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“That’s quick.” The local government was notoriously slow, which was something the mayor had been working to improve.
“Not really, if you think about it. The resort proposal has been in the works for over a year.”
Figuring that I wasn’t going to torture him with more fetching, Larry slunk over to my side, and I scratched him behind the ears.Good boy.
“I’m abstaining from the vote,” I informed Mayor Stoltz. “Cla—Ms. Holden and I have a history, and some of the commission members feel it’s a conflict of interest.”
“That’s why I’m calling. I heard that, as well, and I wanted to voice my opinion that it’s unnecessary. As big as the islands are, we’re a tight-knit community. If members abstained every time there was a personal connection, no one would ever vote.”
“Why are you telling me this? I know you want the resort, and you probably know I don’t.”
She was silent for a beat. “I want what’s best for my residents.” That was a diplomatic answer if I’d ever heard one. “I don’t want you to regret not voicing your opinion with your vote.”
“I appreciate the call, but I’m still abstaining.”
“I figured as much. Even as a child, you were stubborn.”
I ended the call and stared at my phone some more, as if that would provide me the answer to my dilemma. As much as I hated the idea of the resort, I equally hated voting against Claire. I knew that wasn’t exactly what I’d be doing, but it felt like it.Damn it.I should have kept my distance. Except even though it would have been the sensible course of action, I didn’t regret it.
But what about Claire? Will she regret her time with me?I wondered if the outcome of tomorrow’s commission vote would influence her answer to that question. She’d made it clear that her job was her priority, and I couldn’t fault her for that. It was the whole reason she’d come to the Carolina Banks. Soon that reason would be moot, and she’d go back to her life in New York, just like I’d known she would.
That didn’t mean I had to feel good about it.
***
I SAT INmy truck outside Claire’s rental house and stared at it, much as I’d done a week before. Only this time, I wasn’t waiting under the cover of darkness, so it only took about thirty seconds for the front door to open. Unfortunately, it was Stephanie who appeared. Nothing against her personally—hers just wasn’t the face I wanted to see.
She wrapped her sweater around herself to ward against the cold air and motioned for me to come in.Aww, hell.I hadn’t decided what I was going to say. I probably should have figured that out before I drove over there, but I wasn’t known for being smart. Reluctantly, I got out of my truck.
“Hello, you!” Stephanie said. “How’s it going?”
“Okay.” I shoved my hands into my pockets and moved past her into the house. “Is Claire here?”
“You mean you didn’t come to see me?” She batted her eyes and pouted.
Fuck.I hadn’t even said hello to her. I wondered if I’d hurt her feelings. Claire’s sister was a shifty one. I couldn’t always get a read on her.
She laughed. “Relax. I’m just messing with you. She’s in her room, doing a phone interview. She’s been up there a while, so she should be down soon.”
“Oh really?” She hadn’t said anything about a job interview. Not that she owed me an explanation but still, it was disconcerting that she hadn’t mentioned something as important as a potential new job.
“Yup. My sister, the big-city lawyer. Well, now that she lives in the burbs with us, I guess she’s a midsized-city lawyer.” Stephanie laughed at her own joke. When I didn’t, she cleared her throat. “I’m not sure what the job is, to be honest. But anyone would be an idiot not to hire her. She’s excellent at her job. She got a raw deal when… anyhoo, I’m totally rambling. Do you want something to drink?”
I backed up toward the door. “No, that’s okay. I can’t stay long, anyway, so I’ll catch up with her later.”
Stephanie eyed me. “Okay. I’m sure she’ll be sad she missed you. I’ll let her know you stopped by.”
“Sure, whatever, thanks.” I let myself out and retreated to the safety of my truck.
***
Claire
STEPHANIE HOPPED THEcurb on the way into the parking lot, and I didn’t even blink. Apparently, I was becoming immune to her driving. I didn’t know if that was a good thing.
She pulled into a space and turned off the car. Then she faced me. “Do you need a pep talk?”
“No, I don’t need a pep talk,” I muttered. What I needed was a sister who wasn’t pushy.
