than friendship. Surely Griffin didn’t think she was interested in the other man after what they’d shared. But she couldn’t cut Christian out of her life in the middle of the competition for his company.

  Maggie took a long swallow of wine before smiling again. “Who’s winning?”

  “Me, of course,” Christian said and she saw Griffin roll his eyes behind the other man’s back. “I thought he was going to take me, but he whiffed the last shot.”

  “He outplayed me,” Griffin said, deadpan, and Maggie realized he was doing all this for her. The knowledge did funny things to her heart. It couldn’t be easy for a man like Griffin to humor a guy he clearly couldn’t stand—schmoozing and glad-handing were skills more aligned with Trevor’s wheelhouse. But he was making the effort because LiveSoft, and therefore its CEO, were important to Maggie.

  “Your Christmas tree looks great,” she said quietly, willing him to understand that this evening wasn’t at all what it appeared from the outside. He’d texted a photo of Joey in front of the scraggly tree, a huge smile on his face and the tree covered in ornaments and colored lights.

  “Thanks.”

  “I need another beer,” Christian announced, oblivious to the tension sparking around him.

  “Jenna should be making her rounds in a few minutes,” Maggie offered.

  “I’ll go the bar,” Griffin said tightly.

  “That’s my bro.” Christian took out his wallet. “You need me to spot you some cash?”

  Griffin shook his head. “This round’s on me. Maggie?”

  “I’m good,” she said, lifting her half-full glass.

  “Indeed you are.” Christian chuckled, the only one of them amused by the innuendo.

  Maggie watched Griffin walk away, wondering why she hadn’t thought to tell him about her plans with Christian earlier. It had seemed inconsequential at the time, but now it felt foolish.

  She took a fortifying breath, tamping down her guilt about the expectations of people in the community and stepped toward Christian. “We need to talk.”

  “That sounds ominous,” he said with a wide grin. “You sure you don’t want to play a round of darts? I can help with your form.” He reached for her, but she stepped back, placing her wineglass on a nearby high-top table.

  “This isn’t a date,” she blurted. “We aren’t dating.”

  His brows drew together. “It feels like a date to me.”

  “No. This situation is new for both of us. The competition complicates things. I like you, Christian.” That wasn’t exactly a lie. He was smart and charming and easy to talk to. Before he’d made it clear he wanted more from her, she’d thought they could be friends. Still, as dedicated as she was to the town, she couldn’t sacrifice her own happiness to win a competition. “But I’m not part of the incentive package.”

  He twirled one of the plastic darts between two fingers. “I thought I made it clear I need a good reason to pick Stonecreek.”

  “Yes,” she agreed slowly. “If you take a look at our proposal, we’ve given you several. Stonecreek is a great fit for your headquarters. We offer low taxes, minimal regulations, a high-quality talent pool, affordable real estate and low living costs. We’d do everything we can to support the entrepreneurial culture at LiveSoft. I hope to get the chance to welcome you to the town.” She pursed her lips then added, “But not to my bed.”

  “Ouch.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Have you seen what they’re calling you online?”

  She shook her head. “I just heard about it.”

  “The folks in Timmins did too. They called about an hour ago with an offer for an additional two million in tax breaks and incentives if LiveSoft comes there.”

  Maggie felt her eyes widen. Timmins was a similar economic makeup to Stonecreek, although with Mount Hood in their backyard, the town relied more heavily on tourism income. Where would they get the reserves to offer that kind of money?

  “That’s generous,” she whispered.

  “I was hoping for generosity of a different sort from you,” he said coolly.

  “That’s funny,” a deep voice said from behind Maggie. “Because with talk like that, it sounds like you’re hoping to get your teeth knocked in.”

  Maggie looked over her shoulder to find Griffin glaring at Christian, a beer bottle clenched in each fist.

  His gaze locked on hers before returning to the CEO. “You need to apologize to Maggie.”

  “Dude, chill out.” Christian transferred the darts to one hand and reached for a beer with the other.

  Griffin placed the two bottles on a table then folded his muscled arms over his chest. “Don’t call me dude. This isn’t Chris and Grif’s excellent adventure.”

  “No doubt,” Christian muttered. “Talk about a buzzkill night.”

  “I think you’re done here,” Griffin said, his voice ominously quiet.

  “Stonecreek Siren?” Christian bit off an angry laugh. She noticed that his eyes looked glassy and wondered how many drinks he’d had tonight. This man was so different than the charismatic company leader she’d met at the beginning of the month. “More like the Stonecreek Tease. I’m disappointed, Maggie. I thought you cared about your town.”

  “I do,” she whispered, glancing around to realize they were beginning to attract the attention of other patrons. Attention Maggie didn’t want or need right now.

  “Prove it.”

  “We’re trying.” She moved toward him so that they hopefully wouldn’t be overheard, tucking her hair behind her ears. “If you think about the people you’ve met in town and the welcome you’ve received. Please spend some time reviewing our proposal. I’m sure you’ll—”

  “I’m not talking about the town.” He leaned in, so close she could smell the alcohol on his breath, something strong and acrid. Not just a few beers at happy hour. “I mean you prove it. I’m going to walk out of this bar right now. My room
number is four twenty-three. I’ll expect you there in—”

  The sound of her open palm smacking his cheek startled her. She gasped as Christian reeled back with a curse. Holding a hand to his face, he lunged forward only to be stopped by Griffin’s hand on his chest.

  Maggie was jostled into a table, the force knocking over her wineglass.

  “Get the hell out,” Griffin growled, his voice like granite.

  “Come on, dude. I’m playing. If she wasn’t so uptight then—”

  Griffin closed his fist on Christian’s shirtfront, wrinkling the expensive fabric. “Out of respect for what your company means to this town, you have thirty seconds to clear out of O’Malley’s. After that, I’m going to escort you out myself. I couldn’t give a damn about your tax revenue, and I know for sure this isn’t the kind of place that tolerates men who talk to a woman like she’s your personal property. I’m sure as hell not going to let you get away with it.”

  There were a few shouts of agreement from the other side of the game room.

  Christian wrenched free from Griffin’s grasp and jabbed a finger in Maggie’s direction. “Is this how you want it to end?”

  “It doesn’t have to end,” she said, automatically going into damage control mode. She ignored Griffin’s snort of derision. “Things got out of hand tonight,” she said. “But don’t throw out everything that’s gone before because of it. We’re the right choice for LiveSoft.”

  She hated the feeling that she was groveling, but what else could she do? She wasn’t about to sleep with the CEO to guarantee a win, yet she had to at least try to smooth the waters between them. “Our relationship isn’t over.”

  Christian looked at her and then Griffin as if seeing them with fresh eyes. Understanding dawned and his mouth curled into a sneer. “Think again, sweetheart.” He practically spat the words at her before storming past.

  The bar was silent other than a classic Bob Seger song playing from the speakers.

  Maggie drew in several long breaths then righted the wineglass with trembling fingers.

  “Don’t worry about that, hon.” Jenna was beside her the next moment. “I’ll clean it up.”