frown. “For your information, I invited Mr. Brighton here to help us find investors.” He pulled out a chair and eased onto the seat. “In case you hadn’t noticed, things around here are starting to dry up and fall apart.” Grabbing one of the fresh tortilla chips from a basket already on the table, he plunged it in the salsa and hoisted it to his mouth, the fresh taste of roasted tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro exploding on his tongue.
“Investors?” Otis Thacker scowled. “We don’t need city people getting their sticky fingers all over our town.”
Leave it to Otis to be the first naysayer. “Then what’re we going to do?” He leaned back for one of the Grannies to pour his coffee, its aroma wafting to his nose.
“Don’t know, but we need to solve it from the inside.” Otis growled out the words in typical fashion.
J. C., who seldom offered an opinion about anything, spoke up. “Otis is right. The last thing we need is a group of outsiders telling us what to do.”
The buzz in the restaurant increased suddenly, and Steve glanced toward the door to see Mama Beth and her niece enter. All decked out in her citified finery, Dani chatted with several people at the front. He gave his head a shake. Someone needed to give that woman lessons on how to dress in Miller’s Creek.
Mama Beth made a bee-line for their table, her niece close behind. Dani shook each man’s hand, except his. He crossed his arms and moved a finger to rest under his nose as he studied her. She was quite the politician.
“Thanks for helping me yesterday, gentlemen. I appreciate all you did.” She handed out one of her brilliant smiles.
The men perked up, all speaking at once. “You’re welcome.”
“Ah, it was nothing.”
“Glad to be of help.”
What was wrong with them? Falling all over themselves like a bunch of coon-crazed hound dogs.
“Why don’t you ladies join us?” bellowed Coot. He hooked his thumbs under his suspenders while J.C. placed two chairs from a nearby table beside Steve.
Dani settled into the seat next to his and flashed a generous grin. “Hi.”
He leaned toward her. “Did you get caught up on your sleep?”
“Yes, thanks. Must be the fresh air.”
“Must be.” Just don’t get used to it, darlin’.
“Our mayor was just about to explain why he thinks we need to bring in outside investors to help Miller’s Creek.” Coot’s words echoed off the walls and directed everyone’s attention their way.
Steve placed his coffee cup back in the saucer. “Thanks, Coot, but we’ll save it for another time.”
“Why?” Otis scowled, his sagging jowls reminiscent of a bulldog.
“There are ladies present. I’m sure they’d rather talk about something else.”
Mama Beth wrinkled her forehead. “My goodness, Steve. What a chauvinistic thing to say.”
“I’d love to hear your ideas.” Dani popped a salsa-laden tortilla chip in her mouth with a crunch.
He cleared his throat and tried to ignore her. “I’m not trying to do anything against what the town wants. I just believe finding investors is our only feasible option. That’s why I’m planning a town hall meeting. I want everyone’s input.”
Heads nodded in agreement. He sipped his coffee in quiet victory.
“Why would you even consider bringing in people who are going to want things done their way?” Dani’s eyes bored into him. “There are other options you know.”
Coffee spewed from his mouth, the rich taste suddenly bitter. Who did she think she was? “Other options?” He reached for a napkin and machine-gunned his words. “Care to elaborate?”
“Have you checked into grants and corporate donations?”
Her lightning-speed response nailed him to the wall. Was she deliberately trying to make him look like a fool? Every person’s head rotated back toward him. “I’ve checked into several alternatives, Mrs. Davis.”
“Dani.” She spoke the word softly.
“Excuse me?”
“Dani, remember?” Her volume
“Investors?” Otis Thacker scowled. “We don’t need city people getting their sticky fingers all over our town.”
Leave it to Otis to be the first naysayer. “Then what’re we going to do?” He leaned back for one of the Grannies to pour his coffee, its aroma wafting to his nose.
“Don’t know, but we need to solve it from the inside.” Otis growled out the words in typical fashion.
J. C., who seldom offered an opinion about anything, spoke up. “Otis is right. The last thing we need is a group of outsiders telling us what to do.”
The buzz in the restaurant increased suddenly, and Steve glanced toward the door to see Mama Beth and her niece enter. All decked out in her citified finery, Dani chatted with several people at the front. He gave his head a shake. Someone needed to give that woman lessons on how to dress in Miller’s Creek.
Mama Beth made a bee-line for their table, her niece close behind. Dani shook each man’s hand, except his. He crossed his arms and moved a finger to rest under his nose as he studied her. She was quite the politician.
“Thanks for helping me yesterday, gentlemen. I appreciate all you did.” She handed out one of her brilliant smiles.
The men perked up, all speaking at once. “You’re welcome.”
“Ah, it was nothing.”
“Glad to be of help.”
What was wrong with them? Falling all over themselves like a bunch of coon-crazed hound dogs.
“Why don’t you ladies join us?” bellowed Coot. He hooked his thumbs under his suspenders while J.C. placed two chairs from a nearby table beside Steve.
Dani settled into the seat next to his and flashed a generous grin. “Hi.”
He leaned toward her. “Did you get caught up on your sleep?”
“Yes, thanks. Must be the fresh air.”
“Must be.” Just don’t get used to it, darlin’.
“Our mayor was just about to explain why he thinks we need to bring in outside investors to help Miller’s Creek.” Coot’s words echoed off the walls and directed everyone’s attention their way.
Steve placed his coffee cup back in the saucer. “Thanks, Coot, but we’ll save it for another time.”
“Why?” Otis scowled, his sagging jowls reminiscent of a bulldog.
“There are ladies present. I’m sure they’d rather talk about something else.”
Mama Beth wrinkled her forehead. “My goodness, Steve. What a chauvinistic thing to say.”
“I’d love to hear your ideas.” Dani popped a salsa-laden tortilla chip in her mouth with a crunch.
He cleared his throat and tried to ignore her. “I’m not trying to do anything against what the town wants. I just believe finding investors is our only feasible option. That’s why I’m planning a town hall meeting. I want everyone’s input.”
Heads nodded in agreement. He sipped his coffee in quiet victory.
“Why would you even consider bringing in people who are going to want things done their way?” Dani’s eyes bored into him. “There are other options you know.”
Coffee spewed from his mouth, the rich taste suddenly bitter. Who did she think she was? “Other options?” He reached for a napkin and machine-gunned his words. “Care to elaborate?”
“Have you checked into grants and corporate donations?”
Her lightning-speed response nailed him to the wall. Was she deliberately trying to make him look like a fool? Every person’s head rotated back toward him. “I’ve checked into several alternatives, Mrs. Davis.”
“Dani.” She spoke the word softly.
“Excuse me?”
“Dani, remember?” Her volume
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