Demon Hunting with a Dixie Deb - Lexi George Page 0,66

lap, Sassy considered how best to handle things. Tact and finesse were called for, of course, and social grace, qualities she had in spades.

Mr. Marvin opened a manila file and removed a legal document. “To begin. In spite of the recent problems at the mill—”

“What problems?” Sassy asked, sitting up straight.

“There have been a number of accidents. Nothing major—machines breaking down for no apparent reason. Last week Junior Givens fell off the loading deck and busted his leg in three places. Another worker lost a finger in one of the saws. That sort of thing. Understandably, the men are uneasy. Somebody’s started a rumor the mill is cursed.”

Sassy leaned forward. “Is it?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Cursed??”

“Of course not.”

“Oh, pooh.” Sassy sat back, disappointed. “A curse would have been cool. The Curse of the Haunted Mill sounds like a Nancy Drew novel. I loved those books when I was a kid.”

Mr. Marvin looked over his glasses at Sassy. “You seem to have an inordinate fondness for curses, Sassy.”

“Not inordinate.” Sassy gave the lawyer a sparkling smile. “Just plain old ordinate.”

Mr. Marvin cleared his throat. “Yes, well, back to business. A curse, if there were such a thing, could drive your property values down. Fortunately for you, Mrs. Harwood has agreed to your asking price of—”

“I’ve decided not to sell,” Sassy blurted.

Goodness, where did that come from? So much for tact and finesse.

Susan stiffened in her chair, and Sassy could have sworn she smelled sulfur. Mrs. Harwood was not happy. Sassy took a steadying breath and caught a whiff of something warm and spicy. Her eyes widened and she took a quick glance around. Grim was here, in the room with them somehow. She recognized his scent, although she could not see him. Her spirits lifted at the knowledge. She was not alone.

“I am in no mood for games, Sarah Elizabeth,” Mrs. Harwood said in an icy voice. “I want that mill. As the eldest child, it should have been mine, not my brother’s. At the very least, I should have been given half interest. Instead, my father left it to Blake.” She gave Sassy a hard look. “I’ll raise my offer by twenty thousand, not a penny more.”

A slight displacement of molecules made Sassy’s skin tingle. Grim had moved closer, as though he sensed the menace radiating from Susan.

“I don’t want your money,” Sassy said. “I’m keeping the mill.”

Mr. Marvin harrumphed. “Now, now, Sassy, you and I spoke of this at length on the phone, and we agreed this is for the best. Leroy Houston’s a good man, but he can’t run the mill and the office and oversee fifty thousand acres of timber, not when the workers’ confidence has been shaken by the accidents.”

“You don’t think I can handle it.”

“Why would you want to? It’s a big job for anyone, especially for a pretty young thing like you. You don’t live in Hannah and you don’t know a thing about the timber industry.” Mr. Marvin sat back in his chair and gave Sassy an indulgent smile. “Take the money and go home to Fairhope. Plan your wedding. Enjoy your honeymoon knowing the mill will be in capable hands. Mrs. Harwood has plans to revamp the whole operation—new equipment and computers. Things will run more efficiently with half the manpower.”

Well, he’d certainly put her in her place, hadn’t he? She was a spoiled little flibbertigibbet without two brain cells to rub together. Nothing on her mind but lace and negligees.

“You’re absolutely right, Mr. Marvin.” Sassy got to her feet. “It is a big job.”

“You’re doing the right thing, Sassy. I can promise you that like a father.”

Sassy’s jitters were gone. Pink sparkles of irritation whizzed around her head. A glittering orb shot across Mr. Marvin’s desk. With a muffled oath, he ducked.

“I already have a father,” Sassy told the startled attorney. “His name is Joel Champion. What I need is a new lawyer. Your services are no longer required.”

Mr. Marvin’s jaw went slack. “Wait a minute, I didn’t mean to—”

“It was interesting to meet you, Mrs. Harwood,” Sassy said. “I would say lovely, but my mother taught me not to lie.” She gave them both a curt nod. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a mill to run. Rumor has it, I have a lot to learn.”

She sailed out of the room and into the reception area on a cloud of euphoria.

Evan got to his feet. “How’d it go?”

“I did it,” Sassy said. “I turned down Mrs. Harwood and fired Mr.