by Judy Duarte
At that, his grin returned, recreating a pair of dimples that threatened to unravel her. And Ellie rarely let things get to her. She glanced at her wristwatch. Had she stayed at the grand opening long enough? Could she find an excuse to cut out now?
As one of the servers walked by with several more flutes, Steven motioned for the man to come over.
“Here,” he told the server, as he placed one of the glasses back on the silver tray. “Can I trade you for one of the apple ciders?”
“Absolutely, Mr. Fortune.” He reached for a single flute, its contents a bit darker than the rest, and gave it to him. “Here you go, sir.”
Steven thanked him, then handed the sparkling juice to Ellie and lifted his glass of champagne in a toast. “To Rambling Rose.”
She would have been hard-pressed to join him in celebrating the Fortune brothers’ latest venture, but how could she not drink to the town she loved?
She clinked her glass to his, setting off the rich, resonating sound of fine crystal, which only served to remind her of the wealth that threatened to turn her beloved Rambling Rose into a metropolis.
Still, she took a sip of the sweet bubbly.
What would Steven say if she told him the real reason she’d passed on an alcoholic drink? Not that it mattered. He’d find out soon enough. And so would her parents.
Her gut clenched at the thought of the loving couple she’d tried so hard to make proud. It would kill her to see the disappointment in their eyes.
“Hey,” Steven said, “what’s with the turned-up nose? Did you get a bad pour? Bitter champagne instead of sweet cider?”
Ellie hadn’t meant to let her thoughts alter her expression, let alone her demeanor, especially at a public event. So she forced a carefree grin and tried to laugh it off. “No, the drink is fine. I’m fine. It’s just that I... Well, a weird thought crossed my mind, and I drifted off for a moment. That’s all. No big deal.”
But it wasn’t just a fleeting thought that had stolen her away from the present and set off a flurry of concern. It was cold, hard reality. And once her tummy bulge turned into a full-on baby bump, it was actually going to be a big deal. A huge one.
Ellie had never backed down from a challenge, but this one scared her silly. After the truth came out and she experienced her fall from grace, there’d be more than a few awkward or embarrassing moments. Sure, they’d soon fade and life would go on. But there was something else she found troubling, something she’d need to deal with. Because, when push came to shove, she wasn’t sure if she could handle the mayorship and motherhood. But that’s the last thing in the world she’d ever reveal to Steven.
“I want to show you something,” he said.
Huh? Her brow twitched, and her head tilted. As their gazes met and locked, something stirred inside her, drawing her out of her uneasy thoughts and—
“Come with me.” He nodded toward the farthest corner of the festive lobby, where three large brass easels held a couple of fancy poster boards displaying several other projects Fortune Brothers Construction had in the works.
She couldn’t very well refuse to look at the exhibit of their future renovations, so she followed him to the impressive, professional presentation.
Steven pointed to the first poster. “This is Paz, the wellness spa we’ll be opening soon.”
Ellie studied the sketch of the exterior of a beautiful building.
“It’s going to be finished with reclaimed wood and other natural materials,” he added.
“Nice.”
“That’s it?” He feigned disbelief. “You can’t tell me that a busy mayor like you wouldn’t need to unwind once in a while at a luxurious spa.”
Of course she would. And she’d love it. But she didn’t want him to think he’d won her over, so she gave a little shrug. “I’m really not what you’d call the luxurious type.”
“I don’t believe that. Everyone needs a good massage once in a while.” He lifted his hands and moved his fingers in a kneading fashion, as if they were working their magic on an invisible body. “I’m sure you have plenty of stress built up and have a few knots. Or maybe you just need to relax. If not, you should just be pampered.”
The thought of his hands on her body sent her senses reeling and her imagination soaring.
Oh, for Pete’s sake, Ellie. Cut it out. What’s the matter with you?
No way would she let those hands anywhere near her—no matter how good she imagined they’d feel.
She moved to the middle easel, hoping to dispel any pampering thoughts—his or hers—and studied the next drawing.
“That’s the restaurant,” Steven said. “Callum found the property in January.”
“The old feed store?”
“Yes. Ashley, Megan and Nicole were in town for Callum and Becky’s wedding, and when they saw the building and property, they jumped on the idea. We’ve already started the renovations. They’re going to call it Provisions. They have a lot of experience in upscale restaurants, so I know it’s going to be popular.”
“When will it open?”
“If all goes well, it should open in May, so they’re eager to move to Rambling Rose so they can get busy.”
Great. More Fortunes would be moving to town. Not that Ellie had anything against the family—especially the sisters she’d never met. It’s just that there’d be three more wealthy people moving here.
Unable to help herself, Ellie asked, “How many sisters do you have?”
“Four. Stephanie is already here and working at Paws and Claws. And the triplets make four.”
Triplets? Ellie nearly rolled her eyes. Goodness. They came in multiples. Her hand slipped to her tummy. Thank goodness she was only expecting one baby. What would she do with three?
She shook off the overwhelming thought, then took a step to her right and focused on the last easel, which displayed the plans for and a sketch of the Fortune Hotel.
“I’m surprised you and your brothers decided to promote the sketches of this project,” she said.
“Why?” Steven crossed his arms, shifted his weight to one hip and tossed her a dazzling grin. “Just because we’ve met a little resistance from the Rambling Rose planning commission?”
“A little?” She returned his smile, although hers was smug.
“Let’s just call that a snag,” he said. “And a little inconvenience for the time being. We’ll break ground soon, and it’ll be up and running before you know it. Think of the property taxes that’ll be coming in. Believe me, once local business owners begin to see the increased revenue brought in by tourists and visitors, the community will not only accept it, but they’ll be proud of it, too.”
“Don’t be too sure about that,” she said.
“Why?”
“Because it’s not just about the money. The locals aren’t happy about the way you and your family are trying to change our way of life. I told you and your brother as much at the fund-raiser for the new animal clinic, but my words and the point I was trying to make obviously fell on deaf ears.”
“Oh, we heard you. Loud and clear. But no one succeeds by thinking small.”
She was tempted to call him on the conceit hidden within his statement, but she bit her tongue and addressed the project that wasn’t likely to pass the planning commission—ever. At least, as long as she was mayor, even if the length of her term was questionable at best.
She turned toward Steven, crossed her arms and strengthened her stance. “You’re going to have difficulty getting that project to pass, because it’s not going to benefit many of my constituents.”
“Change is good.”
“That’s sometimes true. Just for the record, I’m not opposed to progress, but only if a project maintains Rambling Rose’s character. And a sprawling hotel complex fits our town like a pair of Mommy’s high heels on a preschooler pl
aying house.”
Steven glanced down at her feet, then looked up and grinned. “Or like a pair of sneakers on the mayor?”
“Very funny.”
“Like it or not,” he said, “the town’s character is changing, Ellie. And I think you’d better try to grow with the times. Your constituents will appreciate it in the long run.”
She blew out a sigh that released only a bit of her frustration. “What do you know about the people who voted me into office? I doubt that you’ve met any of them while living in that big fancy mansion of yours.”
“That’s probably true.”
Instead of a response, she continued to stare at him, although the longer she gazed into those big blue eyes, the less she felt like arguing her point.
Damn him. Steven Fortune might be one gorgeous hunk, but he had a way of blowing the wind out of her sails. In fact, he’d become a real pain in her backside. And the fact that he seemed to enjoy their banter didn’t help.
Footsteps sounded, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Steven’s brother Callum approach. Other than their six feet or more height and close-cropped dark hair, the two men didn’t really resemble each other. They were, however, business partners and shared the same vision.
“Am I interrupting something?” Callum asked, his brown eyes glimmering with mirth.
“Only a stalemate, it seems.” Steven winked at Ellie, the playful gesture tempting her to punch him in the arm.
“Why don’t you take the mayor on a private tour?” Callum suggested.
Steven gave his brother a cursory glance before locking his gaze on Ellie. “I don’t think she wants one. She’s not happy about the new stores opening up.”
At that, Ellie bristled and felt the need to defend her stance. “I have nothing against the businesses or their owners. It’s just that the locals, the ones who were born and raised here, aren’t into designer handbags, five-hundred-dollar outfits, French pastries or artisanal cheeses.”
“That’s yet to be seen,” Steven said. “I’ll bet some of those folks will end up surprising you.”
The man just wasn’t getting it. She turned to appeal to his brother instead. “I’ll admit that Fortune Brothers Construction has made some improvements to the town, like renovating the old foundling hospital and turning it into a pediatric clinic.” In fact, Ellie would be taking her baby boy for checkups with one of the doctors there before she knew it.
“Don’t forget about Paws and Claws,” Steven said.
“We do have a lot of animal owners,” Ellie said. “In fact, last month, at the Valentine’s Day fund-raiser, my best friend and roommate spent most of the evening checking out the pets available for adoption that night and felt sorry for a scraggly dog with feet that were too big for its little body. So she brought him home right then and there. She named him Tank because of his big paws, but he’s practically doubled in size already and has been chewing up everything in the house, including my new sunglasses.”
Steven laughed, a mesmerizing sound that lightened Ellie’s mood considerably.
“Your friend didn’t know she’d adopted a puppy? I’d think someone from Paws and Claws would have made it clear that Tank wouldn’t stay small before letting her take him home.”
“I’m sure Daria was told—or had figured it out herself. But knowing her, she just didn’t care.”
“I’d like to meet Tank. And Daria.”
Yeah. Right. As if Ellie would invite the irritating but sexy hunk to her home.
“Why would you want to meet that sweet, goofy pup?” she asked. “Is it because he’s been creating havoc in my peaceful house?”
“Yep. That’s exactly why. It sounds like Tank and I have something in common. We both annoy you, but if you give us a chance, you’ll probably find us likable.”
Callum laughed and gave his brother a pat on the back. “I don’t know about that. Puppies can be trained. And I’m not so sure about you.”
“I’d tend to agree with you about that,” Ellie said, unable to stifle a smile.
“Becky just arrived.” Callum nodded toward the lobby entrance. “Our sitter was running late, so we had to drive over here separately. I’ll leave you two to fight it out on your own.”
Ellie watched Callum’s new wife, a pediatric nurse, step through the glass doorway. Becky had been a single mom—to one-year-old twins. Surely if she’d been able to handle two babies at once, Ellie could handle one. Right?
A little niggle that felt a lot like panic began to stir inside her. Babies were small and vulnerable. And as an only child, she’d never been around them.
She’d only held one once, a long time ago, but the mother had hovered around her as if she was going to drop it or do something wrong. What if she...?
No, Ellie. Chill. You’ve got this.
As Callum sauntered toward his wife, Steven seemed intent upon returning to the conversation they’d been having.
“You’ve already admitted that some of our projects have benefited the community,” he said.
“Yes, but you and your brother bought up every piece of property you could, and from all outward appearances, you’re only focused on what the newest residents want.”
“I beg to differ.”
Of course he did. She wouldn’t expect anything less.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to agree to disagree,” Ellie said.
“Good idea.” His grin morphed into a dimpled smile. “But if you could do anything—pie in the sky—what changes would you like to see in Rambling Rose?”
She paused for a moment, but not because she didn’t have a response, but because the question came from him, and he seemed to be interested in what she had to say.
“I’d start by building a community center that would cover a lot of needs for those who are on a limited income, like senior citizens and single parents. I’d love to see us offer after-school care for latchkey kids, as well as tutoring. And it would be awesome if we could provide classes that would appeal to adults, too, like computer basics, flower arranging, cake decorating, financial planning, yoga, line dancing, pickle ball, which I hear is all the rage. Anyway, you get the idea.”
“I do. And I can’t make promises without talking to my brothers, but I think we’d all be better off—Rambling Rose, Fortune Brothers Construction—if we could find a way to meet in the middle.”
Ellie knew he might be blowing smoke as a way to appease her, so she studied the man, his expression sincere, hopeful. His face so blasted handsome. And she couldn’t help but wish that they could find some common ground, but so far, it hadn’t seemed possible.
“Would you be willing to meet a few of the locals and get to know them on their own turf?” she asked. “If so, that would be meeting me in the middle.”
“You bet I will. Maybe you can set up a committee—”
She held up the palm of her hand like a traffic cop, stopping him in midthought, and shook her head. “No way. I’m not talking about a meeting down at city hall. I didn’t get to be the mayor by forming committees. If you really want to know what makes Rambling Rose tick, you’ll need to go where the locals go.”
Steven cocked his head slightly. “All right. I’m game. Where do you suggest I meet them? The Grange Hall? The local church?”
“If you really want to get to know the folks who live here, you’ll need to go to Mariana’s Market on a Saturday morning.”
“I’ve heard about it. Vaguely. But I don’t know where that is. Or what it is. Help me out, okay?”
Darn him. He couldn’t pull off a meet-and-greet like that without her, and the fact that he was willing to take a field trip away from his fancy home and busy office actually made her eager to facilitate the little excursion.
“You won’t find Mariana’s Market on your GPS,” she said. “Just meet me at my office on Saturday and I’ll take
you there. Bring your brothers, too.”
“All right. You’ve got a deal.” He reached out to shake her hand, and as his long fingers slipped around hers in a warm, firm grip, her senses reeled as if...
As if nothing, she admonished herself.
Ellie glanced at her wristwatch while trying to come up with a plausible reason to cut out and go home.
“As much as I’m enjoying our chat,” she said, “I really need to go. I promised my roommate that I’d puppy-sit.”
“And I really should greet my sister-in-law, as well as the other guests and shopkeepers. But I’ll see you on Saturday.” He tossed her another dazzling smile that darn near melted her in place. Then he turned and sauntered away.
Ellie watched him go, torn between admiration for the guy and frustration with his plans to ruin her town.
Too bad the Fortunes hadn’t remained in Fort Lauderdale, doing whatever the rich and famous did there. Yacht races, maybe. Sunning themselves on the white sands of the Atlantic. And what a sight that would be for tourists and Floridians alike.
Unable to stop herself, she sought Steven in the crowd once again.
Unlike Callum, Steven had quickly shed his no-worries, Tommy Bahama style. And with each week he remained in Texas, the more he seemed to have acquired a cowboy persona—albeit a cowboy with more money than he knew what to do with.
And now it seemed she’d have to come face-to-face with him on a regular basis, especially if the construction company continued to have ribbon-cutting ceremonies every time she turned around. She’d take Steven and his brothers to Mariana’s, although she wasn’t sure that would have the desired effect on any of the Fortunes.
But try as she might, she couldn’t quite shake the desire or the effect Steven Fortune threatened to have on her.
Chapter Three
On Saturday morning, Steven rode shotgun in Ellie’s Honda while his brother Dillon sat in the back, a rather nondescript expression on his face. At twenty-nine, the fair-haired, blue-eyed Fortune brother was the kind of man most women would find attractive. At least, when he smiled. But he hadn’t been doing too much of that lately.
