Page 11 of Don't Go Faking My Heart

"In fact, I do." Bill hitches up his belt. "I have a better idea than colors and … cosmetic updates." He pauses. "An outside investor. A neutral one."

"A neutral outside investor?" Teddy repeats. "Tell us more."

"He's promising a lot of money, and he's interested in taking over Maple Street and other businesses for a very generous price. We're talking enough to retire on." Excitement buzzes around the room like flies on something rotten. "He'd hoped to be here this morning, but his flight was delayed a couple of hours. Perhaps we can have another meeting tomorrow?—"

"No," Tripp says loudly. "Some of us have jobs, Bill. The next meeting is in two weeks."

"Oh, come off it," Teddy says. "He has an investor promising us all good money! The least we could do is hear the man out."

"Of course we can," Sean says, and my eyes about pop out of my head. "In two weeks. I ain't closin' the bar for two meetings in a week."

"It's a bar," Teddy says. "What lush is drinkin' at eleven in the a.m?"

"It's a pub," I say before I can stop myself, "and last I checked, your wife eats lunch there."

"Well, then, maybe she ran into ol' Arlo." Teddy's eyes narrow to points. "Or is AA still workin' out for dear ol’ dad?"

"Out of order," Chick Hanks yells.

"You're the mayor," Tripp barks. "Grow up."

"I'll do as I please," Teddy snaps. "I know y'all have jobs. So do I! But does anyone really want to wait two weeks to find out how rich this guy could make us?"

"Rich is dramatically overstating it," Lou says. "This bigshot investor won’t be looking to buy your intellectual property, but rather your lease or your land. And he'll probably prevent you from starting something somewhere else in town to keep out competition."

"Don’t listen to her!" Bill says. "It's a much better deal than all that."

"If this man is so desperate to offer you such a great deal, making him wait will only drive up your value," Lou says. "Don't rush into this, y'all."

"I vote we make him wait," Tripp says. "And in that time, I'm sure Jane & Co. would be happy to meet with any of you individually to talk about how their proposal could work for you."

"We would," Parker assures them.

I shoot my eyes to Ash, and my heart drops. Her lower lip is jutted out. Somewhere in this melee, she lost her confidence. I was too busy wanting to defend her to help her the way she needed.

People start voting around the room, with Sean voting to wait on behalf of the bar and grill, even though I guarantee Patty would rather sell the place. Somehow, all three Chicks agree to wait (trash talking the historic fort was the death knell for Bill and Teddy).

But there are enough others who are curious about the money, and they vote in favor of meeting again tomorrow. Teddy votes to hear the investor immediately and says he's authorized to speak for his wife, who runs a souvenir store.

Ash takes a step backward and bumps into me. I put a hand on her lower back, steadying her. She looks at me with those cornflower blue eyes that squeeze my heart. Touching her is always torture, because this is all I ever get—brief grazes and shows of support. I never get as much as I want, which, in fairness, is a lifetime of touching her. Holding her. Never letting her go …

I need to stop thinking about myself. This isn't about what I want, it's about what Ash needs.

Support.

Because the last no is given, and we're short one vote.

"Well," Teddy starts, "it looks like?—"

"Give me two weeks," Ash blurts.

Teddy rocks back. "Excuse me? Two weeks for what?"

"For me to prove our ideas work! Don't meet with the investor until you see what we can do."

Teddy's eyes flash to Bill's. "What could you do in two weeks?"

"I'll do a social media blitz for you. All of you. I'll have your shops go viral faster than the flu."

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