AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Allan Blaire, the hotel guy who bought the Grayson property?”
“Oh, hmm.” I imagined thought bubbles above her head. “Never heard of him.”
“Ugh,” I huffed out in defeat. I wanted information about this guy and his intentions. Not just because I was nosy, but because I wanted to make sure it wasn’t going to affect my grandparents or the winery. I needed to get a leg up on him, to figure out how to handle the situation in case I needed to step in on their behalf. My Google search a few days earlier hadn’t been promising.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I slapped the rag against the counter in frustration. “He’s some property tycoon who bought the Grayson property, and it’s going to be a freaking disaster.” I put my hand up by my face and added out of the corner of my mouth, “And by freaking, I meanfucking.” Seeing as there were still a couple of stragglers in the room, it would be uncouth if any patron heard me using profanity.
Jenny laughed. “Why do you say that?”
“Because the guy’s probably planning to build a new hotel there.”
“And?”
“And he builds huge hotels.”
“There was a hotel there before, right?”
“Yeah. Well, an inn technically. But that’s not the point.”
“So, what’s the point?”
“If he does, it’s going to be a huge monstrosity. Right next to the winery!” My voice was bordering on shrill.
“Doesn’t sound like such a problem to me. It could be good for business.”
“It’s not just that.”
Dress Shirt got up and said goodnight. I thanked him, then wiped down the counter where he had been sitting. Leaning toward our solitary customer, Baseball Cap, I asked, “Can I get you anything else?”
“Thanks, I’m almost done,” he answered, not looking up. Clearly, he was trying to keep to himself. He looked vaguely familiar, and I started going through the celebrities who wereHOTright now, trying to place him.
“Do you know that guy?” I mouthed the words at Jen.
She peeked over at him. “No,” she mouthed back.
“I think he’s famous.”
“Maybe.”
“I know him from somewhere. Movie. TV show. Something.”
She shrugged. “So, what’s the other problem?” She looked quizzically at me. Now it appeared Jenny was trying to readmythought bubbles. “Wait.” She held up her hand. “Before you start, is there more than one more problem?”
I blurted out, “First, he builds these massive, thirty-story hotels. Second, they’re completely outrageous! Every single one of them is over the top.”
“So, you’ve been to one? And didn’t like it?”
“No,” I said exasperated. “But I googled them. And him!” I picked up my phone and pulled up my browsing history. “Just look at him,” I insisted, shoving the phone into her hand.
“Oh, he’s hot!”
I snatched the phone back and tried to lower my voice. “Not him!” I admonished, and clicked the back button, then shoved the phone into her waiting hand. “Him. The other picture was one of his sons.That’sAllan Blaire. You know, Blaire Enterprises? E Properties and Hotels?” I grimaced.
Jenny began fanning herself. “He’s reallyhot!”
“Hot? He’s anold man!”
