Page 14 of Mail-Order Avis (A Mail-Order Mystery #3)

Fourteen

A vis stood in stunned silence, her lips tingling from Reed’s kiss. Her knees felt weak, and her eyes were still closed when he stepped back.

When she opened them, she found him watching her with a tender smile.

“Too much?”

She blinked a few times. “Um, no,” she whispered. In fact, it wasn’t enough if she were being honest. But she wasn’t about to tell him that.

Her heart was beating so fast she was sure he could hear it. Her fingers twisted her apron, and she hadn’t realized she was still holding onto his shoulder until she glanced up and saw her other hand there. She quickly let go.

He chuckled low in his throat. “I didn’t mean to startle you, honey.”

“You didn’t.” Avis swallowed hard. “You just…surprised me, that’s all.”

The smile he gave her was soft, his voice even more so. “That was my first step, you know. All mayors have a plan.”

A nervous laugh escaped her. “What do you mean, your first step?”

Reed reached for her hand and took it gently. “A first step toward something more.”

Her eyes widened. Oh heavens. Was he saying what she thought he was? Her legs suddenly forgot how to be legs. She started to dip, and Reed quickly grabbed her by the arms and steadied her.

“Easy there,” he said with a chuckle.

She looked at his hands, then up at him. “Is this where I say something witty, or are we past that point?”

He laughed. “You’re utterly charming, Avis. You’ve never needed to be witty with me.” He gave her arms a gentle squeeze. “You just needed to be you, and that’s more than enough.”

Her throat tightened. She was used to being the practical one, the one with the plans and the backup plans. But she hadn’t planned for this. She hadn’t planned for him. Thinking about it didn’t count in her book, though, she had been doing some of that.

“Reed, I don’t want to be the distraction. That’s what they wanted me to be…”

His face fell. “Yes. That is what they wanted.” He stepped closer. “But, Avis, darling, you’ve become the reason I’m seeing things clearly.”

A tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it. “That’s not fair.”

He frowned. “What’s not fair?”

“That you say things like that…then smile at me like you mean them.”

His smile faded, but not the warmth in his eyes. “Ah, honey, I do mean them.”

She looked away as her breath caught. “I came here expecting to marry. I was prepared for that. But what I didn’t expect was…” Her voice faltered. “The hope this place has given me.” She looked into his eyes. “The hope you’ve given me.”

He shifted his weight, visibly moved. “Avis…hope can sneak up on a man, too.”

She gazed at him, heart nearly bursting. “I know you didn’t choose me,” she whispered. “Not really.”

“Honey, I’m choosing you now. ” He pulled her closer and kissed her again.

Her knees buckled completely this time, and he had to hold her against his chest. When he broke the kiss, he chuckled as he steadied her. “Too much again?”

She laughed, tears threatening to spill. “Maybe just a little.”

“Then I’ll go slow,” he promised, brushing her cheek with his knuckles. “Step one was the kiss.”

“And step two?” she asked, breathless.

“Courting. Naturally.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “Properly, this time, with no distractions, and no outside schemes.”

She let out a breathy laugh. “Is there a step three?”

“Oh yeah,” he said, his voice low. He leaned in just enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath. “You’ll see. But you’re not getting away from me, Avis Prescott. Not now. Not ever.”

Avis didn’t know if she should kiss him again or run into the café and start screaming in delight. Instead, she nodded, lips trembling with a smile. “All right, Mr. Barclay. Step two it is.”

Somewhere deep inside, she suspected she already knew what step three was. And honestly? She didn’t mind one bit.

Reed gave her a wide smile. “I was hoping you’d say that. After all, I need you to agree with my plan in order to see it through.”

She laughed and caught the admiration in his eyes. No man had ever looked at her the way Reed was looking at her now. His gaze made her feel special. Cherished. And, dare she say… desirable?

“We should go back inside, don’t you think?” she said, breathless again. “Goodness! What if Hattie and Cora Belle have been watching through the window?!”

“Then I suspect Hattie will expect us to go straight to step three without delay.” He grinned. “But I’ve been keeping an eye out. Haven’t seen either of their faces plastered against the glass. I think we’re safe.”

Avis giggled and placed a hand over her chest. “Goodness gracious, what am I to do now? I’ll be worthless the rest of the day.”

He pulled her into his arms and gave her a hug. “No, you won’t,” he whispered into her hair. “You’ll be the same wonderful, hardworking, fabulous cook I know.”

He stepped back and let her go. “Now, I need to speak with Samuel and go over some things with him. You’ll be all right this afternoon without me?”

She nodded. “I should be. Just as soon as I calm down a bit.”

“I guess this means I’d better not kiss you again,” he teased.

“I believe so, yes.”

She watched him go, her heart still racing, but in the best way. Reed Barclay wanted to court her. She wanted to run back inside and shout it through the kitchen but didn’t dare. Some things were meant to be kept close to the heart for a while. And this? This was definitely one of those things.

Reed walked to the church with a happy smile on his face. He’d kissed Avis, completed steps one and two of his recent plan, and now just had to fix the town.

Since Samuel wanted to show him the rest of the documents in the filing cabinet, among others, Reed figured if there was something shady going on, this was his best chance of catching it.

Samuel met him at the door with a cup of coffee and a curious glance. “Is it just me, or do you look exceedingly happy?”

“It’s not just you,” Reed said, clapping him on the back. “I just kissed Avis.” He winked. “More than once.”

Samuel’s jaw dropped. “Reed! That’s downright scandalous. Did you ask her to marry you?”

“Not yet. But I plan to.” He eyed the cup in Samuel’s hand. “Is that for me?” He took it before Samuel could answer and took a sip. “Ah, that’s good.” He handed the cup back and started down the aisle whistling. Even he had to admit he was lighter on his feet as he headed for the church office.

Samuel followed him, and they stepped inside. Reed closed the door behind them. The last thing he wanted was to be interrupted while searching for something unscrupulous.

“What are you doing?” Samuel asked, eyeing the closed door.

“I have something to discuss with you, and I don’t want us disturbed.”

Samuel went around the desk and sat. “Your wedding, perhaps?”

“In time.” Reed took the chair opposite him. “What did you plan on showing me today?”

Samuel motioned to the wooden filing cabinet. “The rest of drawer number two. It’s full of land filings, pending claims, and a few things marked confidential.”

Reed raised a brow. “Confidential?”

“Yes. Documents Cyrus left.” Samuel opened the bottom drawer and began pulling files out, laying them across the desk.

Reed picked up the first file and opened it. “You gave me the confidential one first?”

Samuel laughed. “No. It just happened to be in front. Those belong to Cyrus.”

Reed nodded and kept flipping. Something caught his eye. A file markedC.V. Holdings.One page looked like a transfer of ownership for the café. “Samuel, what’s this?” He handed it across the desk.

Samuel took it, brows furrowing. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen this before.”

Reed’s heart kicked in his chest. He reached back into the file and pulled out the next sheet. A property deed. “According to this,” he said. “The café and bakery were signed over to another company. This one called Hastings and Filmore, and filed the week after Walter Penrose left.”

Samuel’s eyes went wide. “That’s impossible.” He took the deed and skimmed it. “But I’m afraid you’re right. How strange. Why wouldn’t Cyrus say something?”

“Maybe because it wasn’t Cyrus,” Reed said. He studied the signature. He’d seen Cyrus’s name on other documents, especially the town meeting notes. Cyrus always scribbled in the margins.

He handed the deed to Samuel. “That’s not Cyrus Van Cleet’s signature.”

Samuel studied it. “You’re right. It’s not.” He gave Reed a dry look. “Cyrus signed the original donation paperwork for the church, the post office and the café. This is clearly a forgery.”

“And would’ve been filed by Beeks,” Reed said. “He must’ve hoped no one would notice, especially since these were Cyrus’s private files.”

“Right. And he figured none of us would look.”

“Until I came to town,” Reed added. He set the deed on the desk. “Beeks filed this quietly. No meetings. No notice. Just tucked it in with the rest and hoped no one would find it.”

Samuel drummed his fingers on the desk. “The DeWitts wanted to manage the café until the deed processed, but then Avis showed up instead. And we let her have it. Lola and Lyle were taking too long.”

“Right, because they thought they could. They figured it wouldn’t look as suspicious if they bided their time.”

“Exactly. And now that Avis has made the café and bakery a success, the DeWitts, along with Beeks, will try to sabotage her.”

“They’ve already started.” Reed’s jaw tightened. “Lola and Lyle were in the café the other day, complaining to anyone who would listen.”

Samuel leaned back and ran a hand through his hair. “Poor Avis.”

“Not at all. She’s handling it like a champ.”

“They’ll still try to discredit her somehow,” Samuel said.

“Of course they will.” Reed smiled. “In fact, I’m counting on it. That way, we can catch them red-handed.”

“How?”

Reed held up the deed and waved it. “By asking them about this, or better yet, asking Avis if she’d like tobuythe café and bakery from Cyrus. That’ll light a fire under Beeks. He might hightail it out of town.”

Samuel smiled. “And we’ll send Sheriff Cole after him.”

“Exactly,” Reed said. “Justice served, the Fiddler’s Gap way.”

Samuel’s smile lingered. “So, these are the culprits behind Avis’ arrival?”

“They are. I paid a visit to Beeks earlier today. He let it slip that Lola and Lyle have a relative in Chicago.”

“Ohhh.” Samuel nodded slowly. “So they hoped that if you had a mail-order bride to deal with, and were distracted long enough, Beeks could file this without scrutiny. For all we know, hehas . ”

“I don’t think so,” Reed said. “He was counting on Lyle and Lola to take over the café, thenhe’d push this through while no one was looking. This was their backup plan.”

“Probably was. But now you’ve been in town long enough that everyone knows you’ll be our first mayor. It would be too much trouble for Lyle or Beeks to run against you. Besides, no one would vote for them.”

“They don’t have the background,” Reed agreed. “And I appreciate you vouching for my character.”

Samuel smiled. “You’ve earned it. So…what are you going to do now?”

“First, I’m going to see Avis. And then I’m going to call on Milton Beeks. All joking aside, I need to take care of this now.”

“Do you want Aubrey to go with you? Once he finds out about this, he’ll want to arrest Beeks on the spot.”

“That’s probably a good idea. Oh, and when I’m done…”

Samuel tilted his head. “Yes?”

Reed grinned. “We’ll talk about my wedding.” He tipped his hat and walked out of the church.