Sugar on Top (17 page)

“Is that why you came?” she asked, hating how much his answer mattered. “Because Brett asked you to?”

“I came because I wanted to be a good friend.” Cal looked at her lips and released a breath before sitting back. “Which is what I’m going to do.”

T
he Falcon’s Nest won’t work, because the location has already been decided,” Ms. Kitty said, marching toward the easel at the front of the room with every intention of placing her presentation right over Glory’s. “The pageant, its Cotillion, and the Sugar Pull will be held at the Duncan Plantation.”

“Actually, the Duncan Plantation is
one
option on the table,” Glory said, positioning herself between the easel and the older woman. When Kitty just stood there, poster board in hand, Glory pointed to the other side of the room. “Which you can set on that easel. Over there. And if you’d like to present
your
option to the room, you’ll need to consult with Spencer, our new, uh, operations specialist, so she can put you on the agenda.”

“Agenda?”

Spencer held up a clipboard from the back of the room, and Kitty’s face puckered as though she’d just sucked on a lemon.

“This is a trick. You knew your idea would be shot down so you’re abusing your power to get your own way, to the detriment of this community and all of those young girls.”

“I think the girls will benefit from a new, more neutral location,” Glory said confidently.

“Harder to cheat when you’re not drawing the racing lines, isn’t it, Kitty?” Etta Jayne said, and the rest of the Pitt Crew Mafia applauded. They took up the entire front row, their matching
TIME TO CLEAN OUT THE LITTERBOX
T-shirts proudly on display.

“Neutral location?” Kitty scoffed as though no one else in the room was concerned with the reigning Sugar Pull champ using the official racing track as her practice grounds. “I have been a respected member of this committee for over fifty years, so you and your grandmother’s little stunt won’t work. We will not be kowtowed.”

Cal wasn’t so sure. Not a single strand of pearls clacked in Kitty’s support. In fact, it didn’t appear as though Kitty was going to get her usual grandstand from the Sugar Peaches. It could have been the way Charlotte had taken a strategic seat next to Glory when she’d waltzed through the doors, or because Spencer was shooting daggers at anyone who looked ready to stand in opposition of Glory, while sharpening her pocket knife. But Cal had a feeling that everyone was waiting to see who would come out on top before aligning themselves—and so far it was Glory, one, Kitty, zip.

“Actually, I am just following the bylaws,” Glory countered, and Cal grinned.

Kitty had come here with an agenda, and she wasn’t ashamed to bulldoze right over Glory to do it. But Glory wasn’t backing down.

“Since when do I have to be put on an agenda to speak on behalf of the Sugar Peaches?”

“Since it’s time to scoop out the poop,” Hattie said and a loud
whoop
sounded from the front row.

Glory silenced them with a single look. It was impressive. “Since the current regent of the Sugar Peaches is here to speak on their behalf.”

Charlotte stood and smoothed down her skirt, and it was as though the entire room held its breath, waiting to see how the reigning queen would weigh in.

“When Glory called me last week, asking for my input on the pageant, I knew that she had the best interest of the community and the Sugar Peaches in mind. I was so impressed with her willingness to listen and learn about our traditions, and her desire to introduce a new group of girls to the pageant, I immediately signed on.”

“Just the rumor of a location change has doubled the entries for the pageant,” Etta Jayne pointed out.

“Doubled,” Jelly Lou repeated loud enough for the room to hear, her cheeks two full circles of pride. “Did you hear that, Kitty? My girl doubled the entries in her first week in office.”

Glory toed the floor with the tip of her boots at the praise, something she seemed to do when she was flustered.

Which was why, in his best co-chair voice, he tore his eyes off the tan skin peeking out of those sexy boots and explained, “In order to give every girl who is interested the opportunity to go out for Miss Peach and the scholarship, we decided to extend the deadline until next Wednesday.”

Kitty looked at Cal, and for the first time in his life, the woman looked nervous. “But double the girls means double the people and I’ve already ordered the doilies.”

“Well, you may need to unorder them because according to the book here”—Cal held up the Harvest Fest Bylaws—“any and all decisions about the Harvest Fest, including location and decorations for the events, have to be presented to the council by the chair.”

“Or co-chair, as it may be, and then approved by a majority vote,” Glory said and smiled. Cal smiled back. How could he not? She was looking at him like he’d just made her day—and he wanted to make her day.

“You have my vote,” Charlotte said. “Not only do I move that we relocate the Harvest Fest to the Sugar Country Club and extend the deadline for the Miss Peach applications, but I would be honored to head up the Harvest Decoration Committee.”

“We already have a Harvest Decoration Committee. I have the list right here,” Kitty said, flapping a sheet of paper wildly. “And you’re on it!”

“Well, if we’re all sharing our lists, I got one, too,” Jelly Lou said in her best Sunday school voice, angelic smile in place. “Your name’s on the top of it, Kitty.”

“And it ain’t no decorating committee list,” Etta Jayne added.

Charlotte ignored this. “Actually, I’m withdrawing my position from your committee and offering to head up Glory’s.”

Any hope Kitty had of winning by reputation just flew out the window. Kitty’s power came from money and position, Charlotte’s came from money, position,
and
a good dose of hard-earned respect.

“It is because of my family’s generosity that there is even a scholarship,” Kitty said, clutching her poster board to her chest and facing the room. “If the group decides to go in
another
direction, I might just have to pull my support this year.”

The room fell silent—except for Glory, who sucked in a panicked breath beside Cal. Because by
support
, every person in that room knew she was talking about money.

The Duncans’ endowment went a long way toward making the Miss Peach Pageant so successful. In fact, her donation accounted for over half the total budget and scholarship allotment. If she bailed, the pageant could be canceled.

“We don’t want that,” Glory said gently. “You and your family have done so much for this community so of course we want your input, but we also want to give girls who would never have considered entering the pageant a chance to compete.”

“Last time we pulled in a different demographic of contestant, well, I’m sure you don’t want to go there.” Only Kitty had gone there—and it was a direct hit.

Not much got past Glory’s tough girl exterior—at least that was the vibe she gave off.

Over the years, Cal had witnessed her stare down a group of jack-ass jocks, not to mention break up some of the nastiest bar fights he’d ever seen, never once showing an ounce of fear. But one backhanded comment from Kitty, and just like in the courtroom the other day, Glory’s whole body seemed to sink in on itself. Her smile became strained and her eyes went big, like a deer in the headlights, as she looked around the room to find her grandmother, to make sure that the comment hadn’t upset her. And damn if that didn’t bring out every protective instinct Cal had.

“Which is why we’d understand if you decided to pull your support,” he said, standing.

“But then you’d have no scholarship program. Are you willing to deny those girls a chance to go to college?” Kitty threatened and it was a good enough reason to back down. Only he couldn’t, because Brett was right; he was a good guy. And right now he needed to be Glory’s good guy.

“Since the girls you are referring to will go to college regardless of the scholarship, I don’t think they’re worried,” Cal argued but Glory was opening her mouth, ready to back down so that the scholarship wouldn’t be lost. He wasn’t going to let that happen. “As for the other girls, they will be fine since McGraw Construction is willing to match dollar for dollar whatever is lost, should you decide to pull your support.”

“What?” Glory said, her big green eyes going even bigger. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know,” he said. “But I want to help. The Harvest Fest benefits the whole town; I think it’s time that the rest of the businesses pitch in. However, my offer only applies if the application deadline is extended to include Sugar High students who didn’t feel comfortable applying before.”

“You can count on the Saddle Rack to help out,” Etta Jayne offered and three other local business owners pledged their support.

It was as though all of the air was sucked out of the room, and people were weighing in what was happening. Then Charlotte said, “Now who would like to sign up on my decoration committee?” and an explosion of hands went up.

Ms. Kitty had lost the battle and it was going to be around town before the meeting let out. But that wasn’t what had Cal smiling. Nope, that honor went to Glory and the genuine surprise on her face.

The room was a flurry of activity, so no one noticed when she walked up to him, stopping inches from his boots and toeing at the floor again.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, having a hard time looking him in the eye. “For lunch and for helping me with my proposal and for, well, everything. I don’t even know what to say, except thanks.”

“That getting easier?” he asked.

“Admitting that you’re a good guy? Nah, I always knew it.” She looked up and let loose a big smile and,
yup
, he’d made her day all right.

And the damn thing was, he was suddenly interested in what she’d look like if he made her world.

Cal was doing his best not to think about Glory, but even shoveling gravel in the hot-ass Georgia heat wasn’t helping.

He had spent all day yesterday digging the trench around the perimeter of the foundation for the drain tile, and hours that morning laying the pipe, and he was damn tired. So tired that thinking should be impossible. But that look she’d given him was going to kill him.

Literally.

He was so busy trying not to think about that look or what it meant, he didn’t pay attention to the loud beeping of the dump truck until it was too late. The bed lifted right as he looked up, covering the worksite with two tons of sand and, because he was standing downwind, covering him with two tons’ worth of sand dust.

Coughing and smacking the gray powder off his jeans, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He looked at the screen and answered.

“Hey, Brett,” he shouted into the mouthpiece. “What’s going on?”

“We’ve got a problem.”

“I must have heard you wrong.” Cal walked toward his truck, putting distance between himself and the noise of the site. “I thought you said
we
have a problem, which couldn’t be right, since I am officially retired in the helping your ass out department.”

“You might want to rethink that statement since I am currently sitting outside your bathroom door, trying to bribe Payton into coming out.” Brett let out a sigh that was utterly defeated and Cal felt his head begin to ache. “I’ve tried everything, man. Ice cream, crying it out with her favorite uncle, that stupid dance movie she loves. I even offered to buy her a pony.”

“A pony?” The last thing he needed was one more life to be responsible for.

“Don’t worry, she opened the door, screamed she wasn’t a baby, and slammed it shut.”

Cal pinched the bridge of his nose and released a breath, a small cloud of dust expelling. “Let me guess, Tawny isn’t there.”

“Nope. I guess she is stuck in traffic or running late.” More like she didn’t leave on time. “Payton called, asking for Joie. I told her Joie wasn’t home; she said her life was over and hung up. When I got here, she was already barricaded in the bathroom, and unless you’re willing to let me put a sweet-sixteen convertible on the table, I suggest you get home. And bring your tools. At this point we might have to pick the lock.”

“Ah, shit.” Cal took in the three trucks lined up and waiting for his signal to deliver the supplies, the two crews working hard to get the pipes laid and covered in time for the drain tile inspection on Monday, and his foreman who was waving him over—for what he assumed was another unforeseen setback.

Walking off the site now meant that there was a good chance they wouldn’t be ready for inspection come Monday. Which could set them back. Big time.

But Payton was his number one. Always.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” Cal said, heading over to talk to the foreman. An ear-piercing scream came through the phone, followed by several “Ohmygods!” and hysterical sobbing. “Make that five.”

And just when Cal thought his day couldn’t get any worse, Brett added, “And Cal, be ready. There’s a dress.”

He stopped, everything inside him telling him not to ask. “What kind of dress?”

“The shop delivered it about ten minutes ago. It’s blue and poofy and pageanty,” Brett said, and the asshole had the nerve to chuckle. “It doesn’t have any sleeves. I guess she expects to hold it up with her…you know.”

Yeah, Cal knew. Just like he knew he’d been played. Only this time Tawny had pulled Payton into the game.

“A dress, Tawny,” Cal barked into his bluetooth as he pulled out onto the highway. “What the fuck? We talked about this and decided she was too young.”

“No, Cal.” Her voice filled the cab of his truck and grated like biting on tinfoil. “You decided she was too young. I started in pageants when I was three and loved it.”

She was also pregnant and married by twenty—and not in that order. Cal loved his life as a single dad, wouldn’t change it for the world, but he wanted more for Payton. He wanted her to understand how intelligent and talented she was, and that, sure she was pretty, but she had so much more to offer the world than her looks.

“Since we both need to be in agreement, and I’m not, the pageant isn’t happening.”

“For God’s sake, she’s entering a pageant, not applying at Hooters.” Cal had been to a few pageants, knew what they wore, and didn’t see much of a difference. “She is so excited about this, Cal. We have been talking about it and planning all summer.”