Whisper of Revenge (A Cape Trouble Novel Book 4) Read Online Free

was
typically blunt, but also capable of subtlety.  When the ground was broken for
the resort last summer, he had become a customer, buying both books and
truffles.  He hadn’t asked her out until mid-winter, after she’d dropped some
weight.  Knowing he hadn’t considered her sexy enough with a few extra pounds
made her pleasant refusals firmer than they might have been.
    Today, as always, he’d shrugged as if her “thank you, but
no” had amused him.  But she had to wonder what simmered beneath his half-smile.
    “You don’t get where I am by taking no for an answer,” he
said, echoing what she’d been thinking.  “We have a lot in common, Hannah.”
    “Really?  And what would that be?  Do you have a young son? 
Do you set your alarm in the wee hours of the morning to whip up several
batches of fudge before your kid wakes up?”
    “We’re business owners.  We cater to the public.  We offer
only the best.”
    She shook her head.  “I’m a small business owner.  That’s
all I’ll ever be.  I suspect the Rand Inns will be a chain before we know it.”
    A flicker of expression in his eyes told her that was
exactly what he envisioned.
    “I haven’t been dating at all,” she said.  “I’m sorry,
Rand.  The truth is, I don’t have the energy.  What spare time I have is for my
son.  If it was you who gave me the flowers…”
    Surprise had his eyebrows rising.  “I have competition.”
    Wanting to be reassured, Hannah said, “Apparently so.”
    He stood and held out a hand.  “My offers have been
sincerely meant.  You’re an appealing woman.”  His tone was unexpectedly
gentle.    “But I don’t want anything to get in the way of our working
together.”
    She almost laughed, able to believe that much.  Randall
Bresler, she suspected, was very capable of ruthlessness in pursuit of his
ambitions.  Rumor had it that he had harshly dealt with the screw-ups on
construction this spring.
    She walked him out, to find the small, café-style tables on
the sweets side of her business all occupied, and two different people browsing
in the bookstore.
    Seated by the window, Mayor Gillespie lifted a hand at
Bresler, who veered to greet him.  A hefty man, the mayor was  a particular fan
of her signature fudge packed with butterscotch and chocolate chips along with
marshmallow cream and nuts.
    Also sitting by himself, Ron Campbell appeared annoyed to
see her emerging from the back with Rand.  A city council member, he owned a
coastal chain of hardware stores.  She had the impression he liked being
important.  It wouldn’t be a surprise if he resented Rand, currently being
courted by every business person in Cape Trouble.
    Because Ron was a good customer, she smiled at him, checked
to be sure Alice Roberts, currently behind the counter, wasn’t overwhelmed,
then went over to the bookstore side.  Customers could pay for purchases at
either cash register, but she wanted to be available to answer questions and
offer to make orders for her regulars.  Some accepted, even though she knew
perfectly well they could save by ordering online themselves.
    A woman was contentedly browsing fiction.  Hannah had known
from her first glimpse that the other customer was Elias even though he had
been crouched with his back to her, looking at something on a bottom shelf. 
Now he rose and pivoted to face her.
    Hannah’s heart skipped into a faster beat, but completely
irrational anger balled in her stomach at the same time.  Elias had stayed away
for the entire week.  Apparently she’d been right; he hadn’t liked having to
soothe her fears.  She’d overstepped.
    His retreat had stung, contributing to her other stresses.
    “May I help you find something, Elias?” she asked.
    “No.”  He hesitated.  “Alice said you were in a meeting.  I
was waiting to talk to you.”
    “Oh?”
    After a glance at the other customer, he crossed the store,
stopping only a couple of feet from Hannah, who