Cold as a Witch's Toffee

by Sara Bourgeois

  “Well, why don’t you just wait for him to call you back? What’s so urgent?”

  “My uncle passed, and he left me something in his will that I’d rather not get out. I want to sell it off as soon as possible, but his will says that if I sell it, I don’t get the rest of the inheritance. There has to be a way around it, but I need an attorney who is really good with this kind of thing.”

  “I can probably find someone for you. Give me a couple of days and I’ll get back to you.”

  “I don’t have a couple of days. I need to get this off my plate now. You know how social media can be. If this gets out because some troll who doesn’t like me wants to take me down, then I’m toast. You said that the networks would be calling me any day. You don’t want me to lose the deal. I know you don’t. You’d lose your percentage of the contract.”

  “Allegra, I really don’t think anything could be as urgent as you’re making whatever this is out to be, but you’re one of my favorite clients. Let me make some calls, and I’ll get back to you soon.”

  “Okay, thank you.”

  When I got off the phone with him, I was a few blocks away from Lukas’s office and my car. I found myself standing in front of a place called Hot Bunns Bakery. The scent was amazing, and my mouth watered. Normally, I wouldn’t have gone into a place like that. There was no reason to put yourself in the way of temptation, but the sign in the window said they had the best coffee in town. I figured I could pop in, get a coffee to go, and then drink it outside while I walked around some more.

  I probably wasn’t going to make it to the gym or Pilates, so I needed to get extra steps in. I had the calories from the oil on the chicken to work off, and I was not going to let myself forget that just because I was having a mini life crisis. You had to lean into your diet and fitness when times got tough.

  Back when I worked with clients, they always got derailed by stress. That would not happen to Allegra Darling.

  There were only a couple of customers inside, plus a man behind the counter, but they all stared at me when I walked in. It was very unsettling because back in the city, people pretended like you didn’t exist. In Knox Hills, I felt like a carnival sideshow attraction. Later on, I would have to admit that it was probably because I was the only person in town walking around in a Fendi sports bra and tiny black running shorts, but at that time, I told myself it was them being weird.

  “You’re not from around here,” the man behind the counter said.

  And then he just stared at me some more. No hello. No welcome. No customer service, but once I was inside, I could smell the coffee brewing. It would be worth it to put up with a rude shopkeeper to get my hands on a cup.

  “I’m not,” I said. “Just passing through. Could I get a large cup of coffee to go, please?”

  “Where are you passing through to?” he asked without making a move to get the coffee.

  Excellent, an interrogation over a cup of coffee was just what I needed. “I’m here taking care of some estate business at Roth and Sons,” I said. “My uncle passed, and I inherited the ice cream shop down the street.”

  He made a harrumph sound and went to get the coffee. When he returned, he passed the cup across the counter to me. “But you’re just passing through?”

  “Yes. I have a life in the city, and I have every intention of selling the place just as soon as I can get some things worked out with the lawyer,” I said when I realized that I’d just told somebody that I owned an ice cream shop.

  “Good. Too many women around here trying to do men’s work like running businesses and holding official positions,” he said with another grunt. “Since you’re just passing through, the coffee is on the house.”

  I was about to give him the what-for on his antiquated viewpoint on women running a business, but I didn’t want to cause any trouble while I was in Knox Hills. It was a small town, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t end up on social media in a poorly edited video that made me look bad. I had a brand to protect.

  “Thank you,” I said with the sweetest smile I could manage. “I appreciate it.”

  As I was walking out the door, I just about ran into Lukas Roth. “Excuse me,” he said and held the door open until I was out on the sidewalk.

  But he didn’t walk inside. Instead, he closed the bakery door and got really close to me.

  “Can I help you?” I asked.

  Chapter Three

  “I think you can,” he said. “Actually, I think we can help each other. Walk with me.” He took my arm, and while I was inclined to yank it away, I didn’t want to spill the coffee.

  “How is it you can help me?”

  “There’s a park in the middle of the town square, let’s take a little stroll there, and I’ll tell you.”

  “Why can’t we just go back to your office?”

  “We’re closer to the square and it’s such a lovely day. Plus, you strike me as the type who likes to get as much exercise as possible.”

  “That’s true,” I said with a shrug.

  The town square was beautiful. It looked like an excellent place to do morning yoga, a ritual I’d been meaning to get into for a long time, but that didn’t matter. I wasn’t staying.

  There were benches around a huge fountain in the center of the square, and when I looked closer, it became apparent that the fountain was actually a huge bronze pineapple. Lukas walked to a bench that was on the other side of the fountain.

  There were plenty of people around, from seniors walking past the flower gardens planted around the square, to children splashing in the water. Seemingly, it was allowed in the fountain. In fact, as we got closer, I picked up on the faint scent of chlorine. There were mothers on benches keeping an eye on their kids, but none of them were that close to the place Lukas chose to sit.

  Lukas let go of my arm when he sat down, and that gave me room to sit farther away from him than if he’d held on. I was beginning to get a bad feeling about what was going on, but I really did just want to sell the ice cream shop and get the heck out of Knox Hills.

  “How can you help me?” I asked once we were settled.

  “I think I know a way around the clause in your uncle’s will. You wouldn’t even need to hire another lawyer.”

  “How’s that?” I asked after taking a sip of the delicious coffee.

  “I’ll just change it for you. I’ve got the signature page, and no one else has seen it but me. Well, me and your uncle, but he’s gone.”

  “What? That’s totally illegal,” I said, but I’m ashamed to say that I considered it. After all, my uncle was dead. Who would it hurt? “We could both get in a lot of trouble for something like that. Why would you take that kind of risk for me?”

  “Because you’re a very beautiful woman, Allegra. I was thinking you could come back to my house with me, and we could have a little fun.” Lukas ran his finger down my arm, and it made me shudder with revulsion.

  Not because he wasn’t attractive. He was quite handsome and probably no more than a couple of years older than me, but who the heck did he think I was? Did he really believe I would sleep with him to get my inheritance sooner?

  “Excuse you,” I said and shot up from the bench.

  “Don’t pretend like it’s below you, Allegra. I could tell what kind of woman you were the second you walked into my office. I bet that huge rock on your finger is from a man you’re marrying for money. Well, I’m offering you a bargain deal. Two million dollars as soon as I can have the money transferred, and all I ask is that you stop into Knox Hills every once in a while to visit me. I’ll make sure the arrangement is good for both of us, if you know what I mean.”

  “Excuse me!” I said a little too loudly and took a step back. “You’re insane.”

  Everyone in the park turned to look at us. Lukas stood up too. “No, I will do no such thing. I won’t change your uncle’s will just because you offered to sleep with me,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear. “I am not that kind of person. You sho
uld be ashamed of yourself.”

  He brushed past me before I could say anything else. People were staring at me, and some of them glared at me with complete disapproval. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I scanned to see if anyone had their camera out filming what had happened. No one did, so that was some measure of relief.

  I began to walk quickly bad to my car. I was almost there when my phone rang. It was my agent.

  “Stan, what did you find out? Please tell you know someone who can help me. I need to get out of this town and never come back.”

  “I’ve got someone willing to take a look. I’ll send you their email address. Get them the documents, and they’ll look it over by tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “That’s the best I can do, Allegra. This is short notice, and it’s not like estate lawyers are used to working on emergency cases. None that I know anyway. I assume most people plan ahead for this stuff.”

  “Okay, fine. I’ll email it to them. Thank you.”

  “You got it, Allegra. Out,” he said and hung up.

  I hurried back to my car. If no one was going to be able to help me until the next day anyway, I was going to get the heck out of Knox Hills. I figured I could get back to the city and get myself in for a massage or a deep cleansing facial. I needed it.

  The only issue with my escape plan was that the stupid Impala wouldn’t start. It would turn over, but not catch. “Oh my god, why?” I yelled and hit the steering wheel. “Okay, Allegra, get ahold of yourself,” I told myself and took a deep breath. “You can’t afford to have someone get a video of you freaking out in your car. Keep it together.”

  I got out of the car just as a man in a navy blue t-shirt and jeans happened by. He had wavy auburn hair, but I didn’t look too closely at his face. I couldn’t. I was about to die of embarrassment and frustration, and the last thing I wanted was someone looking at me.

  “Sounds like you need to get it into the shop,” he said. “I know a little about cars though, I could take a look under the hood. Perhaps your battery connection is just loose.”

  “No, thanks,” I said. “It’s a rental anyway. I’ll just have them come pick their dumb piece of shi…. garbage up.”

  “Okay. Have a good day,” he said with a wave and walked on.

  “What’s so good about it?” I asked, but he didn’t turn around.

  First, I called the rental company and told them where they could come get their car. My next call was to Dane. He was going to have to send a car to get me. He didn’t answer his phone or texts, so I called his office. I’d never spoken to his secretary before, but I told her it was an emergency and she had to go get him now.

  “What’s going on?” Dane said when he came on the line.

  He sounded more annoyed than worried. It didn’t sit right with me, but I just wanted to get out of there. I could deal with his emotional unavailability once I was back at our apartment. Everything would be fine if I could just get home.

  “I’m in Knox Hills to take care of the stuff with my uncle’s will, and my stupid rental car broke down. Our car service said that you wouldn’t authorize out-of-town rides, so I had to rent a car. I’m stuck here. I need you to call the car company and have them come get me,” I said. “Please authorize an out-of-town usage. I know you must have your reasons, but maybe just this once?”

  “That’s hardly an emergency, Allegra,” he said with a sigh.

  “It is an emergency, Dane. I’m stuck here with no way to get home.”

  “You could call an Uber, Allegra,” he said. “Or have the rental car company bring you a replacement.”

  “Why would I need to call an Uber when the car service can come pick me up? All you have to do is authorize it, Dane. Please.”

  “I’m guessing you haven’t read the email I sent you a couple of hours ago,” he said.

  “No, I’ve been here dealing with this. Why?”

  “Just read it. Everything will make much more sense. I gotta go.”

  “Okay, love you, babe,” I said, but he’d already hung up.

  I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I told myself it was just the strong coffee. Lunch hadn’t really stuck with me, and the brew was robust. Delicious, but stout.

  Because I wasn’t logged into any Wi-Fi and the reception in Knox Hills sucked, I didn’t even know I had an email from Dane. I opened the email app and waited for it to update.

  Dear Allegra:

  It’s been a fun few years. Well, it was fun at first, anyway. You’re not the girl I fell in love with anymore. While I appreciate your commitment to your heath and your business, you just aren’t any fun anymore. You’re so uptight, and there is just so much more to life. It’s a life I want to experience, and I’ll never be able to do that with you.

  I’m sorry you had to find out this way, but I didn’t want to have to deal with a scene. I’ve got too much going on right now. You’re impossible to reason with when you get upset, but I hope that someday you can understand this.

  Unfortunately, you’re going to have to move out of the apartment. Well, you’ve already moved out of the apartment. When I found out you were going to be out of town today, I had movers pack your things and move them to storage. I will pay for them to move your stuff to your new residence once you are settled. Just give me your address. Again, unfortunately, everything in our apartment aside from your clothes and makeup came out of my salary, so I’ll be keeping everything but your personal effects.

  I’ve consulted with my lawyer, and since we weren’t married, you aren’t entitled to any of the property or the money in my bank account. I have deposited $500 into your bank account because I’m not a total monster. Of course, you will no longer have access to my car service. I informed them this morning after you left. I also shut off your access to the credit cards a few minutes ago as well.

  Good luck with your new business, Allegra. I think this will be good for both of us.

  Dane

  When I finished reading, I realized I was sitting on the sidewalk. At some point, I’d sunk down and was seated on the filthy ground. I didn’t have it in me to stand up just yet, though.

  “Ma’am.” A voice startled me out of my stupor.

  I turned around to look, and it was the man in the navy blue t-shirt again. His head was cocked to one side, and he was looking at me like I was a lost puppy. The pity in his eyes almost made me scream, but I had to hold it together. I needed my career more than ever.

  “I’m fine,” I said.

  “What’s wrong? Can I help you?”

  I don’t know what it was. Probably the horrible day I was having coupled with the fact that his voice was soothing, like an old friend even though I’d never met him. I just handed him my phone with my email open.

  “What is this?” he asked.

  “It’s an email,” I said. “It’s why I’m sitting here like an idiot.”

  He was quiet for a minute while he read. “Oh.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Allegra?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Let me help you up.”

  “That would be great,” I said and took his hand.

  It must have been shock because I’d stopped caring how I looked. I didn’t even think about the fact that he could record my horrendous behavior and plaster it all over the internet. Not a second thought was given to how my tears were smearing my organic, fair-trade, vegan makeup.

  “Do you have somewhere I can take you?” he asked softly.

  “I don’t,” I said and bit my bottom lip before I could start bawling like a baby.

  “I could take you to the ice cream shop, or there’s a bed and breakfast,” he offered. “Do you have the keys to your uncle’s place? I could take you there.”

  “How do you know about the shop and my uncle?”

  “Knox Hills is a small town, Allegra Darling. We know everything that goes on with everyone around here. I knew it was you because I had an ex-girlfriend who used
to watch your videos back when you first started.”

  “That was before my nose job,” I said.

  “If I say you’re still recognizable, would that be an insult?” he asked.

  “No. Good plastic surgery isn’t all that noticeable. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” I said. “I don’t know your name.”

  “Alex,” he said. “Alex Shore. A pleasure to meet you, Allegra Darling.”

  I smiled a little and found myself slightly more grounded. “I don’t have the keys to my uncle’s house yet. I don’t have all the legal stuff worked out.”

  “The bed and breakfast it is, then. I’ll escort you, if you’d like, it’s only a block from here. Unless you’re planning on going back to the city to stay with friends?”

  “Ha,” I said with a snort. “That’s a can of worms all by itself. Okay, the bed and breakfast, but you can just point me there. I can make it a block on my own.”

  “I’d feel better if I walked you. I think you’re in emotional shock, and I don’t want you to end up on the sidewalk again. People around here will think you’re nuts, and it’s hard to come back from a first impression like that.”

  “Oh, that ship has sailed too,” I said. “All right, Alex Shore, let’s go.”

  The bed and breakfast, Knox Hills House, looked like something out of a magazine. It was the kind of place I imaged Dane and I would stay during the stateside portion of our honeymoon before we departed for the Caribbean or Hawaii, but I didn’t let myself think about that too long. What I did think about was how grateful I was that I didn’t have to spend the night at some fleabag roadside motel until things got straightened out.

  “You okay from here?” Alex asked, and I realized I was just standing there staring at the building.

  “Yeah. I’ll be all right.”

  I started up the steps, and when I looked, Alex was still standing there. He must have been waiting to make sure I got in okay. It was sweet.

  “Thank you,” I said as I went inside.

  “Anytime, Allegra Darling,” Alex responded before he turned to leave.