Authors: Maya Sheppard
“Wow. Will your grandparents’ inheritance be enough?”
“Mr. Travers told me that the interest alone should be sufficient. He’s making those funds available to me and we’re letting the principal from the inheritance continue to grow.”
“Sweetheart, why do you call him ‘Mr. Travers?’ He’s a very good-looking man – and you’ve been alone . . .”
“Mother, I am not getting involved with anyone ever again. Scott . . . Scott found out about my money and that’s what he loved . . . not me. I don’t want to go through that again.”
“You know, you’re a very beautiful woman, Claire. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to Scott. He may have meant no harm. You know, he may have realized . . .”
“Mother! He did cheat on me. Intentionally. End of Story. I am not going out with anyone, ever again. Period.” As Claire butted in on her mother’s words, she was not aware that Jeff was only two aisles over and he heard everything she said.
As Jeff heard Claire’s angry voice and harsh words, he understood her response in his office. No wonder! She doesn’t know . . . or maybe she does know . . . why this Scott dude was with her and why he cheated on her. Not wanting Claire to know that he had overheard her, he made his selection, paid and left, thinking all the while.
Mindy dropped Claire and her purchases back at her apartment and left. “Okay, baby. I’ll respect your wishes, although I certainly . . . okay! I love you.” She blew a kiss in her daughter’s direction and went home.
In her apartment, Claire shook off the dark memories and chose one of her new outfits. Pressing it lightly, she changed clothing and drove to the Bluestone Travers office.
“Yes, if Mr. Travers is available, I’d like to speak to him. Thank you.”
Claire sat and waited impatiently. Time was ticking by and she needed to secure a space for her store – yesterday! Finally, Melissa, Jeff’s assistant, waved her into Jeff’s office.
Claire, not wanting to feel that jolt of awareness, kept both of her hands full so she wouldn’t be able to shake his hand. Instead, she smiled remotely at him and sat down.
“Mr. Travers, I was running an errand this morning . . .”
“Yes, Luci? What is it?”
“I need . . . Oh, hello! I didn’t see you there.” Luci stuck her hand out for Claire to shake. As soon as Claire had gripped her hand, Luci pulled hers away after giving the other woman a ‘limp-fish’ handshake. “Jeff, I need that investment file for the university. The Foundation Office is on my line, needing the latest numbers. Thanks!” Luci retreated slowly from Jeff’s office, taking her time walking out and closing the door.
Jeff returned to his conversation with Claire. “You were saying . . .”
“I saw that the space on Lohman and Nacho Lane has already been rented, so I’d like to go for this one . . .” Claire pointed to an address on the documents Jeff had on his desk.
Luci, having seen the correctness of Jeff’s interaction with the tiny, vividly beautiful Claire, smiled tightly. What a doofus. He likes her, but he’s treating her only as a business client. She’s sitting across from a hunky man and she’s not even responding to him. Why? Maybe I can use this against that coldhearted bitch. I’ll see if I can find out more. I’ll talk Jeff up and see if he’ll tell me when she’s coming in –
use his attraction to her, girl!
***
Now that Claire had ready access to her funds, her plans moved ahead quickly. She secured a space for The Love Knot and hired a graphic design student to help with the outdoor signage, business cards and her new website. Speaking to her father, she hired a contractor and signed a contractor so he and his crew could start designing the store for her. After several 12-hour days, Claire collapsed on her parents’ love seat, gathering her strength.
“Claire, you look totally beat,” her father, Ben, said. “Too many long days?”
“Yeah, but once I get the store up and running, I’ll be able . . . oh, that reminds me. I need to start calling applicants for job interviews tomorrow.” She jotted that down on her lengthy, ever-growing list of “To Dos.”
“You’ll be able . . .”
“To slow down some. I’m sure sleeping well at night, though –
I’m exhausted when I got to bed!”
“You giving yourself time to rest and relax? You don’t need to be getting sick, you know.”
“Yes, dad, I am. I love you.”
Mindy Simms wandered into the family room. “Baby! How are you?”
“Pooped. I’m just going to go home, make a sandwich, then collapse.”
“Nonsense. We’ll go out to eat. Ben, let’s to to Texas Roadhouse and treat Claire. She needs to eat something more substantial than a sandwich – she’s melting away!”
“I was thinking the same thing. Claire, we’re treating you to dinner, and you’re eating a nutritious meal. I don’t see the long days ending any time soon – do you need me to take anything on so you can concentrate on other details?”
Claire squinted one eye while she thought of the myriad details she was managing. “Y’know, if you’d stay in contact with the contractor and make sure that he’s doing things like this . . .” here, she handed her father paint samples and blueprints. “I could focus on ordering and hiring. I want to open within the next six weeks.”
“You got it! Okay, up, in the car and we’re going to eat. It’s getting late and there’s bound to be a line of people.”
Mindy was quiet as Ben drove to the restaurant. He looked at her and, seeing a familiar look on her face, his heart fell. All I can do is deflect her if she starts in on Claire about that asshole.
Once they were seated and had cold drinks in front of them, Ben started the conversation.
“So, my baby girl is a freshly minted college graduate about to own her own store! You know, Claire, I am very proud of what you’ve accomplished.”
Claire grinned. “Thanks, dad. It’s been my dream, ever since grandma taught me how to crochet. Giving other girls, women and even men the chance to learn . . . it’s exciting!” As she spoke, she saw a woman who looked familiar being escorted to the next booth. Trying to place where she had met her, she drew a blank. The woman was petite with very green eyes and auburn hair. Her companion was also short, but instead of being slender, she was plump. Her hair was blonde and frizzy.
“Sweetheart, you’re taking on so many responsibilities. It worries me,” said Mindy.
“Mom, I can handle it. I took the courses and I have an excellent investment manager. Mr. Travers knows exactly what he’s doing. Once I hire a store manager, I’ll be able to relax,” Claire said in response.
“But Claire . . . you should have a man beside you. Scott loved you, I’m sure of that. He just . . . well, he just made . . . a mistake. I’m sure he understands that now, and that he’ll be faithful to . . .”
“Mindy! Claire was in love with him and he trashed her trust in him! She caught him, in bed with some strange, anonymous girl! It wasn’t the first time, either . . . now, stop harping on about that . . . asshole!” Ben ended on a low growl.
“But Ben!”
“No! No buts! Claire’s a very smart young woman. If she says she doesn’t want contact with him, she has her reasons and I trust her, unlike you. If you don’t stop going on about this, then I’m going to have to start reconsidering our marriage. Every time you mention Scott, it hurts her!”
Ben’s promise to look at their marriage stopped Mindy, whose mouth opened and shut ineffectually. “Okay. I’ll stop. Claire, I’m sorry. I just have. . . “
“Mom. Scott didn’t have my best interests at heart . . . he had only his wallet’s best interests in mind when he was dating me. That’s why I’ve decided I’m staying single. It’s my decision. I’m over 21 and capable of doing so.”
In the next booth, Luci shushed her plump, blonde companion, Bobbie White.
“Hush! I want to listen to this. I don’t like that little bitch. This is something I could use against her.” The two eavesdropped. Luci quietly pulled pen and paper from her bag and jotted down brief notes. She gave a toothy smile to her sidekick, who smiled back eagerly.
At home that night, Claire thought about how she had caught Scott cheating on her. I need a guy’s perspective. She called Dylan West, her best friend.
“Hey, Dylan, are you busy right now?”
“Sweetheart, for you, I’m never ‘too busy.’ What’s up?”
“Ugh, it’s my mom again! She keeps bringing Scott up to me, saying, ‘Oh, I’m sure he realizes he made a really big mistake and he’s sorry! Give him another chance!‘ She seems to forget that I caught him in flagrante delicto, fucking another girl!”
“Your mom usually has your best interests at heart, but she’s not thinking right now. Maybe she sees those huge, black circles under your eyes? No way! Scott did you wrong. Full stop. Claire, I support you completely. Does she know that Scott was more attracted to your inheritance than he was to you? Does she know that he was fuckin‘ blind not to see your real beauty?”
Claire’s giggle was reluctant. “I think she’s blind, Dylan. To my feelings. To the pain he caused me.”
“Well, whatever you decide, either against a man or for a man, as long as he’s not out to hurt you, I support. Fully. How are your plans for the store coming along?”
“Things are coming together pretty fast! Dad’s helping me with the contractor to make sure that it comes out the way I want. That leaves me time to interview people and to start ordering things for the store.” Claire felt better when she finished talking to Dylan. She was getting ready for bed when her phone tweeted. Seeing her dad’s number listed, she answered.
“Hey, dad! Thanks for supporting me tonight. I don’t want to yell at mom, but . . .”
“Let’s have lunch tomorrow. We can talk some more about this – we do need to find a way of getting your mother to understand that that . . . man . . . did some real harm to you.”
“I’ll go, but I need to start calling job applicants.”
“We’ll keep it short, I promise. I just wanted to let you know . . . I’ll make damn sure that your mom doesn’t bring . . . him . . . up again. Ever.”
“Thanks, dad. Let’s decide where to go tonight. I’m likely to be buried tomorrow and I’d like to have that one detail worked out,” said Claire.
“Okay, how about Dion’s for pizza or salad?”
“Oooooh, that sounds good! Yes! About noon?”
“I’ll pick you up.”
***
Ben was already at the store when it was time for him to take Claire for lunch. He stopped by to help her, working with the contractor so Claire could focus on hiring store employees and ordering items she needed.
At the store, they sat and talked about Mindy’s persistence while they waited for their orders to be called. “Claire, there’s nothing I’d like more than to see you involved with a good man. But if you can’t, I’ll support you in your decision.”
Jeff walked in and ordered his lunch. He heard Claire and Ben discussing her situation as soon as he saw them. Not wanting to eavesdrop, he strode quickly to their table and shook Claire’s hand. Again, he felt that funny, heart-jolting tingle of awareness. Looking into her eyes, he saw that she did, too.
“Dad, this is Mr. Travers, my investment manager. Mr. Travers, my father, Ben Simms.”
“Jeff, please. No ‘Mr.,‘ please.”
“Jeff, why don’t you join us?” asked Ben.
“Thank you. I think I will.” With that, he sat down on Claire’s side of the booth, forcing Claire to scoot over quickly.
The trio discussed the progress of The Love Knot.
“I’ll be opening within a month – six weeks at the latest,” said Claire. “I’m working on advertising the opening – radio, papers, web. I should be seeing the ads starting next week!” Claire said.
As Claire spoke, Jeff noted the dark circles under her eyes.
“Question, Claire. Are you getting much rest?” he asked.
Claire, not knowing how to respond, fiddled with her straw. “Um. Well, I get to bed at a reasonable hour, but getting to sleep is hard. I’m excited and I get up and start making notes.”
“Ahh. Let Dr. Jeff prescribe something. Hot herbal tea. And I’ll stop by tonight to make sure you’re away from work at a reasonable hour.”
Ben sat back, taking in the exchange. His gaze bounced back and forth from his daughter to the investments manager and back. He saw Claire blush as she tried to wiggle out of the suggested get-together with Jeff. Looking at Jeff, he saw genuine concern on his face.
“Claire, that sounds like a good idea. Once you’re ready for bed, Jeff can take off – right?”
“That’s right. I just want to make sure that Las Cruces‘ newest store owner doesn’t run herself into the ground – I do want to buy supplies from you, you know.”
Claire, unable to find a way out of the proposed get-together, looked down and smiled weakly.
“Just this one time. I value my privacy.” After she ate her pizza, she visited the ladies room, giving Ben a chance to talk to Jeff.
“I see your concern for Claire and I have that same concern. She’s running herself into the ground. She . . . had a bad experience, so she’s bound and determined to remain single. Before she gets back, I have one piece of advice for you – Take your time, get to know her and let her get to know you,” said Ben.