Page 22 of Call It Serendipity

“In here. It’s breakfast time for the dogs,” I explain, pushing the door open for the food prep room. “We can talk and serve.”

He settles in beside me at the counter, his arm brushing against mine every so often as we get to work. This isn’t the biggest room, leading to such proximity. I don’t know if I’ve ever truly noticed that before now, maybe I should have thought about this before inviting him back.

“What did you want to talk about?” I ask, pushing aside Oakley’s completed bowl and reaching for the next.

The clang of kibble he is pouring against stainless steel echoes around us. Then he sets the measuring cup down and says, “I was wondering if you would be willing to help me better acclimate to the town. Help me see what makes Ellicottville, well… Ellicottville.”

I set down the bowl in my hand and cross my arms. “You want me to help you run my friends and neighbors out of business?”

“I don’t… no. I just want to understand why you all don’t want us here. Maybe I can help find a solution that works for everyone.”

We turn to face one another, and I narrow my eyes at him as I say, “That’s very idealistic of you.”

“I am the vice president of community relations,” he responds seriously, save for the twitch at the corner of his mouth.

“Does this really matter to you? You already bought the property, after all. You won.”

I turn to finish the last bowl, then take a step closer to him so I can pull the serving cart forward. He reaches around me to set his hand atop it, and tucked against his chest like this, I catch that cozy scent of his. With nowhere to move to, I allow myself a second to enjoy the indulgence of being wrapped in it once more.

For the last time, I promise myself.

Bracketing his hands on the counter and cart on either side of me, he tips his chin down and waits for me to meet his gaze. “It matters to me; I want you to know that. But in full transparency, we don’t actually own anything yet.”

My eyes widen. “You don’t?”

He leans back, giving me space once more, and shakes his head. “We have our bid in, consider it like a pending contract. Both sides have to meet the contingencies—it’s just on a different scale with a sale done by the village trustees instead of a private owner.”

I drop another few bowls onto the cart, considering this. “So, if you get to know the town and realize this isn’t the place for what you’re trying to do…”

“Then maybe we don’t put a hotel here.”

“Does anyone but Garrison know who you are?”

“The other trustees do, no one outside of the village officials though.”

Then maybe I could spend some time out in public with him. Carefully. I know how fast word spreads in this town.

“And you,” he adds.

I was prepared to say no and remain firmly on my town’s side of this battle. But if there’s a chance that I can change his mind, wouldn’t it benefit everyone for me to agree to this request?

He must see the realization passing across my expression, because his mouth curls into a hopeful smile. “What do you say, Lucy?”

I steady myself with a deep breath. “I say that you’ve successfully found a reason for us to spend time together—completely on purpose.”

14

“Where are you going for this date?”

I look pointedly at Claire in the vanity mirror and lower my mascara brush. “This is not a date.”

At her spot on my bed, she rolls onto her stomach and props her chin in her hand. Making eye contact with me in the mirror, she tilts her head and smiles knowingly. “Then why did you put on your dark red lipstick? It’s a very romantic shade.”

“Because I like my dark red lipstick.”

“You only wear it for special things.”

I roll my eyes and return to applying my makeup. “The only thing special about tonight is that I’m going to start laying the groundwork for getting this hotel chain out of town.”