“It’s not to seduce me?” I teased, barely able to keep my head straight.
“Believe me, you’d know if that was what I was up to.” He winked, and against my better judgment, I felt the wall around my heart crumble just a little bit.
Chapter Thirteen
“So what are your thoughts?”
We were sitting at my kitchen table, and I was staring at the contract. There was no downside to the offer, which concerned me. I’d lived in a world with strings attached and when I least expected it, people I trusted tended to pull on them at the very worst time.
But as I stared at the contract, I honestly couldn’t see anything that would come back to bite me.
“Why would your mom ask for so little in exchange?” I asked Chance.
He let out a sigh.
“In all honesty, I think she has her own motives for wanting you close. She likes you.”
“Well, I like her too.” I nodded and looked over the terms.
“Ten percent of my profits just doesn’t seem like it would be worth Hildie’s time. I mean she’d be giving up three hundred square feet of her own store space for my tea? As much lavender product as you guys push through those doors, I’m not sure I wouldn’t be losing money for you.”
This was no doubt an amazing business opportunity, but I hadn’t had the best of luck mixing business and pleasure.
Not that Chance and I had gotten to the pleasure part of any such entanglement but still. . .
“She doesn’t have any minimums for me to reach. What if I have absolutely abysmal sales?”
“She believes in you.” Chance’s gaze stayed on mine. “And so do I. I’ve only put up one flavor from your lavender tea line and we sold out in twenty-four hours.”
I fidgeted uncomfortably, wishing I wasn’t so fearful from past experience.
“Once she opens the Purple Barn, I think she imagines you having a small storefront as part of the gift shop.”
“The Purple Barn? That’s what she’s calling the barn she’s restoring for the lodge?”
He nodded. “It might be a couple years down the road, depending on what the engineers tell us.”
“That’s so cute. The Purple Barn.” I looked down at the contract and slowly nodded. “I’ll only sign if I can write in that I’ll pay a minimum to lease the space.”
Chance ran his fingers across his chin and shook his head. “I know she won’t go for it.”
“How do you know?” My brow quirked.
“Because she told me not to accept any other terms.” His brow quirked to match mine as he stood up and leaned over the table.
“So this is her best and final?” I asked, as he hovered over me, igniting the infamous spark we’d talked about earlier.
The thought of being with him began overshadowing every thought I had.
“Best and final.” He leaned over me, nearly caging me in between his arms when the doorbell rang.
I let out the breath I’d been holding in and cleared my throat. “My parents must have arrived.”
“Do they know about us?” Chance asked, taking a step back so I could get out of the chair.
“What do you mean us?” I stood up and glanced at the pot of coffee that was still half full.
Chance didn’t answer. He just smiled as I wandered out of the kitchen to let my parents inside.
“Come on and open the door. Muppet might freeze to death out here,” my mom hollered through the door.
I heard Chance laugh behind me, and I spun around to see him leaning against the wall that separated the foyer and dining room.
“And so the fun begins,” I whispered, and Chance chuckled.
I opened the door to see my parents standing in about six inches of snow with Muppet on my mom’s shoulder and my dad holding two suitcases.
“Come in,” I said, stepping to the side so they could make their way into my home.
“About time,” my mom grumbled, and I wondered in what universe Holly thought my mom was more relaxed.
“She can only go at the speed of light,” my dad told her, setting down the suitcases before bringing me into a big bear hug. “Good to see you, Maddie. You look so refreshed.”
His hug stopped mid-squeeze when he spotted Chance. My dad took a step back from me, and I turned around to see Chance straighten from the wall.
“Sir, I’m Chance Harlen.” He walked over to my dad and stuck out his hand.
My dad eagerly shook his hand, giving away the excitement that I’d actually made contact with the opposite sex just as my mom turned to look at me with wide eyes.
“Chance Harlen, good to meet you, son.” My dad kept shaking his hand, with no intention of letting go.
“Okay, dad. It’s okay to release him. He won’t disappear if you do.”
Chance laughed and my dad lessened his grip.
“So how long have you two known each other? I don’t remember you saying anything at Thanksgiving about a man.” The way my mom said man made me cringe and wish I were back at Hound Island this very second.
“My family supplies Maddie with the lavender she uses for her teas,” Chance explained. “I was just dropping off a contract.”
My mom’s expression said it all as it slid into a fitful state of mourning.
“And here I thought our Maddie might have found a man.” She sighed.
“Found a man,” Muppet squawked. “Found a man.”
Chance did his very best to hold in his laughter as I glared at the bird I’d never liked.
“So anyway, Holly told me the good news.” I smiled, ignoring Muppet. “I can’t wait to see your new place.”
“Found a man,” Muppet repeated.
“Can you make it stop?” I asked my mom and she laughed, petting her bird.
“Muppet is not an it. You’re hurting her feelings.” She smiled at Chance before turning to my dad. “We’ll let you two finish up. After all, we know how important business is to you.”
“We’re almost done. I’ve just got to sign a couple things.” I gave my mom a hug and Muppet pecked at my scalp. “Ouch. That’s not nice.”
My dad chuckled. “I forgot how blissful my life was on the cruise.”
“I’ll go freshen up and we’ll be down shortly,” my mom said, giving Chance a once over before heading up the stairs with my dad lugging the suitcases right behind her.
“Found a man,” Muppet screeched again. “Found a man.”
“That is one amusing bird,” Chance said, once my parents were upstairs.
“Don’t you dare encourage that bird.” I shot him an evil stare and he returned one equally as frightening. “You wouldn’t.”
“Depends on whether or not I can get you to agree to the terms.”
“You mean the ones that offer absolutely no downside to me whatsoever?”
“Those are the ones.” He sighed and glanced up the stairs. “You know, I think it will be a good thing to have your parents on this island.”
“How do you figure?”
“My hunch is that they will keep you on your toes.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
My parents started laughing and I smiled.
“It’s good to hear them happy. When they arrived here last time, my father was completely beaten up.”
“Well, I can see why. That Muppet is awfully vocal.”
I nodded. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about either.”
“I don’t know. She seems pretty smart to me.” He followed me back into the kitchen. “I mean she was stating the obvious, and many humans choose to ignore what’s right in front of them.”
“Like what?” I crossed my arms in front of me.
“Really?” His brows furrowed. “You want me to repeat what Muppet was saying?”
“Oh, you meant that.” I searched my junk drawer for a pen.
Not finding one I turned around and looked at Chance. The attraction I felt to him was indescribable, yet with every fiber in my body, I
was frightened.
I was scared of what these feelings meant. I was worried about what signing the harmless piece of paper sitting on my table would mean.
And most of all I was anxious about him leaving for Portland.
Chance noticed the concerned look in my eyes and walked over to the open drawer and closed it.
“You don’t have to sign the contract today.” His hands ran up my arms. “But what’s going on? It’s like all of a sudden you became frantic and . . .”
“Remember when I told you I got left at the altar?”
“Kind of hard to forget.” He nodded.
“Well, his family owned a large local bank back in Illinois and I had a business loan through them.” I shifted my weight from one foot to the other.
Vocalizing what that man did to me was extremely uncomfortable. I’d vowed to keep it locked away forever, but there was something about Chance that made me want to reveal things to him. “The bank called my loan after he left me at the altar. Long story short, I lost my business.”
Horror skidded across Chance’s expression. “I’m so sorry. That’s just downright evil.”
“I thought so.” I let out a sigh, but it was like I could breathe easier all of a sudden. “But I didn’t find out about the loan until after my wedding day. When I’d gone back to the condo I’d shared with Mark I found the locks had been changed.”
“Ouch. It just keeps getting worse.” Chance grimaced and slid his hands up and down my arms.
“Yeah, it felt like an endless spiral down to rock bottom. You know when you land at your all time lowest and you don’t think you’ll ever fall beyond that?” I didn’t wait for his response. “I learned it could always get worse.”
And I never intended to tell him what my rock bottom was.
“What I’d love to do to your ex,” Chance said gruffly and I believed him. The look in his eyes was fiercely protective. It wasn’t something I was used to seeing from anyone other than my sister.
“You’d take him down in one shot.” I smiled.
“Is that so?” He looked intrigued.
“He’s a skinny banker. You’re a muscular—”
My father coughed behind us and I chuckled. The parental units really had returned.
“Found a man,” Muppet chirped from the living room, and I shot my eyes toward the ceiling and stared at the glossy white paint, praying they’d just all go to bed or Muppet would choke on some millet and fall over. “Found a man.”
“I’m telling you that bird is smarter than you think,” Chance whispered before turning around to greet my dad.
Chance grabbed his jacket from the kitchen chair and rested it over his arm. “I should get back to my brother’s.” He turned to my dad. “Sir, it was nice to meet you. I look forward to seeing you again. Maddie, don’t feel rushed on that.” He pointed at the contract on the table.
“Okay. Thanks again,” I said, feeling a tightness in my throat. There was so much more I wanted to tell him.
Chance’s gaze stayed on mine, and I realized I really didn’t want him to go anywhere.
“I was actually about to pop in some frozen pizzas. I’d love for you to stay. It’s probably an insult to your cooking, but—” I started and Chance’s smile grew.
“I’d love to.” He looked at my dad. “If you don’t mind. I don’t want to intrude.”
“Not intruding at all. We’re the ones crashing at our single daughter’s.” My dad wiggled his eyebrows, and I realized he could still be just as embarrassing as when I was fifteen.
“He’s moving to Portland, dad.” I turned to the fridge and opened the freezer, searching for the frozen pizza boxes. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
“It’s not certain,” Chance added.
“What takes you down there?” my dad asked.
“A possible restaurant opportunity.”
“Isn’t that a tough business to get into?” My dad took a seat at the table while I plopped the cardboard boxes on the counter.
“Most fail,” Chance said, nodding. “The venture is nothing I take lightly.”
He glanced at the pizza boxes. “Do you have any veggies like bell peppers?”
“I do.” I opened the fridge and felt Chance come up behind me. “And mushrooms.”
How in the world could he take my breath away without doing anything other than existing?
“Oh, some fresh mozzarella? Do you mind?” he asked, reaching his arm over my shoulder and my body trembled.
“Not at all,” I whispered.
I swore I felt his lips ever so softly kiss my ear as he grabbed the items and turned back around. I closed my eyes and shut the door of the fridge. The kiss had to have been my imagination, but when I turned and saw the look in Chance’s eyes, I knew it was no dream.
“Even the most basic of frozen pizzas can be turned gourmet.” Chance’s lips curled up slightly as he realized the effect he had on me.
“I can’t wait to learn from the best.” I told him, reaching for a green pepper and rinsing it under the chilly water.
Chance walked over to the oven and I turned it on.
“Dear, do you have any food? I hate to be a pest, but I’m starving,” my mom said with Muppet still on her shoulder.
“I’m making some frozen pizza.” I eyed the bird and then my mother. “But can you please escort Muppet back to the living room. It kind of grosses me out to have her pooping around the food.”
“I’ve told you she’s potty trained,” my mom said, leaving the kitchen in a huff.
“Don’t fall for that one,” my dad whispered with a grin.
“I thought things had gotten better between you two.”
Chance grabbed the pepper from me and began slicing rounds.
“Oh, things have improved mightily. This is only because she hasn’t seen Muppet for so many weeks while we were away.”
“I suppose.”
“Do you have a grater?” Chance asked.
“Right here.” I opened a drawer and handed it to him.
I unwrapped the plastic from the pizza just as my mom wandered into the kitchen. “I set up Muppet’s cage in front of the television.”
“Perfect. I wouldn’t want her to be bored.” I rolled my eyes and Chance held in his laughter.
“So Chance is moving to Portland,” my father told my mom.
“Is that so?” she sounded extremely disappointed.
“He is. He’s purchasing a restaurant.”
“Possibly,” Chance added. “It’s not a done deal. I’m still looking over the financials.”
I turned around to grab a pizza stone, and my mom nodded her head at me, flashing a thumb’s up sign. I felt my cheeks redden.
I didn’t understand how parents, even at my age, could make me feel so very uncomfortable for really no reason at all. Maybe it was because I knew them so well I understood their full potential.
“How will that affect the lavender business?” my dad asked. “You mentioned Maddie gets her lavender from you.”
“Oh, actually it’s my mom’s farm. I’ve just helped her run it over the years.” Chance sprinkled the peppers and mushrooms on both frozen pizzas before grating fresh cheese on top. “Ready for the oven.”
“I feel so fancy,” I said, sliding the first pizza onto the rack.
“Maddie’s actually going to come down in a couple weeks to see the place.”
“Is that right?” my mom asked, smiling.
“Yup.” I washed my hands and spun around, searching for the towel.
“Very interesting.” My mom sat next to my dad and patted his hand. “Who’s going to run the shop while you’re gone?”
“Holly.”
My mom’s eyes fell to the contract. “What’s this?”
Her mouth began moving to the words, even though she silently read the words before her.
“That’s not yours to view,” my dad said, sliding the paper away, but it was too late.
“Oh.” My mom loo
ked at Chance and then at me. “You’re thinking of expanding your locations?”
“Not exactly,” I stammered, unsure why I was having difficulty.
She frowned. “Haven’t you kind of learned your lesson about mixing business and pleasure?”
And there it was. The reason why I hopped, skipped, and jumped my way out of town. Things just fell out of my mom’s mouth at the wrong time. She wasn’t malicious. She just wasn’t very thoughtful.
“There’s no pleasure between us,” Chance said, waving his hand in front of him.
I cringed and put my forehead in my hand.
“No pleasure between us,” I said quickly. “Only business.”
“Strictly platonic,” he assured my mom.
“It’s really none of our business,” my dad said, elbowing my mom.
“Very true.” My mom looked between Chance and me. “But I want what’s best for my daughter. She’s been fooled before.”
I flipped my head back and groaned. “It’s a good thing Chance knows about all of that, or I’d have an awful lot of explaining to do. You’re absolutely horrible at keeping secrets.”
“He knows everything?” My mom looked surprised.
“Almost everything.”
“You mean there’s more?” Chance asked, looking concerned.
I shrugged.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said under his breath.
“It was awful what they put Maddie through,” my mom started up again. “And I’m not just saying that because she’s my daughter.”
“Hey, did you guys know that the house you’re buying is haunted?” I asked, and Chance sucked in a hiss.
“What are you talking about?” My mom laughed.
“No, seriously. Legend has it that the cottage you guys are about to close on is haunted. Isn’t that right, Chance?” I looked over at him and his eyes stirred with something I wanted so much more of, it almost hurt.
“Rumor has it.” He sucked on his bottom lip and just like he’d mentioned earlier, it suddenly felt like we were the only two people in the world and everything else just drifted away.
Chapter Fourteen
Chance at Love on Mystic Bay (Island County Series Book 6) Page 11
