AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Bennett closed his eyes and rolled his shoulders. When he opened his eyes, his expression had lost its coldness. “Do you still drink Amaretto sours?”
My nose involuntarily wrinkled. “Not anymore.” That had been my drink of choice as a college freshman simply because it was the only one I’d known. After indulging in one too many my sophomore year, though, I couldn’t even smell Amaretto without gagging. “I’m surprised you remember.”
He leaned his forearms on the bar, and a lock of hair fell low on his forehead. My stomach did a flip-flop. I wanted to curl his hair around my finger. “I remember a lot about you.”
I stared at him. This was the Bennett I had known—serious but flirtatious, at least with me. The man before me was a far cry from the one who’d stormed out of my rental house earlier. The sudden shift had my hackles up.Fool me once and all that.
“What else do you remember?” I asked.
“I remember how much you loved it here.”
I flashed a tentative smile.Am I being too cynical?Maybe Stephanie had been correct, and that fence could be mended. It would make things a hell of a lot easier. “I did. Ido. It’s one reason I was excited when Phil asked me to come.”
A scowl passed over his face so quickly I wondered if I’d imagined it. “Phil, as in Philip Markham?”
“My brother-in-law, yes.”
“Has he ever been here?”
I considered, though I didn’t see why it mattered. “You know, I’m not sure.”
“You should ask him.”
“Yeah, sure.” My words were clipped. We were on shaky ground, and I couldn’t pinpoint where he was going. Maybe if I hadn’t let myself get distracted by his stupid arms, I’d know what the hell was going on.
“But I’m betting he’s never been here,” Bennett continued.
“Why do you say that?” I said, giving up on trying to figure out his plot.
“Because if he’s been here, then he’d know a resort doesn’t fit in with the aesthetic. But you lived here, so surely you understand that.”
Bennett thought he was being as smooth as a surgeon with a scalpel, when in actuality, he was more like a lumberjack with a blunt axe. I’d been right to suspect his sudden shift in attitude. I hated how much I’d wanted to believe we were on good terms. I’d been so desperate that I let my guard down. Big mistake.I wouldn’t be doing that again.
You know what? Screw him.I was in town with a valuable business opportunity for the Carolina Banks. If he didn’t want anything to do with it, that was his loss.
I tossed my hair over my shoulder and leaned forward. “I understand that a resort would provide year-round tourism revenue.”
“Which we don’t need.” Bennett smiled through clenched teeth and stretched his arms wide. “Look around. We’re doing A-okay here.”
I looked at the handful of regulars. The place probably came close to bursting at the seams during the season. But I thought better of questioning his assessment of his business. “Maybe Banks Brew Company is, but what about all the other businesses? Have you thought about anyone besides yourself?”
Anger flashed in his eyes, and I was tempted to squirm on my seat, but I forced myself still. I’d delivered a low blow. Bennett had always been devoted to his family and community, but that did not prevent his short-sightedness and unwillingness to consider something outside his comfort zone.
His mouth twisted, but someone spoke behind me before he could say anything. “Oh my God… is that who I think it is?” I turned to find Lyra standing with her hands on her hips and a smile on her face. “Claire Holden?”
At least one person in the Carolina Banks was happy to see me. “In the flesh.” I stood and gave her a quick hug. She and I had spent little one-on-one time that summer, but we’d hung out in group settings.
“It’s so good to see you!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
Bennett muttered something, but I ignored him, which I realized needed to be my strategy going forward. “I’m here on business, actually.”
She chuckled. “In the off-season?”
I glanced over my shoulder and shot Bennett a look that clearly said,See?I hesitated before offering an explanation but figured if she didn’t already know, she’d find out soon enough. “I’m here representing Markham Corporation.”
Her expression was blank. “Sorry, but unless you’re talking about Bruno, which we’re apparently not supposed to talk about—or Anna and Elsa—I’m a little clueless.”
I was clueless about those names, but I didn’t ask. “Markham has proposed to build a resort here on the islands.”
