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“There’s a rumor going around the business community that you two plan to sell Mags’ Desserts.”

Boom.

“More specifically, that you are looking for a buyer to step in and handle additional expansion.” Harlan continued, clearly impressed with his ability to choke the life out of a room. “Someone who would take over the running of the business, make the decisions, pay you a fair amount of money, of course, then become your partner. Senior partner.”

Celia stopped moving. Mouth hanging open, cup tilted.

Gram’s face turned red as she prepared to explode.

I sat there hating Harlan.

“Naturally, I was skeptical. Clearly, you would have brought something like that to me before taking it to others, especially firms out of state.” He stopped to take another sip of tea.

Well, crap. He knew. This jackass had figured out my pitch problem or dug around and made an educated guess. No way did Jackson fill him in. Jackson wouldn’t do that. He could berigid and overly certain he was right on every issue, even a tad unbending, but he wouldn’t pretend to work with me while selling me out.

This was all Harlan. He looked too sure. Too proud of his bullshit. And... wait. What had Brock said during our last heated meeting? Something about neutralizing Jackson and the legal end of the deal. That couldn’t mean... but... I looked at Harlan’s smug face and knew my fear was correct. Brock and Harlan. I’d rather take my chances and eat a shovelful of turmeric than deal with those two together.

Celia shook her head. “We didn’t go to you or anyone else because we have no intention of selling.”

“Where did you hear this nonsense?” Gram sounded spitting mad. “People should be ashamed of themselves for telling these sorts of lies.”

Harlan glanced at me again. “I’m trying to remember exactly who told me.”

Get out in front of this. An offensive strike. It was a little late but my one chance. “I think—”

“I got a call.” Harlan set his cup down again and waved off Celia when she went to refill it. “See, I’m the man in North Carolina who outsiders go to with proposals like these. I have a reputation for assisting in deals that would benefit the state and, frankly, in persuading outsiders to look elsewhere if the deals are a detriment to the people who shape local interests.”

Talk, talk, talk. So many words and all of them aimed at telling us how important he was. His ego needed its own chair at the table.

He kept right on yapping. “It’s true this isn’t my exact areaof expertise, but it’s related due to the sale implications. I can connect like-minded successful business professionals and also clear some of the regulatory hurdles and paperwork requirements. I know the players. And, as you would expect, the people who run the state like to keep the money and businesses in the state.”

The room spun. The round and round made the kitchen smear into this hazy blur. Dizzy. Nauseated. Pissed off. I managed to be all three at once.

“Take your expertise in whatever you’re an expert at and go somewhere else. A sale is not happening.” Gram made that sound like an order.

“It’s okay.” Celia rested a hand on Gram’s arm but kept her focus on Harlan. “Again, we’re not interested.”

Harlan nodded before looking at me. “What do you think, Kasey?”

That he should leave. Get in his fancy car and go back to his fancy house or fancy club.

I went with an answer that didn’t involve stuffing his head in a toilet. “Gram and Celia are in charge. If they say they’re not selling, you should drop it.”

Gram pointed at the table, drumming her fingertip into the wood. “And tell your crusty-suited friends to keep their hands off my business.”

“Mags, it’s okay.” Celia gave Gram’s arm a squeeze. “This is a misunderstanding. Harlan can see that.”

“Sounds like I received some faulty information.” Without warning or touching his pie, he stood up. “I’ll look into the rumors and report back. It’s important that you know who’s trying to undermine you.”

Trip him!The tempting message shouted in my head.

Celia gave him a tight smile. The kind that silently saidget out. “We would appreciate that.”

“People have some nerve.” Gram talked to the room in general. She didn’t aim the words. She didn’t have to.

Score one for Harlan. He got exactly the reaction he wanted. He put me on notice without showing his full hand. He let Celia and Mags know something was brewing. If my heartbeat ever returned to normal, I might be able to stop shaking. Anger gripped me and my brain begged to lash out.

“Kasey?” Harlan had the nerve to smile at me again. Like we were dear friends, which we weren’t, dear or otherwise. “Why don’t you walk me out?”