Page 40 of Moonlit Hideaway
Instead, the girls looked at her like she was a street busker hustling for money and turned away from her after a few polite hellos. At least her disguise was holding.
Emma looked back at her as she went off with her friends to look at the decorations table. Sierra gave her an I’m-okay wave and turned around to look for Hank. He was speaking to an Asian woman, who introduced herself as Tina Wang, Emma’s high school teacher.
“Jane, I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Tina said, gripping her arm. “Your guitar lessons have done wonders for Emma. She’s more confident, and her grades are improving.”
Hank took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Jane’s been tutoring Emma too.”
“Emma’s a quick learner,” Sierra said, touched that she was positively impacting the teenager.
“You’re all Emma talks about,” Tina said. “Since you’re such a positive influence, would you consider performing with Emma at Harvestfest? It would mean the world to her.”
Hank beamed at her expectantly, and Sierra was in a quandary. How could she promise something if she was leaving?
“I… I’m not… I get nervous. I’m a better teacher than a performer.”
“Emma gets nervous too, and I think it’ll help her to have someone accompany her,” Tina said.
“I wish I could, but I don’t have a musical note in my body,” Hank said with a quizzical expression.
“Oh, that’s okay. Both of you can stand up there and clap and hum. It’s the first time Emma was selected. She tried out every year, but…”
“I’ll do it if it’s just standing with her strumming and singing backup.” Sierra coughed to hide her anxiety. “When is the festival?”
“End of the month. Be sure to wear a costume.”
Sierra made a mental calculation. She had ten days. It would give her time to find out the exact nature of the businesses she was left with and make a plan to take down her enemies—if they didn’t get to her first.
“Of course. I’ll definitely wear a costume,” Sierra promised.
Tina hugged her. “Fantastic. This will be a festival to remember.”
“Oh, Hank, fancy seeing you here.” A tall blonde wearing a tailored suit skirt sidled up to him. She extended a perfectly manicured hand. “You’re looking as handsome as ever.”
“Uh, hello, Linda. Nice to see you.”
“Likewise,” she winked. Her heavily made-up eyes flicked dismissively over Sierra’s thrift shop outfit before returning to Hank with a flirtatious smile. “And who might this be?”
Hank clamped his arm possessively around Sierra’s shoulders. “My girlfriend, Jane.”
“Jane, is it?” Linda returned her attention to Hank. “Have you thought about capitalizing on your property’s potential?”
“I’ve been fixing it up.”
“To sell, I hope.” Linda flashed an insincere smile. “Although, let me give you a hint. The buyers I’ve spoken to want to replace the old Baxter Inn with a modern resort, so you can save some money by selling it as is.”
“I’m not interested in selling.” Hank’s voice stiffened, and Sierra bristled, not liking the sound of it at all. She knew how important Chloe’s family was to Hank, and preserving theirmemories in the form of the inn offering hospitality to shipwreck victims was one of his life goals.
“That’s a shame,” Linda tsked. “It would fetch quite the price, especially if we expanded into that forest area and built a golf course. We could make this place the next Hilton Head.”
“I appreciate the offer, but my mind’s made up,” Hank said firmly.
A middle-aged Black man with salt-and-pepper hair joined them. He clapped a jovial hand on Hank’s shoulder. “How are those renovations going? Ever thought about expanding?”
“I’m happy with the way things are now.”
“Sure, sure, but your property has prime potential. I understand not wanting to sell, but you should consider investors. Your location near the lighthouse and Cedar Point has the potential to be the next big vacation spot. We can even have seaside concerts and run conventions.”
“What a great idea, Mayor Winston,” Linda chirped. She leaned closer to Hank. “I’ll be dropping by with a client tomorrow. He’s willing to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
