The Pepper in the Gumbo (Men of Cane River #1)(59)

That was pretty clear and nothing that she hadn’t expected, but it was still hard to hear. “I understand,” she said and hung up the phone.

If Alice had ever wondered how Paul had gotten that building permit without it going through the board, she knew now. The application hadn’t followed the city bylaws. No matter what Paul had said, or what he’d been told, that store was being constructed without being properly approved.

The knowledge made her furious and hopeful at the same time. If she could prove it, she could stop it. Alice wiped her hands on her linen skirt and took a deep breath. She didn’t mind tangling with city hall. Authority figures had never bothered her. It was the thought of facing Paul after he discovered what she’d done.

Be fire. Alice held on to those words, repeating them to herself as she slipped out from behind her desk and paced the small front room. She needed to let her anger spark itself into something that would create change, not just let it smolder inside, growing hotter and more painful.

Jane Eyre came out from around a range and jumped into her lap. Alice buried her face in the short-haired tabby’s fur and tried not to cry. The kitty was quiet, loving, and kept to herself, but she had a sort of sixth sense for when Alice was upset.

“Thanks for the womanly commiseration,” she whispered. Alice took a tissue from her desk and wiped her eyes. She was sure what she was doing was the right thing, but her emotions were still a mess. But that was what happened when you fell for the man you’d promised to fight.

***

Alice walked out of city hall without feeling the joy she thought she would. She was taking action and not allowing some big corporation take over her beautiful city. She was standing up for a simpler way, an educated life of books and conversation, rather than mindless flashing TV screens. But even though she knew she was right, her stomach rolled with the realization of what she’d done. As much as wanted to believe she could separate Paul from his business, she couldn’t. She felt as if she’d just attacked a friend.

***

Alice looked up to see a blond man in a business suit and two technicians walking through her store’s front door. She felt sweat instantly appear on her forehead. Paul said he would call someone, but she hadn’t expected it so soon. And here she just returned from throwing a wrench into his building plans. She felt more than a twinge of guilt. She stood, brushing papers to the side and startling Van Winkle.

“Miss Alice Augustine? I’m Larson McGee. I own Cane River Home Security.” He held out a hand and Alice took it, hoping her palms weren’t sweaty.

“Paul said you needed a consultation. We were working down the street and I said I’d stop in on the way back. Did you want to set up a time to go over what we could offer you in terms of security for your business and home?”

Alice cleared her throat. Be fire. She needed to make decisions as quickly as possible so she wasn’t spending the whole night awake. “I’m free right now, if you are.”

Larson smiled. “Works for me. Why don’t you show us around and then we can talk about different packages.”

She stepped around Mr. Rochester who was giving the intruders a cold stare, and headed for the rare book room. “Let’s start here.”

***

Paul pushed open the door to By the Book and felt his mouth go dry at the sight of Alice. She stood up from her desk and turned, her dark eyes fixed on him. He took a second to admire her red silk top and pencil skirt, and then he forced his eyes upward.

Her expression wasn’t just surprise but dread. Paul paused halfway across the floor. Maybe she thought he’d become a stalker. They’d spent most of the day together yesterday and then emailed in the middle of the night. He certainly was showing up every time she turned around. “Hi, Alice. I’m sorry I didn’t call but I have something for Bix.”

“For Bix?” she asked. Her dark eyes flickered down to the small box he held in his hand.

A tall black cat leaped from the top of the range, landing gracefully in front of him. Paul managed not to jump out of his skin. “That’s Darcy, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” She frowned down at the cat who had taken up a position in front of her, green eyes unblinking. “He doesn’t usually come down here. Either he really likes you or he really doesn’t.”

He continued towards her and Darcy didn’t twitch a muscle. The two of them stood like soldiers at a guard station. “How will I know which it is?” He stopped a few feet away.

“You won’t.” Alice put a fist to one hip and winked. “We’re good Southerners. We know how to be hospitable.”

Maybe it was the saucy wink that got him but Paul stepped forward. “Mm-hmm,” he said, letting his voice drop to a level that was just between them. “I think I can tell the difference. Not always, but every now and then it’s pretty clear.”

Her face went pink and he couldn’t help a little smile. Man, she was beautiful. “Will he be in today?”

“Who?” Alice asked.

He lifted the e-reader box. “Bix. I’d like to show him how this operates.”

“Oh, right. Actually,” she looked at her watch, “he should be here any moment. He and Charlie both come in on Monday afternoons. If you want to just…” She looked around the small space and the few comfortable chairs in corners of the bookstore.