Page 47 of That Conflicted Feeling

“Well, you’re quite theTVstar.”

Shelooks up, startled, an attractive wash of pink spreading across her cheeks. “Yousaw?”

“Yup.”Ituck my fingers inside the front pockets of my jeans and rock back on my heels as ifIdon’t have a care in the world. “Lookslike you want to put me out of business.”

“Funny.”Sheshoves the phone in her back pocket. “Ithought that was exactly whatyouwere trying to do tome.”Shepoints the donut at people gathered by the tractor. “AndtoEd.AndErin.Andthe coffee twins.”

Shetakes another bite.Sugarlingers on her lips.

“Icould sue you, you know.”Ofcourse,Iwouldn’t.Buteveryone needs to be clear what the rules are.

Hertongue peeks out and makes quick work of the sweet white powder. “Oh, here we go.”Shethrows the non-donut hand in the air. “Nowthe big shot’s calling in his lawyers because he might not get his own way.”

Anotherbite and, oh, whatIwouldn’t give to lick that sugar off for her.

ButIneed to get my mind out of my crotch and back on the problem at hand. “I’mserious.Whatyou said onTVis libelous.Icould sue you.Andthe station for broadcasting it.”

“EverythingIsaid was completely true.”Sheshoves in the final morsel of donut.

“No, it’s not.YellowBarndoesn’t make suppliers pay for packaging their own produce.Nordoes it charge them crazy rates for it.That’sabsurd.”

Shesucks her sugary fingers.I’msure she doesn’t need to do it quite so slowly.Orwith her lips quite so puckered.Orwith quite such relish.

Shecasually shrugs one shoulder. “Yougo over there and tell that toEd, whose friend inCaliforniaused to sell avocados to them.Andnever will again.Hewas almost bankrupted by a contract they wouldn’t let him out of.”

“Bullshit.”Isit, though?Sheseems very sure. “Youneed to stop all this before you get yourself in a lot of trouble.”

“Sueme.Openand shut case.Youlose.”Sheturns and walks off.

Oh, no.Shedoesn’t escape that easily.Thisneeds to be resolved.Istride after her. “Whereare you going?”

“I’mchilly.Needto get my coat out ofEd’stractor.”

Istay on her tail as she stomps around to the back side of the hay cart, away from the protestors.

Timeto turn on my charming voice.

“Comeon,Polly.Haveyou thought some more about whatIsaid?Youcould stop this, take a nice check, and have a nice life.”Ipause.Iknow her soft spot. “Andso could your mom.”

Aswe reach the tractor door, she spins around on her shiny blue heels.

“Don’tyou dare.”Herface is flushed again, but this time it’s definitely with anger. “You’realready trying to blackmail me into shutting up and going away.Don’ttry to emotionally blackmail me with my mom as well.”

Fuck.Okay, maybe that was a little low.

Christ, this should all have been so simple, but now it’s a growing mess because this woman won’t let anything go.

Judgingby the turnout here, and the people lining up at the tables to fill out whatever those forms or petitions are, this thing is gathering momentum.Sothere’s no guarantee the protest would be over even ifIput a stop toPolly’sinvolvement.

IguessIcould buy off all the store owners, but that would be a bit annoying.AndIdon’t really want to own an entire street.

Ineed to calm this thing down just enough that the councilmembers don’t feel the tide of local opinion is againstYellowBarn.

“I’msorry.”Iclasp my hands in a pleading fashion. “Thatwasn’t fair.”

Sheopens the tractor door and leans in to reach her jacket.

Seriously.Whosebutt looks good in overalls?Howdoes she do that?