Page 30 of Sandbar Summer (Summer Cottage #3)

Chapter Nineteen

Libby

By seven the next night, it was clear. Irish Hills was the place to be.

Well, it was the place to be in southern Michigan, at least, on this particular evening.

Goldie had thrown her a curve ball when she invited half of Nashville to town, but in the end, they’d pulled it off. It was the kind of boost Libby had been struggling to find.

Goldie was the catalyst, even though she couldn’t be the draw. Her old friend had figured out a way to help them, even if it wasn’t with a Film Festival or Goldie Hayes Fan weekend.

They’d pulled together everything at lightning speed. Libby hadn’t slept since Goldie told her that Nashville was paying a visit to Irish Hills, but that was fine. She’d sleep after they pulled this off!

Traffic had started to pick up at noon, with a few recognizable country music celebrities, but they appeared with entourages and groupies.

A slow trickle of tourists turned into a steady stream.

By the evening, Irish Hills was literally hopping.

People were strolling on the streets, checking out the car show, and taking selfies in the gazebo.

Aunt Emma’s Attic, the pop-up funky garage sale her aunt had concocted, looked like a real store.

J.J. had turned into a checkout clerk for a day.

People oohed and aahed over the furniture, vintage clothes, and bobs and bits Emma and her band of senior citizens had on display.

Libby had a vague concern Aunt Emma was going to sell something valuable for a few bucks, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Aunt Emma’s Attic wasn’t a permanent solution for the space, but it was enough to charm Courtney Caring.

Courtney had a song climbing the charts and a huge Instagram following.

She bought a hat, posted an adorable selfie with it, and tagged their location on the map.

This was tourist town gold! Take that, Chef Ellston and Covert Pier.

The impromptu car show saw Luke Brush, country music’s best bad boy, test driving a vintage Mustang down the main street while his girlfriend posted it to TikTok.

The best moment came that night, as Hope served a meal that got raves from the members of Burgundy Four and River Ann Flowers. They all tweeted pictures, and soon, Hope’s Table was trending on Twitter.

Libby was sitting at the bar at Hope’s Table with Keith. She was fairly certain it was the first time she’d sat down in over a day. He lifted his draft beer to her glass of red wine.

“Irish Hills is looking positively trendy.”

“Ha, well, there’s a lot of duct tape involved.”

“Still, no one here seems to notice that. I heard that River Ann chick talking about filming a music video here.”

Libby clasped her hands together to try to contain the excitement that was bubbling up inside her.

“You’re cute when you’re tickled pink.” Keith leaned forward and gave her a peck on her forehead.

“Thanks. I am tickled. I just wonder about Goldie. She’s my one worry right now.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure she knows that she should stay. I think she has one foot out the door back to L.A.”

“If she’s as smart as she seems, and if Joe turns on that charm, I’d say you don’t have much to worry about.”

Libby hoped that was true. While she wanted to enjoy the success, she did worry. That was the price you paid for caring about people: worry.

Hopefully, the Sandbar Sisters showed Goldie that no matter what was happening in her life, she had a safe place here.

Libby still had businesses to lure to fill the vacant buildings. She had plans for the buildings across the street that they hadn’t touched yet. And there was the Lake View Dance Pavilion. She had so much to do!

But thankfully, all of a sudden, Irish Hills was looking a lot more appealing. It was practically cool. That was all Goldie. Her connections had made this happen.

“Can I buy your next rounds?” A man in jeans and a t-shirt who looked familiar stood between her and Keith. Familiar but different. Who in the…?

Whoa.

It was Stirling Stone. She’d only ever seen him clad in his business suit. She’d never seen him look so casual.

Libby noticed Keith’s normally laid-back demeanor shift. Her enemy was his enemy, the clear message.

“Whoa, no thousand-dollar suit? Slumming today?”

“I am not. I’m here to concede.”

“Concede?”

“I’m done trying to turn Irish Hills into a Stirling Stone Development property. You won at just about every turn. I know when I’m beaten.”

Libby had to shake her head to be sure she heard right. It had to be another ploy of his.

“I’m assuming this is your latest tactic. Maybe one of your subsidiaries is going to start pushing to buy up the properties?”

“No, if I buy something, I buy something. I’m not hiding that. But if you want to call Mayor Eastland, you’ll see Grant Mills has submitted the paperwork to withdraw the request for a second eminent domain hearing.”

“You got Archeologie Outlet to select Covert Pier. You won that one, not me.”

“That was a tiny thing. Look around. You won. I mean, the lead singer of Burgundy Four is about to propose to River Ann Daisy or whatever her name is, at that table in the corner.”

“River Ann Flowers,” Libby corrected.

Keith, Libby, and Stirling looked over to the corner table and saw that Stirling Stone was correct. Drake was on one knee. River Ann Flowers’ army of girlfriends were taking videos with their phones. It was a whole thing. It was all happening in Irish Hills, the place to be!

“Yes! Yes!”

The restaurant erupted in applause as River Ann Flowers gushed over her new ring.

Libby turned back to Stirling Stone. She narrowed her eyes. What was his game?

“No stopping it now. You have turned Irish Hills into its own little tourist town, not my idea of a resort. But like I said, I know when I’m beaten.”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

Stirling Stone shrugged, and then he smiled. The man’s teeth were so white they almost glowed.

“This was fun, sparring with you. It’s been eye opening to be surprised, and Irish Hills has surprised me at every turn.”

“And you’re not going to try to takeover because we’re surprising?”

“I see what you’ve fostered here, they want to do things your way. They want to save the town too, you just helped them realize it. That’s a lot to fight against.”

Libby had the feeling she was sticking her hand outside of a shark cage. The smile, the concession, the affable demeanor; these were all designed to make her let her guard down. Stirling Stone was ready, willing, and able to bite off her hand.

“What about Covert Pier? Maybe that’s your game, siphon every idea we have over to them?” Libby’s mind was racing. What was he trying to do by telling her she won?

“I have an investment with Chef Ellston, but that’s for my Vegas hotel. Covert Pier is booming on its own. No agenda. I promise.”

Libby was in fight mode. She was not ready to relax or celebrate that they had vanquished Stirling Stone.

“So, no hearing request? I will call Mayor Eastland.”

“Actually, I think he’s over there, having a drink with the drummer from Burgundy Four.”

Libby looked over, and sure enough, the mayor was, in fact, partying with the band.

Stirling Stone, billionaire, dropped cash on the bar for their drinks. He nodded to Keith and Libby and then left as quickly as he’d appeared. Libby was unsettled. Her mind, always churning with ideas to fend off Stone, didn’t switch gears so easily.

Surely, he had some ulterior motive. This had to be a trick. Still, maybe they had done it. Maybe they had caused just enough trouble to be too much trouble for the billionaire.

“What do you know about that?” Libby asked Keith.

“I’m not surprised in the least.”

“Not surprised that one of the most powerful men in the country just called uncle?”

“Only a fool gets between Libby Quinn and whatever it is she’s got her heart set on.”

“Yeah, well, then, don’t be a fool.” Libby leaned in and kissed Keith on the cheek.

“Yes, ma’am.”