Page 65 of The Magical Tea Shop

Jaxon remained glued to the sidewalk. If he accepted the Boston job, would he lose his joy, like Derrick? Why exactly was Derrick Cross so determined to buy up property in Hazard?

Not speaking, they crossed the street to the realty office. When the brunette receptionist gave a cheerful smile, Derrick turned on his charm. Jaxon recognized a man with a hidden agenda, and he wanted no part in it. He simply could not risk the livelihoods of his tenants. Not for a selfish move he no longer needed to make.

The complication was that he had accepted Derrick’s offer on the property. All that remained was signing the final documents. If he didn’t sign, what then? Would he be in breach of contract? The contract wasn’t actually signed. He hadn’t yet relinquished his rights to the property.

Jaxon turned to Derrick, who was bestowing his oily smile on the unsuspecting receptionist. Preening at his attention, the young woman ushered them into the thickly carpeted back office where the blazer-clad Realtor, Sally Song, waited with a bespectacled notary behind a polished teakwood desk.

Jaxon sat in a padded oxblood chair, a substantial stack of paperwork placed before him. He took his time to read through each page one last time. Even as his eyes flowed over the words, his life in Hazard replayed in his mind. When had he begun to belong? How had he not realized?

Derrick Cross shifted in impatience, his sneering lips pinched closed, somehow knowing now was not the time to push. Over the page in his hand, Jaxon studied the man he’d once thought was the answer to his dreams. Derrick Cross, moneyed, well-dressed, rigid, harsh, secretive. How had he ever thought he could work with him? How had he ever thought to foist this discontented man on his friends and neighbors?

On Ivy.

“Deal’s off.”

Derrick swiveled in his direction, all oily charm evaporated. “You can’t do that.”

“I’m not selling. I’ve changed my mind.”

“We have an agreement. Thenotaryis here.”

Jaxon stood, took the paperwork in hand, and looked Derrick straight in the eyes. “No deal.”

Derrick grabbed for the paperwork. Jaxon held it. Keeping his gaze on Derrick, he deliberately tore the documents in half.

Derrick Cross narrowed his eyes. “You know what this means.”

Jaxon raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll find another piece of property. Little by little, I will buy up this wretched town and transform it. I’ll wrest it out of its revolting past and force it into this century. I’ll bring in modern businesses that people want to patronize and force out all those horrible mom-and-pop shops.”

“Those mom-and-pop shops are the charm of Hazard.”

Derrick scoffed, “I’ll turn this place into a profitable enterprise, not this century’s old, closed club. It’ll be…”

“…like everywhere else?”

“That’s right.” Lip curling, Derrick glowered.

“You’ll fail.”

“You watch.” He pivoted abruptly but halted at the door. “Oh, and Langford, you can consider your new position terminated. You cancel this sale…your job offer?” Derrick made a sign with his fingers of it going up in smoke. “Good luck with your life here for as long as that lasts.”

Derrick stormed out, and Jaxon turned to the Realtor. “Sorry about your commission.”

Sally shrugged. “I just completed the sale on the Hazard Inn. I’ll be all right.”

Jaxon nodded to her and the notary, and left. Time to put his life back together.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Crowds gathered andmilled about Cliffside Park. Ivy adored this event. It had been canceled for the last couple of years. But the Kite Jubilee was back, and due to recent high, gusting winds, today was the ideal, blustery day for kite-flying. A stage had been set up for her parents to perform their magic show, and afterward would be a live band for dancing. It didn’t get any better than this.

Except Jaxon was leaving. That thought remained in the back of her mind as she went through her busy days. Yes, the tea shop was thriving. She’d improved her business nearly 30%, but the knowledge Jaxon was leaving dimmed her joy.

Rumor had it the sale of his building had fallen through, but Ivy had barely seen Jaxon all week. No one had. That meant he was still moving, taking a job in Boston, and leaving Hazard behind. Jaxon Langford was leaving her behind, and that was fine because he had betrayed her.

Except, if it was true, and he wasn’t selling the building, he hadn’t—not exactly. True, he held back important information. He’d left her out when he talked to everyone else. That irked, but it wasn’t a genuine betrayal. Hewasstill her landlord, so theywouldstill be in touch.

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