Halle knew the next event was at the Feed Wyoming center on Third Street. She felt bad for dodging Blake last week, mostly. So they had a fight. People fight. She should have grown a pair and told him to his face that she wasn’t going to the next gathering.
Alas, she couldn’t muster the courage to tell him face to face, or call him. Truth be told, she didn’t know if he’d think their deal was off or not. She couldn’t bear to see him mad, hurt, or dressed up with nowhere to go. Sad eyes, or rather any state of Blake’s eyes, were her kryptonite. He should have gotten the hint, but who knew when it came to men.
Today, however, she could act the way she wanted to; needed to. She could man up and be an adult to deal with the situation. And she needed to do good for someone else anyway. Her life needed a purpose. Today, that purpose was feeding the homeless.
Halle found a parking spot close by and strode toward the front door, her head held high. She entered, looking for someone in charge to get her started on an assignment amid the activity, when her eyes unwittingly locked with Blake’s. Time stood still and the noise receded. She only saw Blake. The man who had been a total ass the other night. Anger flared in her belly and made its way up to her throat. She wasn’t there for him. No. She was there because she’d made a commitment to help people.
She diverted her eyes and looked for anyone else she might know to talk with… anything to not have to talk to him. She wasn’t dumb. She knew Blake would be there. She just wasn’t ready for the feeling that seeing him in the flesh brought. He means nothing to me. I need the loan. She grimaced. I’m such a loser. I can’t believe I’m here. She thought about making a beeline for the front door and just calling this what it was: stupid.
But in the back of her mind she had to admit she thought that coming today would enforce their original agreement. Even though she had tried hard to think of another way, Halle had no other means or opportunity to get the money. Maybe I can act like nothing happened, like we didn’t fight, and still get the loan. She strapped on an innocent expression and headed to Blake. If she was going to fake it, she was going to fake it real good.
He had his hands on his hips, still staring at her, when she reached him.
“What?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Just because you’re an ass doesn’t mean the homeless have to suffer any more than they already do.”
Smart and sassy had always won the day before. It would do the trick again.
Her cinnamon smell calmed his racing heart. He honestly hadn’t expected Halle to show up or to see her ever again. Does this mean we are back on for our arrangement? The damn business deal. He should have just asked Halle to go with him to the first event as a date and not made it business. Why do I make everything about business? That thought scared the crap out of him. Was he more like his father than he thought? He swore under his breath.
Blake pointed to the kitchen doors. “Grab an apron and put your hair in one of the nets.”
He may as well keep it business until he knew what her showing up meant. Halle walked past him and found the kitchen.
Blake was lost in the options of his next move to get his perfect outcome when his mom approached him.
“Was that Halle Adams, daughter of Edward Adams?”
Oh, great. Who told her? “Nothing gets by you.”
At least he wasn’t the last to figure out who she was.
“Wonderful. I wanted to invite her to dinner.”
Warning bells sounded in Blake’s head. Dinner? No. No. No. He didn’t want his mom interfering with Halle.
“There she is.” His mom peered behind him and a sick feeling took over more of his stomach. This was not good.
“Hello again.” Halle’s tone was polite.
“You can go over there,” Blake pointed to the far end of the tables, “and serve the potatoes.” Just walk away, Halle.
“Nonsense. You’ll stay here.” his mom counteracted. “We’ll serve the drinks and replenish the empties together.”
“That sounds great,” Halle said, looking straight into his eyes.
Now she’s just screwing with me. She came here to make my life miserable. Well played.
“Perfect.” His mom couldn’t have been more obvious. “I’ve been meaning to ask you to Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow night. We’d love to have you.”
Halle didn’t wait a beat before she answered. “I’d love that. Thank you.”
“Excellent.” His mom looked to Blake, then Halle, and back again. “I’m sure you two have things to discuss. I need to get some spoons for the potatoes…” His mom faded into the background like her words.
Blake shook his head and rubbed his hand down his stubbled chin. “What are you doing here, Halle?”
“For starters, you invited me. This was part of the agreement. Remember?”
“I do. I also remember going alone to the fundraiser.”
Ha. Don’t have an answer to that, do ya? He wanted an answer, though. Did she hate him or was she only mad? Or – the hair rose on the back of his neck – did she ever care?
“I needed a break.” Her words weren’t as strong as her last ones.
“That was not part of our deal.”
“I realize that. But, neither was a history lesson about my family.” She cleared her throat. “Fine. Our deal is off. But, your mom invited me to Christmas Eve dinner. So…” Halle winked. “See ya there.” She walked away from him, finding a spot by the drinks.
“Halle.”
“Hi, Dad. How’s Europe?” Halle cursed herself for not looking at the caller ID on her cell phone before answering.
“It’s grand.”
She rolled her eyes. Of course it was.
“Hopefully someday you can see these magnificent waters.”
Someday she’d like to. Sans her father of course. Vacationing with him would be hell, no matter the color of the sand and water.
“Merry Christmas,” she said in an effort to switch topics. “I’m glad you called. I need to give my notice. I’ll be moving Just Dandy next month.” She held her breath and waited.
“To where?”
“I’m not sure yet. If I don’t find a place to buy I might build, which would take me longer to move. I should know by the end of December.”
“And where are you getting this money?” The calmness in his voice was eerie.
She hated how cool and collected her dad could be. Blake was different. He tried to hide it, she knew, but she could tell when he was mad, irritated, or adoring. She missed him. She rested her hip on the front counter and surveyed her store. How was she going to get all this stuff moved herself?
“I have my ways.” She worked to keep her voice just as airy. “It doesn’t concern you.”
“I should say it does. You’re my daughter. What you do in the community concerns me.”
Halle paid attention to his tone, trying to hear any indication of how fast this conversation was going to deteriorate.
“Well, it shouldn’t. Anyway, I will have the money and be moving in January. You’ll be able to rent this space for February.”
“You won’t find a good price on a building right now. Rates are high, or do you have that taken care of with your ways as well?”
Here it comes. Halle braced her cell phone between her ear and shoulder as she reached under the counter for her beads and the necklace-making kit she kept at the store. She was going to have a lot of frustration to work out this afternoon.
“We’ve talked about this, Dad. I’m moving out. We’ll talk more about this when you get back; go have dinner or something.”
She heard shuffling on the other end of the phone and a muffled female voice, Leigh, the new wife speaking. She liked Leigh. Her dad and Leigh hadn’t been together long and she only had about fifteen years on Halle, but her dad seemed happier. And that made Halle happy.
“Hello?” Bad international connection?
“I’m here.” He cleared his throat. “We’ve been talking, Leigh and I, and we want to give you the building as a Christmas present. You won’t have to move.”
Halle’s head shot up and her cell phone bounced on the floor. She scrambled to pick it up.
“Are you dying?” She tried to find her voice. Did I hear that correctly? Surely not.
“No.” He hefted a booming laugh. “It’s crazy to leave a location you’re established in. I know you want your independence and I know you are as bullheaded as me.” He paused. “And, I happen to be in a very giving mood.”
Thank you, Leigh. Halle made a mental note to get her something very pretty for Christmas.
“So that’s it? You’re just gonna sign over the building to me free and clear?”
“Yes.”
“No strings?”
His pause was longer than she liked. “Yes.”
I don’t know if I totally believe that. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll think about it.”
“Very well. Merry Christmas.”
Merry Christmas indeed. Halle set her phone on the counter and stared at it. Did her dad just give her a building? For real? Frankly, there was a fifty-fifty shot this was another way to manipulate her life, Leigh’s good intentions notwithstanding.
Surely there were down sides to this deal she wasn’t seeing yet. Or, maybe, getting married and being on vacation made her hard-hearted father almost human.
If she took her dad’s offer she wouldn’t need the loan. She wouldn’t need Blake. But I want Blake.