The Illegitimate Billionaire. Barbara Dunlop
held open the door, taking note of Hank’s frustrated expression. “Well, that answer has me intrigued.”
“I...” She looked flustered.
He couldn’t imagine what would fluster her about city beautification. Had she joined the committee to get close to Hank?
“I thought...I should...get engaged and support my community.”
Well, that was the worst lie Deacon had ever heard. She was all but begging him to call her on it.
“Will you tell me the real story?” he asked, assuming that’s what she expected him to do.
Her face flushed under the community center’s porch lights. “It’s embarrassing.”
“We all do embarrassing things. I promise, I’ll understand.”
Deacon was ready for her to walk to the parking lot. Instead, she turned the opposite way down the sidewalk. That worked for him.
She took an exaggerated breath, as if she was about to own up to grand larceny. “I joined the committee to butter up Lawrence Dennison.”
The unexpected answer threw Deacon. “Isn’t Lawrence pushing eighty?”
“Downright Sweet is in the historic district. My deck needs repairs, or I’ll have to close it down. I can’t do the repairs without the permit. Lawrence is holding up the permit. And the beautification committee is Lawrence’s pet project. I’m buttering him up by joining the committee.”
Deacon was impressed. By guiltily confessing to such a trivial lie, she looked like the most honest woman in the world.
If Deacon didn’t believe she was using the story to manipulate him, it would have been enchanting.
* * *
For the next three days, Callie glanced up every time a customer walked through the bakery door. She thought Deacon might stop by Friday. He’d walked her all the way to her door Thursday evening.
He hadn’t judged her for joining the committee. He’d understood. He’d even told her his own story about planning a lavish party when a particular state politician was in town, with the aim of getting an introduction to him in order to help Mobi Transportation expand. He couldn’t say for sure if it had worked, but he’d definitely put out the effort.
They’d laughed and talked for ten blocks. She would have invited him in, but she had to tuck the boys into bed. She’d found herself hoping he’d kiss her. But he didn’t.
Then she’d fully expected him to show up at Downright Sweet and ask her out again. He didn’t do that either.
By Monday, she feared he’d left town. Maybe the right land wasn’t available. Or maybe taxes were too high. There were a hundred reasons why he could have decided against Charleston.
“Callie?” Hannah came out of the kitchen with a phone in her hand. “It’s for you. Lawrence Dennison.”
Callie didn’t know whether to be optimistic or worried. Was Lawrence calling to thank her for joining the committee, or had he seen right through her ruse?
“Does he sound annoyed?” she asked Hannah.
“Not that I could tell.”
“Happy?”
“No. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Callie took the phone. She steeled herself. “Hello?”
“Hello, Callie.” Lawrence sounded happy—maybe too happy.
“Hello, Councilman Dennison.”
“Please, please, call me Lawrence.”
She couldn’t help but think the invitation was a good sign, but she didn’t want to hope. “All right. Lawrence.”
“I’m calling to thank you personally.”
She felt a wave of relief. “For joining the committee.”
“For the donation.”
“The donation?”
Hannah, who was watching, cocked her head in curiosity.
“Two-thousand dollars was very generous of you.”
Two-thousand dollars? Had Callie accidentally signed something, or agreed to something? She couldn’t afford to donate two-thousand dollars. “I—”
Lawrence didn’t seem to hear her. “The beautification committee will definitely put the money to good use.”
“Lawrence, I think there’s been—”
“And on your building permit, I’ve reviewed the architectural drawings, and I’m optimistic it can be approved this week.”
“Approved?”
She knew she should protest. She hadn’t made any donation. And if she had, would it have been a bribe?
Hannah’s brown eyes went wide as she whispered. “The permit?”
Callie wanted to nod, but she was afraid to jinx it. Could this really be happening?
“You should hear something by Wednesday. If the office doesn’t call, feel free to contact me directly.”
Hannah touched her arm, pointing to the bakery door.
Callie turned to see Deacon walk in. He looked tall, handsome and crisply cool in a pair of designer jeans and a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the collar open.
“I...uh...” Her gaze met Deacon’s secretive, self-satisfied smirk, and she immediately knew what had happened. “Thank you, Lawrence.”
“My pleasure. Goodbye, Callie.”
“Goodbye.” Without taking her gaze off Deacon, she handed the phone to Hannah. “I have to talk to Deacon.”
“Are we getting our building permit?”
“Looks like we are.” Callie wasn’t sure how to feel about that: happy, guilty, annoyed, grateful?
What kind of man would do that for her?
While she wondered, he came to a stop on the other side of the display case. “Hello, Callie.”
“Can we talk?” she asked.
“Sure.” He glanced around at the customers. “Can you get away for a few minutes?”
“Yes.” She untied her apron and lifted it over her head.
He gave an admiring glance at her white, short-sleeved blouse and fitted black skirt. The interest in his eyes sent a pleasant sizzle down her spine. He had a casual, earthy sexuality that reached out to her.
She had to remind herself she was...at least possibly...annoyed with him.
A good person would be annoyed with him.
Wouldn’t they?
Winding her way through the dining tables, she followed him to the door. Her gaze moved involuntarily from his broad shoulders, down the taper of his back, to his attractive rear. He had to be in incredible shape. A good person wouldn’t be watching his rear end either.
She wanted to be a good person.
“It’s a hot one,” he said as they exited to the sidewalk.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” she blurted out.
“I don’t know,” he said easily. “What are we talking about?”
“The donation.”
It was clear from his expression that he immediately understood. “Ahhh.”
“I’m taking that as a yes.”
“Yes.