“I know what you thought. And you need to let it go. Andi had her shot at that big dumb ox and missed it. But I, on the other hand—”
“You want to go out with Andi Rivers?”
“No. But I want…” One more shot at Perfect Chloe. If only to let her see what she missed. “I want to help Bitter Bark,” he said.
“You do?”
His father wasn’t the only one in this family who could manipulate. “This town’s in trouble, Dad. We need tourists. We need to get on the map like Asheville.”
“You sound like you were a fly on the wall at our last meeting.”
“I know what Bitter Bark needs.” He could still see her eyes light up as she grabbed his shoulders when he’d handed her…an absolutely on-the-money freaking fantastic idea. “I’m an idea guy, and you know it.” And she knew it. “I’ll be able to really judge whatever she’s presenting.”
Just like she judged him and found him…only good enough for one kiss.
“You’re right, Shane. And we’ll need more if her idea fails.”
His idea, actually. Whatever it was. “I’ll go. I have to see what she’s presenting.”
His father’s brows, still much darker than his salt-and-pepper hair, drew together. “I would never have thought you’d be so interested in Bitter Bark’s tourism program.”
He wasn’t. But he sure was interested in the tourism expert. “Count on me. I got your back.”
“All right, but…” He looked past Shane to the distant hills where the explosives-sniffing was going on. “But I like that Andi Rivers, and she got a raw deal.”
When the guy she picked over Liam was killed? “She chose poorly,” he said simply. “I’d say I’d put a good word in for him, but Dad, when are you going to quit trying to fix us all up?”
His father frowned at him. “Your mother wanted you all to be as happy as we were, and if I can help that along, then I will.”
Shane puffed out a breath, as if he had to make space in his chest as he always did at the mention of his mother, gone three years now. “Look, what you and Mom had was one in a million. A billion. Nobody else will ever get that.”
“Not with that attitude,” Dad chided with a sigh. “Okay, you are officially on the Tourism Advisory Committee, Shane. Thank you.”
He gave his father an easy pat on the shoulder. “No, thank you.”
He turned to finish the training class, unable to wipe the smile from his face. He had at least one more chance to mess up Perfect Chloe.
Chapter Three
Chloe checked her PowerPoint presentation one more time, straightened her notes, and took a deep, slow breath. She’d arrived early for the meeting, and Aunt Blanche’s assistant had ushered her into the same conference room they’d been in a few days earlier.
But what a difference a few days made. Chloe had nailed this one, working nonstop to put together a presentation that would wow them all. Like nothing they’d expect and, if they had a vision, everything they needed.
Excited to present, she’d dressed to impress with a crisp white suit over a silky black tank top and sky-high heels.
Now, she just had to do what she did best and deliver a brilliant proposal.
As she walked around the table, murmuring some of the key messages she wanted to get across, Aunt Blanche came in, her pale skin flushed and her eyes sparkling as she closed the door behind her.
“I can’t stand the anticipation.” Blanche rubbed her hands together. “Please give me a sneak peek.”
“Not a chance,” Chloe said. “I want to read your reaction along with everyone else’s.”
“Oh darn.” She brushed back some hair that had more silver than blond strands these days. “Can you give me a hint?”
“Not a word,” Chloe teased, counting her business cards and making sure each one was perfectly lined up with the edge of the table. “Eight committee members and you, right?”
“Yes, but we had a change on the committee this morning.”
Chloe gave her a sharp look of concern. She’d geared this presentation to really appeal to the businesses that were present. “Who is it?”
“Daniel Kilcannon, the man who owns Waterford Farm, won’t be here.”
Disappointment thudded. Daniel Kilcannon was the dog guy. “Oh no. I was counting on his support.”
“I know, he’s one of our exemplary local citizens, having raised six kids right here in Bitter Bark.”
“Six?”
“Oh, such a wonderful family, the Kilcannons. Annie, Daniel’s wife, died so tragically about three years ago. Heart attack at fifty-five.”