Page 12 of A Family Affair: The Plan
“What are you doing?”
Sam glanced up as Hope Newland entered the room, grabbed the folder. “This is private.”
No mistaking the ticked and not happy tone in the woman’s voice. He backed away from the table, raised both hands. “Sure.Information gathering about the influencers in this town? Good luck. You’re a little short on the information.”
The woman clutched the folder to her chest, scowled. “Stop snooping.”
“Stop pretending you’re here to gather information about the town so you can open a bed-and-breakfast somewhere. I’m not buying it any more than I am your innocent act.” That seemed to annoy her more than catching him studying her folder.
“Iamtrying to gather information about the town for the purpose of emulating it for our own bed-and-breakfast communities.”
“Right.”Not buying it.
“I don’t care if you believe me or not. In fact, I wouldn’t expect a cynic like you to believe someone’s just trying to do their job with no ulterior motive.”
The woman sure had an attitude of superiority and didn’t mind letting others know howinconsequentialshe found them. He’d known that type before, had married one of them. “Well, thecynicin me has been around long enough to witness people who say one thing and do the exact opposite.”Wasn’t that the truth?
“I’m sorry you have so many untrustworthy associates.” Those hazel eyes flashed, the scowl deepened. “I would appreciate it if you stayed out of my way and let me do my job.”
“I’d like to do that, but unfortunately I can’t, not until I’m certain you’re not here for any other reason than the one you presented.” There was a lot about this woman he didn’t know, a lot he didn’t trust, but he was going to vet her, and until he did, Sam planned to keep a close eye on what she did and who she talked to…
“My reasons for being here are exactly what I said they were.” She paused, tilted her head to the side. “But what about you? Didn’t you live in Chicago?”
He didn’t miss the tone in her voice that implied she knew why he’d come back home. So what if she knew? Let her straight-out ask. Did she have the guts to do it? Maybe he’d find out. “That’s right. I lived in Chicago.”
A raised brow and the faintest smile as she crossed her arms over her chest—a nice chest if he were looking and interested, which he wasn’t. “And now you’re back.”
“I am.”
“Interesting that you’d return to a small town like this where your options might be somewhat limited.”
Had Mimi told her about the falling out with his dad that had affected his ability to practice veterinary medicine the way he used to…beforeChicago? This time, he was the one who raised a brow, took on a tone that said, “you don’t know what you’re talking about”. “Maybe, but my father has a practice, and it was always planned that I’d return and take over.” Ithadbeen the plan before Sam blew it up.
“I see. So, you’re taking over your father’s practice?”
She said it like she knew that it wasn’t a slam dunk. “That’s the plan.” Itwasthe plan, and all he had to do was convince his father he was capable…trustworthy…loyal…
“Why are you staying at the Heart Sent if you’re from this town?”
Was that curiosity asking the question or did she already know and have her own suspicions? He’d give her this piece of truth and see what she did with it. “It’s kind of hard to live in a place that doesn’t have a working bathroom or a kitchen sink. I bought a place and I’m having it renovated. As for living in the house where I grew up… Same bedroom… Probably the same bedspread and posters?” He shook his head, blew out a loud sigh. “No thanks.”
Sam expected her to make a snide remark, but all she said was “I wouldn’t want to do that either.”
Her expression shifted from an air of superiority to one of dread. Huh. Maybe shedidknow what he was talking about. He didn’t have time to wonder about it before she bombarded him with point-blank questions that were none of her business. “Where’s your house? Is it in town or on the outskirts? Land or no land?”
“I thought you were only interested in the names in your file, and I’m not in your file.”
The faintest pink spread from her neck to her cheeks. “No, you’re not.” She frowned. “But maybe you should be.”
“Doubtful. You see, I don’t like people nosing around in my business—work or personal.” He planned to have a talk with Mimi to make sure she did not offer any more details about his life—businessorpersonal.
A shrug, a dismissive “You don’t have to tell me anything. There’s a lot in what you’re not saying.”
The woman was goading him and he was not going to let her get to him. She thought she could find out about him? For what purpose? See if he’d offer information about Mimi or the other residents in town? Right, not happening. “Good luck. You let me know when you have my life figured out. I’ll be curious to see what you find.” If Sam hadn’t been able to figure out his life, how would an uptight stranger from the city be able to do it?
“I will.”
He could not resist the challenge. “Okay then. I’ll see you around and just so you know, I’m paying attention to everything you’re saying, but mostly what you’re not saying.”
