again. Not a good sign. “Nevertheless, we need business owners like yourselves to donate to the cause and help us keep history alive in Pleasure.”
Jolene actually laughed and Emily wished she hadn’t. “Why, my dear Mr. Emerson,” Jolene began, “I do believe we’re doing just that. Wasn’t it the Donovan sisters who founded our fair town?”
He nodded.
“And weren’t those dear women the same Donovan sisters who opened the town’s first bawdy house?”
His jaw clenched and Emily could swear she heard the sound of teeth grinding.
“Be that as it may,” he said, “we at the Preservation Society have a vision for the town and it—”
“Doesn’t match ours,” Jolene purred. “So while we appreciate you coming all the way over here, we’re not ready to make that donation just yet.”
When he stood there staring at Jolene, Emily took his arm and turned him around so he was facing the hallway that led to the stairs. “We’ll be in touch when we’re ready to write that check. Y’all have a great day.”
“But—”
“Emily will walk you downstairs, Frank, in case you’ve forgotten the way out.”
Emily wished Jolene would escort Frank out of their place but knew that would only end in disaster. Jolene couldn’t keep her mouth shut around a royal pain in the ass like Frank. “It’s right this way.” He grudgingly followed behind her.
By the time they’d reached the bottom step, she could hear voices. “Now who do you suppose that could that be?”
Frank actually smiled… a real smile. “Ah, I’ve asked my colleagues, Anne Marie Gonzales, President of Pleasure’s Women’s Club, and Janet Gorman, President of the Rotary Club, to meet me here.”
Emily groaned aloud. “And you did that because?”
“My dear Ms. Langley, nonprofit organizations such as ours depend upon the generosity of those who have lucrative businesses to make donations that will keep our coffers filled, so that we can continue to do our good works.”
He turned and smiled, hand extended toward the blonde. “Janet, good of you to join us.” Turning toward the black-haired woman, his smile broadened. “Anne Marie, I knew I could count on you.”
The women stared openly at Emily. Lord, she wasn’t ready to face the three of them, especially alone. It was one thing to have to deal with Frank, but these two uptight, bitchy women would just put a crimp in her day. She walked over to the door she’d left open and hollered up the stairs. “Jolene!”
When her cousin answered, she called out, “We got us some visitors, come on down.”
She had the satisfaction of seeing the twin looks of disbelief on the ladies’ faces that neither one had been quick enough to hide when she’d shouted for her cousin. She knew they didn’t like her and Jolene, and it was no secret the women didn’t think she or her cousin were ladylike, but she didn’t really care. She’d met their type before. All showy and good intentions on the outside, but that did not match the vinegary center that made them miserable to have to deal with.
Jolene rushed through the door and, before Emily could warn her, made a face. “Well, well,” she drawled. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
“Be nice, Jolene,” Emily urged.
“Maybe,” Jolene whispered. “Depends on what these two want,” she said out loud.
Affronted, the women looked at one another, and Anne Marie drew in a deep breath, threatening to burst the pearl buttons on her cashmere sweater set before launching into a boring monologue about the history of their town and how donations to their clubs would be the only way their organizations would be able to preserve the finest aspects of their town.
“That’s all well and good, Anne Marie,” Jolene said quietly, “but what exactly do you intend to do with the funds we turn over to you?”
Stumped, the woman looked helplessly at Janet.
Jolene turned toward her as well. “Janet? How do you intend to spend the donation I
Jolene actually laughed and Emily wished she hadn’t. “Why, my dear Mr. Emerson,” Jolene began, “I do believe we’re doing just that. Wasn’t it the Donovan sisters who founded our fair town?”
He nodded.
“And weren’t those dear women the same Donovan sisters who opened the town’s first bawdy house?”
His jaw clenched and Emily could swear she heard the sound of teeth grinding.
“Be that as it may,” he said, “we at the Preservation Society have a vision for the town and it—”
“Doesn’t match ours,” Jolene purred. “So while we appreciate you coming all the way over here, we’re not ready to make that donation just yet.”
When he stood there staring at Jolene, Emily took his arm and turned him around so he was facing the hallway that led to the stairs. “We’ll be in touch when we’re ready to write that check. Y’all have a great day.”
“But—”
“Emily will walk you downstairs, Frank, in case you’ve forgotten the way out.”
Emily wished Jolene would escort Frank out of their place but knew that would only end in disaster. Jolene couldn’t keep her mouth shut around a royal pain in the ass like Frank. “It’s right this way.” He grudgingly followed behind her.
By the time they’d reached the bottom step, she could hear voices. “Now who do you suppose that could that be?”
Frank actually smiled… a real smile. “Ah, I’ve asked my colleagues, Anne Marie Gonzales, President of Pleasure’s Women’s Club, and Janet Gorman, President of the Rotary Club, to meet me here.”
Emily groaned aloud. “And you did that because?”
“My dear Ms. Langley, nonprofit organizations such as ours depend upon the generosity of those who have lucrative businesses to make donations that will keep our coffers filled, so that we can continue to do our good works.”
He turned and smiled, hand extended toward the blonde. “Janet, good of you to join us.” Turning toward the black-haired woman, his smile broadened. “Anne Marie, I knew I could count on you.”
The women stared openly at Emily. Lord, she wasn’t ready to face the three of them, especially alone. It was one thing to have to deal with Frank, but these two uptight, bitchy women would just put a crimp in her day. She walked over to the door she’d left open and hollered up the stairs. “Jolene!”
When her cousin answered, she called out, “We got us some visitors, come on down.”
She had the satisfaction of seeing the twin looks of disbelief on the ladies’ faces that neither one had been quick enough to hide when she’d shouted for her cousin. She knew they didn’t like her and Jolene, and it was no secret the women didn’t think she or her cousin were ladylike, but she didn’t really care. She’d met their type before. All showy and good intentions on the outside, but that did not match the vinegary center that made them miserable to have to deal with.
Jolene rushed through the door and, before Emily could warn her, made a face. “Well, well,” she drawled. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
“Be nice, Jolene,” Emily urged.
“Maybe,” Jolene whispered. “Depends on what these two want,” she said out loud.
Affronted, the women looked at one another, and Anne Marie drew in a deep breath, threatening to burst the pearl buttons on her cashmere sweater set before launching into a boring monologue about the history of their town and how donations to their clubs would be the only way their organizations would be able to preserve the finest aspects of their town.
“That’s all well and good, Anne Marie,” Jolene said quietly, “but what exactly do you intend to do with the funds we turn over to you?”
Stumped, the woman looked helplessly at Janet.
Jolene turned toward her as well. “Janet? How do you intend to spend the donation I
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