Page 3 of Manors & Mischief

“Oh, goodie, she’s done her homework,” I scowl. At the top of the paper she gives me, it reads Fall Spectacular Proposal Sleepy Hollow Manor by Ember O’Malley. I’ve never hated a name more. I’ve never hated a person more.

She grits her teeth. “Which is why…” She cuts her gaze to me. “…it needs to be added back in.”

Her voice is hard, or at least attempting to be. In all honesty, if I wasn’t so pissed, I’d find it cute. Anger doesn’t suit her. She’s like a little mouse trying to scare away a tiger.

“That’s awfully generous of you,” the mayor says. “A Fall Ball?”

A quick glance at her, and I can already see the visions playing out in her head. The corners of her lips turn into a smile. She nearly stares at the ceiling, as if she’s envisioning the whole thing playing out on the surface like a projector, and she likes what she sees.

“I love it.”

Ember makes a noise that can only be described as a squeak. It’s so high-pitched it could be used in a torture chamber. I stand from my chair, sending it flying into the wall. “This is bullshit.” I move toward the door. “And if you think I’m helping, you’re crazy.”

One last look at Ember, and I find her staring at me with her mouth agape again. When our gazes connect, she snaps her mouth shut, and lifts her chin. Little mouse with a brave face. We’ll have to see about that.

Deep down, I know it’s not her fault, but it doesn’t change anything. Ember O’Malley squashed my dreams with one sentence. The sooner I put space between us, the better.

In Harvest Falls, we can traverse from one side of town to the other in about ten minutes. It takes me five to get to HFB, Harvest Falls Brewery & Pub, owned and operated by my best friend, Trav.

I find a seat at the bar, and when he turns with a bar towel slung over his shoulder, his brows shoot into the air. “Hey.” He reaches behind his back without looking away and then pops the cap on my favorite craft brew that has hints of caramel and toffee before handing it over. “That bad, huh? Let me guess, you’re doing everything for the Fall Spectacular?”

“Worse,” I grumble, then I take a long swig. The problem with Trav’s custom flavors is that they go down way too damn easily.

“Your mom tried to hook you up with someone again.”

“Even worse.”

This throws Trav off. He knows I’m an easygoing guy, and only certain things set me off. It doesn’t take long for the wheels in his brain to turn and come up with something close to the truth. His gaze narrows slightly. “Sleepy Hollow Manor.”

I nod.

“Well, don’t leave me in suspense.” He grabs an empty glass and starts wiping it out.

“It’s been sold.”

Trav pauses. He quickly glances up at me and swallows. His gaze brims with pity. “I’m sorry, bro. Who? Can’t your mom do anything about it?”

The laugh that bellows out of me catches him off guard. “Mom was too busy doing that faraway look where she imagines our Fall Spectacular being bigger and better than Heritage’s.”

“Wait. The new owner came to the planning meeting?”

I nod once. “Her big idea? A Fall Ball.” Gesturing with my fingers outstretched, I make sure to cling to the neck of the bottle before taking another swig again. “She handed out a proposal. A physical, typed-out proposal. On paper.”

He laughs, then it cuts off. “Wait, did you say her?”

I swallow, the hints of caramel and toffee still clinging to my tongue as a vision of Ember O’Malley forms in my head without my consent. Tan skin, perfect, pouty lips. Honey blonde hair that falls just past her shoulders, and a body—. “Yeah.” My voice sounds tight around the word. “I said her.”

“That’s an interesting development.”

“How so?”

He leans onto the bar with a slight smirk. “When’s the last time a single female moved to town?”

A long time. When we were in high school, actually. Usually it’s always families that settle here. Instead of saying that, I finish my beer and look at him. “I didn’t say she was single.”

“You didn’t have to. Your look said it all.”

“Well, I don’t know if she’s single. She showed up at the meeting alone, but that’s not unheard of. We were all there without partners, and—Why am I even answering this question? I don’t know her other than she’s stolen everything from me.”