Page 7 of To Fall or Not to Fall

Chapter Four

T heo

“This town square reminds me of Stars Hollow,” my assistant, Jenna, says as she looks around, gaping. She’s just gotten to town, and I can see that she appreciates the quaintness of the small town more than I do. “I can just picture Lorelai and Rory walking?—”

“What are you talking about?” I interrupt her, shaking my head. I look down at my watch. “Jenna, I have no idea who these people are. Is that your grandma, your aunt, your?—”

“Haven’t you seen Gilmore Girls , Theo?” she asks me, looking absolutely shocked.

“No, I haven’t seen it. I am a grown man.

And do I look like the sort of person who would watch Gilmore Girls ?

” I don’t know what sort of question that is, because what does someone look like who watches a specific TV show anyway?

“Though, to be fair, that is the second time this week I’ve heard the name Stars Hollow. ”

“Coconut Beach is so quaint. I love it. It’s cozy. This is the sort of town that could be in a Hallmark Christmas movie. Ooh, can we come back at Christmas if the deal is done?” Jenna rubs her palms together, and I frown. Where had my professional assistant disappeared to?

“If the deal is done, you can come back several times to oversee the building of the hotel,” I say sternly.

Jenna wrinkles her nose. Her long blonde hair is tied in a bun at the top of her head. She’s wearing a baggy T-shirt and shorts because she says she wants to “fit in with the vibe,” unlike me, who is still wearing a suit.

“How’s that going, anyway?” she asks. “Have you convinced any of the owners of the buildings to sell?”

I take a deep sigh. “No, I haven’t. But I’m confident that if I can get the owner of the bookstore to sell, then the others will follow. I feel like she’s got a way about her that is very persuasive.”

“Oh, she does? She’s really old, right?” Jenna asks me. “You trying to get in with grandma, huh?”

I think of Ava, and I can’t help but smile. “I wouldn’t say she’s very old, no.”

“What? But the file says she is?—”

“Ah, that’s something you got wrong, Jenna. There are two owners. The building is co-owned by Ava, the proprietor of the bookstore, and her grandma.”

“Oh. And do we have to convince the grandma, or do we have to convince this Ava to sell?” She says the name distastefully, like she knows her and has an issue with her.

“We have to convince Ava,” I say, smiling, thinking of the brunette that had been on my mind every day since I saw her at the bar.

“And do you know how to do that?” Jenna leans forward eagerly. “Are you going to offer her more money or something? What did she say when you introduced yourself? Did she tell you to get out of the building?”

“She doesn’t know that I’m trying to buy her building. She only knows me as Theo.”

“Well, you are Theo.” Jenna looks confused.

“Yes, but the CEO of the company goes by Theodore.”

“I hate to break this to you, but Theo, Theodore… It’s the same thing.”

“But I told her my first name was Oscar.”

“Oscar the Grouch? Quite appropriate.” Jenna bursts out laughing. “I don’t even want to know why you said that. I didn’t know you could be so devious.”

“I’m not trying to be devious. But I do want this sale to go through. This town is perfect. It’s exactly what tourists want. I’m going to build the ultimate luxury hotel, and it’s going to make me a lot of money with the crowd that loves rom-coms and a good Hallmark movie.”

“Or bad one,” Jenna says, and I shrug. Like I care about the movies.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“So you say.” Jenna looks offended. She pauses and wrinkles her nose.

“What?” I ask.

“I mean, I love your hotels, but do you really think it’s going to fit in here, in a town like this?”

“And why wouldn’t it?”

“Because your hotels are so modern and sleek.”

“Thank you.”

“I mean, not everyone wants a modern and sleek place to stay, especially in a town like this.”

“They want it; they have just never had the option. Everyone wants luxury and opulence, Jenna.” I frown. “You should know that.”

“I guess,” she says, shrugging. “I mean, you’re the boss. You know best.”

“I do know best, and I pay your paycheck, so there’s that.” I give her a pointed look.

“Yes, you do. And I wouldn’t mind a bigger one.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t, Jenna. So, I do have a plan.”

“Oh?”

“We both know that the bookstore is struggling, as are many of the businesses in town. They do great business during the summer, but they don’t have the tourists flocking here during the fall or Christmas.

The winter season is dead here. They barely have anyone visiting.

But I’m going to change that. I’m going to put Coconut Beach on the map.

I’m going to make it a year-round destination, even if some businesses have to sell up to make that happen.

The majority of the town will thank me for my help.

They may even rename the town square to Theodore Winston Square in my honor. ”

“Doubtful. If you change the look of their quaint little town and bring—” she stops. “But, you know what? You’re the boss. You know what’s going to work.” She sighs. “You don’t want my input.”

“I do want it to get the buildings.” I nod.

“We just need to think of a way to convince Ava to sell before she goes bankrupt. Because she does seem like a nice enough lady.” Understatement.

She’s sexy and beautiful and seems incredibly na?ve about life and love.

“I would hate for something terrible to happen to her finances—and to her and her grandma’s credit. ”

“You’re not going to deliberately bankrupt her, then, are you?” Jenna looks nervous.

“No. I would never do such a thing.”

“Theo, you’ve done it before.”

“Well, that was?—”

“Theo, hey, how’s it going?” I pause and look up at the sound of the cheery voice. I still slightly as I realize that it’s Ava. She’s here. I wonder if she heard my conversation or has any idea why I’m in town.

“Oh, hello, Ava.” I smile nonchalantly, playing it cool. “This is Jenna, my assistant. She’s in town because she also needed a vacation,” I say quickly. “I invited her to join me so she could also experience this place…” My voice trails off. My explanation sounds weak as hell.

“Oh, cool. Hi, I’m Ava.” She holds out her hand. “I own a bookstore in town—Beachy Balls, Biscuits, & Books. You should come by sometime if you like to read.”

“Thanks. I love books. That would be awesome.” Jenna smiles.

“And also, I know you guys are just visiting, but I’m going to have a pumpkin-carving mixer coming up in a couple of days, and you’re both welcome to join.

It is for singles who are looking to mingle, but feel free to join me.

You’ll get your flirt game on.” Ava blushes deliciously, then looks away.

“I mean, not saying that you want to get your flirt game on or anything, but it’s something different to do in Coconut Beach.

And you can get to know the locals.” She’s rambling, and I can tell that she feels slightly flustered.

She runs her fingers through her long, dark, curly hair.

Her brown eyes are bright, and she grins mischievously.

“Sorry, I sound like a goof right now. I’m just really excited.”

“Oh, well, I don’t know if we can come,” Jenna says. “I do have a boyfriend back home. But maybe you ’ ll want to go, right, Theo? You’re single. He’s desperately single.”

“Thanks for that,” I mutter, glaring at her. “I wouldn’t say?—”

“That’s so funny. I call myself desperately single, as well.

” Ava laughs, then groans. “Oh my gosh, did I just say that out loud? I’m not trying to say that I’m desperate—like, I’m not desperate for a man or anything.

But I am desperately single. Just because that’s a descriptive word.

I’m not making this any better, am I?” She trips over her words, her face growing bright red.

“It’s okay.” I can’t help but smile at her. “You having a good day?”

“Yeah. I am trying a new recipe for some muffins. They’re going to be chocolate and pumpkin—because who doesn’t love pumpkin in everything fall-related?”

“I’m afraid to say that I don’t.” I shake my head.

“I do not understand the obsession with pumpkin in everything in the fall. I don’t like pumpkin pie.

I don’t like pumpkin spice lattes. And I hate to say it, but I’m very sure I wouldn’t like pumpkin and chocolate muffins, or scones, or whatever else you want to put it in. ”

“Oh, but you haven’t tried my muffins,” Ava says.

I give her a wicked grin. “That’s true. Maybe I’d like your muffins.”

Jenna blinks rapidly. “I don’t know if I’m meant to be hearing this conversation.”

Ava blushes. “Well, I need to go. Aria’s waiting for me in the store.

She got more ornamental pumpkins. Feel free to come by if you are interested in any more books by Oscar Wilde.

” She smiles. “Or anyone else.” She looks at Jenna.

“You, too. I’m not sure what your plans are for your time, but I have lots of recommendations if you’re interested, as well. ”

“Thanks so much.”

“You’re welcome. Well, it was good seeing you again, Theo, and nice to meet you, Jenna.” Ava gives us a small wave and then heads off down the main street.

“She’s really nice,” Jenna says, staring at me. “Like… really nice. I feel horrible.”

“Why do you feel horrible?”

“Because she’s inviting us to her bookstore and trying to get business, and we’re here trying to take her store from her to make it into a luxury hotel that billionaires and celebrities will want to frequent. And she’s just trying to?—.”

“Shit, Jenna, take your heart out of business. If she takes my offer, maybe she’ll be able to open another bookstore someday. And once we bring more tourists to town, maybe the new one will be profitable.”

“I guess. I mean, don’t you even feel a little bit bad, Theo?”

I stare at her for a couple of minutes and shrug.

I’m not sure what to say, because I usually wouldn’t feel anything.

Normally, I wouldn’t care. But right now, there is an uneasy feeling in my stomach and in my heart, and I don’t know why.

I don’t know Ava. She means nothing to me.

But yet she’s been so friendly and sweet, and there was even a light flirtation between the two of us.

And that makes me feel like I’m taking advantage of someone innocent who doesn’t deserve it.

But I have to remember that this is business. It is only business. I am here for a purpose. And it isn’t to flirt with a sweet, brown-eyed bookstore owner.

It is to buy her bookstore.

“Let us reconvene tomorrow,” I say to Jenna, changing the subject. “You do some research on the other store owners, and see if we can dig up any dirt. And I’ll get to work trying to figure out how we can get that pumpkin spice-loving bookstore owner to give me what I want.”

“And what is it that you want?” Jenna says, peering into my eyes, silently judging me.

“Excuse me? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs quickly. “Do you want Ava, or do you want her bookstore? Or maybe… you want both.” She glares at me. “If you’re all about business, Mr. Winston, maybe you need to remember that when you converse with her and eat her up with your eyes.”