by Carrie Elks
“Where are Alaska and Gabe?” she asked them.
“Gabe’s on a conference call with his coach,” North told her. “I promised to update him afterward.”
“And Alaska took an extra shift at the Inn.” Everley shook her head, though her expression was soft. “But we all know she just hates conflict. She said she barely slept last night.”
The three of them shuffled forward, saying hello to the town’s residents that recognized them. Every single one of them asked how they were doing without their grandma. Their concern warmed Holly’s heart.
“Why aren’t they talking about the meeting?” Holly asked quietly, when they reached the foyer.
“Because they don’t know about the sale.” North shook his head. “Our parents haven’t had the guts to tell them.”
There were black and white photographs on the dusty, paint peeling walls, reflecting the various revues Candy had held over the years. Famous stars mixed with local actors and singers, all of them smiling at Candy as she stood in the center of them.
The three of them took seats at the end of the fifth row. There was a lectern on the stage, along with microphones and chairs arranged for the speakers.
“If they don’t know about the sale, what do they think this meeting is about?” Everley whispered across to North.
“No idea.” North shrugged.
“Those aren’t our microphones.” Everley frowned at the equipment on stage. “Unless Grandma bought new ones before passing.”
“I saw an audio visual van parked outside the stage door,” North said. “Looked pretty swanky.”
Of course it did. It was paid for by Gerber Enterprises. Holly knew from her research that they only used the best.
Looking around the theater, she took a deep breath. Every seat was occupied. She could see Dolores from the Cold Fingers Café on the other side, sitting next to Charlie Shaw from the Cold Start Garage along with the owners of the Mistletoe Gift Shop and the Frozen Perfection Spa. Dolores lifted her hand to wave, and Holly waved back.
Folding her hands in her lap, she looked up at the stage, right as her uncles and mom walked out onto it. All three of them looked nervous.
The two businesspeople she’d seen at the Inn followed them. She couldn’t remember their names but she knew they were with Gerber Enterprises.
And then he walked out of the wings, and her breath caught in her throat.
Josh Gerber stood stock still in the center of the stage. The conversation in the hall hushed completely as people’s gazes were drawn to him.
He looked powerful standing there alone. And it wasn’t his perfectly fitting navy suit, that only seemed to enhance the strong muscles that she knew lay beneath. Nor the way his gray blue eyes scanned the room as though he could read every thought in the auditorium. No, it was more than that.
It was charisma.
The first time she’d met Josh he’d been softer. Warmer. But this man exuded a raw strength that made her mouth turn as dry as the desert. It made her skin tingle, too.
She knew men like him. She’d met them over and over again in her job. Men who thought they were above the law, or social norms. Men who always wanted to win, no matter the cost.
He ran the tip of his tongue over his bottom lip, his eyes still scanning the room. And then they landed on her.
She held herself perfectly still, staring right back at him, unwilling to waver or show any hint of weakness.
His face was impassive, his body relaxed. But then she saw a tick in his jaw and she knew that he felt it, too.
This weird, unwanted pull. The knowledge that once upon a time his bare skin had pressed against hers.
“Hol, you’re staring,” North whispered.
“Of course she is. He’s so damn beautiful,” Everley said, sounding wistful. “And he’s staring back at her.”
Holly pushed her shoulders back, willing the heat to stop flooding her skin. Not once had anybody looked at her like that. Sure, she’d had boyfriends, and that one brush with marriage that they all wanted to forget, but never anything like this.
This was a pure power play.
The corner of Josh’s lip pulled up. He was smiling? Why was he smiling? Holly tried not to frown, but it was a losing battle. What had he seen in her eyes that amused him?
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today.” Josh didn’t lean into the microphone. He held himself straight and tall, keeping eye contact with the crowd at all times. “I’d like to introduce us all to you. Of course you know the Winter family. Noel, Joseph, and Susannah, Candy Winter’s children.” He flashed a smile at them, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “And I’m so pleased to see some of her grandchildren have joined us, too.”
Everybody turned to look at Holly, North, and Everley. Holly glanced at North. “Now they’ll think we’re involved in this, too,” she said to him.
“I know.” North’s voice was grim. “He’s doing it on purpose.”
“My name is Joshua Gerber. I’m the CEO of Gerber Enterprises, and these two people are Kevin Carter and Elizabeth Norton, who both work for me at the company.” He nodded at his employees. “We’re here today to talk about the future of Winterville.” He glanced at the young woman standing in front of him. “Elizabeth, can we run the promotional video please?”
She nodded, and whispered something to somebody in the wings. The next moment, the huge screen behind Josh lit up with an oversize blue and gold logo, Gerber Enterprises splashed across the white.
Then a voiceover began.
“Forty years ago, Candy Winter built this town from nothing.” Black and white photographs depicting the town’s construction flashed across the screen, an old 1970s recording of Candy was spliced in.
“Winterville isn’t about looking back,” she said, a distinctive southern twang in her voice. “It’s about looking forward. It’s about living a twentieth century life. I’m not sentimental, I don’t have time to be. I just want the best for this town and the people who live in it.”
Holly swallowed. It was hard to watch.
“This is a good production,” Everley whispered. “Expensive, too.”
Holly nodded grimly.
There were more images. Of the town as it was in the 1970s. Of Candy’s productions here in the Jingle Bell Theater. Of the cousins running around in the Inn. Of Candy laughing at her grandchildren.
“Our parents gave them these photos,” Holly said, her brow pinching and eyes welling.
“Yeah, well we already knew they were traitors.” North shook his head.
A recording of Candy came on again, but this time she was older. It could only have been recorded a few years ago. She still had that timeless beauty, though. “I never want time to stand still here,” she was saying. “This isn’t an old fashioned village that stands still. It’s a living, thriving community. We keep moving on and we keep adapting.”
“Elizabeth,” Josh murmured. “Let’s pause it here.” The screen paused on Candy smiling out at them all.
Josh looked out at the residents. They were staring raptly back at him. “This town was built by a strong, visionary woman,” he told them. “And though her loss is mourned, her work and her words live on. And we’ve been working with the Winter family to move Candy’s vision into the twenty-first century. I’d like to show you a little of what that vision looks like.” He nodded to Elizabeth again. Candy’s face faded from the screen, replaced with a mock-up image of a ski resort on the mountain.
“I never want time to stand still here.” Candy’s words echoed out again. “We keep moving on and we keep adapting.”
A fury washed over Holly. They were using her grandma’s words to trample over her dream. And her mom and uncles were letting them.
She leaned forward, as though about to stand. North put a hand on her arm. “Be cool,” he whispered.
She glanced out of the corner of her eye. Everybody was staring blissfully at the screen, as images of ski slopes and state o
f the art chalets flashed up on the screen, a smooth voiceover explaining all the details. No trace of the Winterville charm remained. It was clear her grandma’s town had no place in their future vision.
“We invite you on a journey. A journey to the future of Winterville,” the voiceover said.
Holly rolled her eyes. When she looked up, Josh’s gaze was on her again.
The final image came on the screen. Her grandma, surrounded by her family. Then it faded away.
Everybody started clapping. Holly and her cousins looked around in horror. Why the hell were they applauding their town being destroyed?
Josh was smiling. “We have brochures that we’ll be giving out to each and every one of you that will detail the plans we’ve made and the next stages,” Josh told them. “And of course, we’re more than happy to answer any questions. Maybe we can start right now?”
Charlie Shaw put up his hand.
“Yes sir?” Josh asked. Somebody ran down the aisle to put a microphone to Charlie’s mouth.
“When will this be happening?”
“Well, that depends on a few things, but we want to start the build early in the new year.”
Somebody else put their hand up, and the usher took the microphone to them.
“Will it still be called Winterville?”
Josh smiled. “Of course. We’d never want to change the name.”
A third hand shot into the air. This time it was Dolores. “What are your plans for eating establishments?” she asked.
“That’s still under consideration.” Josh gave her an easy, reassuring smile. “But anybody who makes pastries like you do will always be in demand here.”
“What a crock of shit,” Everley murmured.
Swallowing hard, Holly shot her hand up. Moments later, the usher was holding a microphone toward her. Holly took it, standing and facing the stage. She watched as Uncle Noel leaned forward to whisper something to her mom, who shook her head.
“Holly Winter, you have a question?” Josh stared right at her. It felt like a challenge. She straightened her spine, and held the microphone to her lips.
“What will happen to the town square?”
His gaze was steady. “We’ll be upgrading it.”
“Does that mean you’ll be knocking the buildings down? What will happen to the establishments there?”
“As I explained, there’ll be some redevelopment going on. Some establishments will be rebuilt, others will be assisted with relocation. But we’ll be working with all the owners to make sure we get it right.”
There was a frisson between them. His stare was unwavering, making her feel heated. Needy. She blinked, trying to ignore the electricity.
“How long will it take for you to rebuild or relocate the establishments?”
For the first time his smile wavered. His gaze didn’t though. “We’re still determining that.”
She tipped her head to the side, still looking right at him. “And in the meantime, there’ll be no café. No garage, no gift shops, no spa? Just an empty parcel of land that you’ll sell to whoever bids the most for it?”
A gasp echoed through the auditorium.
“We’re not here to cause alarm, Miss Winter. I can assure you this will be good for the local population. Creating more jobs and a secure future.” Damn he was smooth. Everybody relaxed back into their chairs.
“So it’s not true that my family has sold the town to you, and you’re planning to break it apart and sell it at a profit?” she asked him, her voice thick.
His eyes raked over her, dipping to her lips. There was a tick in his stupidly handsome jaw.
“You seem very emotional,” Josh remarked lightly. “Kevin, perhaps you can take over the microphone, and I’ll speak with Holly in private?”
She opened her mouth to say something, but the microphone was taken from her. She frowned at the usher, but he was already moving up the aisle to the next raised hand.
Josh Gerber had silenced her. She frowned, and looked over at her cousins.
“I’ll be back,” she said.
“Be careful,” North said. “I don’t like this.” He glanced at Josh then back to her. “Do you want me to come punch him again?”
Holly tried not to laugh, “Yeah, well I don’t much like him. And it’s okay, I’ve got this.” She grabbed her purse and coat and headed toward the exit. If Josh wanted a fight, he could have it.
As she made her way down the aisle, she heard Everley’s murmured reply.
“Of course she likes him. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.”
7
Holly walked along the hallway toward him, her dark waves bouncing against her shoulders as she came closer. Her brows were pinched together, and he had to bite down a smile.
The cat had claws.
“You’re angry,” he murmured as she came to a stop in front of him. She was close enough for him to smell her fragrance. Flowery and sweet. She tipped her head to the side, and he couldn’t help but follow the fine line of her jaw.
“I’m not angry. I’m disbelieving. And from somebody who’s seen a lot of divorces, don’t ever call a woman emotional. That’s a free tip. No need to thank me.” Holly’s expression was grim.
Josh’s lips twitched. She’d been pretty eight years ago, but now she’d grown into her beauty. She had this way of holding herself that made him want to touch her, to make her sigh, to see what it would be like to see the softer side of Holly Winter.
The side he knew for certain existed eight years ago.
He tipped his head to the side. “You have questions. Ask me them.”
“Why wouldn’t you answer them in front of the audience?” she asked him. “Don’t they deserve to know the truth, too?”
“The truth that I’m trying to save this town?”
She blinked. “No you’re not. You’re trying to push everybody out to make a profit. I’ve looked up your company. I know what you do.”
A weird thrill shot through him. “You Googled me.”
She stared defiantly up at him. “Yes.”
“That’s interesting. I Googled you, too.”
The thick lashes that shadowed her cheeks flew up. “What did you discover?”
“That you’re a caped crusader without a cape. That you like to fight for the underdog, even if the underdog just wants to go home and have a good sleep.” He gave her a half smile. “I also discovered something else.” He stepped closer, his eyes on hers. “We’re more alike than you think.”
“I’m nothing like you.” She spoke with a quiet firmness.
Josh’s eyes flickered to her pretty mouth. “We both make money from destruction. The only difference is, your destruction involves people.”
Her jaw tightened. “I’m paid for what I do because I’m good at it. I’m good at protecting women from men like you. Men who wield too much power. Who take without giving.”
Josh held himself still, even though it felt like he’d been slapped in the face. “Is that what you think of me?”
She pulled her lip between her teeth, as though embarrassed by her outburst. “I don’t think anything. I don’t know you.” The anger had melted from her voice.
“You seemed to know all about me a minute ago,” he pointed out.
“All I know is that you’re trying to destroy this town. For money.”
He nodded slowly. “That’s what you think. Okay.”
She tensed visibly. “It’s what I know.”
His lips curled, though he felt no humor at all. “You think you know all about this place?”
“Of course I do. I grew up here.”
He nodded. “And you’re an accountant. Good with money, right?”
She didn’t answer. Just looked at him with those deep chocolate eyes. A man could get lost in there if he wanted to.
“Maybe you’re not as great of an accountant as you think,” he said quietly. “Because if you were, you’d know this town is bankrupt. There’s no money here. Your
grandma kept it going for as long as she could, but the money’s gone. The reason it’s being sold is because your family has nothing left. Maybe if you were half as good with numbers as you think you are, you would have known this.”
She shook her head. “That’s not true.”
He shrugged. “Go ask them. Your mom and uncles. Or go talk to the people running businesses here. Take a look at the houses people rent, hell, look at this theater.” He gestured behind him. “It’s falling apart. Sure, the cracks are covered with tinsel and flashing lights, but when they’re gone, there’s nothing left. Without my company and my money, this town will dwindle to nothing. So you might want to think about that before you start accusing me of selling out.”
She blinked, her bottom lip trembling.
“I should go.” For the first time she sounded uncertain.
He reached for her arm, feeling like a bastard. “Holly, I…”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I need to get out of here.”
She turned on her heel, and flew down the hallway as quick as she’d came. But instead of being all fire and ice, she looked defeated.
When he turned to walk back to the main theater, he saw Elizabeth standing there.
“Everything okay?”
She nodded. “Kevin’s answering the last question. Did you want to come on stage and make any closing remarks?”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t. I think we’re done here.”
“I don’t understand how we didn’t know,” Holly said. “Why didn’t Grandma tell us the money had run out? We could have helped. I’m an accountant, I could have looked at places to get efficiencies.” She looked up at North, who was leaning against his breakfast counter.
“She hid it from all of us.” North blew out a mouthful of air. “I’m the one who was here the whole time. If anyone should’ve noticed, it should’ve been me.”
“Why would you have noticed? On the surface nothing changed.” Everley cradled her mug of coffee between her hands. “She just kept pumping in money so the town continued going fine.”
“Until there was no more money left.” Holly sighed, looking out of North’s window to the valleys beyond. Slopes of Christmas trees stretched as far as the eye could see. North owned all the land and all the trees, along with his business partner, Amber Stone. Holly could see her in the distance, dealing with some customers. It was prime Christmas tree buying time – North should be out there working right now.