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Chapter 7
Aria wove her way around the crowded tables of the rustic Mousehole Tavern, where she and her friends got together for drinks and gabbing most Friday nights. Lanterns decorated all the wooden tables, and a long bar curved through one side of the room.
Brooke, Destiny and Rory had already secured a booth near the massive stone fireplace dominating the wall opposite the bar.
“Is he kidding me with this?” Aria plunked herself next to Destiny and slammed her hand on the table.
“Is who kidding you with what?” Rory glanced at her, one eye still on the screen of her phone. “I cannot believe Grant still doesn’t have this place wired for Wi-Fi.”
“HunterArmstrong. He’s the Imperial VP trying to strong-arm all the Mariposa owners.” Aria huffed out a breath, secretly pleased by her word play. “He thinks he can bribe us into selling our property to him. Well, I will not be bribed.”
“Atta girl.” Grant, the chestnut-haired, stubble-faced owner of the Mousehole, set Aria’s usual mojito in front of her and extended his fist. “That complex will lead to a bunch of problems we don’t want.”
“Are you coming to the Mariposa Business Association meeting?” After bumping his fist with hers, Aria pulled the drink toward her. “Even though you’re not officially in the district, I could use the support when the owners all vote.”
“I’ll be there.” Grant set his hands on his hips and frowned. “I saw the plans for Oceanview. Automatic fountains and a skywalk? What the hell does a place like this need that for?”
“Grant, you’re my hero.” Aria smiled. Though Grant had only moved to Bliss Cove a few years ago, he’d established a large degree of influence and respect among the locals. If word spread that he was opposed to Oceanview, then people would pay attention. “Too bad you can’t actually vote.”
“If Grant were voting, he’d send up a smoke signal.” Rory pushed a lock of long black hair over her shoulder and glanced at Grant, amusement flickering in her navy-blue eyes.
He folded his arms over his chest. “Last I heard, it’s an old-fashioned paper and pencil ballot. Maybe you’ve heard of paper and pencil?”
“Maybe you’ve heard of Wi-Fi?” Rory slouched farther in her seat, her thumbs working swiftly over her phone. “Some customers would prefer bandwidth over your stupid singing fish.”
She jutted her chin toward the mounted, robotic fish hanging behind the bar that sang “Love Me Tender” with the push of a button.
“Bysome customers, you meanyou,” Grant replied.
“Imeananyone who lives in the twenty-first century.”
“Excuse me for interrupting, but we’re hungry,” Brooke announced with a roll of her eyes.
His gaze still on Rory, Grant took out his order pad. After they ordered, and he returned to the kitchen, Destiny patted Aria’s arm.
“I’m certain Hunter is not as bad as you think,” she said. “He doesn’t have a negative aura.”
“He hates cats,” Aria said. “He thinks I’m violating a health code. He’ll probably file a complaint. He’s going to try and hardball me.”
Oh, lord.She took another swallow of her drink as a flush heated her face. If she were a woman with a dirty mind—which sometimes she was—she could interpret that remark in all sorts of ways. Not the least of which involved Hunter hardballing her naked.
Yikes. Screeching, halting full stop.
“Regardless of what you think of Hunter personally, the contract is straightforward and solid.” Destiny sipped her wine. “It’s been reviewed by five different property lawyers.”
Aria sniffed in derision. “Are they on Imperial’s bankroll?”
“I can find out.” Rory tapped the screen of her phone. “Or I can do a deep search on this Armstrong guy. See if he has any dirt you can use against him.”
“Aurora.” Destiny clicked her tongue. “Bad karma.”
“Please. I’ve dealt with a lot of male crap in the tech industry.” Rory set her phone aside. “I guarantee a man like Hunter Armstrong didn’t get to where he is by playing nice.”
Aria didn’t doubt it, even if Hunter had been…well, sort of nice on the night of Porkchop’s escape.
“I’ve done five different readings about this situation.” Destiny sipped her wine. “They all point to a favorable future regardless of the outcome. Everything will work out.”
“Thank you, Pollyanna.” Aria set her glass down unnecessarily hard. While she usually appreciated Destiny’smysticalapproach to life, with the knowledge of what she was up against, she was in no mood to believe that the storm clouds gathering on the horizon were about to give way to a rainbow.
