CHAPTER 21
“Shouldn't we wait until I'm open for business before you write about my practice?” Ean straightened from his crouch, allowing the tape measure feed to snap back into its case. He tried to ignore Darius as he recorded the measurement of his office's width.
His stomach growled again. It was almost 1 P.M. on Saturday, but he wanted to finish this last room before he and Darius broke for lunch.
“You'll be open in a couple of weeks.” The reporter spoke from his perch on the office's bay window. “Besides, your practice will be old news if I wait until it opens. So quit the bullshit and give me a quote, asshole.”
Surprised laughter burst from Ean. “Do you get a lot of interviews with that attitude?”
Darius gave him a reluctant smile. “This article will be free publicity for you, man. What's the problem?”
“It's easier to talk about cases than myself.” Ean crouched again. This time, he measured the room's length. “What do you want me to say?”
“Just answer my questionsâ”
“First answer mine.” Quincy's voice interrupted them.
Ean rose, turning to face the university professor. He ignored the temper snapping in Quincy's eyes. “Hey, Q. What brings you to my humble office?”
Quincy stepped forward. “Why did you tell Ramona that I'm going to Philadelphia?”
“Because you are,” Darius answered. “Penn is going to offer you its faculty position. If you're smart, which you are, you'll accept it.”
Quincy scowled at the reporter before meeting Ean's eyes again. “Were you trying to set me up with Ramona?”
Darius laughed. “Ean wouldn't do that.”
Ean spoke over the other man. “Yes, I was.”
“What? W-why?” Darius stuttered.
“Because he's the great Ean Fever.” Quincy sounded as though he was chewing glass. “No one measures up to him. He's too damn perfect. He has no choice but to help us mere mortals because we could never be as perfect as he is.”
“Quincy, you know damn well that's not what I was thinking.” Ean pulled a hand through his close-cropped hair.
“Grow up, Q.” Darius turned to Ean. “Dude, what were you on?”
Ean cast his gaze around the freshly painted white walls before meeting Quincy's snapping eyes. “Ramona and I broke up six years ago. You had all that time to make your move. Why didn't you? Are you that big of a coward?”
Quincy's scowl darkened. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Your friend.”
Darius rose from the bay window ledge and put a hand on Quincy's shoulder. “Only a friend would tell you the truth. And the truth is, Q, you've been a gutless wonder with Ramona. I should have told you that six years ago.”
Quincy shrugged Darius's hand from his shoulder. “You're one to talk. Do you think people don't realize why you sneak over to the next town every weekend? You're dating some woman over there because you don't want her to meet your family.”
Darius's expression tightened. “You'd hide your dates, too, if you had my family.”
Quincy lowered his head and braced his hands on his hips. “I'm sorry, man. That was uncalled for.”
Darius shook his head. “No harm, no foul, brother.”
“So what's the problem, Quincy?” Ean crossed his arms over his chest. “Why haven't you tried to get something going with Ramona?”
Quincy paced the empty room, from the bay window past Darius and Ean, to the far wall and back. His movements were stiff and abrupt, as though he was debating with himself.
The professor finally stopped in front of the window, his back to the room. “I don't like to lose.”
“Who does?” Ean glanced at Darius. What did that have to do with anything?
The former running back turned from the view outside the office and held Ean's eyes. “If Ramona turned me down, it would mean that you won and I lost.”
“Ramona isn't a trophy we're competing for.” Ean's voice snapped.
Darius scratched his chin. “I thought you liked Ramona.”
“I love her.” Quincy spoke as though forcing out the words.
Darius's frown deepened. “If you love her, ask her out.”
The conflict in Quincy's eyes added to Ean's frustration. “In your mind, you've worked me into this perfect person who's really popular and never wrong. I don't know where that came from.”
Darius shrugged. “It's bullshit.”
Ean spared the former tight end a glance but otherwise ignored him. “It's not true. I don't even see myself that way.”
Darius shook his head. “Neither do I.”
“Ask her out.” Ean clamped a hand on Quincy's shoulder. “Even if she says no, you wouldn't have lost.”
Quincy snorted and turned away. “That's what you think.”
His friend's reluctance was a wall Ean couldn't break through. “How do you know if she could love you if you don't give her a chance?”
Quincy quirked a brow. “Since you told her I'm leaving Trinity Falls, how do I know whether she loves me or the idea of moving to Philadelphia?”
Good question.
Ean exhaled as memories returned. “When Ramona left New York, I realized she never loved me. She loved the dream of living in New York. I was just a part of that dream.”
Quincy pulled his hands over his clean-shaven head. “Why did you tell her about the Penn interview?”
“Let it go, Q.” Darius leaned back against the bay window's ledge. “This is Trinity Falls. It's not like she wasn't going to find out.”
“Philadelphia gives you an in with her.” Ean propped his shoulder against the room's far wall.
Quincy grunted. “New York didn't help you keep Ramona.”
Ean shrugged. “I didn't love her, either. We were too much alike, like brother and sister.”
Darius looked closely at Ean, as though seeing him from another perspective. “I'd never thought of that.”
Ean hadn't, either, not until Megan had pointed it outâMegan, who'd stormed from his town house Friday night. What would it take to convince her he hadn't slept with her cousin?
Darius turned to Quincy. “Ean's right. Use Philly to get Ramona's attention. What do you have to lose?”
“Everything.” Quincy's answer was bleak.
“If you love her, it's worth the risk, Q.” Ean spoke from the heart. He was just beginning to realize he was falling fast and hard for Megan McCloud.
As though his thoughts had conjured her, Megan appeared in the office doorway, cradling a potted plant. She wore blue jeans and a black jersey, with the image of a green bookworm reading a brown book.
She smiled and the room was warmer, brighter. Her laughing eyes moved from Ean to Quincy to Darius on the far side of the office. “You guys look so serious.”
Darius stood away from the window. “Quincy and I were just leaving.”
Quincy looked startled. “No, we weren't.”
Darius placed a hand on his friend's back and propelled him forward. “Are you sure you have an advanced degree?”
“Why are you always questioning that?” Quincy's voice carried a wealth of irritation.
Their quarrelsome exchange faded as they left the office suite.
Ean sighed. “They're like grouchy old men. I'd forgotten that.”
Megan turned away from the door. “I think you're all like brothers.”
Indeed, they were. They didn't have real brothers. Darius and Ean were only children, and Quincy had an older sister.
Ean held his breath as their eyes met. “You haven't returned my calls.”
Why had he said that? He sounded like a sulky child. Not the image he wanted to project to the person with whom he was falling in love.
Megan came closer. “I'm sorry. I reacted . . . just reacted yesterday. After I calmed down, I knew you were telling me the truth.”
“How?” Ean glanced at the plantâbamboo shootsâbefore looking into her melted-chocolate eyes again.
Megan drew her right hand through her dark hair. “You wouldn't have made love to me if you were still attracted to Ramona.”
Ean felt as though she'd kissed him full on his mouth. He licked his lips. The movement drew Megan's gaze. Her eyes darkened. Ean's body heated.
He pushed away from the wall and came closer to her. He brushed her hair back, smoothing the wavy locks she'd tousled. The pulse in the base of her neck fluttered like a hummingbird. His fingers itched to touch it.
Ean inclined his head toward the potted plant she held. “What's that?”
Megan blinked down at her arms as though she'd forgotten she was carrying anything. “Bamboo shoots.” She extended the plant toward him. “They're an office-warming gift for you.”
“Thank you.” Ean accepted the gift. He examined the simple pale green ceramic planter, which held the four leafy stalks.
“Sure.” Megan cleared her throat. “You're welcome.”
“No one's ever bought me a potted plant before.” Ean carried the planter to the bay window. He placed it on the center of the ledge and stepped back to look at it. It seemed lost on the shelf by itself.
“They're for good luck.”
Ean laughed. “I can use some of that.”
“You don't have anything to worry about. You're going to be a success.”
“I hope so.” Ean faced Megan. His gaze dropped to the image of the somber-faced bookworm on her T-shirt. It's head rested against her breasts. Lucky bookworm. “This practice was Ms. Helen's idea.”
Megan chuckled. “Then you know it will succeed.”
Ean slipped his hands into the front pockets of his blue jeans. “How does she know so much about what's happening in Trinity Falls? I've never seen her leave that porch.”
“She makes it into the bookstore now and again.” Megan wandered the office, seemingly engrossed in the nothingness all around them. “I returned Ramona's bra to her this morning.”
Ean raised his brows. “How did that go?”
“About as well as you'd imagine. She didn't appreciate my confronting her.”
Ean crossed his arms over his chest. “She's not used to you standing up to her.”
“
I'm
not used to my standing up to her.” Megan laughed.
“Then why did you?”
Megan stared out the bay window. “I was tired. Tired of her bullying me, pushing me around and taking what I wanted.”
Ean's heart skipped. “Me?”
Megan met his gaze over her shoulder. “Yes. I wasn't going to let her take you from me.”
His heart sped up. “What did she say?”
“She seems to think I don't have a prayer of holding on to you.”
Surprised laughter burst from Ean's throat. “She's wrong.”
A playful smile curved Megan's generous lips. “That's nice to hear. She also asked about Quincy moving to Philadelphia.”
“What did you say?”
“I thought that was a strange question.” Megan faced him. A look of suspicion sparked in her eyes. “Do you know anything about her sudden interest in Quincy's plans?”
“I might, but I'll let Quincy tell you about it.”
Megan's eyes stretched wide with amazement. “Ean Fever, you're playing matchmaker. I never imagined you as a romantic.”
“Maybe you're changing me.” Ean stepped closer to her.
She laughed. “I'm not a romantic.”
“Then maybe we're changing each other.” He drew her into his arms.
Megan tilted her head and searched his eyes. “For the better, I hope.”
“Would either of us have it any other way?”
CHAPTER 22
Megan surveyed the packed assembly hall as yet another Tuesday-night town council meeting came to an end. She shifted closer to Ean and lowered her voice to a whisper. “There are even more people here tonight than usual. It's surprising this close to Thanksgiving.”
The room teemed with town center business owners and their families, and neighbors who hadn't attended a council meeting in at least four years.
Ean whispered back. “Makes you wonder if they're here for the issues, or because they expect you and Ramona to give them a show.”
Megan's stomach muscles knotted. “Thanks a lot.”
“Just wondering.”
Town council president CeCe Roben banged her gavel for attention. Her pale blue eyes watched Megan as she addressed the audience. “Are there any questions or statements from the public?”
A murmur rippled through the audience. Megan returned the other woman's gaze without shrinking. Ean was probably right. Her neighbors were expecting a show. She wasn't looking to accommodate them, but she couldn't speak for Ramona.
Megan strode to the podium. Her knees were solid. Her pulse was steady. She'd found the confidence to confront Ramona about Ean. Facing her now to protect Books & Bakery and the Trinity Falls Town Center was a breeze in comparison.
She squared her shoulders and looked Ramona in the eye. “Mayor, the members of the Trinity Falls Town Center Business Owners Association are still waiting for details regarding your plans for the center and future businesses.”
Megan ignored the murmurings around the assembly room, as well as Ramona's cold stare. Other members of the association, including Ean, were behind her, literally and figuratively. The cause uniting them was too important. She wouldn't back down. She wouldn't let them back down, either.
Ramona pulled her microphone closer. “The idea for the upgrade isn't just mine. It's also the idea of the entire council.”
Megan doubted that. She studied the uneasy council members seated around tables arranged in a U-shape. One by one, their eyes shifted away from her.
She returned her attention to Ramona. “What's your goal in searching for a high-end real estate broker?”
Ramona folded her arms on the table. “You don't expect us to locate individual businesses, do you? We're putting out an announcement for an individual broker who will attract the right businesses for us.”
A chunk of ice the size of a fist settled in Megan's gut. So her cousin really was moving forward with her plan, even though it would destroy the bookstore, which had been in their family for generations.
The audience's murmurings were a distracting buzz in Megan's ears. “When?”
“We don't have an exact timetable, but we're intending to fast-track the bids.”
“Why are you doing this?” The question shot from Megan's lips before she'd realized she was going to ask it.
Ramona smoothed her salon-styled hair. “This was a decision the council made in consideration of the best interests of the town.”
“Exactly how will this benefit Trinity Falls?”
Ramona's gaze wavered. “Being able to offer trendier shops will raise the town's profile and attract more tourists.”
Megan frowned her confusion. “To shop? When people plan shopping vacations, they think of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles. Not Trinity Falls, Ohio.”
Ramona looked down her nose at Megan. “They would consider the town if we had the shops.”
“You can't be serious.” Megan shook her head. “You don't really have a plan for bringing upscale businesses to Trinity Falls, do you?”
“Of course I do.”
“We're waiting to hear it.” Megan gestured to include the residents in the audience.
Ramona smoothed her hair again. “The town needs to change with the times.”
“Our businesses are thriving. Obviously, the community sees a need for us.”
Ramona jerked her head toward the council members. “The community elected us to represent their interests. We've decided it's in the town's interest to bring in new, trendy stores.”
Megan felt her blood boil. “Trinity Falls isn't a room you can redecorate on a whim. It's a community of people. The town center businesses are vital to this community.”
She looked over her shoulder at the center's business owners: Grady Weatherington, Belinda Curby, Vernon Fox, Tilda Maddox and Ean. She'd known these people all of her life. She'd shared their struggles and triumphs, just as they'd shared hers and her family's.
Her gaze met Ean's. Was that admiration in his eyes? With that look, he'd given her a much-needed boost of energy.
She faced the council and Ramona again. “We organize annual fund-raisers for school supplies and college scholarships. I benefited from one of those scholarships. You did as well, didn't you, Councilwoman Roben?”
CeCe smiled. “Indeed, I did.”
Megan continued. “We've also led the charge when the elementary school needed money for renovations and computers, as well as when the local clinic needed medical equipment. Would chain businesses without ties to this community have that same commitment?”
A rumbling chorus of agreement rose behind Megan like an unstoppable wave.
Ramona banged the gavel as she glowered at the audience. “Quiet! Any more disruptions and the meeting will come to an end.”
Megan stared down her cousin. “Give us answers, Mayor.”
“I've given you answers.” Ramona's response was brittle.
“And we've given you ours. We won't sit on our hands as you bring New York lite to Trinity Falls.”
The reaction of the audience was even louder this timeâcheers, applause and foot stomping.
Ramona banged her gavel again. “I warned you, didn't I? I warned you. This meeting is now adjourned.”
Megan watched her cousin push away from the table and stalk from the assembly room via the rear exit. She returned to her seat to collect her handbag and coat. The hand that came to rest on her arm was Ean's. She'd know his touch forever.
Ean's palm slid from her shoulder to cup her elbow. “You were fantastic.”
Megan shook her head, nearly shaking with frustration. “No, I wasn't.”
“The crowd disagrees with you. Did you hear them?”
“I didn't get any answers. Instead, I brought the meeting to an end.” Megan blew out a breath.
“Ramona ended the meeting because she couldn't handle you.” He used his hold on her arm to draw her closer to him and away from pedestrian traffic.
Darius shoved his pen and reporter's notebook into his backpack. “Ean's right. You had her on the ropes. This will make the front page of tomorrow's
Monitor.
”
“Great.” Megan's sarcasm was a mask for her unsettled nerves.
“I'm impressed.” Ean's grin lent a mischievous light to his olive eyes. “You're a natural leader.”
She blinked at him. “I don't know about that, but you might be onto something. Maybe what we need is a better leader.”
Darius arched a brow at her. “What doâ”
“Excuse me, Megan.” CeCe Roben's voice interrupted them.
Megan gave her a questioning look. “CeCe, are you sure you're allowed to fraternize with the enemy?”
CeCe's chuckle sounded uncomfortable. “I don't think of you as the enemy, Megan. I hope you don't consider me one, either.”
Megan faced the councilwoman. She took a moment to regret the loss of Ean's touch as his warmth dropped from her elbow. “You and the rest of the council are threatening my livelihood. How am I supposed to consider you?”
“I don't agree with Ramona's plan. I'm not the only council member who feels that way, either.” CeCe looked around as though searching for someone in the crowd. Was she worried Ramona had reentered the room?
CeCe's confession didn't make Megan feel better. “We elected you to represent
our
interests, CeCe, not to cave in to Ramona's demands.”
“It's not that easy.” CeCe's blue eyes searched for understanding.
Megan didn't give her any. “Why not?”
“Ramona is socially connected. If we cross her, she could use her connections to hurt our careers.”
“If you disagree with Ramona's direction for Trinity Falls, why don't you run against her?”
CeCe looked horrified. A blush warmed her translucent skin. “I couldn't do that, Megan. I need my job. Serving on the council doesn't pay enough to support me and my family. I'm truly sorry.”
Megan watched CeCe walk away. “I'm ashamed to admit that I understand CeCe's reluctance to stand up to Ramona.”
Darius grunted. “So do I. She can be a bitch when you cross her.”
Ean helped Megan with her coat. “You found the courage to break the story about her plans for the center.”
Darius feigned a nervous shiver. “And I needed Quincy's protection from her wrath.”
Megan settled the strap of her black purse onto her shoulder. “Ramona's term is up next year. Maybe we can find someone to run against her.”
“Why don't you?” Ean took her elbow to escort her from the hall.
Megan almost tripped over her feet. “Me?”
Ean steadied her. “Like I said, you're a natural leader.”
She'd never considered herself a leader. She'd found the courage to push back against Ramona's bullying. But leading a town? Was that something she could do? Was it something she wanted to do?
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Tension was an uninvited guest seated at the tables with the Trinity Falls Town Center Business Owners Association members the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. Megan had expected their unease after last night's council meeting.
She opened her mouth to start the discussion, but Tilda forestalled her with her question for Ean.
“How much are you paying in rent for your office space?” The elderly owner of Gifts and Greetings pinned Ean with a shrewd look from her sharp gray eyes.
Megan stiffened at the older woman's tone. This was Ean's first meeting. But his wasn't one of the new businesses Ramona wanted to bring in. Did the other members realize that?
“Tilda, that is so rude.” Belinda drank some coffee. The voluptuous owner of the Skin Deep Beauty Salon had almost choked on a bite of biscotti at Tilda's question. She'd selected the pastry from the snacks Megan and Doreen had provided from the association's petty cash fund.
“Why?” Tilda's frown deepened the fine lines on her thin pale face. “He has the newest lease among us. If we don't ask, how will we know whether they're raising the rents on the stores?”
“She's right.” Grady Weatherington, owner of Fine Accessories, cast a dubious eye toward the biscotti. He picked up a chocolate chip cookie instead and pointed it toward Ean. “What are you paying?”
Ean named a figure that made Grady cough. Megan caught her breath.
Vernon Fox's bushy brows shot to his thinning red hairline. “I guess that answers the question of whether they're going to raise our rents. They are.” The owner of Are You Nuts?, the nuts and candy store, lowered his coffee mug.
Ean exchanged a concerned look with Doreen. “I hadn't realized the rent was higher than what everyone else was paying.”
Doreen waved a dismissive hand. “How could you know that?”
Vernon turned to Megan. “I can't afford to pay a higher rent.”
“None of us can.” Belinda pushed her perfectly styled raven hair from her forehead with her well-manicured mahogany fingers. “Can't you talk to Ramona?”
Megan shook her head. One more worry to add to the list. “You were there last night, Belinda. You heard how Ramona reacted to my attempts to reason with her.”
Belinda waved her biscotti. “I don't mean as business owner to mayor. I mean as cousin to cousin. Use the bookstore's roots to appeal to her. They were her grandparents, too.”
Megan squelched her frustration. “I've tried that. Ramona's not going to give me special treatment just because we're cousins.”
Tilda grunted. “There is no reasoning with Ramona. She's a soulless bitch.”
“No, she's not.” Megan pinned Tilda with a look. Regardless of how angry she made Megan, Ramona was still family. “Ramona's goals are different from ours. Since we're unable to change her mind, I think it's time we try to get another mayor elected.”
Doreen tapped the table with her fingertips. “That's a great idea. Make her a one-term mayor.”
“Who are you going to get to run against her?” Grady cast his gaze around the table as though prodding the other members' memories. “That's how she got elected the first time, remember? And that's how the mayor before her got elected. Twice. No one ran against them.”
Ean glanced at Megan before turning to the others. “I think Megan would make a great mayor.”
Megan's stomach dropped. “No, I wouldn't.”
Tilda gestured toward her. “See? You won't even run against her.”
“She's my cousin.” Why had Ean brought this up?
“Why are you giving her special treatment?” Tilda mocked Megan's earlier words.
Megan looked at each member in turn. “I'm not a leaderâ”
Ean interrupted her. “Yes, you are. You've taken the lead on this issue with the center.”
Megan spoke in a firm tone. “This is the first time I've ever been active on a government issue. I can lead an organization. I can run a business. But leading a town, balancing the needs of hundreds of people within a budget, is a completely different set of skills. We have to find someone else.”