Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,91
that was wise. “Are you trying to kill my mother?”
Lucy laughed. “No. I’ve studied Vivian’s psyche, and I’m pretty sure she’ll be pleased. I can’t say so for sure, so I’ll leave the price tags on the furnishings.”
“Vivian hasn’t even asked about the room.”
Lucy’s face fell. “She hasn’t?”
“Not one word.”
She looked so disappointed. “I thought she’d be eagerly waiting for me to do something wild and crazy. Like turning the room into a Looking for Mr. Goodbar room.” Lucy looked disgusted. “Your mother thinks I’m the devil in a short skirt.”
“She might,” Jake said, grinning, “but she hasn’t even wondered about the new décor. That brings me to another problem, though. Is Sugar around?” he asked, turning somber as he remembered the original intent of his visit.
“Sugar!” Lucy hollered up the stairwell. “You’ve got a gentleman caller!”
He smiled. “The Glass Menagerie, I presume?” There were blue roses in The Glass Menagerie, but Lucy had ordered robin’s egg blue paint. He’d always assumed the blue roses were dark royal blue, but what the hell did he know about that play, anyway? He’d cheated and read the SparkNotes version in high school, having little patience for Tennessee Williams’s play about frail, mentally inept women. Anyway, the Cassavechias were not breakable women. They were more steel than glass.
“You got it in one. The use of gentleman caller, but not the new room décor. Nice try, Jake, but you’re not even close. Very, very cold, not even warm.” She laughed and went off, the tails on the kerchief flopping above her head.
He stared after Lucy. She wouldn’t have chosen The Glass Menagerie for the new décor. That wouldn’t suit Vivian at all. Of all people, he’d thought Lucy would get the type of silent advertising his mother appreciated.
Sugar walked down the stairs. “Hi, Jake.”
His heart sank, burdened under a thousand emotions. Sugar was so beautiful she practically stopped his heart. He wanted her so badly he could hardly stand it when he couldn’t see her. Yet they felt farther apart than ever—and when he told her what he’d come to say, they’d be even more apart. “Can we talk?”
“Sure.” She went onto the porch. He followed her, sitting on the stoop beside her. “What’s up?”
“Sugar,” Jake said, choosing his words, “I want to help you with your business.”
She blinked. “Do you?”
He nodded. “I really would like to help.”
She ran a hand through her long mahogany hair, a darker, deeper hue than Lucy’s and Maggie’s. “I’m listening.”
He leaned back against the wood porch, bracing his arms behind him. “Reporters have been snooping around Pecan Creek. They want to do a piece on this house and your business. The dead guy was not helpful,” Jake said. “He’s brought your business more interest than you could have done with a year of advertising on Pecan Creek’s billboard.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s not good.”
“You don’t want your product associated with a dead weirdo who broke into your house. Also, the reporters will be quick to determine that you don’t have the proper permits to run your business.”
“I’ve applied for them,” Sugar said, “and I’ve put in a request for the health department to come out and inspect us. The wheels move very slowly on these issues.”
“Good girl.” He nodded. “At least you’ve got the wheels moving. Still, the thing is, you may want to move your launch. At least until after the reporters are gone, and the interest in the dead guy in the Hollywood-movie-set house where the lady who sells pecans lives is over.”
“Oh God.” Sugar’s face fell. “That’s horrible!”
“I know. It’s the opener in every phone call I take these days.” Jake shook his head. “I’m damn sorry, Sugar.”
She seemed stunned. “Jake, I need this launch to go smoothly. I’ve spent money on packaging, advertising, ingredients. Boxes. The list is endless.”
He could tell she was overwhelmed. “Busy week?”
“Yeah.” She shook her head. “There’s a ton of things to do right before a business opens. I’ve been working like crazy almost twenty-four-seven to get this off the ground. You really think I should push the opening back?”
He nodded. “It’s unfortunate, but just until the storm blows over.”
“Okay.” She looked out over the pecan grove, her eyes big and sad. “All right. If you think it’s the best thing to do.”
“Unfortunately, I do.” Jake felt like such a heel.
“This is what you came by to tell me?”
“Yeah.” He put an arm around Sugar’s shoulders, gave her a slight hug, then stood. “I’m really sorry.”