The man shuffled some papers and then stood up tall. “Hi there. As you just heard, I’m Alan Welburn, and I’m representing the owner of a tract of land east of Seagrove. As you all know, it’s been the goal of this organization and the people of this town to keep the 30A area free of chain restaurants, shops, and hotels. 30A is all about local, artisanal, unique businesses and that is not changing anytime soon. We will never allow this area to be anything other than the special, sought-after community that it is now. That being said…”
Ashe leaned in, “This is where all he just said turns to a lie.”
“We are partnering with this organization to allow a boutique hotel to be built on our lot. We will not allow any businesses or homes to be destroyed to make way for this hotel, and it will need to fit a long list of requirements including no more than three stories in height.”
Marigold salivated at the idea of traffic from a hotel lobby coming in and out of her gift shop. Her current location had been cheap rent for a reason. Nobody could freaking find it. She thought the traffic coming in from the restaurant in front of it would help, but that restaurant had been closed for a year now, and her business had suffered greatly from that loss. She kept waiting for something else to come in there, but the owner was asking too much and was stubborn as a mule about it.
“Yes,” the man behind the podium said, pointing to someone in the front row. “Stand up and speak clearly so the whole room can hear your question, please. In fact, why don’t any of you asking questions introduce yourselves to the room.”
A man stood up, and Marigold’s belly got the fizzies when she realized it was Dane. “I’m Dane Knight with Knight Property Development. When and where will you have the list posted of requirements for the hotel?”
“There’ll be a link on our website. Check back in the morning for full details.” Marigold’s hand shot up before she could stop it. “Yes,” the guy said, pointing at her.
She stood. “Marigold Appleton, owner of Apples to Oranges Gifts in Seagrove. What will be the deadline for submitting a proposal?”
Two matching faces turned to look at her from the front row, sizing her up. That’s right. She had skin in the game, too.
“We’re accepting proposals for one month, so the deadline will be November 10. And I should mention that proposals from local 30A residents will carry the heaviest weight.”
She smiled. “Fantastic. Thank you.”
She sat and Ashe leaned over to her. “Isn’t your dad from Savannah?”
“Yes, but I am a local resident. Have been for seven years. So this proposal will come from me.”
A few more people asked questions, but all seemed to be about how the hotel would affect their businesses and the protected lands. No one else seemed to be interested in actually getting the bid. But Marigold wasn’t stupid. She understood that once this got out, it would be a bidding war that she may not win. And there was still the small detail of convincing her father to come on board.
She was pretty sure that part wouldn’t be too difficult. Her father had said in the past that he’d love to have a 30A presence. She imagined he’d be thrilled to get the opportunity to bid. But he needed her to win the bid. Being local gave her a huge advantage. Without her, he’d be just another bigwig from the outside trying to get in. She had negotiating power here, and her father wasn’t a monster, just a shrewd businessperson. But so was she.
“We’ll take a short break, allowing everyone to leave who is just here for this order of business, then we’ll reconvene in five minutes to continue with the agenda.”
The three of them stood, making their way outside. “You’re not staying for the rest?” she asked Cassidy.
“Nah. I’m just here for moral support,” Cassidy said with a smile, making Marigold’s heart warm.
“I just don’t want it to be tacky,” Ashe said.
“It won’t be. I assure you. You’ve seen my dad’s hotels.”
They moved onto the sidewalk, letting people pass by as they stood in a cluster. “Sweetie, if you get the bid, I’ll rest easy,” Ashe said. “It’s the unknown that concerns me. Speaking of that unknown.” He smiled as the twin guys approached them. “Hello, fellows.” He offered a hand. “I believe we’ve met a time or two. I’m Ashe Bianchi, By the Seaside Photography.”
Ethan offered a hand. “Ethan Knight. Yes, we’ve met.” Was it Marigold, or were these two eyeing each other like cruise ship passengers at their first buffet table?
Cassidy extended a hand. “We’ve met as well. Cassidy Anderson, Seaside Sweets.”
Ethan smiled like he’d just won a fifty-dollar scratch-off ticket. Cassidy had that effect on people. He took her hand. “Yes, I remember you as well.”
“You’re planning on bidding on the hotel contract?” Cassidy asked.
“On behalf of an investor who’s interested,” Ethan said.
“One from outside of 30A, I assume?” Marigold asked.
Dane piped up. “As a matter of fact, yes. Much like your father’s company.”
Marigold stilled. “You know my father’s company?”
“I know of a chain of boutique hotels called Appleton Hotels and Spas. I assume this is your family’s business?”
Marigold put her hands on her hips. “You assume correctly. You can also assume we’ll be making a bid.”
“I figured as much when you asked about the deadline. Good luck.”
She looked him up and down, trying not to take in the hotness, because damn. “You’re gonna need it more than I am.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
Ethan clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Well, who would like to take this party to that bar?” He pointed to the restaurant next to the clubhouse that Marigold could certainly not afford.
Cassidy shrugged. “I’m in.”
Marigold looked at her with wide eyes. “You are?” It was a rare occasion that Cassidy braved the nightlife with mere mortals.
“I’m hungry.” She lifted her eyebrows, and Marigold realized that Cassidy might have a plan to glean intel on these guys or something.
“I’m in,” Ashe said.
Marigold had to go, but she knew she couldn’t get out of this night for less than thirty bucks, and that was her food budget for the next three days.
“On us,” Dane said, as if reading her mind. “As a gesture between friendly rivals.”
“I can pay for my own,” Marigold said, like an idiot.
“That works, too,” Ethan said. “Shall we?”
They walked toward the restaurant, Ashe and Ethan leading the way. Cassidy followed, typing into her phone, leaving Marigold to walk with Public Enemy Number One.
She shot him a look. “So how did you know about Appleton hotels? Have you ever stayed in one?”
“No, I’ve been doing my research for potential competition. Appleton was on my shortlist. I didn’t know you were a part of that organization until tonight though.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I mean, I didn’t even really know about you at all until tonight, of course.”
She eyed him, wondering if he was nervous or up to something. She couldn’t tell which.
He cleared his throat. “When you introduced yourself, you said you owned a gift store?”
“That’s right. Apples to Oranges.”
“So you do or don’t work for your family’s business?
“I…” She hesitated before answering, not sure how much information she wanted to give up. Luckily, they all reached the door of the restaurant right then, so she was saved from answering as they all filed in and consulted with the hostess.
Ashe turned back to them. “They’re full up for dinner, but we can take our chances in the bar?”
“Sounds good,” Cassidy said and they all headed that way. Cassidy waved at a woman and then turned to Marigold. “Excuse me.”
“Do you want a drink?” Marigold asked her.
“I’ll get one in a minute.”
Ashe and
Ethan were bellied up to the bar talking like old friends, leaving Marigold with the enemy…the hot enemy, but that was beside the point.
A group of people walked away from a standing table nearby, so the two of them commandeered it. “So, what is your interest in your family’s hotel?” Dane asked.
She was hoping she’d gotten out of that question, but no such luck. “You’re a little nosey, aren’t you?”
He held up both hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”
She pursed her lips feeling guilty. One of Marigold’s many faults was that she was way too honest and upfront with people. She was candid by default, so when it was time to hold her cards to her chest, she had no clue how to play poker. “My dad’s hotel would be the perfect location for my gift shop. My lease is up soon.”
“Ah,” he said. “Hard for me to argue with that.”
“Who are you representing?”
“Sorry, that’s confidential.”
She looked him up and down. “You know who I’m representing.”
“I doubt you’d know them anyway. It’s not a chain.”
“Is that a dig?”
He smiled a little, giving her heartbeat a kick. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
She lifted her chin in concession. “I was kidding…sort of. Do you build hotels exclusively?”
“Nope.”
She ran her tongue across the back of her teeth, wishing she would have chosen to be as secretive as he was being. “So what exactly does a property developer do?”
“Companies or individual investors hire us to see out their plans. They tell us what they’re looking for, and we take it from there. We work with excavation, architects, project managers, construction, codes…I’m boring you, aren’t I?”
More like overwhelming her. She just wanted a new location for her shop. She didn’t want to think about codes. “No, I’m interested. Go ahead.”
“We build stuff for other people.”
“So you don’t own the stuff you build?”
“No. We just hand over the keys when we’re done.”
Ashe appeared at the table with a glass of white wine for Marigold and a beer for Dane. “Your brother ordered for you.” Ashe winked at Marigold. “I ordered for you, sweetie.” She held up her glass to him with a thank-you smile. He jabbed a thumb at Ethan. “But he paid.” He fell into place back at the bar.
She frowned and met Dane’s smug gaze. He shrugged. “Sorry. I know you wanted to pay for your own.”
“I guess they’re not coming back to the table,” Marigold said, looking for a lifeline. She did not want to be alone with Dane right now. She was too irritated with him, and he was way too good-looking.
“Not a chance. Ethan’s had his eye on Ashe Bianchi for months now. I doubt we’ll see them the rest of the night.”
“Really?” Marigold asked, sizing up Dane’s twin brother. “Your brother’s so straight-laced looking with his GQ outfit and hair. Ashe seems way too glam rock star for him.”
Dane shrugged. “Sometimes opposites attract.”
Marigold sipped her wine, glancing at Cassidy who was deep in conversation with the woman she had greeted when they walked in.
“Do you not want to be alone with me now that you know I’m your competition?” he asked.
She supported her elbow while she twisted the wine glass with her other hand. “I can be alone with you. I’m just not giving you any more information.”
“I am curious about why you’re not in the family business.”
“I’m trying to have them build a hotel here so I can be in the business.”
“But you’ve been here a while,” he said. “I’ve seen that shop. Or did you just recently take it over?”
“No, I’ve been here for…” There she went again, giving up info.
“For how long?”
“I’m not telling you.”
He chuckled. “Why?”
“Because you know way too much about me and I know nothing about you.”
He set his beer down. “What do you want to know?”
“Why you’re trying to take my hotel from me.”
He grinned. “It’s not personal.”
“Quit laughing at me,” she said, but she couldn’t hold back her smile.
“I’m not laughing at you.”
“Yes you are.”
“You’re funny. I can’t help it.”
She pointed at her chest. “I amuse you?” She couldn’t help a terrible De Niro impression.
He bit his lip, staring into her eyes in a way that made her whole chest light up. “Yeah, you do.”
“Well, I’m not trying to.” She looked away from him and down at her drink, the tension between them starting to go from friendly competition to something she wasn’t ready for. “Seven years,” she blurted out and then inwardly reprimanded herself. She’d been so desperate to break what she thought might be sexual tension that she said the first thing she could think of.
“That’s how long you’ve had your shop?”
“Yes. I’m very proud of my shop. There’s no need for me to hide how long I’ve had it.”
“Of course there isn’t.” He gripped the bar table and sort of pushed himself away. He had his shirtsleeve rolled up to the elbow and the muscle in his forearm worked with the movement. She couldn’t take her eyes off of his bare arm. She was enjoying him a little too much.
She scratched her eyebrow, refusing to look at him. “How long have you had your property development business?”
“That’s top secret.”
She jerked her head up at him and he grinned back at her. “I’m kidding. We started it when we moved here around five years ago.”
“And you’re already building hotels?”
He shrugged. “We’ve had a good five years.”
“You’re a little annoying.”
“You are, too,” he said with a chuckle.
She smiled. “Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Smiling at me.”
“You make me smile. I’m sorry.”
She stood there looking at this guy who had woken something in her that had been asleep for more years than she could count. She’d all but thought that feeling was dead, but here it was, tickling her hopes. She inwardly batted it down right back to where it came from. “You know, I think this was a bad idea.”
He glanced around. “Yeah, you’re probably right. The server’s never gonna get to us in this busy crowd. Wanna go somewhere else?”
Oh God, it was getting worse. “No, I mean…I need to get home. It was nice to meet you, again.” She held out her hand and he blinked, but finally took it.
“Nice to see you. Good luck on the bid.”
She shook his hand, not really wanting to let go. “You don’t really mean that.”
“If I don’t get it I hope it’s you. How’s that?”
She let go of his hand, her throat a little hot. “That’s fair enough, I guess. See you around.”
“See you,” he said, leaning on the table.
She headed out, scooting past Cassidy who was in deep conversation with the woman she’d seen when they walked in. Cassidy met Marigold’s gaze, and she held her thumb and pinky up to her ear and mouth, indicating that she’d call her. Cassidy nodded, concern etched on her face, and Marigold shook her off with a smile then headed out.
Glancing back at Dane just before he got out of her line of sight, she saw a really cute server talking to him, holding a tray and grinning from ear to ear. Good. She needed to see that. Marigold was nothing special to him. She was one of a dozen or more girls he flirted with in the course of a day. If she would have stayed, they would have talked for a while, and then he would have invited her back to his apartment and she’d have said no, then he’d be done. Or worse, he would have gotten her number and then she’d have waited for a text which inevitably would not have come.
Leaving now and ending the nonsense was the way to go. She ma
de her way to her car. Two older men were admiring it. She let out a hard breath, smacking on a smile. “Excuse me,” she said, squeezing past them to get to the door.
One of the men handed her a business card. “If you ever decide to sell, call me.”
She probably should take him up on it right then. She desperately needed the money. But her creditors would have to pry her convertible from her cold dead hands…not that it was worth much. She spent more money keeping it running than a car payment for a decent new car. But this car was her last real connection to her family. A relic from a time when everything was good with them. Silly as it was, she wasn’t ready to let go of it. She handed it back to him. “I’m not looking to sell, now or ever.”
He nodded at her hand. “Keep that card, just in case.”
She got in the car and made a show of putting it in her glove compartment. “Thanks.” The men watched her back out of the space, which wasn’t creepy at all.
As she headed to Fiona’s place, she punished herself with a little made-up movie in her head starring Dane and that server. He asked her when she was getting off, and she made a clever joke. “After work, with you.”
Marigold rolled her eyes at herself. “Stop it,” she said aloud. “He’s just another guy who everything would go wrong with. Nothing to see here, Marigold.”
She cranked up her music and headed home.
3
Dane stood in his kitchen ready for work, wondering if he should wait for Ethan or not. On the one hand, today was a big day, and they had a lot to get to. On the other hand, if Ethan had brought Ashe Bianchi home with him last night, who was Dane to stand in the way of whatever was going on in there? At least one of them got lucky.
How had things gone so wrong with Marigold? He’d thought they had something going on. He’d felt encouraged for the first time in a year, like he might actually consider asking a girl on a date again. But she’d taken off right when things were getting good. They were at that point where casual conversation turned to flirting. He’d laid down a card, showing his interest. You make me smile, he’d said. She’d responded with a look like she’d drank sour milk.
WATERCOLOR WISHES: Love Along Hwy 30A, Book Four Page 2
