Candlelight Conspiracy

by Dana Volney

  The most annoying thing about Candace Ellison was her brilliant, piercing blue eyes. Her full, always-tainted-pink lips were a close second. They were alluring features that promised excitement and fulfillment, but in reality only provided an unfounded fantasy. Luke stepped back from the counter and folded his arms across his chest.

  “So, you are going to be of no help?” He raised a brow.

  “That’s not what I said, now, is it? Calm yourself down.” She entwined another rose in the overflowing green-and-gold-striped glass vase. “What are you doing up so early? Shouldn’t you be sleeping something off?” A smile played on her generous lips as he grunted.

  Ah, the crap he had to put up with to save the family pub was getting harder to swallow. Two years ago, the moment his dad’s pen had lifted from the ownership transfer papers, Luke had felt the pressure. The weight worsened when his dad had looked at him, tension darkening his eyes, and said, “She’s all yours now, my boy. Take care of her like the generations before you have.” In other words, don’t screw up what years and years of hard labor had produced, and if Luke did he’d never live down the disappointment.

  “Hilarious.” He turned to leave and mumbled under his breath, “Why do I bother?”

  Snow crunched beneath his boots a few minutes later as he walked next door to his pub. Candace was an Ellison, which meant she would only do what was in her best interest—no matter the cause. She’d been that way since he could remember, and his memory on the subject was long. He’d never cared about her family name or their money, but Candace had seemed to and that rubbed him the wrong way. They’d known each other since kindergarten. Okay, known might be a strong word—more like despised. They were oil and water, fire and ice, Ralphie and his Red Ryder B.B. gun—any of those comparisons would do.

  Not that he thought about their relationship a lot.

  The sun was new in the blue sky, but did little to heat the air of the morning. He opened the heavy, dark oak door to his family’s business, The Pub. Candace had been right about his hours, but he wasn’t a drunken bartender anymore. The Pub wasn’t some gig he waltzed in and out of because it was the family business. As third-generation Carrigan, the pub had been passed down to him. And losing it to the city under his watch wasn’t going to happen.

  If he would’ve gotten involved in the business district of Casper more and followed politics, like his dad had suggested, then maybe he could’ve prevented his business being put on the chopping block. As it was, besides his neighbors and the locals that drank at the bar, he had no special connections. Not of the powerful variety, anyway.

  David Deehan looked up from cleaning bar glasses and Luke shook his head curtly once, kept walking straight into his office, and claimed his dilapidated green office chair. Not sure why I thought she’d come through. That was a lie—he’d assumed one call to the mayor or president of the city council from an upset Ellison would have fixed the problem that’d been building. There was no way Candace would’ve made that call if the proposed demolition had only affected him, but it didn’t. Her flower shop was just as much in the damage zone as his pub, not to mention the five other businesses around them. He’d hoped her self-preservation instincts would’ve kicked in by now. He spun around in the chair and tapped his pen on his leg. Think, man, think. A soft knock beckoned from his open door. He stopped turning his chair to see Candace standing in his doorway.

  Perhaps she’d grown a conscience in the last thirteen minutes and he was in line for a Christmas miracle.

  “Yes?” He moved his left hand to the arm of the chair and shifted his body to the right.

  “There’s a town hall meeting tonight. Are you going?” She leaned against the door frame, emphasizing her black, long-sleeved shirt with its swirl of flowers and her shop’s logo that was as vibrant as her arrangements. In jeans and no jacket, despite the chilly Wyoming winter, she looked good.

  If only I could get women I actually liked to chase me down like this.

  “Wouldn’t miss it. I’m going to try to do something.”

  “And, what? You think I haven’t?” She pursed her lips and narrowed her blazing blue eyes. “At least I had options to try.”

  “Options?”

  One, maybe. She’d probably called Daddy or her brother, Blake. Though he shouldn’t be so hard on Blake—that was the Ellison he probably should’ve called in the first place. Hindsight was always twenty-twenty.

  “I can’t wave a magic wand and change five minds. There are people to go through, schmooze. And the one who is heading up this little convention project is … not exactly a family friend.”

  “You mean to tell me the Ellisons don’t own Casper?” He should’ve let up, but frustration fueled him.

  “No. The Ellisons don’t own Casper, or Wyoming for that matter. You’re such a prick.” She rolled her eyes, this time literally. “Without Jeffrey Dean pulling the plug on this motion, it’ll go to a preliminary vote, then an actual vote. Maybe even tonight.”

  Luke smiled slowly, more out of contempt than humor. “Glad we’ve cleared that up. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m thinking here.”

  Her subtle orange-vanilla scent made its way to him and he briefly forgot how to exhale. How does a woman so irritating smell so delicious? His eyes shifted to the Chamber of Commerce plaque on the hunter green wall beside her before he resumed breathing.

  “I’d hate to interrupt that process.” She rested her hand on the broad area of her hip. Luke let his gaze drift down to her fingertips, but only momentarily. He found her eyes again, and hers didn’t seem to notice his stolen glance.

  “What have you come up with?”

  Her genuine tone caught his attention.

  “Nothing yet.” He willed himself to keep his face free of emotion. She’d most certainly use the gesture against him somehow. “I’m not about to lose my bar to the city for a new convention center.”

  And definitely not right before the holidays. Luke could picture that conversation: Hey, Mom and Dad, I lost the pub. Merry Christmas. And then his dad would start ranting about how his only son had always been a screw-up and didn’t take his birthright seriously. Then his mom would tell his dad to stop saying things he didn’t mean, all while glancing at Luke with disappointment. His sisters would weigh in by defending their older brother, which would provoke Dad more. He wouldn’t defend himself because what could he say? The fact that he failed would be all that mattered. There would be a lot of whiskey drinking after the discontent and frustration had simmered and they were eating dinner. His family was like most, passively overlooking the discord to get through a meal. All future meals with his family would probably be the same.

  Not happening.

  “I just settled into my flower shop and I love it.” Her arms swooped up in a flash to fold under her generous chest, and she stepped closer. “I don’t want to give it up. I like downtown, my building, and most of my neighbors.”

  “You’ve been there less than a year. This pub has been in my family for generations. Generations.” The familiar grumbling of his stomach started and he glanced at his desk for antacids. “I will not go down without a fight.”

  “At least we finally agree on something.”

  She twirled on her boots—boots that were too dazzled to be called real cowgirl boots. At least her jeans looked western—sort of. It was hard to tell. Candace was a Wyomingite who probably didn’t know a hard day’s work.

  From his vantage point, Luke had a straight line to watch her walk to the front door. And he appreciated every step the embellished back pockets on her dark jeans afforded.

  • • •

  Candace stomped back to her cozy flower shop, Kiss from a Rose. That guy. Thinks he knows everything. Of all the places she had to choose to locate her flower shop, she had to buy the one right smack dab next to Luke friggin’ Carrigan.

  She’d never daydreamed about kissing Luke in high school or before, she’d never written their names together in her homework noteb
ooks, and she’d never studied his body. Until present day. Setting up Kiss from a Rose right next door to the Carrigans’ family pub was pure coincidence, and one that had made her grimace internally and externally when she’d come face to face with him while painting her newly purchased walls.

  “Well, well, well.”

  She’d heard his unmistakable tone behind her and whipped her head around so fast her neck muscles stung.

  “You’re stalking me, aren’t you?” he’d asked.

  His tall, defined build took up her doorway and stopped the sunlight from streaming through.

  “Luke Carrigan,” she deadpanned as her mind raced to catch up. Why would he think she was stalking him? The bar next door. Dammit. How had it taken her until now to piece that gem together? “Just trying to make the neighborhood a better place.” She focused on his eyes, careful not to let her gaze roam. She couldn’t give him any upper hand. Especially not now. Great, just what I needed. It’s bad enough I’m new to having a business of my own, but now I have to contend with Luke Carrigan? Just my luck.

  “So you’re just doing the work for the real owner, then?”

  “You wish,” she said. “I’m here to stay. I bet it’s going to suck to have someone around who won’t take your crap.”

  If his dark brown polo hadn’t fit him snug around his biceps, she might’ve said something nice. But it did. He’d grown up well. Time had only created a handsome man. And one who knew he was handsome. Which, sadly, wasn’t totally unattractive. What are you doing? Don’t think of him like that. He’s bad news. He’s still bad news.

  “I don’t mind at all. Because she surely doesn’t give it as good as she gets it.” With a proud chuckle at his own ridiculous try at a joke, he rolled from the wood door frame and ambled toward his pub. Those were the only few seconds she’d ever thought about selling her new building and setting up shop somewhere else, but the notion was just plain dumb. She would have to find a way to deal with him, just like high school.

  And, just like school, they managed to stay out of each other’s way unless completely necessary—which was usually in the back parking lot that their businesses shared. Seven months into a neighborly relationship, it seemed their stay-out-of-my-way truce had now ended.

  She made her way through her flower shop. The year-round bright green walls, crisp white flooring, and splashes of pinks were a welcome relief to all the mahogany in Luke’s dank bar. She tried to shake off the cold of winter—and Luke. The small white Christmas trees peppering her front room and cheerful ornaments hanging from the ceiling couldn’t help but bring a smile to her face. The holiday magic always conjured hopefulness, possibilities—this year, however, it had brought negative tidings.

  “Who was that hunk of hottie?” Sophie Graystone asked as she finished repotting a large butterfly palm plant. “I’ve seen him around. I didn’t know you knew him.”

  “He’s no one.” Candace rubbed her forehead before picking up a sprig of evergreen lying on the island workstation behind the main counter. The beautiful bouquet of dark, long-stemmed red roses for the customer who was apparently very sorry for his actions the previous night wouldn’t start itself.

  “If I had a no one who looked like him, I wouldn’t share either.”

  The hint of a wistful smirk diverted Candace’s attention from her arrangement long enough to scowl at the longtime friend she’d met during summer vacation in college.

  “I’d keep him tucked away in handcuffs.” Sophie waggled her eyebrows.

  “He’s not mine.”

  “Eyes don’t lie,” Sophie sang in alto.

  “Give me a break.” If they were discussing anyone other than Luke Carrigan, she might’ve warmed to Sophie’s suggestion. “I thought you were dating, oh, what’s his face … Steve?”

  “Nah. That wasn’t ever really a thing.” Sophie shrugged and gathered a handful of blue irises to add to the winter bouquets for the after-work crowd.

  “His name is Luke.” Candace tried to temper the exasperation in her voice. “He owns the pub next door. You should go introduce yourself.”

  Candace glanced at Sophie’s outfit—a vibrant kelly-green Kiss from a Rose T-shirt paired nicely with tight, black leather leggings—a vast improvement over the tummy-baring tops she usually donned every chance the weather gave her. Candace had made “no midriffs” an employment requirement when she’d hired her red-headed friend.

  “Maybe I will. Maybe I’ll bop over and say hi after work. We should all go out later.”

  “Nope. He’s all yours, honey.” And you’re just his type—I think.

  Candace didn’t have time to focus on Sophie’s fixation, nor did she have time to consider Luke and his problems. She’d work on solving her problems as she made bouquets filled with white roses, white lilies, white button spray chrysanthemums, and the occasional red carnation.

  “What’s the word on the council situation?” Sophie settled on a stool at the other end of the dark granite island.

  “Nothing good.” Candace surveyed the list of orders to fill and tapped her black boot on the concrete floor.

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Ace. You tried.”

  She had tried. But her dad, brother, mother, and their high-powered friends had no pull to stop the train that Councilman Jeffrey Dean conducted—especially not at this juncture. This was probably the only moment in her entire life she regretted not being more involved with her family’s real-estate world. “A lot of good my trying did. I was talking to Mabel…”

  “Which one is that again?”

  “She owns the coffee shop with the really yummy BLT. Anyway, she doesn’t think she’ll reopen at the new location across town.”

  “Take the money and run? Now that’s what I’m talking about.” Sophie grabbed the remote for the CD player.

  “It’s not about the money, Soph. It’s about her business.” The look in Mabel’s eyes had been devastatingly sad. “They shouldn’t be able to do this.” Candace stuffed a white chrysanthemum into red square vase, but the pressure was too great and the stem snapped. She tossed the broken flower onto the island, briefly closed her eyes, and when she opened them her entire face felt tight. “Their reasoning doesn’t even make sense. Run seven businesses out of business to try to bring more business to town? How screwed up is that?”

  “Uh-oh.” Sophie switched on the local rock station and low rumblings of electric guitar and drums filled the wide space.

  “What?”

  “I’ve heard that tone before.”

  “So?” Candace squinted at her friend.

  “Ace, that’s your fightin’ voice.” Sophie winked and played air guitar like the front woman of a band—which she happened to be for Orange Heart, an all-woman ’80s cover band.

  Candace smiled at her wild friend. “Well, maybe it is. I can’t sit back and watch. I’m not a spectator in my own life.” Especially considering the nasty rumor Blake had relayed to her. Apparently when Councilman Dean had found out she’d purchased a building in one of the two areas they were considering for the convention center site, he’d pushed hard for her street block to be chosen. What an ass. She stabbed another chrysanthemum into the bouquet, this time managing to keep the flower in one piece.

  “So, what are you going to do?” Sophie asked while bobbing her head to the beat.

  “Not move. I’ll tell you that right now. This is a prime location, a block off Main Street and easy access for delivery.” She shook her head and glued lace to the top of the red glass square. Her heartbeat thudded in her ears and anchored her resolve. The council wasn’t going to steal her, or anyone else’s, business.

  “There’s another way to make all your problems go away.” Sophie lowered her voice. “I know a guy.”

  Of course she does.

  “No guys.” She pointed at Sophie. Not yet, anyway. Candace blew out a deep breath of air, letting her cheeks puff in the process. “There’s a city council meeting tonight. I’ll start there.”

/>   Yes, her initial contacts had gotten her nowhere and Luke was pissed. So what? She’d never given up before when she wanted something and she wasn’t about to start now. Nope. She was going to convince every single person at the blasted town hall meeting that the convention center needed to be built elsewhere. She’d even find a new location and point out the reasons why it was better suited for the community. Time for my game face.

  She would go to this meeting and rock it—like a boss.

  To purchase this ebook and learn more about the author, click here.

  Praise for Christmas Clash:

  "...had me hooked from the very first pages. Christmas Clash is a fabulous holiday read but can certainly be enjoyable regardless of time of year."—Women on Writing, 5 stars

  "Despite the title, holiday references are minimal, so readers will delight in this solidly written and satisfying romance no matter the time of year or the temperature outside. Well done, Ms. Volney!" -- The Romance Reviews, 4 stars

  For more from Dana Volney, check out:

  Holiday Hoopla

  Praise for Holiday Hoopla:

  “There's a lot to appreciate in this quick read of fifty-seven pages, including an engaging plot, believable conflict, and two very likable main characters. It was a pleasure to escape to Casper for Christmas, and I look forward to indulging in future works from this talented new author.”—The Romance Reviewer, 4 stars

  Paradise Point

  Praise for Paradise Point:

  "Volney’s characters fit perfectly together. Liv's feisty attitude and Adam's cool demeanor will put a smile on your face. They might even have you blushing as you think of a time or two when you did or said something similar. I know I did … If you enjoy danger mixed with falling in love, Paradise Point is the book for you!"—Tumbleweed Book Reviews, 4.5 stars

  "The dialogue is witty and natural, the narrative flows nicely, including beautiful descriptions of nature and the marina. The plot is fast-paced . . . a well-plotted and intriguing novel."—Long and Short Reviews, 4.5 stars