Embraceable You (Irish Hearts Series) by Mary Tate Engels Page A

that."
    "She has her rentals. Uh, had them. I guess they're yours now."
    "What rentals?"
    "Why, everybody in this building rents from her. There are three other shops besides ours. A plumber’s office where he takes calls and makes appointments. Good business to have in this town. There's an art gallery, closed most of the time. Opens in summer. Art's like writing. You need a day job for the lean times. At the far end is a kayak and canoe shop that provides summer rentals. Not much kayaking in the snow, though." He chuckled.
    Siena looked around in surprise. She hadn’t even considered who owned this building. "Aunt Addie owns it? The whole thing?"
    "Ya’, she does. Uh, did. Now you, I suppose. There's talk of tearing it all down."
    Siena felt a surge of renewed interest. "Well then, the rents kept her going. Sort of. That’s an interesting surprise."
    "Likewise, she kept us going. Remember, that’s just winter sales. She made more, much more, in the summer. We all do. That Addie, your great-aunt, she was a fine woman. We’re all sorry to lose her. You too, I’ll bet."
    Siena nodded her appreciation for his clumsy expression of sympathy. "So, tell me George. What’s in the building down at the far end? No signs or anything."
    "Aw, the place is empty. And going downhill fast. At one time it was a boat repair shop, then a restaurant, then something else I forgot. Now, just storage."
    Siena walked to the window, then turned around and asked, "What will you do? If I sell out and they tear this building down?"
    "I'd probably move on up the coast. I can write from anywhere but I like to be where water and land meet. And to sink into the long cold winters with nothing better to do than make up weird stories to scare the residents."
    "But this is just your day job, right? I assume you've got a successful business with your books."
    "Aye, finally. It'll do for folks who like zombies and demons and whatever else keeps me up nights."
    "Oh." She folded her arms, grinned. "You're inspired here in Haven's Point?"
    "Here, life is slow, and nobody bothers me much. I think they're afraid I'll put them in one of my books. Addie was one of my few friends in town, which is why I miss her so much. But, she was a friend to everyone. Didn’t matter who they were."
    Siena walked across the room. "I must admit Haven’s Point has a special beauty. But it takes more than appearances to keep a town going."
    "Ya’, that it does."
    "The winters are dismal. Streets are empty. Stores closed." She turned around. "Is Zach doing a good job as mayor? What do you think about him?"
    George tugged on his beard. "He has potential. But I suspect he battles the Fairchild's with every innovative idea he has."
    "The Fairchild's? Who are they?"
    " Claire’s relatives, in-laws by marriage. Or out-laws, depending on how you view them." He paused to chuckle at his own joke. "Old Walt and his son, Rich have run this town for so long, they can’t let go. Walt is Claire’s husband's cousin."
    "Where does Zach fit in? If they run the place, how did he get this job as mayor?"
    "Why, he saved Rich’s daughter’s life when she fell through the ice last year. Princess Monique, I call her. She was raised wealthy and expecting more, now she's bound to find her way into one of my books in some form. She took a liking to Zach and that put him in with the family, if you know what I mean."
    "I heard about the rescue. And now they’re engaged?" Siena walked back to the counter and feigned a casual interest in Zach’s personal life.
    "Well, what do you expect? She’s blond and beautiful. Got tons of money. He’s not dead. I’m sure he’ll be hooked by summer’s end if Monique has anything to do about it." George was quiet for a moment. "On the plus side, Zach managed to get some federal monies to improve our schools. Roads are next. And he built that gym across the street. People like that."
    Siena leaned on the counter. "He said he would work with me on Aunt