california christmas dreams (13 page)

“You’ll be fine, Merry. You should take a look at the Prada boot line. I’m really lusting after this one pair. And since I’ll be in Rome, I think I’ll check them out.”

Merry grinned. No wonder her mother wanted to go to Rome. “Have fun.”

“Do you want me to call you back at midnight to make sure you’re not brooding anymore?”

“No, thank you. I’m really not going to make it to midnight. I need to be up early tomorrow.”

“You get a good night’s sleep. I’ll call you from Rome when I get there.”

“I’m so jealous,” Merry said.

“I know, dear.” Her mother disconnected.

Merry went back to concentrating on her driving.

* * *

Connor Bentley was the youngest mayor ever elected to office in Riverside. He was tall and slender with dark brown eyes and an easy smile. He was suave and sophisticated, and watching him smile at Merry made Jake furious. And he didn’t know why.

John Walters shook hands with the mayor as Jake approached them.

“Connor,” John said, “you remember my son, Jake.”

Jake shook the mayor’s hand. “What brings you all the way out here?”

“Just checking on the progress. I’m planning a family event for the city employees and I wanted to talk to John about hosting it.” Connor glanced around. “I’m happy to see this old place get a new lease on life. It’s a landmark here in Riverside.”

Merry grinned at Connor. “I’ve heard about this community’s attachment to the park.”

“We’re not the mouse house, but we do just fine,” John said. “And I credit Merry here for her brilliant ideas and putting everything together the way she is.”

“I can see that.” Connor’s gaze rested on Merry for a moment too long and Jake wanted to put his arm around her to let Connor know who the competition was.

Merry grinned. “Do you want a tour?”

“I sure do.”

“We’re still fixing the windstorm damage from last week, but everything is back where it belongs, and the displays are now firmly anchored to the ground.”

John followed while Merry started to give an overview of what they had been doing. Jake found himself trailing along behind them. Merry talked in an animated manner as she explained about the retail area and what was going into the different stores.

As he watched them, Jake made a decision. He wasn’t going to let this slick politico show him up. Merry opened the door to one of the retail stores, and her sister stepped out. As Merry introduced Connor to Noelle, Jake pulled his phone of his pocket and dialed Billy Johnson. Billy Johnson was an original member of the boy band The Brothers J. Billy and his brothers had been looking for the perfect venue to get back together. Jake suddenly knew they’d be perfect for the grand opening.

Connor and Noelle chatted and then he stepped into her store. Jake stood outside, waiting for Billy to answer his phone. Jake had been their financial manager for nearly five years.

Billy answered. “Jake, good to hear from you.”

In the background Jake heard a dog barking and a baby crying. He explained about the grand opening and the park and what he needed. When he finished, Billy was silent for a moment. “Sounds good. I’m in. I’ll get with my brothers and call you back in twenty.”

Jake disconnected, keeping his sense of triumph under control. Connor was flirting with Noelle as he looked at her display cases. Noelle appeared completely immune to Connor’s charm. She showed him her glassware and he seemed impressed.

“We’re putting in a bakery, specializing in Russian baked goods, on the corner by the ticket booths,” Merry explained.

“The scent of baked goods will entice every person who walks in,” Connor said.

And encourage people to buy more. The wonderful scents of cinnamon, sugar and yeast culminating in the perfect bun always primed the pump, so to speak. “We have a number of merchants who’ve already signed on,” John said, “but we still have four empty stores.”

“I’ll put the word out and see what I can find for you,” Connor said in a cordial tone. He winked at Merry, who smiled back.

His phone rang and Jake answered it. “Billy, I thought you said twenty minutes.”

“I didn’t even have to pitch your idea. My bros are all for it.”

Jake sighed in relief. “Not much in the way of pay.”

“We’ll work it out,” Billy said. “The real money is in merchandise anyway.”

“I’m sure we can arrange something,” Jake responded. They talked a few more minutes, then Jake promised to get more info to Billy and disconnected.

He wanted to rush right over to announce The Brothers J would be performing at the park but hesitated, watching Merry show Connor an empty store still waiting for an occupant. He didn’t like the way Connor seemed to hover over her or the way his hand brushed against her arm. He definitely didn’t like the way Connor looked at her as though she were his for the taking.

Jake’s father proudly showed Connor the display in the center courtyard. A twenty-foot Christmas tree laden with large plastic ornaments in a rainbow of colors shared space with hundreds of plastic bows. Small plastic elves were hidden in it, peeking out from unexpected places. Merry was planning a contest for the children who visited the park on opening day. Find all the elves and receive a free visit next year. When lit, the tree could be seen from the road.

A movement caught the corner of his eye, and he glanced back to find Noelle standing in the doorway of her shop watching him, her eyes slightly narrowed, lips pursed and head tilted to one side.

“The mayor is really hot, isn’t he?” she said in a low, purring voice, her gaze darting back and forth between Connor and Jake as though comparing them.

How was he supposed to respond to a statement like that? “Not my type.” He turned toward her, noting the amusement in her eyes.

“He’s definitely Merry’s type.” She watched Merry for a second, her eyes showing her love for her sister.

“Merry would never be taken in by that glitzy...uh, slick...” He couldn’t finish the sentence without revealing how he was starting to feel about Merry. And that feeling was spiraling out of control. He was a man who liked control because he dealt with craziness every day. Women didn’t make him crazy, but something about Merry had caught him and wouldn’t let go. He liked his women to be professional. He tended toward lawyers, bankers and even a college professor who’d taught logic. They were all safe and, like him, kept control of their lives. Merry was too volatile, too...artsy. He had the feeling that as soon as the Christmas season was over, she’d be leveraging herself into another job, no matter how she protested that she enjoyed being right where she was.

Jake had always had a conflicting set of feelings for the park. He’d practically grown up here, but he didn’t have the same passion as his father. He couldn’t imagine anyone else feeling the same passion.

“You don’t look happy,” Noelle said. “And I can’t seem to figure out why. The park is going well. Your clients are still crazy. What could be the problem?”

He shook his head. He finally got it. She was messing with his head. “You’re a sly one, aren’t you?”

She tilted her head up. “I have no idea what you mean.”

He studied her. “What’s your game?”

She looked thoughtful as she stepped back into the store. He followed her into the coolness. In the background, the air conditioner hummed slightly. A stack of boxes sat on the counter waiting to be opened. Several of the displays had already been filled with an assortment of animals. The sun streamed through the window and caught the clear glass animals flashing a rainbow of colors on the walls.

“I don’t have any game.” She picked up a bear figurine and held it up to catch the sun.

“I don’t believe you. I know game and I know gamers.” He had plenty of clients who played games with themselves, each other and the public that bought what they had to offer.

She replaced the clear glass bear on the display and stood in the center of the room, studying him. A cunning smile curled her lips. “You like my sister, don’t you?”

“She’s okay. She’s nice.” And kissable. Where had that thought come from?

“Look at you trying to play it all cool.”

He didn’t answer.

“Why haven’t you asked her out on another date?”

“I don’t think I’m her style.” Their dates hadn’t exactly been stellar moments in his life. Though he had enjoyed their dinner at the brewpub.

Noelle laughed. “I know what you think your style is.”

“And that is?”

“You like women who don’t burden you with their problems,” she replied. She walked behind the counter and opened a box, her face thoughtful. “You probably date women who don’t have a lot of time or make too many demands because they have so many burdens on their time.” She held her finger to her chin. “Professional women like bankers. Probably lawyers, too. Women who are too busy developing their careers to put time into having a relationship. I understand, because you have a very stressful job.”

“I like my job.” He flushed at the accuracy of her description.

“I didn’t say you didn’t. I said you like women who don’t burden you with wanting a relationship.”

“You don’t know me.”

“Yes, I do. You’re all about keeping your options open. I can understand you. I like keeping my options open, too.”

Jake wasn’t certain he liked the way the conversation was going. He didn’t like being psychoanalyzed, especially by Noelle. He sort of liked her, but in a different way from her sister. Merry stirred his senses. Noelle was more like a kid sister.

“Noelle Alcott, you’re all right.” He turned and walked out the door into the hot afternoon sun, shading his eyes as he searched out Merry, who was still standing in the courtyard with the mayor hovering around her.

Chapter 8

M
erry loved showing the mayor around the park. He said all the right things in all the right places as he admired each display and the way the water park had been turned into Santa’s castle. A thrill of excitement coursed through her. Though they were a month away from opening, she could finally see things coming together.

“Miss Alcott,” Connor said, “you have certainly turned this park into something I never thought I’d see.”

“Worried I’d sell out to the developers, were you?” John asked.

Connor didn’t respond for a second. Merry could tell he was probably weighing the taxes a new housing development and strip mall would generate compared to what the park brought in. While he formulated an answer, Jake walked up, the wind ruffling his hair. He had a smug, satisfied look on his face.

“I have news,” Jake said.

Merry gave him a questioning look. “What?”

“Do you remember The Brothers J?”

She nodded. “Boy band in the early nineties. Great dance music. Totally hot.”

“I’ve tentatively gotten them to agree to help launch the opening weekend.”

Merry’s mouth fell open. “You did?” Her brain rapidly went into planning mode. “Wow. How did you manage that?”

He shrugged. “Just a phone call.”

She didn’t have to rely on her own contacts after all. “Opening day is going to be awesome.” She paused to think. “But before I get really excited, is this coming out of my budget?”

“No. We haven’t worked out all the details, but you don’t have to worry about your budget.”

Connor started laughing. “I remember them. My older sister was crazy for that group. Had posters all over her bedroom. I’ll have to let her know. She’ll be here.”

“Will you be with her?” Merry asked.

“Will you?”

She smiled happily. “Of course.” She glanced at Jake to find him tightening his jaw. “Thank you, Jake. You’ve just made opening weekend the best.”

“I aim to please.”

“I am duly impressed.” And that was one thing on her to-do list she didn’t have to do.

Connor’s cell phone rang, and he took it out of his pocket. “Sorry, I have to take this. I’ll see you tonight at seven, Merry.” He turned and walked away.

“I have to get back to work,” John said. “Send me the particulars on the band and I’ll get the info to the marketing department. They’re going to have to work fast.”

“You have a date with him?” Jake watched the mayor head swiftly toward the parking lot, the phone still to his ear.

“He talked me into giving him a shot at letting us have a permanent historical display here in the park. It seems the historical museum on Market has lost its lease and the owners want to make into a retail store now that the downtown area is really starting to turn around.”

“Does this include dinner?”

“I’m always up for a free meal,” she retorted. “You’re making all kinds of weird faces. What’s up with that?”

His face stilled as she watched him, wondering why he suddenly seemed agitated.

“I’m not making weird faces,” he objected.

“Okay, but your eye is twitching still.” What was bothering him?

“He’s a slick guy. You watch out for him.”

Her eyebrows rose. “What do you mean?”

“You’re on his agenda.”

“You make it sound like he’s all about seducing me.”

“I went to high school with him. Trust me, he had all the girls dancing to his tune.”

“Well, I’m not the kind of woman who is easily impressed. So stop worrying about me. This is just a business dinner.”

“If it’s just a business dinner, can I come?”

“No,” Merry said. “I don’t need a babysitter, though I do thank you for offering.” She was just having a business meeting over dinner. Why would Jake react like this? As if he was jealous or something. He had nothing to be jealous about, since they had nothing going on between them. Men! She didn’t need this crap. What she needed was to get back to work.

She stalked to her office without another word, her back stiff and her brain in a whirl.

She slammed the door to her office and went to sit in her chair, glaring at her computer. The cool hum of the air conditioner settled her nerves, though her thoughts wouldn’t stop. What the hell was wrong with Jake? They’d gone out on exactly two dates in which nothing really happened except for an almost kiss. And now he acted as though she belonged to him. Where did she go from here?