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She chuckles as she walks away. “Nice breakfast,” he tells me.
“Breakfast food’s overrated. This is better. Nothing like a working lunch,” I tell him. He smiles. I’m amusing this man way too much by trying to horrify him.
“All these things you’ve listed, Sasha, are exactly the reason this place needs a resort. It would bring new people to help those failing businesses. It would also bring food services, spa services, and some much needed recreation.” His voice is smooth and persuasive. I can see why he’s as wealthy as he appears to be. I bet this man isn’t often told no.
“I can see us turning this sleepy little town into a thriving community. All of the charm and plenty of success. I like a lot of recreation... like tennis courts overlooking the ocean, game centers, world-class spas, hiking trails, horseback riding. The possibilities are endless. This would bring jobs year round and give a lot of opportunity to the locals.”
I have to fight to keep my cheerful attitude in place as he lays out his plans. This many changes in our small town terrifies me. The thing that makes Seaville so wonderful is how tight-knit we are. We have very low crime, and though the busybodies can be annoying, it’s still nice to know so many people have my back. If my car breaks down I don’t have to worry about who’s stopping to help me. I don’t let my fear show as I keep a smile plastered on my face.
“I hear what you’re saying,” I reply, keeping my voice cheerful as I push down the unease I’m feeling. “Things are simple here though. There are people out there who don’t mind a little financial hardship to live a happy, healthy life.”
“What if a place can have both?” he counters. He’s not budging. It’s only the first hour of our time together, so I have plenty of time to change this man’s mind on building here. I ignore the glint of determination in his eyes.
“I don’t know of any place that gets both. With progress comes problems,” I tell him.
“It doesn’t have to be that way. We have a week together for one of us to convince the other our way is right.”
Before I can figure out what to say to this, a familiar voice chimes through the air, causing me to turn around. Aunt Eileen walks toward us, her eyes sparkling, and her bright pink lips turned up in a smile.
“It looks like you finally made it here, young lady,” my aunt says as she leans down and kisses me on the forehead, something she’s done since before I can even remember. It fills me with comfort. “I taught you better than to be so late.” I feel guilty, dang it. She’s right, she has taught me much better.
“Hi, Auntie. Yes, I was late, but we worked through that. What brings you by?”
“I was walking by and saw you two sitting here together through the window. I couldn’t be rude and not stop in. I have some suggestions for where you can take Callan.”
Dang it, I don’t want her suggestions. They might actually be good ones, and I only plan on taking him to places that will make him flee, not make him like the town. Before I can stop her, she launches into a rapid-fire list of places, her enthusiasm always infectious. Ugh.
“Don’t forget to show him the historic lighthouse. There’s not a better view in town than from the top and it will give him a nice sense of the town, as you can see most of it from there. The ice cream shop does really well, and you must have the banana split, but make sure you ask for Eileen’s Special. I’m not telling you what’s on it, but trust me, you’ll never be able to go back to boring scoops in a cone after having that.”
“That will be the first stop,” Callan quickly says. Dang it, the man likes ice cream. I don’t want to find anything at all charming about him, but we share a love of my favorite treat. This means nothing; all normal people love ice cream. He’s being kind to my aunt, though, and that’s unacceptable to me. I have a soft spot for those who love my favorite person on this planet. I lost my parents several years ago and she’s my family, she and my besties.
I don’t like the genuine interest in Callan’s eyes at my aunt’s suggestions. Hopefully she’s talking about so many places, he’ll forget all about them as I begin our tour. I’m up for the ice cream shop though. Now that the thought’s in my head I want some.
My food shows up and I dive in as my aunt continues to talk with Callan. I actually am starving. I don’t usually wait this long to eat in the morning. I know there will come a day I won’t be able to eat as much as I do now, but I’m going to enjoy it for as long as I can. When I’m three quarters of the way through my food, I see the fascination on Callan’s face.
“What?” I ask.
“How in the world does someone as small as you eat this much?”
My aunt laughs hard as I shrug. “Good metabolism,” I tell him, then take another bite of my ridiculously juicy cheeseburger, sauce pouring down my fingers. He looks a bit horrified when I lick it off. Okay, good, he doesn’t like messy eaters. I’m going to horrify him then because I believe in enjoying every single bite of my meals.
“Well, I’ll get out of your way now,” Aunt Eileen says. She leaves just as quickly as she came in. I finish every bite on my plate, my stomach bursting. I could’ve stopped a while ago, but it’s worth a stomachache to see the horror in his eyes.
“Do you want to walk for a while before we hit the ice cream shop?” he asks. I shake my head.
“Ice cream slides around the rest of the food. There’s always room,” I assure him. “Let’s go.” I stand and don’t even pretend to offer to pay for my meal. I’m on the clock so this meal’s on him. I move to the door while he takes care of the bill. If this annoys him, then all the better.
I need a few minutes outside on my own to regroup. He’s kept me a bit off-kilter. I’ll have to do better. I need to remember that this man is good, so I have to be better.
Chapter Six
Sasha
If my friends were asked to describe me, I’m sure the first thing they’d say is that I’m a free spirit ruled by emotions. They’d also say I smile ninety-nine percent of the time, and I don’t sweat the small stuff. I consider myself a generally good person. I try to see the best in everyone. I’m also aware that not everyone has good intentions. Instead of judging those people, I simply try to avoid them and assume they have a good reason for acting that way.
Maybe they had difficult childhoods, or went through a nasty divorce that’s left them bitter. I try to make up stories in my mind excusing bad behavior, but I do it from a distance. I don’t want their negativity to infect me. That may sound silly, but you are what you surround yourself with. Knowing this, I choose to be around positive, motivated people.
So, with this knowledge, I can’t believe I’m here, leading Callan Brannigan around my perfect town. He wants to see all the ins and outs, the secrets, the good and bad. I’ll have to do extra sessions of yoga to wash away the bad mojo.
