Share the Moon. Sharon Struth
She lifted her head.
He kept a steady gaze on her, yet his usual confidence seemed to have a slight tear. “We met back then. At the tackle shop.”
“We did?” She searched through her memories of the summers she worked there. So many new faces but few really remembered. “Are you sure it was me?”
His lips wavered and didn’t quite reach a smile. “Positive. My dad liked to fly fish, so we went there for our supplies. You have an older brother, right? Looks a bit like your dad?”
“I do.”
“One time we were shopping and you were having a big debate with him over the best dry fly to use in the spring. The discussion got heated and your father stopped talking to my dad and stared at the two of you. After about thirty seconds, you both caught on to the silence and settled right down.”
She chuckled. “Dad’s stares have more power than most modern day weapons.”
“You left quite an impression on me. Coming from the city, I couldn’t believe a girl knew so much about fishing. The girls from my school were focused on clothes and makeup, but you wore cut-off jeans and sneakers.”
“I was a bit of a tomboy in those days.”
He appraised her with a swift brush of his gaze. “Not anymore.”
Either she blushed or someone set the heat to scorching. Sophie reached for her collar to loosen it, only to realize she wore an open-necked blouse.
“Um, let’s see…” She eyed the pad and willed her body to cool down. “When you made the offer to the Tates, didn’t you think zoning would be an issue?”
“Sure. Sometimes we have to rethink our plans.”
“Or pursue zoning changes?
“That too.”
“Has your firm ever been accused of bribing officials on past projects?”
He flinched. “What?”
“The rumor at the hearing suggested possible bribes offered to zoning board officials.” She waited a few long seconds. “Has RGI had any other accusations of this nature?”
He pressed his lips tight. “No.”
While scribbling No bribery charges in the past—acted weird, she tried to think of a casual way to slip in a question about why Joe Dougherty might have been at the office.
He stood and walked over to a credenza, returning with something in his hand. He extended his open palm. “Candy?”
“No thank you.”
He pocketed one but kept the other folded in his palm, watching her carefully as he took his seat. “You know, Sophie. I’m an honest man. I’d never bribe anybody.”
“I didn’t mean to question your integrity, Mr. Jamie—”
“Duncan.”
“Okay. Look, I’ve been reporting in Northbridge for many years. When rumors surface, there’s often a reason.” His stiff jaw cautioned her to use care with her next words. “I’m sure you’re honest. You do have a lot of people working for you, though. Could one of them be involved?”
His gaze darkened. “I hope not.”
* * * *
Duncan rubbed his temple while Sophie scratched some notes. This interview was going worse than the time he went on a roller coaster with Patrick at Six Flags, a bonding moment he hadn’t really thought through. At least with the crazy ride he could anticipate a wild curve or when he’d be thrown down a steep ramp. Had Sophie uncovered blemishes he’d hoped were erased on his firm’s history?”
Her arrival created a double-whammy of effects. In the course of discussing the business nature of their meeting, he’d caught himself flirting with her, as he would with any woman who captured his interest. Her responses, however, were more unreadable than fine print.
Sophie’s full lips parted as she read something on the pad. What’d she put down? He fiddled with the candy wrapper ends, twisting the twirled cellophane ends even tighter.
She looked up. “Why do you want to move to Blue Moon Lake?”
“I took my son there this past summer. We both agreed we needed a change of scenery. Besides, I need to be in one place. I’ve spent too many years traveling, too many years away from my kids.” All his wife’s complaints, yet repeating them aloud left a rock hard pit of remorse in his gut. He fled the disabling sensation by concentrating on Sophie’s chestnut eyes. “Sometimes, we all need an escape.”
“But if you love the area, why didn’t you purchase only a single residence? Why the resort too?”
For half a second he considered telling her the real reason the land mattered to his brother, but he didn’t want to violate any confidences. “I have my reasons.”
“Did you ever stop to consider how some of the things you love about the lake could be lost by your business proposition?”
“I don’t think they will.”
“Perhaps you’re not seeing the big picture.”
“I’ll address the environmental impact. I don’t want to hurt the lake, but this will boost the Northbridge economy and create jobs.”
“The area may suffer too. If Zoning passes those changes, they’ll lead to additional development along the shoreline.”
He shrugged. “I can’t control everything.”
“No. You can control what you do now, though.”
“Communities are often resistant to change.” Duncan tried to sound convincing but felt weakened by her demanding gaze. “Things seem to work out.”
She cocked a confident brow, like someone about to yell the word checkmate. “Won’t this be the first time you’ve stuck around long enough to find out?”
“I visit my sites.”
Sophie twisted her mouth, not even bothering to hide her skepticism. Idealistic. Yes, that described her. This woman preached high standards for everyone, including herself. Duncan considered her perseverance as appealing as it was annoying.
She lowered the pad to her lap. “Living there is different. I’d go so far to say you’re…” She pressed her lips together. “Never mind.”
“What?”
“Listen, I don’t wish to end up apologizing twice in one day.”
He opened his arms to each side. “Come on. Hit me with your best shot.”
She gave him a you-might-be-sorry grin. “Well, Jamieson is Scottish, right?”
He nodded.
“My Nana was born in Scotland. She once told me a story about a Scotsman who was asked to express an opinion about the pyramids who replied, ‘A lot of masonry work and no rent coming in.’”
He snorted. “Then you think I only care about money?”
“No, but you’re approaching this purely from a practical, business-like viewpoint. Stop. Think about why you love the lake.” Her potent gaze settled on him, saying more than her words. “I’ll bet one thing is the simplicity.”
Her honesty was unexpected and refreshing, so unlike his wife’s. “Any other problems with my plan?”
She studied the sofa arm, where her index finger made imaginary circles in the soft leather. “The land you’re thinking of buying has better uses.” She lifted her chin and met his eyes. “Did you know for over thirty years the property operated as a farm? Besides regular produce, they had sizable grape crops and for about twenty years produced wine.”
“Is