Shayla, on the other hand, acted as if she had nothing better in the whole world to do but to catch up with a long-lost friend.
“I thought I saw Matt at the dedication, but I didn’t realize you’d come home, too. Lord, girl. You are the last person I ever expected to see back in Chance again.” Shayla studied her as if she were trying to see inside Allie’s soul. “And what on Earth could bring you up here to the resort?”
How rude would it be to tell her it was none of her damn business?
Much ruder than Allie could force herself to be, no matter how much she didn’t want this conversation. Fortunately, she was saved the trouble.
“Allison?” A young woman approached from the other side of the lobby, her hand extended in greeting. “I’m Chloe Collins. If you’ll come with me, I’ll take you to see Helen.”
Allie was so grateful for the interruption, she wanted to hug Chloe. Instead, she accepted the handshake, realizing as she did who this woman was. Helen’s great-granddaughter. Danny’s sister. No wonder she looked familiar.
“I’m sorry, but I really have to go.” Allie did her best to keep the relief she felt off her face as she made her excuses and turned away from Shayla and Lacey.
“See you around,” Shayla called out as Allie and Chloe headed toward the bank of elevators.
Not if Allie could help it.
“You’re Matt Flynn’s little sister, right?” Chloe touched her fingers to her forehead and chuckled as soon as the words left her mouth. “Duh. ‘Little sister’ makes you sound like you’re ten or something. I was just trying to work my way up to saying that I don’t know if you remember me or not, but I remember you. I remember seeing you with Matt, that is, when he and Danny used to hang out all the time.”
Allie forced herself to smile again, fighting the urge to ask the other woman exactly what she remembered. Small-town gossip lasted forever, it seemed.
“I’m so sorry about your brother.” Though the words sounded empty, Allie could hardly ignore the obvious connection between them.
“Thank you. Losing Danny has been the most awful thing you can imagine for our family. But tell me about Matt. How’s he doing? Is he recovering?”
“He is, thank you. It’s been a long, hard fight for him, but he’s up and walking. In fact, he’s waiting for me in the bar.”
Chloe’s head snapped around, her eyes meeting Allie’s. “He’s here? Now?”
Allie nodded. “He came along to keep me company on the drive. I’m a little nervous about meeting with your grandmother,” she admitted, not sure why she’d shared so much.
“You don’t need to be. Gigi is really interested in your plans. And before I forget, thank you for coming up here to meet with her. She stays so busy it’s hard for her to get away. And, to be honest, though we’d never let her hear us say it, we like to keep her close to home when we can so we can keep an eye on her.” Chloe grinned like she was sharing some conspiracy. “Not that she thinks she needs anyone to keep an eye on her.”
“No problem. I don’t mind at all.”
Allie was so grateful at the possibility of getting help, she’d gladly have gone all the way to Denver for this meeting.
Chloe led her past the bank of elevators and down a long hallway before stopping in front of an unmarked door. She pulled a key from her pocket and inserted it into a small hole, and the door slid open soundlessly to reveal a mirror-lined elevator.
The ride up was silent and smooth, as if they’d hardly moved. When they stepped out of the elevator into another hallway, it felt as if the carpet squished up around Allie’s feet; it was even plusher than in the lobby.
“Here we are,” Chloe announced, stopping in front of a nondescript door that looked like every other door they’d passed along the hallway.
Chloe pushed the door open to reveal the most amazing room Allie had ever seen outside the pages of a magazine.
“Wow,” she murmured, hardly aware she’d spoken aloud until Chloe responded, her own voice hushed.
“Pretty impressive, right?”
Helen Reilly waited on a white leather sofa, centered in a room carpeted in white. Behind her, showcased by a wall of sparkling windows, the glory of Chance Mountain served as a focal point for the room, dwarfing everything else.
Impressive felt like a major understatement.
Helen herself fit the scene perfectly. From her thick, white hair pulled back in a classic chignon to her soft gray suit and matching heels, she belonged in this room as much as the sprays of flowers or the glass tables.
“Welcome, Allison.” Helen patted the sofa next to her. “Come sit down with me, my dear, so that I can have a look at you.”
With effort, Allie relaxed her shoulders and crossed the elegant room to take a seat next to her hostess.
The last time she could remember experiencing this particular attack of nerves was the day she interviewed for her job at Books on the Brazos. In a way, this was as much a job interview as that had been. On that day, she’d had to sell herself as a salesperson. Today she needed to sell her idea.
“I appreciate you inviting me up here, Mrs. Reilly. I hope I can answer all your questions.”
“As well you should if our collaboration is going to pan out. Now, what’s that you’re clutching there in your lap?”
“Oh!” If she’d squashed Dulcie’s offering, there’d be heck to pay. “A gift. This is the special at The Hand of Chance Coffee Emporium this week. Caramel apple bread.”
Helen accepted the foil package and lifted it to her nose to sniff. “Still warm,” she murmured approvingly. “If it tastes half as good as it smells, I’ll want my expert to have a taste, too. Chloe, would you have one of the girls bring up some coffee? And ask Chef Hyatt to join us, too.”
With a nod, Chloe slipped out the door and left them alone.
“So, if Robert’s paper is to be believed, you plan to start a bookstore in Chance. And a lending library. Very ambitious of you considering the high failure rate of independent bookstores, particularly in this economy.”
Helen paused, her eyes piercing into Allie’s as if she might read her thoughts.
Allie nodded, consciously forcing herself to clasp her hands together more loosely in her lap. “Having my own bookstore has been a dream of mine for a long time and, with the help of my family, I intend to make a go of it.” What other choice did she have?
“Robert’s article was a lovely piece of fluff,” Helen continued. “But there were a few items that weren’t covered to my satisfaction. I’d like to know who’ll be eligible to borrow books from you and what kinds of fees you plan to charge.”
Finally, an area of discussion where Allie felt confident. She launched into her plans, stopping only when the door opened and a young woman in a uniform that clearly marked her as wait staff at the resort restaurant entered bearing a large tray, followed by a man wearing a black chef’s coat.
“I’d like to introduce you to one of the country’s most promising chefs, Rio Hyatt. Rio, this is Allison Flynn. Allison’s brother is—” Helen stopped mid-sentence and glanced down at her hands, as if inspecting her nails for some perceived flaw, before picking up again as if she’d never stopped speaking. “Was. Allison’s brother was my grandson’s best friend. She’s brought us a treat that has my mouth watering just smelling it. I’d like you to give it a try with us.”
The moment of raw emotion that slipped through Helen’s steely mask squeezed at Allie’s heart more intensely than if she’d seen the woman in tears. Impulsively, she reached out and gently squeezed Helen’s hand. The older woman laid her free hand over the top of Allie’s, and Allie found herself holding her breath, waiting for the lump in her throat to clear.
Rio’s head cocked to one side as he watched them, an instant of confusion passing over his face before all emotion blanked away. “My pleasure,” he said, taking the bread from Helen to unwrap it and cut slices. “Both to meet your friend and to try her aromatic treat.”
; Helen patted Allie’s hand before letting go to accept the small plate Rio offered.
“Back to the matter at hand, my dear. In the interview, you mentioned that you planned to offer the lending library free of charge to residents of Chance. Along those lines, I have a proposition I’d like you to think about. I have a substantial personal library that I would be willing to donate to your effort, to use however you see fit, in return for your agreeing to allow the guests and employees of Last Chance unlimited use of your facilities without charge.”
“I don’t have to think about that, Mrs. Reilly. Absolutely, they can.” Allie didn’t even need the lure of free books to help her with that decision. “I want everyone in the area to utilize the lending library. And, hopefully, to decide to buy books there, too. I think reading is a fundamental—”
“Is this your creation?” Rio interrupted. “Did you bake this?”
“Not me,” Allie confessed. “My cousin is the baker.”
“It tastes every bit as good as it smells, doesn’t it?” Helen asked. “Do you think this might be the kind of addition you were looking for?”
“Possibly,” Rio answered. “Where can I find this cousin of yours?”
This reaction was exactly what Desi had said she was hoping for when she’d insisted on sending her sister’s bread along with Allie.
“In town, at The Hand of Chance Coffee Emporium. She’s almost always there.”
“Well.” Helen stood up and brushed an imaginary wrinkle from her tailored skirt. “I suppose that concludes our business, Allison. I’ll have my men deliver the books to your shop within the week.”
The fact that Allie had just been dismissed couldn’t be clearer if her hostess had told her to get out.
“Thank you,” she responded, rising to her feet to be ushered across the room and out the door.
“So weird,” she murmured under her breath, grateful that the elevator door didn’t require a key on this floor, as it had in the lobby below. The whole experience had been somehow unreal, like something from a badly scripted foreign movie.
Stepping out of the elevator brought a sense of relief that the interview was over—and a rush of excitement. Her visit had been a complete success. Helen Reilly was giving her books and she’d managed to get Dulcie’s bread in front of the resort’s head chef, just as Desi had requested, without even having to ask her hostess if that was possible.
All in all, a most excellent day.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“What burr got up your butt?”
Tanner Grayson waited in the doorway of the firehouse kitchen, arms crossed in front of him and a frown wrinkling his face.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Logan denied, refusing to look up from the sink he scrubbed. “No problems here.”
“Right,” Tanner drawled. “No problems. After all these years, don’t you think I know you better than that? Something’s on your mind. Otherwise, why are you so determined to scrub the enamel right off that spot? Because you don’t have any problems? I’m not buying that one. You don’t want to talk about whatever it is, fine. Just tell me so. But don’t try to blow me off with BS.”
His friend was right about one thing: Tanner did know him well. But hopefully not too well. He needed to throw the man a bone to divert him, because he wasn’t ready to deal with his real issue. Not quite yet.
“What did you think of Matt Flynn?”
Though it wasn’t Matt driving him to this fit of cleaning, his friend had been on his mind since he’d introduced him to Tanner at lunch yesterday.
“I liked him,” Tanner said, his eyes narrowing as he focused his attention on Logan. “And I agree with your suggestion. We desperately need a med tech on staff and shouldn’t have any trouble convincing the powers-that-be that he’s the best choice. Once he’s officially discharged and can get himself certified, that is. Seems like a good guy. I think he’ll fit right in here.”
“And his sister? What did you think of her?”
Logan wanted to bite his tongue off as soon as the words spilled out of his mouth. Allie was the last thing he wanted to discuss with Tanner.
“His sister?” Confusion crossed Tanner’s face. “You mean the little blonde over at the Hand? Okay, I get it now. So she’s Matt’s sister.”
“Yeah,” Logan answered with what he intended as a nonchalant shrug, and turned back to scrubbing the sink before realizing what he was doing. “I’d noticed you talking to her the other day when we were moving furniture over there. Just wondered what you thought of her.”
Behind him Tanner chuckled, and Logan turned to find his friend had relaxed, his arms above his head, fingers grasping onto the frame above the door, a typical stance for him.
“Seems nice enough. She’s kind of short, though. Can’t have more than an inch or two on Katie. And a little too bookish for my tastes.” Tanner’s grin widened. “That what you wanted to know?”
Tanner definitely knew him too well.
“I guess it is.”
“Next time you should just ask, you know? Save a lot of wear and tear on the appliances.”
Logan returned his friend’s grin, shaking his head. No doubt. Likely would save a lot of wear and tear on the friendship, too.
“Okay then.” Tanner smacked his hand on the door frame. “I’ll be out running if you need me.”
Logan dried off his hands, staring out the window toward the center of town.
When had he gotten so bad at this male/female interaction stuff?
The thought made him snort. When had he ever been good at it? He’d had little enough experience. First there’d been Shayla for five years, and after that fiasco, he’d sworn off relationships completely.
Maybe it was time to consider taking another chance on women. Another chance on life. Or at the very least, one small step forward.
Standing alone in the silent firehouse, the ticking of the big clock on the wall his only company, Logan found himself with a sudden hankering for coffee.
Maybe it was time he let Allie buy him that cup after all.
Not a date, he reassured himself as he headed outside, twirling his keys around his finger. Just coffee. Now that he’d talked to Tanner and learned he wasn’t interested, there was no rush to think about anything as serious as a date.
His nerve almost faltered when he pulled into a parking spot in the lot next to the Hand, but he forced himself to turn off the motor and get out.
For cripes’ sake, what was wrong with him? He had no hesitation about running into a burning building or facing down a raging forest fire, so how could the thought of having coffee with one blushing, curly-haired blonde rattle him so?
It couldn’t. He wouldn’t allow it to.
“Hey, Logan. How’s it going?” Desi greeted him with a smile as he stepped into the coffee shop. “Want your usual coffee to go?”
“No. I… um… I came to see Allie. Is she here?” He fumbled his way through the question, wishing his face didn’t feel so hot.
“She’s not. Sorry. She’s up at the resort this afternoon and, if all’s gone well, by now she’s having herself a visit with that hunk of a chef they’ve hired themselves.”
Allie had gone up to the resort to spend the afternoon with some guy?
“Oh. I didn’t realize they’d hired a new chef.”
“I guess he’s new. I saw him for the first time at the dedication and, trust me, I’m pretty sure I would have noticed him if he’d been around before.” Desi grinned and held her hands up in front of her, her wiggling fingers setting the chains she wore, draped from her fingers to her wrist, jingling like little bells. “He is what I would describe as one total looker.”
“Afternoon, Logan,” Dulcie called out as she entered from the kitchen. “Can I get your usual started for you?”
“No… yes,” he amended quickly. No reason to hang out here now.
Dulcie had his coffee in the cup by the time he reached the counter and pulled out his money.
“Anything to eat with that?” she asked.
“No, just the coffee, thanks.” The butterflies in his stomach wouldn’t do well with food raining down on them.
“I’ll let Allie know you stopped by,” Desi said as he opened the door to leave. “Any message in particular?”
“No message,” he answered.
He’d be delivering his message in person. Spending so much time fretting over whether Tanner was interested in Allie, he’d completely neglected to consider any other men in town. But his eyes were open now.
The next time he saw Allie, he was going to collect on that coffee she’d offered. In fact, it just might be time to consider asking her out.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, Dulcie. I’m the only person I know who can screw up boiling water.”
Allie’s hands shook as she dropped the apron over her head and tied the strings around her middle. Her cousin might think she was kidding, but this was no joke. She really couldn’t cook anything that didn’t come frozen out of a box and go directly into a microwave.
“You’ll do just fine,” Dulcie assured her. “But you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
Allie had offered to do whatever she could to help out at the Hand until her first order of books arrived and she could get down to business. She’d just never dreamed that the help her cousin would want would be in the kitchen.
“No, I’ll do whatever you need me to. I really don’t mind. I’m just warning you.”
Dulcie laughed, grasping Allie’s hand to pull her over to a long table. “We’ll keep it simple. No following recipes or anything like that. I need onions sliced for the soup I’m doing for today’s lunch special. It’s a horrible task, but if you seriously want to help, this is what I need done most. You’ll see. We’ll make a cook out of you before you know it!”
It was Allie’s turn to grin. She highly doubted her cousin’s claim, but she was willing to give it a go. “Even a kitchen klutz like me should be able to do something as simple as slicing stuff.”
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