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“No, I think I’ll save that for one of these.” My eyes grew big and my stomach grumbled as I took in all the beautiful pastries—pastel-colored macaroons, fluffy banana nut muffins, crispy blueberry scones, and of course chocolate chip cookies. Mmm. Those looked exactly like the ones Charlie made me. But I patted my gut and decided that I’d had enough cookies for the week. “I’ll take a blueberry scone.”
“Good choice. Toasted?” she offered, and I nodded. While she got to work on my order, I perused my surroundings.
“Cute place you’ve got here,” I said, looking at the dated decorative accents. See? I didn’t hate history. I just didn’t want to pay for it out of my own pocket. Or live in it.
“Thanks! I think so. I’m Sophie, by the way. I haven’t seen you in here before.”
“That’s because I’m new in town.” I approached the counter and offered Sophie a firm, make-me-mayor-of-this-place handshake. “I’m Sebastian Anderson. Pleasure to meet you.”
Her expression froze, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “Ah, I heard about you. You’re here to give New Elwood a facelift.”
Word got around fast. I wasn’t used to being in a place where everyone knew everyone’s everything. I missed the city, where people walked the street and hardly acknowledged anyone else because they were so focused on where they needed to go. Their own business.
“No shame in a little cosmetic work,” I said and flashed her my winning smile.
She shot me a look like she might burn my scone if I turned my back. “Is it true you’re trying to tear down all the historical structures in New Elwood?”
That would’ve been nice. “No, no, of course not. Just a few that my family owns.” Since my family didn’t own her shop I figured she’d back off, but she just stood there like she was deciding whether I was the devil of Virginia, so I embellished. Just a little. “It’s just because those older buildings have unfortunately become structurally hazardous. I want to make sure that when the good people of this town step into one of my buildings, they’re safe to enjoy themselves. It’s just because I really care about people. And safety. And people being safe.”
Her raised brow lowered, and she handed me my coffee to go with a warm paper bag. “That’s…very considerate of you, Mr. Anderson.”
“Please, Sophie, call me Sebastian.” I pulled out an Alexander Hamilton from my wallet and handed it to her before wishing her a good day and heading out. The moment I got inside my car, I took a bite of the scone. The crispy, buttery flavor danced on my tongue. “Oh, my god,” I said with a mouthful. That was one good thing about New Elwood: they were home to some good bakers. But if I kept this up, I’d gain ten pounds by the time Sinclair’s money landed in my account.
With the windows down, my radio playing, and a hot coffee in my hand, I cruised down Main Street at a whopping twenty-five miles per hour. I parked in a nearby lot and trekked up the hard, red-brick road to the Monticello Theater. Charlie stood just outside staring up at the building and playing with her necklace.
“Reeves,” I greeted, approaching my neighbor and nemesis. There would be no first-name pleasantries between us. The sun glinted on her auburn hair, which she’d pulled into a low bun. She wore what I was beginning to think of as her ballbuster uniform: pencil skirt, fitted blouse, heels. Grudgingly, I admitted to myself that she looked good.
She shielded her eyes from the morning sun. “The early bird gets the worm, right?”
The woman was relentless. And I didn’t hate it. “I just stopped at Magnolia Café. You know, supporting local businesses.”
Her eyes turned icy. “Magnolia Café?”
“Yeah, it’s quite charming.”
“Oh, no. Don’t you think about setting your sights on that one,” Charlie said with gritted teeth and a territorial stance.
“Relax. I have no interest in it.” Especially since the scones were so damn good. “In fact, I was thinking they could branch out and add a café in my new hotel. The guests would love it.”
Charlie balled her fist. “There’s not going to be a hotel?—”
“Charlie?” A man approached us, and her expression radically transformed.
“Hi, Rex.”
I’d already been frowning at the soft, friendly smile on her face when the name she spoke sank in.
Rex?
Charlie greeted the man with a warm kiss on each cheek, and I took in his nearly black hair and the tiny scar slashed across his eyebrow. I knew this guy. But I hadn’t seen him in a really, really long time. I could hardly register Charlie’s words as she began introductions and I blurted, “Rex Montgomery?”
Rex cocked his head. “Bastian?” His face split into the same crooked smile I remembered from decades ago. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here on business. What are you doing here?” I asked, pumping his hand as we shook.
“I’m here for the inspection. I’m the fire marshal.”
The moment he uttered the word fire, my expression froze. I cleared my throat. “The fire marshal?”
