“Right. And?”
He clasped her hand. His palm felt clammy. “Hannah, I’m sorry, but the building is structurally unsafe. It has to come down.”
Her sharp inhalation lodged a chunk of falafel in her throat. “Gack!” she spluttered.
With a yelp of alarm, Xander bolted around the table and whacked her between the shoulder blades. The chewed-up bean mash tumbled onto her plate, ruining her appetite.
No, it was Xander’s news that did that.
She was so flustered, she only caught half of his hurried explanation—something about structural failure and condemning the building and a cluster of mini shops.
“…so when the contractor told me Borna Development Group is offering top dollar for—”
“Borna?” she shrieked. “Are you out of your profit-addled mind?”
Xander flinched back in his seat. “Hannah, you must know I would never sell to them after what they did to you and Linda.”
“Then why even mention those crooked scumbags?”
His nostrils flared, and he gripped the table’s edge. “Hear me out, okay?”
“I—”
“All the way, Hannah. Please.”
“Fine.” She tossed down her napkin and folded her arms tight across her middle. “I’m listening.” The mere mention of that evil bastard who destroyed her childhood home had her emotions locked down tight—except for anger—with a bitter dash of betrayal.
He spoke as carefully as a bomb squad boss talking a newbie through her first assignment. “Okay, you’re mad. I get it. I was too when I realized the previous crew led me on instead of telling me the hard truth. Then again, they probably tried, but I was too desperate to listen to reason. And now, there’s no getting around it—the building is in danger of collapse.”
“But you said you couldn’t afford to knock it down.”
“Now I can.” He leaned onto his elbows, his eyes glittering with excitement. “In a weird way, this is just the push I needed. Until the other day, I couldn’t envision how to make the business my own. But look—” He tapped his phone screen and flipped through photo after photo of nearly identical shingle-fronted buildings. “When I saw this outdoor galleria in Carroll Beach, it’s like the heavens opened up and the angels sang.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Ugh. The bougiest beach town on the coast.”
“Hey now.” He scooted his chair closer and eased her fist open, cradling it gently. “I know you’re not a fan of Carroll Beach, but this could work in Trappers Cove. Itwillwork.”
Ignoring the pleasure of his touch, she spat out, “How?”
“By giving it TC’s eclectic feel. Instead of being all matchy-matchy, every shop in will look a little different, just like the shops on Main Street.”
“And the bank gave you a loan for this, this…?” She waved a hand at the photos on his screen.
“Once I got a bid from Borna, just to show the market value, the loan officer got on board. In fact, she loved the idea.” His gaze dropped. “Of course, I had to put the land up as collateral.”
Her already frantic heartbeat ratcheted up a notch. “But if you’re not successful, you’ll lose everything! The bank will sell it to a developer and—”
Leaning forward, he grasped her shoulders. “I won’t fail, Hannah.”
But it might fail. In fact, it probably would fail if he rejected the huge mass of customers he already freakin’ had, who were salivating over the merchandise he refused to sell.
And yet, she’d promised not to bring up the aliens. Damn it to infinity.
“What about your promise to Gus?”
His voice cracked under the strain. “How many times do I have to tell you? I am a man of my word. The cosmic transmitter stays. In fact, it’ll be smack in the middle, surrounded by other merchandise that regular people will enjoy.”
“Regular people?” she squeaked.
