Page 99 of More Than My Hometown

27

EWAN

The door clicks behind me, but I barely hear it. All of the blood rushes through my veins, punctuated by the thrum of my pulse filling my ears, erasing my brain of everything. Except one thing.

Maisey.

Maisey is here. And she wants to buy The Booby Trap?

“You’re not Seth Jennings…”

Maisey’s brow furrows, a giggle escaping her pretty pink lips. “Not the reaction I was expecting. Although, I’m going to choose to accept it as a compliment.”

Pushing out of her chair, she walks over to me, so light and smooth she might as well be floating on air. The concrete blocks my feet have turned into won’t move for all the world, keeping me solidly in this spot.

Maisey…

I continue to blink rapidly, convinced that my eyes and brain are deceiving me. That I have entered the upside down or the inside out or opposite land…or something. Some place where everything isn’t as it seems.

“Hi.”

She presses her lips to mine, gently, softly. Almost as soft as her greeting. My heart wants to burst, my hands gingerly resting on her hips, afraid that if I make any kind of move that I’m going to end up like Lennie in Of Mice and Men, my strength taking over when I don’t mean it to.

“Hi.”

I try to mirror her softness, but it comes out gruff and suspicious. Like I don’t trust why she’s here. There’s no denying that I’m curious. That my mind is running wild. But no part of me hates it.

“Would you like to hear my proposition?”

Oh, would I ever…

“You’re propositioning me?” I quip, not bothering to hide my meaning. Winking at her, I smirk, moving my hands to the small of her back. If this is going to be that kind of conversation, then I more than trust myself to touch her.

“Business proposal!” she corrects, smacking my chest. Giggling, she tries to wiggle out of my arms, but I hold tight for a second before letting her go. “It’s a business proposal.”

I laugh. “Yes, I would love to hear your business proposal.”

“Well then, right this way, Mr. Hayes.”

She gestures for me to come sit down by where she was seated before, in the chair to the right, the one Gus usually sits in during Munch. It feels weird to be taking his spot, even though he’s not here, but I sit, watching as she returns to the head of the table, looking absolutely adorable in her sundress.

“As I believe the elder Mr. Hayes informed you, I have expressed interest in procuring The Booby Trap. I⁠—”

“Maisey—” I start to cut her off.

“No, Ewan. Please, let me finish.”

Her beautiful blue eyes plead with me, making my heart squeeze. They are so full of love and tenderness that I know I need to hear her out. Holding up my hands in surrender, I nod, signaling her to continue.

“Thank you.” She tips her head to me. “As I said, I have an interest in procuring The Booby Trap. Since its inception, it has always been locally owned and operated. The current owner has single-handedly grown the business exceptionally, and I feel that should continue. This operation is not one that should be corporate owned, but should continue to be run by someone who loves it.”

“And you think that someone is you?”

“Sorta. Mostly, I know a guy.”

I nod. Okay, I’ll play along.

“You know a guy…”