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“Do you know this woman?” Melanie asked.

“Kind of. She came by my store the day it opened and she’s gone to some of my other clients and offered them lower prices, too. I just can’t figure her out.”

“What do you mean?”

“The reason I opened The Liquor Box was because there were no liquor stores in our area. After I opened, all of a sudden this woman from Spec’s comes around and tries to sell to the same people I’m selling to. Why didn’t Spec’s try to get their business before?”

“I think I may know why,” Krista said. “We had a nice talk after she realized we weren’t going to buy from her. She is Spec’s top sales rep in the area and is trying to add new accounts. She’s hoping to be in charge of all the sales in the metroplex. It’s some kind of promotion.”

“Maybe she’s expanded into your area because no one from Spec’s had tried to before. She’s very engaging,” Melanie said. “Have you talked with her?”

Cory smiled. “We had a conversation at one of my favorite bars. She was trying to get their business. I thought we were friendly, but then right after that I saw her at my gym’s volleyball practice and she didn’t want anything to do with me.”

“I can’t believe that. No one is more charming than you!” Krista said with a grin.

“That’s because you love me.”

“Maybe you need to meet her out here,” Melanie said. “You know this place is magical.”

Cory chuckled. “It certainly was for CeCe and her girlfriend, Alexis.”

“Those two are so cute!” Krista exclaimed.

“They are, but I don’t want Vi to be my girlfriend.”

“Why not?”

Cory gave them both a confused look.

“She’s beautiful. You have a lot in common,” Krista said. She turned to Melanie. “Imagine the two of them. Cory with that blond hair and Vi with those dark features. It’s quite a striking contrast.”

“What!”

“Bring her out here. Let Lovers Landing work its magic,” Melanie said.

Cory shook her head. “How about I try to get her to have a conversation with me? Or better yet, maybe she’ll get that promotion and leave my area.”

“You don't want her to do that. You’re just starting this friendly competition.”

“Friendly competition?”

“Isn’t that what this is?” Melanie said. “You compete for liquor sales and you compete at volleyball. Just imagine if you were on the same team.”

An idea began to form in the back of Cory’s mind.

“It’s obvious neither one of you like to lose,” Krista pointed out.

“We don’t. You’ve given me a lot to think about, but I’d better get going,” Cory said.

“You and Vi are welcome here anytime. Remember that,” Melanie said with a wink.

Cory chuckled and gave them both a hug. “See you next time.”

She got back in her pickup and drove down to the edge of the water. Cory got out and listened to the water lap against the shore for a few moments. There was some reason Vi was being so distant and she intended to find out.

Was this some kind of competition or did Vi need those accounts for her promotion? Cory had been in sales for a long time and she understood how it worked in the corporate setting. That’s one reason she’d wanted to open her own store. She wanted to maintain relationships with her clients, not just sell to them and then move up the ladder to another position.

What was really going on with Vi Valdez? And why did Cory care? She didn’t want Vi selling to her customers, but she knew deep down there was more to it. If she was as charming as her friends said then surely she could get this woman to talk to her again.