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Beside me, Stephanie chattered on, and I nodded and murmured at the appropriate times, only half listening to what she was saying—something about wanting to visit a quaint antiques store we’d passed on the way into town. My mind quickly flipped through the list I’d made earlier—the owner of the antiques store wasn’t on it, which meant I had no use for going there.
I wished Mayor Stoltz had been more forthcoming about the workings of the business commission. I supposed she wanted to remain neutral since she would officially support what her constituents wanted. But damn it, she knew as well as I did that the Markham resort would be good for the Carolina Banks. Besides, nothing about the project was set in stone. If the business-commission members objected to only one part of the proposal, we could negotiate. I needed to remember to emphasize that when I spoke with the members. Markham wanted to partner with the town, not compete.
I pulled out my notebook and jotted that line down. Chewing on the pen cap, I outlined some other talking points. I was so engrossed that I hadn’t even realized we’d arrived until Stephanie turned off the car.
“Sorry.” I tucked my notebook away.So much for quitting work like I’d promised.“I was just…” My words trailed off as I looked at the sign on the building we were parked in front of—Banks Brew Co. “Are you serious, Steph?”
She grinned. “What? Don’t you want to support a local business?”
“You know I do,” I hissed. “Just not this one.”
I yanked down the visor and combed my fingers through my hair, then I abruptly put it back up. What was I doing? I didn’t care what Bennett thought of me. Not that it mattered—I was not setting foot in his place.
“Oh, come on,” Stephanie said. “The wings here are supposed to be good.”
“You don’t even like wings.”
“No, but you know what they say about a place that makes good wings.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “No, I don’t actually.”
“Well…” She pursed her lips, and I could practically see the wheels in her head turning as she tried to come up with a sassy euphemism. “I got nothing. I don’t think they say anything. But you know you want to check out Bennett’s place.”
“No, I don’t know that.” I pointed to a seafood restaurant a few blocks away. “Let’s go there instead. That’s local.” Stephanie’s response was to get out of the car. I scrambled to catch up to her before she could open the front door. “This isn’t a good idea.”
“Sure, it is,” Stephanie said. “It’s not like either of you is going to make a scene in his place of business.”
I wouldn’t, but she didn’t know Bennett like I did. Or had. I didn’t know him anymore, and that made me sad. I had no right to the feeling. If I’d cared that much, I would have kept in touch, right?
Or maybe it was because I cared too much that I hadn’t reached out. It was better that we’d ended the summer as friends. I’d had a plan—get my undergraduate degree and then apply to Harvard law. Having a long-distance relationship would have only distracted me at a time I needed to stay focused.
“Besides,” Stephanie continued, “it’s a good show of faith to patronize his business, right? It’s a step toward mending fences.”
“I don’t care about mending fences. I care about getting the project approved.”
Stephanie blinked at me with wide eyes. “Aren’t they the same thing? Now, come on. We’ve been talking in view of this front window this whole time. People probably think we’re crazy.”
What was crazy was the fact that I was walking—well, slinking—into the Banks Brew Co. A sign telling patrons to seat themselves greeted us. I pointed to a booth tucked into a corner of the room, but I was too slow. Stephanie was already on her way to the bar.
“Steph,” I hissed, but she pretended not to hear me. I had no choice but to follow her.
Bennett stood behind the long wooden bar, and he looked just as delicious as he had the day prior. He’d traded in his flannel shirt for a simple black T-shirt with Banks Brew Co. emblazoned on the chest. I’d been right—his arms were spectacular, maybe due to all that lugging kegs around and whatnot. His dark eyes narrowed when they caught sight of me.
Tucking my hair behind my ears, I ducked my head, hoping he hadn’t noticed me checking out his arms. Then indignation flared within me, and I raised my head, meeting his gaze. I might not want to be there, but he didn’t need to know that. I didn’t want him to think our earlier exchange had rattled me. Perhaps my sister had been right in bringing me here, though not for the reasons she thought.
“Hello again!” Stephanie said brightly as she slid onto a stool.Talk about a traitor.“So nice to see you!”
Bennett’s rigid shoulders told me he was warring within himself, but in the end, his Southern hospitality—or perhaps his integrity as a business owner—won out. “Hello,” he said stiffly, unable to hide his displeasure at our presence in his bar.
Suck it up, buttercup. We’re paying customers. Judging by the near-empty room, he could use a few of those. Huh. If only there was a resort that attracted tourists to the Carolina Banks in the cold months. I sat next to Stephanie and dropped my purse on the chair beside me.
“Is that a real jukebox over there? I don’t think I’ve seen one of those in… actually, I don’t think I’ve seen one!” Hopping off her stool, Stephanie said under her breath, “Play nice,” and then she left me alone with Bennett.
Traitor.I had no idea what she hoped to accomplish. Trying to change Bennett’s mind once he had it set was a waste of time.
I picked up a menu and stared at it blindly. “For the record,” I said coolly, “it was Stephanie’s idea to come here.”
I didn’t want him to think for one second that I wanted to see him, despite how I might have ogled his arms earlier. Okay, I was still ogling.Damn it. The sleeves on his shirt were so tight.Is it hot in here, or is it just me?I fanned the menu toward me, hoping he wouldn’t notice that line of sweat forming on my upper lip.
