Page 3 of Sweet Cinnamon and the Mountain Man
“Cinnamon, please. I know you want to make this business work and I’m right there with you if that’s what you want. But I also know that you’re not gonna be happy alone for the rest of your life. I know that James really tore you up when he decided to leave town for that fancy job. I wouldn’t have blamed you for giving up Valentine and flying off with him to a new life.”
Hunching over, I poke at the dream board. “I’m not leaving Valentine for any reason. This is my home and I do not want to leave it. I love it and there’s nothing that’s gonna convince me that this isn’t where I’m supposed to be.”
She stands up and pats my shoulder. “I hope that you don’t regret it, child. I know I wasn’t a big fan of James and I hope that my feelings didn’t color your decision.”
Shaking my head, I smile up at her. “Nope. James was a mistake.”
As far as I can tell all men are mistakes. James was just the most recent one to prove that to me.
“Since your mama passed away, I’ve tried to take care of you, Cinnamon. I won’t be around forever and I just want to make sure that you’ve got someone looking out for you before I pass away.”
Jumping to my feet, I hug her and grunt, “You’re not going anywhere so just stop it! I’m alright by myself. Trust me, granny.”
She stomps off after she pulls away. “You’re a stubborn girl, Cinnamon Walker. But I know that Reginald Hawks is the man for you so don’t expect me to just give up and walk away. You know that’s not my style.”
Rolling my eyes, I flop back into the hardwood seat and roll my neck back and forth then drop my forehead into my hand huffing out a breath.
I just want some peace and quiet so I can get some work done. Is that too much to ask?
I grab my dream board for my prospective client and holler good-bye to Agatha and then stomp out the door.
At least Jeremy and Clark left town so they’ve got a little distance between Agatha’s machinations and themselves.
I refuse to leave town just to keep from having her harass me to go out with Reginald Hawks. I mean it.
That man is trouble and I don’t want anything to do with him or his steely blue eyes.
No matter how pretty they are surrounded with long, dark eyelashes that most girls would kill for.
He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him. And that’s just how it’s gonna be.
No matter what Agatha thinks.
Reginald
“This space isn’tbig enough, Candace. I need more room for my products. This won’t do at all.”
Candace Shepherd groans and pushes her hair behind her ear. “Reginald. I’m sorry but we’ve had more people that needed space this year. This is all we have open for you. Everybody’s getting the same booths.”
I point next door to me and growl, “What about that space there? There’s nobody set up there yet. Maybe that person could get a different spot.”
“There are no other spaces! And the woman who has that space is going to be here soon to set up.”
“Maybe I could pay extra for another space. I’d be happy to. But Ineedthat extra space. I’ve got all this stuff and there’s no way it’s going to fit in here. My space last year was so much bigger.”
“Yeah.” She nods and there’s a nervous tic beside her eye that tells me I’m about half a second from her losing her temper. “We didn’t have as many people last year. We’ve even got people coming from as far as Casper to sell their stuff.”
“Shouldn’t people who are from here have first shot?”
Her eyes roll and she glares at me. “I’m not going to dignify that with an answer. Everybody deserves a space and it means so much to all these people to have this opportunity.”
“Well, if I get the vendor next door to give me her spot, is it alright then?”
She snorts. “If you think you can con her you go right ahead but you’re not gonna be able to convince her to let this spot go. She’s got just as much right to it as you do.”
“We’ll just see about that.”
She grins. “I wish I could stay and see this conversation but I’ve got stuff to do. Good luck, Reginald. You’re gonna need it!” She walks off, laughing so hard that she almost falls over.
