by Cat Schield
“Ten million.”
Vashti nearly choked. “Ten million dollars? That’s nearly double what I was asking for.”
“Yes, but the developers are eyeing the land next to it, as well. I think they’re hoping that one day Reid Lacroix will cave and sell his property. When he does, the developers will pounce on the opportunity to get their hands on it and build that golf resort they’ve been trying to put there for years. Getting your land will put their foot in the door so to speak.”
Vashti took another sip of her tea. “What other problems are there?”
“This one is big. Mayor Proctor got wind of their offer and figured you might sell. He’s calling a meeting.”
“A meeting?”
“Yes, of the Catalina Cove zoning board. Although they can’t stop you from selling the inn, they plan to block the buyer from bringing a tennis resort in here. The city ordinance calls for the zoning board to approve all new construction. This won’t be the first time developers wanted to come into the cove and build something the city planners reject. Remember years ago when that developer wanted to buy land on the east end to build that huge shopping mall? The zoning board stopped it. They’re determined that nothing in Catalina Cove changes.”
“Well, it should change.” As far as Vashti was concerned it was time for Mayor Proctor to get voted out. He had been mayor for over thirty years. When Vashti had left Catalina Cove for college fourteen years ago, developers had been trying to buy up the land for a number of progressive projects. The people of Catalina Cove were the least open-minded group she knew.
Vashti loved living in New York City where things were constantly changing and people embraced those changes. At eighteen she had arrived in the city to attend New York University and remained after getting a job with a major hotel chain. She had worked her way up to her six-figure salary as a hotel executive. At thirty-two she considered it her dream job. That wasn’t bad for someone who started out working the concierge desk.
“Unless the Barnes Group can build whatever they want without any restrictions, there won’t be a deal for us.”
Vashti didn’t like the sound of that. Ten million was ten million no matter how you looked at it. “Although I wouldn’t want them to tear down Shelby, I think my aunt would understand my decision to do what’s best for me.” And the way Vashti saw it, ten million dollars was definitely what would be best for her.
“Do you really think she would want you to tear down the inn? She loved that place.”
Vashti knew more than anyone how much Shelby by the Sea had meant to her aunt. It had become her life. “Aunt Shelby knew there was no way I would ever move back to Catalina Cove after what happened. Mom and Dad even moved away. There’s no connection for me to Catalina Cove.”
“Hey, wait a minute, Vash. I’m still here.”
Vashti smiled, remembering how her childhood friend had stuck with her through thick and thin. “Yes, you’re still there, which makes me think you need your head examined for not moving away when you could have.”
“I love Catalina Cove. It’s my home and need I remind you that for eighteen years it was yours, too.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“Look, I know why you feel that way, Vash, but are you going to let that one incident make you have ill feelings about the town forever?”
“It was more than an incident, Bryce, and you know it.” For Vashti, having a baby out of wedlock at sixteen had been a lot more than an incident. For her it had been a life changer. She had discovered who her real friends were during that time. Even now she would occasionally wonder how different things might have been had her child lived instead of died at birth.
“Sorry, bad choice of words,” Bryce said, with regret in her voice.
“No worries. That was sixteen years ago.” No need to tell Bryce that on occasion she allowed her mind to wander to that period of her life and often grieved for the child she’d lost. She had wanted children and Scott had promised they would start a family one day. That had been another lie.
“Tell me what I need to do to beat the rezoning board on this, Bryce,” Vashti said, her mind made up.
“Unfortunately, to have any substantial input, you need to meet with the board in person. I think it will be beneficial if the developers make an appearance, as well. According to their representative, they’re willing to throw in a few perks that the cove might find advantageous.”
“What kind of perks?”
“Free membership to the resort’s clubhouse for the first year, as well as free tennis lessons for the kids for a limited time. It will also bring a new employer to town, which means new jobs. Maybe if they were to get support from the townsfolk, the board would be more willing to listen.”
“What do you think are our chances?”
“To be honest, even with all that, it’s a long shot. Reid Lacroix is on the board and he still detests change. He’s still the wealthiest person in town, too, and has a lot of clout.”
“Then why waste my and the potential buyer’s time?”
“There’s a slim chance time won’t be wasted. K-Gee is on the zoning board and he always liked you in school. He’s one of the few progressive members on the board and the youngest. Maybe he’ll help sway the others.”
Vashti smiled. Yes, K-Gee had liked her but he’d liked Bryce even more and they both knew it. His real name was Kaegan Chambray. He was part of the Pointe-au-Chien Native American tribe and his family’s ties to the cove and surrounding bayou went back generations, before the first American settlers.
Although K-Gee was two years older than Vashti and Bryce, they’d hung together while growing up. When Vashti had returned to town after losing her baby, K-Gee would walk Vashti and Bryce home from school every day. Even though Bryce never said, Vashti suspected something happened between Bryce and K-Gee during the time Vashti was away at that unwed home in Arkansas.
“When did K-Gee move back to Catalina Cove, Bryce?”
“Almost two years ago to help out his mom and to take over his family’s seafood supply business when his father died. His mother passed away last year. And before you ask why I didn’t tell you, Vash, you know why. You never wanted to hear any news regarding what was happening in Catalina Cove.”
No, she hadn’t, but anything having to do with K-Gee wasn’t just town news. Bryce should have known that. “I’m sorry to hear about his parents. I really am. I’m surprised he’s on the zoning board.”
For years the townsfolk of the cove had never recognized members of the Pointe-au-Chien Native American tribe who lived on the east side of the bayou. Except for when it was time to pay city taxes. With K-Gee on the zoning board that meant change was possible in Catalina Cove after all.
“I need to know what you want to do, Vash,” Bryce said, interrupting her thoughts. “The Barnes Group is giving us twenty days to finalize the deal or they will withdraw their offer.”
Vashti stood up to cross the kitchen floor and put her teacup in the kitchen sink. “Okay, I’ll think about what you said. Ten million dollars is a lot of money.”
“Yes, and just think what you could do with it.”
Vashti was thinking and she loved all the possibilities. Although she loved her job, she could stop working and spend the rest of her life traveling to all those places her aunt always wanted to visit but hadn’t, because of putting Shelby by the Sea first. Vashti wouldn’t make the same mistake.
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING, for the first time in two years, Vashti woke up feeling like she was in control of her life and could finally see a light—a bright one at that—at the end of the road. Scott was out of her life, she had a great job, but more importantly, some developer group was interested in her inn.
Her inn.
It seemed odd to think of Shelby by the Sea as hers when it had belonged to her aunt for as long
as she could remember. Definitely long before Vashti was born. Her parents’ home had been a mile away, and growing up she had spent a lot of her time at Shelby; especially during her teen years when she worked as her aunt’s personal assistant. That’s when she’d fallen in love with the inn and had thought it was the best place in the world.
Until...
Vashti pushed the “until” from her mind, refusing to go there and hoping Bryce was wrong about her having to return to Catalina Cove to face off with the rezoning board. There had to be another way and she intended to find it. Barely eighteen, she had needed to escape the town that had always been her safe haven because it had become a living hell for her.
An hour later Vashti had showered, dressed and was walking out her door ready to start her day at the Grand Nunes Luxury Hotel in Manhattan. But not before stopping at her favorite café on the corner to grab a blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee. Catalina Cove was considered the blueberry capital in the country, and even she couldn’t resist this small indulgence from her hometown. She would be the first to admit that although this blueberry muffin was delicious, it was not as good as the ones Bryce’s mother made and sold at their family’s restaurant.
With the bag containing her muffin in one hand and her cup of coffee in the other, Vashti caught the elevator up to the hotel’s executive floor. She couldn’t wait to get to work.
She’d heard that the big man himself, Gideon Nunes, was in town and would be meeting with several top members of the managerial and executive team, which would include her.
It was a half hour before lunch when she received a call to come to Mr. Nunes’s office. Ten minutes later she walked out of the CEO’s office stunned, in a state of shock. According to Mr. Nunes, his five hotels in the States had been sold, including this one. He’d further stated that the new owner was bringing in his own people, which meant her services were no longer needed.
In other words, she’d been fired.
CHAPTER TWO
A week later
VASHTI GLANCED AROUND the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Although she’d never returned to Catalina Cove, she’d flown into this airport many times to attend a hotel conference or convention, or just to get away. Even though Catalina Cove was only an hour’s drive away, she’d never been tempted to take the road trip to revisit the parish where she’d been born.
Today, with no job and more time on her hands than she really needed or wanted, in addition to the fact that there was ten million dollars dangling in front of her face, she was returning to Catalina Cove to attend the zoning board meeting and plead her case, although the thought of doing so was a bitter pill to swallow. When she’d left the cove she’d felt she didn’t owe the town or its judgmental people anything. Likewise, they didn’t owe her a thing. Now fourteen years later she was back and, to her way of thinking, Catalina Cove did owe her something.
Keep reading for an excerpt from A Christmas Temptation by Karen Booth.
Copyright © 2018 by Brenda Streater Jackson
A Christmas Temptation
by Karen Booth
One
Eden’s Department Store offered a dazzling array of merchandise, but in Sophie Eden’s mind, everything started with the shoes. Thus, she always began her workday in the shoe department, surveying the latest and chitchatting with the salespeople as they prepared for the day’s shoppers. Sophie often devoted ten or fifteen minutes to the pursuit before heading upstairs to her office. Some days she’d even try on something new. Not today. With less than a month until Christmas, and the vultures circling, getting right to work was the most pressing matter.
She bustled through the department down the wide center promenade, past the Lucite and chrome displays of sling-backs and stilettos, beneath the splendid crystal chandeliers that dotted the high coffered ceiling. Her delicate heels click-clacked on the gleaming white marble floor. Her shoes were particularly magnificent today—Manolo Blahnik pumps with a slim leather tie at the ankle, in Christmas red. The color choice was no coincidence. The holidays were Sophie’s favorite time of year, and she was going to sneak in every second of cheer she could. She already knew Christmas would be difficult this year. This would be the first without Gram, her grandmother, the founder of Eden’s.
Sophie rounded a turn as the aisle spoked off to the various sections of the department known to fashion editors all over the world as “shoe heaven.” Tucked back in the far corner was the vestibule with the private elevator that would take her upstairs to the true guts of the Eden’s operation. She sucked in a deep, cleansing breath as she took her short ride up one floor. Normally, she loved her job, but right now it was much farther from heaven than the number on the elevator door suggested.
“Good morning, Lizzie,” Sophie said, greeting her assistant. She shrugged off her cream-colored wool coat and slung it over her arm. Considering the dirt and grime of the city, such a light color was a stupid idea, but Sophie loved the way it showed off her red hair. It was one of her best assets.
Lizzie popped up from behind her desk, all sunshine and raw energy. Her platinum pixie cut was extra spiky today. “Good morning, Ms. Eden. How are you?”
“Depends. How’s my day looking?”
“You’ve already received three gift baskets from real-estate developers this morning.”
“It’s barely nine o’clock.”
“The couriers start delivering at eight.”
Sophie shook her head. This had been the drill for the last month, ever since her grandmother, Victoria Eden, had passed away. Everyone knew that Sophie and her sister, Mindy, would inherit Eden’s. Their grandmother spoke of it often, at runway shows and cocktail parties and even to the press. Eden’s was a business built for women, by women, and it would be run by women for as long as Victoria Eden could see it through.
The will was to be read the week before Christmas when the heirs could gather. It was viewed as a formality, though. Sophie and her sister, Mindy, would own the store. Thus the influx of gift baskets, flowers, phone calls and emails. It wasn’t that anyone was particularly interested in Eden’s as a business. They were after the building and the land. Everyone assumed Sophie and Mindy would want to sell. Mindy was desperate to do so. Sophie was diametrically opposed to the idea.
“Oh, and your sister called to say she will not be able to come by today after all,” Lizzie said as she trailed Sophie into her office.
“Lovely.” Sophie made no effort to disguise the unhappiness in her voice. She and Mindy were at odds right now. “I’ll have to give her a call and see what her problem is.” She got settled in her chair, which was custom upholstered in peacock blue velvet with gold nail-head trim. She pulled her laptop from her bag and set it on her sleek white glass-topped desk. “Anything else?”
“Everything’s in your calendar. You have a meeting with the department heads at two this afternoon. Also, Reginald will be up to do the holiday decorations in your office soon. I tried to get him to come earlier in the morning, but it just wasn’t possible. I think they’re all still recovering from installing the holiday window displays.”
Sophie waved it off. “Yes. Of course. My office is definitely the bottom of the priority list. And I’m glad they’re coming while I’m here. I’d like to be able to pitch in.” Sophie loved decorating for Christmas. It was one of her absolute favorite pursuits.
“Do you think Reginald will actually let you help? You know how he is.” Lizzie bugged her eyes and whispered, “Control freak.”
“And I’m about to be the president of Eden’s Department Store. Plus, he loved Gram, and he knows how close we were.” Sophie wasn’t sure who had cried harder at her grandmother’s funeral—her or Reginald. “I’m sure he’ll be nothing but accommodating.”
Lizzie made her way to the door but stopped before exiting. “Oh. I almost forgot. Jake Wheeler called again last night. Also,
he sent the fruit.” Lizzie pointed to the credenza behind Sophie’s desk. Three elaborate cellophane-wrapped baskets sat atop it.
Jake Wheeler. How could one man’s name send both a flash of anger and a flutter of delight through her body at the same time?
“Did he leave a message?”
“He did. He wanted me to remind you that it’s very important he speaks to you.”
“Of course he did. He’s a man accustomed to getting everything he wants.” Sophie picked up the fruit basket. “Put this in the employee lounge. Someone should enjoy it.”
Lizzie held out her arms, which dropped a bit under the weight of the basket. “Don’t you want to read the card first?”
Sophie didn’t really want to read the card, but knowledge was king and she needed to know what Jake Wheeler was thinking. Otherwise, he was a mystery. He always had been.
Sophie grabbed the gold-trimmed envelope and ripped it from the plastic. “Thank you, Lizzie.”
“Of course, Ms. Eden. You know where to find me if you need anything.”
Sophie sat in her chair, her back straight and chin held high as she slid a manicured finger under the envelope flap. There was no telling what Jake had written on this card. When they were in business school together, everything out of his mouth was witty and warm. It was one of the things that first drew her to him. That and his unforgettable green eyes.
Dear Sophie,
You can’t ignore my phone calls forever. Sooner or later, I’ll get through to you.
Best,
Jake
A zip of electricity ran along Sophie’s spine. From somewhere deep in the recesses of her mind, the sound of Jake’s sexy rumble of a voice had been set free. It was like a wild animal, pouncing on her. She’d forgotten the way it made her feel. A wave of warmth started in her chest and rolled back over her shoulders. She reclined in her chair and closed her eyes, recalling the magical moment when he’d first kissed her eight years ago, his insistent lips bringing every fantasy she’d had about him to life. He’d kissed her like he meant it, his arms tight around her waist, pulling her body into his. It was a dream come true in so many ways. She’d spent two years desperate for him to do that, trying so hard to be the kind of woman who would catch his eye. Finally, she’d done it.
