Holiday Reunion (Hollyberry Harbor #1)

Chapter 6

SIX

The sound of vibrations were the first thing to stir James from his sleep. His eyes opened at the quiet buzzing sounds, only to find Sarah nestled into his side. He stared down at her perfect features—her long lashes, her full lips.

She was even more enticing asleep than she was awake and that was saying something. James couldn’t help but grow more attracted to her with all the time they’d been spending with one another.

Last night, they’d fallen asleep as they told stories of their childhood. Sarah had lived her life in a sort of fairytale. She believed that this place was perfect. And she could be right. The city could hold more dangers and disappointments in one square block than all of Hollyberry Harbor combined.

She stirred with the sounds of the ringing phone, but then it stopped, and a soft sigh escaped her lips. James nearly touched her face, tempted to trace the lines of her brow and the cut of her jaw.

Sarah was the kind of woman who was exactly who she proclaimed to be. She wore her heart on her sleeve. Everything she stood for, everything she knew, she wasn’t afraid to share it.

She might be headstrong and stubborn, but she was nothing like the terrible people he’d encountered while away from this small town. She was nothing like Emory.

There was a reason he’d broken things off with his ex. Emory had been secretive and manipulative. He never quite knew what she planned to do next or what she might be hiding from him. He couldn’t confirm it, but he had a feeling she’d been getting a little too close to one of the friends he’d made while in Portland.

James shook off that terrible thought, forcing himself back to the present. He watched Sarah sleep, and all he could think about was how much he wanted to help her. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told her he knew all the numbers. The bank had willingly given them over to him the second they’d heard his plans to fix up Lake Harbor.

There was no way that Sarah would be able to survive at the rate she was going. Each month, she got more and more behind in her bills and her mortgage for the bakery. While she’d put on a strong face, he knew just how scared she must be on the inside.

Her eyes fluttered, then she stretched.

He leaned his head back against the wall, pretending to still be asleep.

Sarah stiffened in his arms then shot up straight in her seat. That was when he opened his eyes and forced a yawn. She was staring at him when he found her eyes. James winked, then groaned as he stretched.

She scrambled to her feet and rubbed her arms up and down. “It’s still cold,” Sarah murmured, her breath coming out in white puffs. “I guess that means the power is still down.”

“Check your phone. See if the towers are in operation.”

Sarah hurried toward the table and picked it up. She gasped, a smile spreading across her face as she showed him the screen. “I have three missed calls.” Sarah turned away from him and lifted the phone to her ear.

James got to his feet, all of his muscles aching with the movement. He wasn’t equipped to sleep on the floor. No amount of stretching was going to help him, either.

Sarah headed toward him, placing the phone on the table once her conversation was over. “They have someone working on the power issue. They’re not quite sure why it went out, but it should be up and running within the hour.” The pure and utter joy on her face only made her more attractive.

He found himself unable to say anything as he continued to stare at her.

She gave him a funny look and tilted her head with a laugh. “What?”

“You have a beautiful smile.”

Sarah blinked several times then turned away from him. She tucked her hair behind her ear and murmured, “Thanks.” Placing both of her hands on the conference room table, she spoke again, this time louder. “We have an hour. Let’s finish what we didn’t last night.”

He laughed. “You’re joking, right?”

By the pointed look she shot him, he knew better than to assume she was anything but serious. Sarah gestured to the paperwork. Let’s just go over the checklist for opening day, starting with the lighting ceremony. Were you going to have the light show available that night? Or will it start the following night?” She glanced over to him. “Because based on what you were saying, they might feel they’re missing out on something great. But to have the lights all on and working before the tree might be anticlimactic.”

James moved closer to her. “I figured we could give half-price admission and just have the second half of the lights turn on after the tree.”

She seemed to consider this then nodded. “That will work.”

“And what about drinks? There aren’t any coffee shops on Lake Harbor Ave. But I’m sure people will want something to drink that will also keep them warm.”

“I have that covered.”

He glanced down at the paperwork. “You do?”

She nodded once more. “Since I’m already set up to sell food, I’ll have complimentary coffee and hot chocolate if someone purchases a treat.” Sarah flashed him a smile. “I thought that might bring me some extra customers. If they don’t want anything to eat, the drinks will be a reasonable price—sold at cost.”

“Seems like you have thought of everything.”

Sarah beamed at the compliment.

“Have you considered that it might suit your business plan to offer coffee on a regular basis?”

Her eyes flicked to his. “I have not.”

“Maybe you should consider it. As I pointed out, there are no beverage shops on that strip. Don’t you think that people would be in search of something like that when they’re wandering along the harbor?”

Sarah lifted a shoulder. “I suppose they would.”

He stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to catch on to what he was suggesting. When she finally looked at him, understanding flooded her face.

She shook her head. “Nope. That isn’t for me. I’m a bakery, not a café. The second the word escaped her lips, she frowned. “Is that what you’re trying to do? Convince me that I should take you up on your plan? That’s it, isn’t it? You want to turn my bakery into a café.” She spun away from him and marched around to the other side of the table, using the strewn out papers as an excuse. She picked up one and stared at it hard, so she didn’t have to meet his gaze.

“It’s a good idea,” he insisted, following her path. “You know I’m right.”

“Then you turn one of those buildings into a coffee shop.”

“There’s not much in the way of real estate. Like you said, your shop is already set up to serve food. It wouldn’t take much to add a few machines and hire a barista.”

Once again, she shook her head. “That bakery is everything I’ve poured my heart and soul into. I’m not going to turn it into something it’s not.”

“But—”

“No buts.” Her eyes darted to his once more. This time she didn’t waver. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I’m not going to change anything. Pick one of the other ideas you had and change it to a soda shop or a coffee shop—anything you want. Don’t touch my bakery.”

She gathered up the paperwork and stacked it neatly in a pile. Based on her tone, he knew he shouldn’t push her no matter how much he wanted to help her. His only chance at doing so would be to continue getting on her good side. She’d warmed up to him lately, even he couldn’t deny that.

So James dropped the subject. He helped Sarah gather up the papers and everything else they had set up. He caught her stealing glances at him every so often. The room felt even larger and quieter.

The tension between them continued to mount to the point that James grew desperate to find a topic of conversation that wouldn’t rile her up or put her on the spot. They sat across from one another at the table, and James nearly blurted that he was glad they were working together when the lights flickered. The humming from overhead sounded like a dull roar after they’d been seated in silence for so long.

Sarah pushed back from the table and shot to her feet with a grin. “That’s that, then.”

He rose also and nodded. “That’s that.”

She pulled her paperwork to her chest and headed for the door. “On Friday, I want you there by noon for setup. We need all the tables and vendors ready for the lighting ceremony. Everything has to be perfect.”

“I’ll be there.”

Sarah gave him one last fleeting glance before she pressed a card to the reader. “I know.” She disappeared out the door, leaving him alone and wishing he could have just gotten through to her. There was a chance. He had to believe that. If he could just get her to warm up to the idea, then it would be smooth sailing afterward.

James grabbed his satchel from a chair and draped it over his shoulder. He glanced around the room one last time and smiled to himself. Then he took his leave.