When We Met

Taryn and the mayor read over the slogans together. All That Glitters. Town with a 24-K Heart. Go Gold Or Go Home. Join the Rush. Home of the Happily Ever After. A Destination for Romance.

“I like that one,” the mayor said, pointing at the card that read Fool’s Gold—A Destination for Romance.

“It’s close to the old slogan,” Taryn said. “But without the second meaning. We can work up some artwork if you’d like.”

“Let me take it to the city council first,” Mayor Marsha told her. “I’m hoping to get some kind of consensus before you put any more effort into this. Believe me, that may take a while.”

“Not a problem. Just let me know when you’re ready to move forward or if you need more suggestions.” Although she wasn’t looking forward to another session with Kenny and Sam. Lord knows what they would come up with if given the chance.

“I will. You were very thorough. Thank you.”

Taryn started to reach for her tote, then drew back. “I have something else, if you have a minute.”

“Of course.”

Taryn sat at the large conference table, then wished she’d stayed standing. “I have a problem....” She paused. “Not a problem, exactly. I want to do something and I’m not sure how to go about it.”

The mayor’s expression softened. “You’ll need to give me a few more details if you want my help.”

Sure. Because that made sense. Taryn twisted her hands together. Larissa would know exactly what to say, she thought glumly. Larissa would have already fixed the problem and found homes for kittens and a hedgehog by now.

“Do you know Bailey Voss and her daughter, Chloe?”

“Yes. It was very sad when Bailey’s husband died. Things didn’t turn out the way they’d planned.”

“Bailey is looking to get back into the workforce. I made a comment about an interview suit. From the look on her face, I’m guessing she doesn’t have one and maybe can’t afford one. I want to give her one, but I don’t know how.”

The mayor looked at her for several seconds, then nodded. “Yes, I can see that is a dilemma.” She stood. “Good luck with that.”

Taryn blinked. “Excuse me? You don’t have a suggestion? Isn’t that what you do? Give directions and solve problems?”

Mayor Marsha smiled. “I’m not a traffic officer, my dear. And while I have been known to step in from time to time, in this case, I believe you will do better than I ever could. There must be some way you can get sweet Bailey a suit. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

When it was obvious the mayor was going to walk out of the room, Taryn rose. “That’s it?”

“For now. I’m planning a trip. Did you hear? I’m off to New Zealand in a few weeks. Very exciting.” The mayor started for the conference room doorway. “Good luck with your project.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“I DON’T GET IT,” Taryn said as she poured soil into a large planter. There were already rocks at the bottom to help with drainage. “Mayor Marsha helps people. Everyone knows that. But she just blew me off. Do you think she’s mad at me or something?”

Angel put down the two small trees he’d carried in from his SUV and walked over to her. He put his hands on her h*ps and turned her until she faced him. “She’s not mad. She likes you a lot. She’s being her normal meddling self.”

Taryn felt her lower lip wanting to thrust out in something alarmingly close to a pout. “But she’s not meddling. That’s my point.”

“Sure she is. You’re right. She’s usually in the middle of things and this time she’s stepping back. Which has you in a tizzy. Catching people off guard is her style. She’s manipulating the situation as much as if she told you what to do.”

Taryn hadn’t thought of it that way. She leaned into Angel. “Maybe you’re right,” she said, letting the warmth and strength of his body comfort her. “I’ve been running in mental circles since I left her office.”

“She loves that.” He moved his hands to her face and cupped her cheeks. “You’ll figure out the best way to get Bailey a suit.”

“I hope so. It just would have been easier if the mayor had offered a solid suggestion.” She smiled at him. “Okay, I’m officially done with the topic.”

“You don’t have to be.”

“We have trees to plant.”

They’d spent the morning at Plants for the Planet where Taryn had chosen three different Japanese maple trees. They were all small enough to be happy in containers, which made them perfect for her small patio. Now they had to be moved into their new container homes.

After sliding the containers into place, Angel had put rocks in the bottom to help with drainage. Now she held the trees steady while he cut away the plastic. Once he’d tossed them aside, he freed the roots before lifting the trees into place.

“You’re good at this,” she told him. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a plant guy.”

“I know things.”

A casual enough answer, but she saw the tension in his shoulders and knew he was keeping his face deliberately away from her. She picked up the bag of soil and poured it in. As he smoothed it into place, she spoke.

“It’s okay,” she said quietly. “To talk about your life with Marie and Marcus.”

Angel straightened and wiped his hands on his jeans. “It was a long time ago.”

“But it’s still a part of who you are. I understand. If Marie hadn’t died, you wouldn’t be here right now. We wouldn’t have met. Your feelings about her have nothing to do with me.”

His gray gaze settled on her face. “That sounds rational. But this isn’t a rational subject.”

“Why not? We’re together because she’s gone. You don’t have to pretend you don’t want it to be different. That you don’t miss her.”

Ignoring the fact that neither of them wanted a commitment, even if either of them was more traditional and wanted it all, she would still have to tend with a ghost in his past. A first love. It wasn’t about being loved more or fighting memories. Loving Marie had made him who he was. She was a part of him, just as Taryn’s past was a part of her.

If they were on a different course, she would still be okay with what had come before. Because the alternative was to fight what she could never change.

“I don’t want you to pretend you don’t love her,” Taryn told him. “I like that you do. It makes you one of the good guys.”

He pulled her close again. This time he hung on so tight she found it difficult to catch her breath. But that was okay—because when it came to Angel, she’d discovered she liked the feeling that he would never let go.

* * *

TARYN STARED AT the columns of numbers. She hated going over the books of a business. It was one of the reasons she was so fond of Sam. He protected her from that at Score. But he wasn’t involved in her partnership at Paper Moon, and as he was still sulking because she insisted he plan the upcoming company party with Dellina, and he didn’t want to, she had been pretty sure he would refuse any request for a favor.

Which was why she was stuck hunched over Isabel’s desk, reviewing monthly statements and fighting a tension headache. She scanned the receipts for the construction, then checked the receivables and payables.

“You’re coming in slightly under budget on the remodeling,” she said. “Is this all the receipts for fixtures?”

Isabel sat opposite her. “Yes. I got a great deal on some racks I wanted. Technically they were used but they never got out of the box. The people who bought them had a store that went under before it opened.”

“A lesson to us all.”

They’d decided to keep the two sides of the business distinctly different. Brides shopping for wedding gowns wanted the special experience of soft lighting, romantic music and gigantic dressing rooms. On the “regular” retail side, the design was more edgy, the music more rock and there was a whole lot less tulle.

Taryn straightened. “You’re doing great.” She opened her tote and pulled out a check that represented the final installment of her hundred-thousand-dollar investment. With it, Isabel would buy inventory and hire extra staff for both sides.

Isabel took the check and sighed. “We’re really doing this.”

“We are.” Taryn smiled at her. “I thought a lot about what you said about Madeline. Bringing her into the business. I think that’s a good idea. As you said, make her manager of the wedding gown side of things. Giving her skin in the game will make her even more motivated. Although you’re going to have to warn her that initially there won’t be any profits for her to share in.”

Taryn opened a folder and handed Isabel a copy of the chart she’d made. It showed Madeline starting with an initial grant of 2 percent of the business, then over the next five years working her way to a 10 percent ownership. Taryn’s hundred grand had given her a 40 percent stake. Her suggestion was that by the end of the five years the 10 percent would be divided according to the percentage of their stake. So Isabel would own 54 percent, Taryn would own 36 percent and Madeline would have the remaining 10 percent.

“At that point, we’ll reevaluate,” Taryn said. “You especially. In five years you’ll want to start buying me out.”

Isabel’s eyes widened. “You’ll leave the partnership?”

“I don’t have to, but you’ll be ready to be on your own. Trust me—having a partner looking over your shoulder is going to get old.”

“Maybe, but right now I appreciate your business acumen.”

Isabel wrote her a receipt for the check, then walked to a small refrigerator and pulled out a diet soda for each of them.

“Any aftereffects from our lunch a few days ago?” she asked.

Taryn grinned. “I was buzzed into the evening, that’s for sure. But I’m fine today.” She took the soda and popped the top. “Consuelo was surprising.”

Isabel sat across from her. “Panicked, you mean? Their relationship is so unexpected. I mean Kent’s a great guy, but the way Consuelo looks at him, you’d swear he has secret superpowers.”

“Maybe for her, he does,” Taryn murmured. “It’s nice that she’s so crazy in love. Or just crazy.”

“He’s a math teacher.” Isabel shook her head. “I don’t get it, but on the bright side, it does prove there is someone for everyone.”

Taryn took a sip of her soda and refused to speculate on the obvious. Because it didn’t matter if there was someone for her. She wasn’t interested.

“It’s fun that she’s trying so hard to be conventional,” she said instead. “I don’t know a lot about her past, but I’m guessing this is the first time she’s tried to be like everyone else.”

“You’re right,” Isabel told her. “I swear, Ford is terrified of her.”

“Angel won’t admit to fear,” Taryn said with a grin, “but he gives her a wide berth. Which only makes me like her more. Yet it all comes down to pleasing Kent and wanting to fit in. I know guys will change when they get in a relationship, but it seems that women change more. Or are willing to. Maybe I’m generalizing.”

“I don’t think so.” Isabel leaned toward her. “As a gender, we want to bond. The connection is important. Even for a woman like Consuelo. I don’t know everything about her past, but I get the impression that she’s always wanted to go her own way.”

“Or maybe she’s just had to,” Taryn murmured, thinking people were often defined by what they’d been through.

She rose and walked over to the single rack of clothes Isabel had brought in. They were for her to try on. All beautiful, she thought, fingering the fabric. Custom-made by up-and-coming designers. They would go for anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a thousand.

Once the store was open, Isabel would carry a range of prices. While she would never be competing with a discount store, not every garment would be expensive. They were hoping to cash in on the tourists spending time and money in town. Her business plan also included selling to residents.

Still, could someone like Bailey afford to shop here?

“Fool’s Gold needs a consignment store,” she said absently.

Behind her, Isabel made a choking sound.

“Wh-what? Are you trying to put me out of business before I even get opened?”

Taryn glanced at Isabel and saw she was staring wide-eyed.

Taryn immediately held up both hands. “Sorry. I’m not trying to frighten you. I was just thinking there are people who can’t afford a thousand-dollar handbag.”

“So they don’t need to buy one. A consignment store? Tell me you’re not going to invest in one.”

“I’m not.” Taryn returned to the desk. “Seriously, it’s okay. I was just thinking...” She sighed. “There’s this woman I met. She’s a single mom and she’s about to enter the job market and from what I can tell she doesn’t really have an interview suit. I’m not sure she can afford it. I don’t know why that bugs me, but it does. And it’s not like I can give her one. She’s not going to take it. So I was thinking a consignment store would be the answer.”

Isabel’s breathing returned to normal. “Why didn’t you say so? You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Which was not my goal for many reasons.” She thought about Bailey. “I don’t know what to do. I went to Mayor Marsha and she basically blew me off. She said she was sure I’d figure out a solution.”