One Perfect Moment. A.C. Arthur

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СКАЧАТЬ out of Leave It to Beaver or one of those other old black-and-white family shows. Ava favored nostalgic television over today’s modern reality. But while recognizing the need to grow and accept change, she still tried to bring a sense of those old-time family values and simplicity into her writing. A fact, she hated to admit, that would come in handy for this project.

      She parked the car and reached over to grab her phone and purse before stepping out. She traveled light, with only one huge duffel bag and her laptop, which she retrieved from the back seat before locking the car and heading up the brick walkway toward the house.

      The bed-and-breakfast looked exactly as it had in the brochure, including the chubby shrubs lined up along the perimeter with picture-perfect precision. Ava smiled at the pair of stone bulldog statues guarding the premises as she stepped up onto the porch. Opening the door, she walked inside and was further warmed by the historic charm that continued. Scuffed wood-planked floors, and emerald-green-and-white textured wallpaper stretched throughout the front foyer and along the wall next to a winding glossy cherrywood railing.

      She liked it here. Liked the ambience and was glad she’d selected this brochure from the three Saraya, her assistant, had given her. The research trip had been quickly planned once she’d decided to go through with the project. And once that decision was made, Ava had known exactly how she wanted to approach it—straight through the heart.

      The Taylors had loved this town and the people who lived here. If Ava were going to write this show, she had to get to know the people here. What they liked, how they lived, what they feared, all of it. Then she’d tackle the Taylor sextuplets.

      “Well, hello, ma’am. Welcome to Sunnydale,” an older gentleman said.

      He stood behind the front desk—a continuation of the cherrywood, with a black marble top. There was a large fresh flower arrangement toward the end of the desk, closest to the wall, along with a shiny gold bell and a placard on the other end that explained all the forms of payment accepted.

      “Hello,” Ava replied. “I have a reservation. My name is Ava Cannon.”

      The man never even looked at the computer sitting on the part of the desk that faced a bay window. Instead he stood and came around until he was directly in front of her. He extended his hand and gave a toothy grin.

      “I’m Otis,” he said. “Welcome to Sunnydale and to Temptation.”

      “Ah, thank you,” Ava said and shook his hand.

      He was still holding her hand seconds later when a younger man entered the lobby area.

      “The paint’s still wet, but the job’s done, Mr. Otis. I have to head back out to Harper’s place, but just let Nana Lou know we’ll be sending her an invoice in the mail,” the second man said.

      There was a big contrast between the two men, and Ava, always one to pay attention to the details, picked up on it immediately. The first man, the older one who had just been called Mr. Otis, wore dark gray pants that were baggy on his slim frame. Black suspenders helped to keep the pants from falling down, and his short-sleeved light blue dress shirt was wrinkled, with a floral trimmed handkerchief in his breast pocket. His skin was a very weathered almond complexion, and his hair—what was left of it—was short, gray and curled close to his scalp.

      The second man was much younger, probably in his early to mid-twenties. He was at least six feet tall with a short bush of brown hair, and he wore faded jeans and a plaid shirt with drops of paint all over it.

      “Pardon me,” the younger guy said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your check-in.”

      They would know instantly that she wasn’t from Temptation, and it had nothing to do with the cream-colored pantsuit she was wearing. Ava had left the jacket to the suit on the back seat of the rental car so that her arms were bare in the peach tank top she wore. Her shoes were comfortable leather flats, and the flashiest piece of jewelry she wore was the diamond tennis bracelet her father had given her as an eighteenth birthday present.

      No, they knew she wasn’t from here because they knew everybody in this town. She could see it by the way they were assessing her.

      “Hi. I’m Ava Cannon,” she said and was finally able to ease her hand away from Mr. Otis’s grip. She extended it to the young man, who smiled as he shook it.

      “I’m Craig Presley,” he said. “Welcome to Temptation.”

      “Thank you,” Ava said. Both of them were actually very welcoming and genuine.

      “No thanks necessary. In fact, since you’re new to town, I would like to personally offer my services to show you around,” he said.

      Craig Presley had a nice smile and warm, happy eyes. He was cute and friendly, but he wasn’t her type. Nor was hooking up with a guy in this town on her agenda.

      “Presley? Are you any relation to a Harper Presley?”

      “Yes,” Craig replied. “Harper’s my cousin. Are you looking to have a house renovated or built? Presley Construction can definitely take care of that for you. We’re the best in town. Here, let me get you a card.”

      He was digging into his back pocket now, pulling out his wallet as he hunted for a card.

      Mr. Otis scratched the side of his head. “If you’re thinking about planting roots here in Temptation, you should talk to Fred Randall about purchasing some land or a house. Then you get in contact with Harper. She’s a wisp of a pretty gal, and she’s mighty talented, too,” Mr. Otis stated.

      “I’m just visiting,” Ava said and then thought quickly of something else. “But I like what I’ve seen of this town so far.” She shrugged. “Would be nice to maybe have a vacation home here.”

      Craig handed her a card. “Then Presley Construction is definitely here to work with you. Phone numbers, email and address are on the card. Harper does all the intake for new clients. I can introduce you to her. I just need to make a quick trip back to the warehouse and clean up a bit. Then I would love to take you to dinner to tell you more about Temptation.”

      Ava looked down at the card and nodded. Harper may be the head of Presley Construction, but she was also the fiancée of Garrek Taylor, the navy pilot. How lucky was she to have made this connection to the Taylor family so quickly?

      “Or she can just take a little walk down Sycamore Lane. Three blocks past the traffic light and to the left—you’ll probably bump right into Harper at Gray Taylor’s house. They’re having a barbecue tonight.”

      And the luck just continued to flow, Ava thought with a smile.

      “Oh no, I wouldn’t want to intrude on a family gathering. I can just call tomorrow to schedule an appointment.”

      “Nonsense,” Mr. Otis said. “Nana Lou baked some cookies for Jack and Lily. I told her I’d run them over there, but you can deliver them in my place. Gives you the perfect opportunity to meet up with Harper.”

      It certainly did. Almost too perfect, but Ava decided she would take it. This wasn’t LA or New York; people here were just friendly, she reminded herself. Nobody was going to be suspicious if a stranger just showed up with a plate of cookies. At least she hoped not.

      “Tell Harper I sent you to her,” Craig added. “I’ll take a rain check СКАЧАТЬ