Page 13 of Sweet Summertide (Christmas Cove #4)

The last thing Holly wanted to do was run into Teddy after being caught gold-handed outside his storefront.

There was no way he wasn’t mad at her for the chalk stunt, and she did not enjoy feeling guilty that she had had some fun at his expense—even though they were embroiled in a competition.

Holly spent the day justifying her actions in her mind and staying away from Main Street until she had to go in.

At some point, she needed to work on her wall mural before getting drinks with Millie and some of her friends.

She had wrongly assumed her visit would go unnoticed, but Teddy had been standing in his doorway when she skipped down the sidewalk.

Upon seeing her, he dumped a bucket of dirty water down the street drain and retreated inside his shop.

Thank goodness their interaction had been nearly non-existent.

She could get her painting done and get to a much more enjoyable event.

Girls’ night was just the thing to get her mind off Teddy Black.

Holly hugged a chilled wine bottle and threaded the stems of three more empty glasses between her fingers.

She had been in the middle of telling her story to the other women when the rosé had run out.

Holly had offered to get more supplies from the kitchen while their hostess, America, greeted a few late arrivals to the party.

“Holly,” America said and waved her over. “I want you to meet some of my friends from the Cove. This is Jenny, Thandie, and this is my beautiful mother, Vivian.”

“It’s a pleasure.” Holly took America’s mom’s hands. “You own the boutique on Main, right?”

“That’s right. Call me Vi, please.”

“I love your store. It’s become one of my favorite places to shop for goodies and girly dresses.

” Holly’s excitement was evident in her wide smile and rapid speech.

She felt a bit like a fangirl and twirled around, showing off her newest purchase: a pretty green frock with delicate chiffon ruffles that cascaded from the hips to her calf.

“It suits you perfectly,” Vi said.

“Thanks. I can’t wait for my business to open in a couple weeks.

” Patience wasn’t ever her strong suit, but what’s to be expected from a girl who was given everything her heart desired as a child.

Patience and planning were personal skills she needed to improve on if she were going to succeed as a business owner, and shooting to win the grant money was providing the focus she desperately needed and motivate her through the home-stretch.

“Alfonso tells me that your creamery is coming along well,” a tall woman with dark hair said. “I’m Thandie. I work with Alfonso. That guy can’t keep anything to himself.” She sniggered and motioned to take the glasses from Holly’s hands. “Let me help you.”

“I know what you mean. But I don’t know who’s worse, Alfonso, or Millie,” Holly said and handed over the stemware.

As they moved away from the front door, Jenny, America’s other friend who had come in with the others, took Holly by the arm as though they were old friends.

“I must prepare you …” she paused her low tone.

A hundred things ran through Holly’s mind at what could be so dangerous as to necessitate a warning from a stranger.

Jenny snatched the bottle from the crook of Holly’s elbow.

“I hope we have more where this came from.” Jenny laughed and walked ahead of a stunned and amused Holly into the parlor.

“I’ll get another,” America said, having overheard Jenny’s remark. She patted Holly on the shoulder as she passed by and made her way to the kitchen at the back of the house. “Jenny talks a big game, but one glass will do her in.”

In the parlor, Millie popped up from her spot on the caramel-colored chesterfield sofa and stood beside Holly.

“Ignore Jenny, she has a one-year-old at home and doesn’t get out much.

She likes to let loose when she gets a chance,” Millie explained, and Holly nodded.

“And you met Vi. She’s fantastic. Vi’s actually the person who hired me to finish the reno on this house. ”

“You’ve done all this?” Holly knew Millie was an interior designer, but she hadn’t had a chance to see any of her work in person until now.

Standing in a magnificent parlor that featured intricate woodwork and painted mouldings, a modern brass and crystal chandelier hanging from a plaster medallion on the ceiling, and a large stone fireplace, Holly felt like she had been transported to an easier time.

A time when wearing frilly dresses and bows in her hair was the norm, and evening drinks with the ladies wasn’t a special occasion. “I love it.”

Millie giggled. “There are two rooms in this house that I didn’t have anything to do with.

This is one of them.” She bumped Holly who wanted to remove the foot from her mouth.

“I’m only teasing you. America and her husband Leo had a great start to the renovation but needed some extra help to get things wrapped up.

They are so busy. America is a writer, and they own the Foundry. ”

“Oh, my goodness.” Holly slapped her forehead. “Why didn’t I realize that!”

Millie nudged her shoulder. “You’re an out-of-towner.”

“I live in Elizabethtown, literally a couple miles away from here,” Holly said. “And do I need to remind you, you’re an out-of-towner too?”

“Maybe I was for a while, but I’ve been here for months longer than you,” Millie said with a smirk that indicated she had won this round. “I know things now.”

Vi joined them standing beside the fireplace. “You know what they say about small towns?”

“Where everyone knows everything and everybody?” Holly answered, confident she was correct.

“Small towns are made up of big dreams,” Vi said and winked.

“I only ever lived in one place, until I came here almost two years ago. I could have never opened a boutique like the one I have now in the city. There are about a thousand shops, all competing for the same customers. Rent is outrageous, for anywhere good anyway, and the chance of succeeding there and keeping one’s mental stability intact is low. ”

“So, the Cove, huh?” Holly asked.

“Tell me why you chose to open your creamery here and not in E-town, or anywhere else for that matter?” Vi asked with genuine curiosity not as someone trying to undermine or manipulate her in some way like Holly might expect her own mother would do.

“Economic growth potential is the reason on the books at the bank,” Holly said and looked at her lime green strappy heels hoping to see a different answer there. “And my parents would only back me if I moved closer to home. Is that silly?”

Vi put a hand on Holly’s forearm where it was crossed in front of her stomach. “No, dear. It’s not silly. It’s realistic, and there is not a thing wrong with that.”

“She’s right,” Millie said and handed Holly and Vi glasses of rosé. “You’ve got to start somewhere. Why not here?”

“Cheers to that!” Holly said. They clinked their glasses and sipped the sparkling pink wine. “Vi, are you going for the grant money?”

“I’m all set, and I’d rather it be awarded to someone who really needs it.”

“You’re not the secret benefactor, are you?” Millie asked.

Vi choked on her drink a little and smiled. “No. But I know who it is, which is another reason I’m stepping out of the running. What about you?” Vi said as they were joined by Thandie.

Holly nodded. “I could really use it. My parents are tiring of supporting my whims. So, the faster I can be self-supporting, the better for us all. My mother really wants me to go into the business with her, meet a nice man from the country club, and be just like her.”

“What’s her business?” Vi asked. “I gather from your previous statement that your father is in finance.”

“He’s a banker. My mother owns H&B Farms. She raises racing horses.”

“I know it. Horse and Bridle Farms?” Jenny said, overhearing their conversation from the sofa. “My husband’s family owns Townsend’s. We have the farm on the far side of the county.”

“How have we never met? Surely, we would have run into each other at local events.” Holly said.

“I don’t like all the pomp, plus my husband’s brother raises the horses. We raise the babies,” Jenny said.

“Did I hear you say babies, as in plural?” America said as she reentered the parlor.

Jenny shook her head. “I’m not pregnant again. But I won’t lie. Cam and I have been talking about trying for another baby soon.”

“Like tonight?” America teased. “I mean, look at you. If he doesn’t want this, then I don’t know if it’ll ever happen.” Jenny showed off her outfit, a slinky wrap-dress the color of raspberry jam. “I’d have a baby with you looking like that.”

“America,” Vi scolded.

“What? She’s hot.” America giggled at herself.

This group of women, all fiercely confident in who they were, fascinated Holly.

She hoped to be like them someday instead of pretending and hiding behind the girly persona she had built for herself.

The fact was, she had always been a girly-girl, even on the farm, but she had begun to use it as a shield against people who consistently undervalued her.

At some point, her frilly dresses and red lipstick had become her whole personality.

While all the women present that night were beautiful, Holly wondered if any of them silently struggled with self-doubt like she did.

A knock rattled the front door and broke Holly’s train of thought.

America put down her glass and an unopened bottle on the marble coffee table.

“Food’s here.” She stepped out of the room for a moment and returned with an older woman wearing a flowy white eyelet dress, and a giddy Alfonso carrying a three-tiered tray wrapped in yellow cellophane. “You can put it there on the table.”

“ Buonasera ,” he said and placed the tray where America had indicated. Standing back, he took in the women. “Wow. So much beauty in one place.”

“See, he gets it.” America joked. “Thank you, Alfonso. Put it on my personal account, okay?”

“I charge free for this view.” Alfonso fanned himself and pantomimed fanning the women.

“Oh, stop it. You’ll make us all blush and fall in love with you instead of our husbands,” Vi said and put her arm around the chef. “What are the guys up to tonight?”

“Alfonso no tell.” He zipped his lips shut. “Okay. I tell a little.”

“I told you he can’t keep anything to himself,” Millie whispered to Holly. “I bet they’re out plotting against you.”

“We paint and build shelves.”

“Promise to keep Pa clean. I don’t want him tracking in paint all over the floors again,” the older woman with silver hair said. “You know I just had them varnished.”

“How dirty can he get, Carol?” America said.

Carol laughed. “That man is like a magnet to anything greasy or grimy. If there’s a mess, he’ll find it.”

“You’re helping at Teddy’s?” Holly blurted out and immediately regretted bringing him up.

“ Si . And clean windows.” Alfonso stared her down and raised one eyebrow practically to his hair line. He knew about what she and Millie had done.

The whole room stilled, and the women looked at each other for answers at the Italian’s change in demeanor from jovial to serious. She shrugged as though she was at just as much of a loss as they were.

America finally broke the tension. “I’m sure whatever you boys are doing, will be a good time. Do me a favor and make sure Cam doesn’t get too crazy tonight. He has a special job to do at home later.”

“America Thorpe! You stop that right now,” Vi reprimanded her again.

Alfonso, not understanding, grinned and nodded. “Alfonso go now,” he said and removed the cellophane from the snacks before leaving.

“What the heck was that about?” Thandie asked. “I work with him every day, and I’ve never seen him get so intense so fast.”

“It was a misunderstanding,” Millie said.

“It wasn’t,” Holly corrected, ready to finish her story.

“Teddy, he’s opening the chocolaterie across the street from me.

” Holly sat on the edge of the marble table and took a tiny triangle cucumber sandwich.

“Let’s just say, we’re taking winning the grant money seriously.

I may have painted over his window sign and stolen his workers one day. ”

“And what has he done to you?” Millie asked, knowing the answer full well.

Holly considered for a moment. “Nothing actually.” Guilt began to twist in her gut, but she ignored it. “That’s how I know I’ll beat him.”

“Please tell me you’re done tormenting that nice man?” Thandie said.

“Not in the least. He’s expecting his shipment of cocoa beans in a couple days, and I plan to put up a roadblock that will have his driver snaking around the entire county,” she laughed.

Alone. “I’m afraid he won’t be getting his beans in time.

” Holly shoved a whole sandwich quarter in her mouth, wishing the chewing would ease her conscience.

“If I were you, I’d take things down a notch. You don’t want to do anything you’ll regret,” Millie said. “You know I’m your ride or die, but this might be crossing the line.”

Holly nodded. Maybe Millie was right—she usually was.

She asked herself, if sabotaging her competition was the only way she could win, was it really a win at all?

Perhaps she did need to cool it. Teddy had been nothing but kind to her, and she didn’t wish to end their flirty and budding relationship over something silly like spray paint.

No matter how much she wanted him, however, she wanted to get out from under her parents’ control more. “Let’s just talk about something else.”