Fate Actually (Moonstone Cove #2) - Elizabeth Hunter Page 0,56

heat…”

“It can be pretty intense when you’re not right on the ocean.” Toni felt like fanning him; his face was so flushed. She reached over and tapped his hand slightly, pushing a little bit of calm toward him. The last thing she wanted was for Ron the accountant to pass out.

“Thanks.” His color immediately evened out. “So Toni, I know you have your garage. Megan, what do you do?”

“I’m an event coordinator,” she said. “I was in Atlanta for most of my career. I just recently relocated to Moonstone Cove.”

Ron’s eyes lit up. “It’s an exciting area, isn’t it?”

Megan leaned toward him and lowered her voice, creating a sense of conspiratorial flirting. Ron was into it; Toni could tell.

“You know,” Megan said. “I heard a rumor that they were going to be building this big wine-country-estate kind of thing around here. Winery, event venue, restaurant, private club. The works. No idea where they’d put that though.”

Toni knew immediately what she needed to do. If there was one thing men adored, it was correcting women. “I don’t know,” she said. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and I just don’t think anyone would put money into something like that. That would be a lot of cash, and it’s still really a farming town.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Ron took the bait. “I have a few clients that… I think you’d be surprised by the plans they have for the town. Moonstone Cove is on the rise.”

“Really?” Megan leaned her chin on her palm and cocked her head at him. “Well, that’s good news for the event-planning business, isn’t it?”

“I’m just saying,” Toni said. “Moonstone Cove is small. It’s not really a destination like Napa or Sonoma. I don’t really see anyone coming all this way off the highway to get here.”

“Napa and Sonoma aren’t on major highways either,” Ron said. “I think the seclusion is part of the charm.”

She needed to give in to keep him interested. “I guess. I mean, I live just off Ferraro Creek, and I love how quiet it is. It’s incredibly beautiful in that area.”

“I’ve heard that area is really desirable.” A hint of a smile teased his mouth. “I’d hang on to any property around there if I were you.”

“Is that so?” Toni leaned forward to touch his arm. “Any other insider tips you want to share?” She pushed him just a little. She didn’t want him to notice anything was going on.

“I may have heard that…” He blinked slowly. “There’s a big developer—someone from up north—who’s looking to buy in that area. Not sure when, of course.” He sipped his wine. “It might be just a rumor.”

“Mmmm.” Toni smiled at him and kept her fingers on his skin, stroking the inside of his wrist provocatively. “I’ve heard developers can be… a little pushy.”

“Pfft.” Ron shrugged. “You know, I deal with a lot of these companies in the course of my business—”

“And what do you do?” Megan played dumb.

“I’m an accountant and tax consultant,” Ron said. “I also do some estate planning.”

“Oh!” Toni’s eyes went wide, and she kept her fingers on Ron’s arm. “Did you know that poor man who had the winery next to my cousin? Whit Fairfield?”

Ron frowned, and for a minute he looked very confused. Toni pushed a little more calm into him to assuage his suspicions. “I… Yeah. I know that estate. In fact, his fiancée… I can’t really—”

“I didn’t know he was getting married.” Megan was all sympathy. “That poor woman. She must be devastated. Were they starting the winery together? God, I think I’d just sell everything if it were me. I’d never want to look at it again, you know?”

“A crushed dream,” Toni added, giving a little hitch in her throat. “I feel for her.”

“Heh!” Ron looked a little drunk, and Toni decided to back off on the ease she was pushing, but she kept her hand on his wrist.

“I…” He stumbled a little over his words. “I’d not… I wouldn’t feel sorry for her. I think she’s very… Uh, she’s in finance. She knows her business. So I think she just sees everything as an investment, you know?”

“Oh, that’s so brave.” Megan blinked hard and actually managed to produce a few tears. “Just carrying on to fulfill their dream on her own. She’s still going to build that club and expand the winery and everything?”

“She’s determined.” Ron leaned forward. “Maybe even more than before. I warned her… he was gonna shoot his foot off with the tricks