Page 18 of Building Romance
She glares at me and I know she already regrets agreeing to this, but I also know she needs to do this competition and no other company is knocking down her door. I saw to that with a few simple calls.
“Fine. Saturday night. After I close,” she says.
“I’ll see you at nine,” I say and I see the look of irritation because she hates that I know she closes at nine on Thursdays.
She doesn’t say another word as she turns and walks out of the building. I watch her walk down the street where she stops to talk to a woman and a little girl. They all seem to know each other as Cam picks up the little girl and hugs her. Then they all walk over to her store. I wonder who they are for the briefest of moments. But then I remember that I just won. This is going to help me figure her out, and by keeping my enemy close, I’ll find the chink in her armor. You’re about to go down, Ms. Tanner.
CHAPTER NINE
Cam
I sip my martini and snuggle up in one of the blankets that Al keeps up here for the winter happy hours. He has all the heaters going and the fire pit.
I glance down at my phone to see if Max has messaged me back. He’s been busy lately and I hate admitting I miss our little text chats, but I do. I grin when I see he’s replied.
Max: Sorry. Crazy schedule today. So, how’s your business situation going?
Me: I’m going to do a project with that business.
Max: You are?
Me: Yeah. There’s this thing that came up and we’re going to work as a team.
Max: Do you think that’s a good idea?
Me: (shrugging emoji)
Max: You didn’t sign anything yet, did you?
Me: (sheepish emoji)
Max: E! Why would you do that?
I grin. I love when he calls me “E.”
Me: The only way forward is through.
Max: I hope you have a plan.
Me: Sort of.
Max: We should talk later. I have to go to some event. Don’t sign any other contracts tonight, OK?
I laugh.
Me: I’ll try not to.
I look around at my friends and neighbors.
Jessa and Troy are deep in conversation with Margie and Cornelia, and Drew is perched on the arm of one of the oversized deck chairs that Margie is sitting in. They are having some debate about whether an actor from a show they all used to watch is still alive or not.
“He’s dead,” Drew announces as he holds up his phone. They all sigh and immediately launch into a morbid eulogy of sorts with each of them naming their favorite show or film the actor was in.
I glance at the bar. Roxy is sitting in Gray’s lap as they both watch some funny video on her social media while Al makes her another drink. Piper is in Kasen’s lap. She’s sketching something in a notebook while Kasen chats with Hutch. Roxy’s employee, Jocelyn, is up here tonight. She’s standing by Hutch explaining why a character in her favorite book is better than the one in his favorite book.
Bray is sitting on the end seat with Ava in his lap. He’s half participating in their favorite bar game of tic-tac-toe while he chats with Carly. I swear those two have the hots for each other. I mean they already practically raise Ava as a couple without being a couple. Weird.
Everything seems so normal. Yet, I feel…distant. Like I’m watching all of this in a film instead of being a part of it.
