18.

 

I need a plan of attack.

After I walk away from Ash, I spend the next two days wracking my brain for a way to stop his development. I barely sleep a wink, haunted by the stiff resolve in his expression, and the way he stubbornly insisted his business had nothing to do with us.

It’s not personal…

I can’t believe he would say that, that he could possibly believe wrecking my future is “just business.” I look around at the house my grandmother poured so much love into, the home of so many happy memories that I, in turn, want to pass on for years to come. Ash may see this property as just an inconvenience to ignore on his plans, but it’s so much more than that to me.

I meant what I told him: I’m not giving in without a fight.

But what that fight is going to be, I have no idea. I search for a strategy, but I’m afraid I’m too late. The Callahan Group is an international company with hundreds of developments under their belt, and I’m just one woman. What can I do to change Ash’s mind?

“I’ve got good news and bad news,” Lexi calls, when I’m on my fifth batch of wedding cake batter.

“I need good news first,” I tell her, pausing with the mixer. I’ve been stress-baking myself into a frenzy all day in the hopes that inspiration will strike, and now there’s not a free surface in the kitchen not covered in frosting and sugar petals.

“Well, the good news is, the permits on the construction haven’t been approved a hundred percent.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, my hopes rising. “I thought it was a done deal.”

“Almost,” Lexi replies. I can hear her tapping at her computer, back in New York. “They got preliminary approval, pending a town council review. But that’s just a formality,” she adds. “Basically, they rubber stamp everything the county sends their way.”

I slump down on a stool. “That is bad news.”

“What? Oh, no, that wasn’t the bad part,” Lexi explains.

“There’s more?”

“’Fraid so, babe. I went through the Callahan Group’s permits filings, trying to find anything shady to use against them, and there’s nothing. Perfect records, glowing safety reports. They even won awards for making their buildings eco-friendly and energy efficient.”

I should have figured. “Ash wouldn’t cut corners,” I say, with reluctant admiration. “He pays attention to detail, and gets it done right.”

“So what are you going to do?” she asks.

“I don’t know yet.” I think hard. “How long do I have before those permits get approval?”’

“Looks like they’re scheduled for debate at a meeting next week,” Lexi replies. “Monday night.”

“That means I just have a few days before it’s final,” I gulp. “That’s a tall order.”

“And so was getting into law school, or passing the bar,” Lexi reminds me. “You can do this, babe. You just need to think like him.”

I sigh. “Detached and void of all human emotion?”

“Ruthless. I’ll keep digging here, I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

“Thanks.”

I hang up, feeling even more anxious. I have exactly four days to come up with a way to stop Ash’s development—or my fresh start in Beachwood Bay will be over before it’s even begun.

 

I want to devote every waking minute to this emergency, but I made Alicia a promise, so that afternoon, I set up a cake tasting on the back porch, complete with iced tea, finger sandwiches, and a table full of delicious options for her to try. I figure getting into the wedding spirit might help distract me from impending doom, so I go all out: picking fresh roses and getting Nana’s lacy tablecloths out of storage to decorate the old wrought iron tables.

By the time she arrives, I’ve transformed the porch into a sugar-dusted, rose-trimmed wonderland. “Noelle?” I hear her calling, as I set down the final china plate.

“Out here!”

Alicia steps outside and gasps. “Oh my God, this looks amazing!” She looks around at the decorations and food and claps her hands together with excitement. “I can’t believe it, you didn’t have to do all this!”

I smile. “I wanted to!”

My spirits rise, seeing the smile on her face. Just because I’m facing total ruin, it doesn’t mean that her big day should suffer. She’s taking a chance, trusting the cake to me, so every part of the planning should be special too.

“Come, sit!” I show her to the table. “I went kind of overboard baking, so we have a lot to get through.”

“What a shame.,” Alicia grins, her eyes sparkling. “I guess I’ll just have to rise to the occasion. I invited a couple of friends over,” she adds, taking a seat. “Is that OK? I figured I could use some extra opinions.”

“That’s great,” I reply. “Like I said, I may have gone a little overboard.”

“A little?” Another voice comes, and then Juliet steps out onto the porch. She hugs me, smiling. “I saw the kitchen, it looks like you’re catering a royal wedding!”

“OK, now my mouth is watering.” Alicia laughs. “I can’t wait to taste them!”

“Then let me go get the first samples.” I head inside to grab the platter and some extra plates. When I get back, Brit has joined Juliet and Alicia, and is popping the cork of a bottle of champagne.

“Cheers!” she laughs, as the bubbly foam spills out of the top. “Here’s to picking the perfect cake!”

“But we need to be methodical,” Alicia says, a smile playing on her lips. “Test every kind thoroughly, and make an informed choice.”

“Absolutely,” Juliet laughs, then turns to me. “What are you doing hovering like a waitress, Noelle?” She pats the seat beside her. “Come, sit down and have a drink.”

I pause. When my older sister was getting married, the cake baker waited on her like a VIP, running around to cater to her every whim. I was ready to do the same here, but Alicia pours me a glass of champagne and waves me over, so I set down the display platter and join them at the table.

“These look incredible,” Alicia beams, gazing at the spread. “What kind are they?”

“So first we have vanilla cake, with raspberry filling and a white chocolate frosting,” I start, pointing to the pale cake with tiny pink petals. I baked everything in miniature, and frosted and decorated them too, so she could get the full effect. “Then there’s a chocolate cake, with salted caramel buttercream filling, and chocolate ganache. And then this one is my Nana’s recipe: a lavender cake with lemon curd, and a fresh lavender frosting.”

The other women let out sighs of happiness. “Can we do this every week?” Brit asks, taking a gulp of champagne.

I laugh. “Pace yourselves. There’s another five flavors after this to go.”

I cut slices for everyone, and then watch them dig in. Alicia closes her eyes in bliss, and Juliet moans in happiness. “You are a genius,” she says, swallowing. “This is insanely good!”

I feel a warm glow of pride. I love the process of baking from start to finish, but there’s nothing like seeing the look on people’s faces when they’re enjoying something I’ve created from scratch.

“This chocolate should be illegal,” Brit says with her mouth full. “Seriously. If you asked me to pick between this and sex, I would have a big problem picking.”

“Sounds like Hunter would be the one with the problem,” Juliet smirks, and Brit tosses a candy rose petal at her. Juliet ducks, laughing, then turns to me with a knowing look. “Speaking of romance…” She trails off expectantly.

“Ooh, I heard something was in the air.” Alicia beams. “How’s it going with Ash?”

My good mood crashes down again.

“It isn’t,” I answer, then quickly change the subject. “Did you try some of the lavender? I know it’s unexpected, but the flavor is so subtle. And the pale purple could work great with your colors.”

“Not so fast.” Alicia looks confused. “What happened?”

“I thought it was going so well!” Juliet exclaims.

I pause, reluctant. Alicia is his future-sister-in-law, Brit’s brother is with Ash’s sister… Suddenly, all this small-town connection seems too much. I don’t want to say anything against him; that’s never been my style.

“It’s fine,” I say instead. “It just didn’t work out.”

Juliet frowns. “But you were so happy the other day.”

“It turns out we’re just not a good match.” I try to keep it vague, even with the hurt still aching in my chest. “He’s focused on his business right now. It’s OK!” I lie again, seeing their concerned expressions. “Some things just aren’t meant to be.”

There’s an awkward pause.

“Well, either way, I hope you can still be a part of the wedding,” Alicia declares brightly. “Because now I’ve tasted these cakes, nothing else will do.”

“My pleasure.” I try to smile.

Brit sits back and looks around the gardens. “And what you’ve done here with the B&B is amazing. I almost want to check in myself for a vacation.”

“I know, right?” Juliet agrees. “It’s just so perfect, everything that makes Beachwood Bay special all in one place.”

But not for long.

Sadness wells up again, so I cover by bolting to my feet. “Who’s ready for the next round?” I ask brightly. “I’ll go get them now.”

I hurry back inside before my emotions give me away. It just all seems so futile: the work I put in making this place the perfect beach vacation retreat, and more than that, the happy years Nana spent right here. She wanted me to have this place because she saw something in me, a future I hadn’t even glimpsed for myself. And now I’m here, making that vision a reality, feeling happier and more at home than I ever have before I can’t bear the thought of giving up.

What would I even do? Go back to New York, and try to restart my legal career again—knowing all the while that it’s not where I belong?

No.

There has to be a way to stop Ash and his hotel. The permits aren’t final, there’s still some time left. But how do I fight a slick corporation that has all that time and money and experience behind them? Those artist renderings of the development were so luxurious and impressive, there’s no way the B&B can compete with that!

But maybe I don’t…

I pause, remembering what Juliet just said. Rose Cottage is everything that makes Beachwood Bay the town it is today: small, homey, and run by somebody who actually cares. Ash thinks he can waltz in and get the town to rubber stamp whatever plans he likes, but what if somebody reminds them about the history and heritage of the town? People don’t come here for room service and pool cabanas, they visit year after year because things are just the same as when they were kids: the same sandy streets and quaint stores and sleepy afternoons on the beach.

Maybe if I can convince the town that Rose Cottage is worth saving, they’ll think twice about the hotel, after all.

My determination grows. I look around the kitchen, at the tupperware containers full of my freshly-baked goods. I’m glad now that I went so crazy turning out batches of muffins and scones in my stress. Because a full stomach is one sure-fire way to get someone on your team, and I don’t have a minute to lose.

Ash is used to getting his way, but not this time.