Page 25 of Worth the Trouble

It was a nice thought in a way, but Cecelia was beginning to see how little the people of Rocky Ridge would appreciate it. Whether through their own sheer stubbornness or their insistence to let their roots dig deeper, she couldn’t tell. And what was more, she couldn’t blame them.

Cecelia wasn’t suffocated when she walked out of the lobby at her hotel. She could breathe in deeply and not be smothered by the sights, sounds, and smells of living in a big city.

“—maybe flirt with him a little.”

She was dragged to the present, startled that her father was speaking. “What?”

The look he gave her said it all. He knew she hadn’t been paying attention. When he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, she fought the urge to defend herself. Once again, she was disappointing him. Her father heaved another sigh then leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees before jutting his chin toward the man who had just disappeared into his office again. “Mr. Sinclair. He’s single. He’s young. I’m sure you could appeal to him in a way that I simply can’t. Go chat him up. Ask him to spend some time showing you around. You know, flirt with him and see if we can soften him up in order to get this city meeting in the books so we can move forward with this blasted plan of ours.”

Her mouth hung open.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t asked her to do similar things in the past. She’d lost count of how many times she’d flirted with the guy and claimed she was just rubbing elbows with the higher ups to get what they needed done.

But going into his office to do it this time felt wrong. Her attachment to Jason was getting in the way. No, they weren’t seeing each other. That thought was laughable. And yet this was a betrayal of sorts.

Her father gave her a little nudge. “Go on then, he’s about to leave for lunch. I’m sure you could get yourself an invitation to join him.”

Then she was on her feet and heading for the open office door. As she reached it, the office went dark, and the man himself blocked her path. His eyes flared with surprise then they drifted down her body and back to her face before he smiled at her.

It wasn’t a bad smile, but it read as predatory. For once she couldn’t get hold of her usual confidence. Thoughts of Jason flooded her mind even as she attempted to smile warmly at Mr. Sinclair.

“Ms. Williams, what can I do for you?” He flashed his pearly whites and leaned his elbow on the doorjamb. His eyes flitted to a spot behind her, probably to her father, then back to her. “I hope we’re doing everything we can to make your stay in Rocky Ridge enjoyable.”

She nodded. “Oh, absolutely. This seems like such a beautiful town. I can’t believe I’ve never been here before.”

He dragged a thumb along his lower lip. “Have you been able to see much of it?”

This was where her father wanted her to play dumb. The conversation was already heading in the exact direction they needed it to. Then again, maybe her father wasn’t aware of how much of the town she’d managed to see while on her own. They kept to themselves for the most part. Heck, for all she knew, her father was taking his time to see the town on his own. Their paths simply hadn’t crossed as much as they might have, which was a little strange if she were honest. Mr. Sinclair fidgeted impatiently beside her. Blinking back to the present, Cece’s smile turned embarrassed. “Unfortunately, no. But I’d love to see what this town has to offer. You know, the places that only the locals are aware of.” She leaned in a little closer and prayed that he’d take the bait. All he had to do was invite her out, and she could tell her father she did her best.

He glanced at his watch. “Well, I’m about to head out to lunch and then I have a few meetings around town, but later tonight I plan on meeting up with some friends. Music. Food. Good company.” How he said the last part told her what he thought of himself.

And what other choice did she have? She could turn him down and disappoint her father, or she could follow through and see if they could get the city to schedule the meeting.

“Yeah, sure. That sounds like fun.”

His smile was wide and it almost made up for the discomfort swirling in her. “Here. Put in your number and I’ll pick you up.”

She hesitated. “Oh, I can probably meet you⁠—”

“Sweetheart, around here, we’re gentlemen. Let me pick you up and show you just what this town has to offer.”

As Kyle Sinclair had described it, the party was going to be a small event with close friends. What Cecelia was looking at was definitely not that. Whoever lived in the home she was staring at had money and land as far as the eye could see. He had a large barn that could house at least a dozen horses. There was a pool in the backyard, but she guessed it was out of commission for most of the year. The backyard was strung with lanterns and there were floating orbs of color on the crystal pool surface.

When he’d said he’d show her what this town had to offer, she certainly didn’t think of this. Kyle placed a hand to the small of her back and led her toward the party. If she had to guess, most of these people wouldn’t mind if there was a resort built outside town. All Cecelia had to do was cast a cursory glance, and she could tell that none of the people present were anything like Wendy, Serenity, or Jason for that matter.

Her feet scuffed against the pavement as Kyle led her into the fray.

She closed her eyes briefly and reminded herself that she was here on a mission. She’d get Kyle to put the meeting on the town’s schedule and then they’d be able to move forward. She could get an Uber back to the lodge and then she could forget that this night had ever happened.

The music was loud and nothing like the country music she’d grown used to hearing while wandering the shops in town. She eyed Kyle’s friends closer and picked out the subtle differences between the people she’d grown attached to and these strangers.

That’s when it hit her, and it gave her that sinking feeling.

These people were more like the community she had back home in the city. The snippets of conversation she overheard, how they dressed, and the overall feeling she got around them only confirmed it.

Cecelia dug in her heels, causing Kyle to stumble a step before chuckling and apologizing. She shook her head as she turned to him. “It’s fine. Can I ask you a favor before we go farther into the party?”

“Sure.” He said it so easily she half-wondered if she could have asked him for the favor when they were in his office.