Share the Moon. Sharon Struth

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      * * * *

      Duncan hurried to the parking lot. After the hearing he’d been pulled aside into a private meeting with the board members and had missed his chance to catch up with Sophie.

      He’d wandered to the different pockets of residents huddled in groups talking, searching for her face. Several people cast dirty glances in his direction as he scrutinized them in the dim light. When he entered the auditorium earlier, he’d been elated to spot her amongst the crowd. Her scorching glare, a few seconds after the shock of seeing him passed, reminded him of his misleading introduction.

      He turned to the sound of footsteps. Sophie rushed to her car, her blazer tails flapping with a gentle breeze.

      Duncan trotted toward her. “Hi. I wondered if I’d run into you tonight.” Puffs of condensation exploded with each word.

      “Oh. Hello, Mr. Jamieson. Yes. I work for the local newspaper.” Her relaxed tone from earlier now sounded stiff and formal. “I’ve been looking for you, too.”

      The tall parking lot lights glinted off her press badge. “Blue Moon Gazette, huh? I wouldn’t have recognized you from the picture.”

      In the photograph, Sophie wore her dark brown hair shorter and her pretty eyes seemed void of life. Different than the long, soft curls she had today, or the smoky quartz sparkle of her gaze that blew him away when he’d helped with the boats.

      She wrapped her arms across her chest and covered the photo. “It’s old. I’m the paper’s staff reporter.” She straightened her posture. “As long as you’re here, may I ask you some questions?”

      “Sure.”

      She removed a pad and pen from her bag, all while her unmistakable glare scorched his skin.

      “I’d be happy to answer any questions, but first—”

      She flipped open the pad. “What specific steps will your firm take to address environmental concerns—”

      “Wait.” He held up a hand. “I’m concerned you might be wondering why I’d tell you my name is Carter.”

      “Tell me the specifics about what you plan to do.”

      “I plan on having an environmental group perform a study. Sophie, earlier I didn’t—”

      “Plans with the scope of RGI’s development are unheard of on this lake. Would you consider modifying them to a smaller scale project if the results show significant damage to—”

      “Did I do damage by telling you—”

      “That your name is Carter and you’re here to buy a house for your family? You sure did.” She shoved the pad back into her bag. “Neglecting to mention you’re the president of RGI and you’re the one buying the land. That’s what tipped the scale.”

      “Sophie, my middle name is Carter. It’s used in—”

      “In Northbridge, Mr. Jamieson, a person’s reputation and word go a long way. Actions are never forgotten…both good and bad.”

      Duncan counted to ten in his head so he didn’t blow his stack. This frustrating woman had unraveled the calm cool exterior he wore at all times, especially when conducting business. If he yelled at her the way he wanted to right now, God knows what would end up in the newspaper. He couldn’t recall anybody ever having talked to him this way. He drew a breath and then slowly exhaled. “Based on your anger, I’d say I’ve done something so unforgivable neither you nor your newspaper will give fair coverage to my resort story.”

      “Fair coverage?” She squeaked. “Is that all you care about?”

      A couple walked by and said hello to Sophie. She nodded and forced a weak smile in their direction. When they passed, she looked at him and lowered her voice. “Is your appearance at the kayaks today even a coincidence?”

      “What?” Her directness threatened to loosen the bolts of his rusty confidence.

      “Look, people have done far crazier things than flirt with someone to manipulate the press.”

      “You thought I was flirting with you?” Maybe he wasn’t so rusty. He tried to put on a some-day-we’ll-look-back-on-this-and-laugh grin, hoping she’d find humor in what had happened.

      “Whatever!” She waved her hand in the air. “Look, I don’t know what your game is. I’m sure you think you’re very clever.” She stepped to the car door.

      “I wasn’t trying to be clever, and I—”

      “I think you’ve answered all my questions, Mr. Jamie—”

      “Stop being so formal!” A blast of heat rushed up his cheeks. Damn her! The final cord of control belonged to him and he refused to let her end this conversation. “Call me Duncan…or Carter. You’re not even listening to—”

      “My work is done here.” She pulled open the door. “Thank you for your time.”

      Sophie scooted into the driver’s seat and slammed the door. The car started and her window rolled down. For a half second, he hoped she’d reconsidered leaving.

      She glared at him, yet sadness smoldered in the very depths of her dark-brown eyes. “This lake means something to me you’d never understand. Before you go changing things, think about those of us who live here.”

      She threw the car into drive and peeled out of the lot. Her taillights disappeared down the road, leaving Duncan’s ego as flattened as if she’d run him over on her way out.

      What the hell had just happened?

      Regret over the white lie he’d told when they first met doused any remaining confidence. He pulled off his leather glove, reached into his pocket, and removed a hard butterscotch candy. His fingers fumbled as he removed the crinkly cellophane, then he popped it into his mouth. The smooth, sugary treat pacified his nerves like a Glenlivet on the rocks. The day he’d spotted the buttery candies in a drug store, just like the ones he used to enjoy when he visited his grandmother’s simple home, he’d located a satisfying replacement for his Marlboros.

      The sound of footsteps made him turn around.

      “Sophie’s bark is worse than her bite.” Buzz’s smug smirk hinted he’d heard some of their conversation.

      “What?”

      “She seemed mad.”

      The selectman’s coat hung open over his suit. Duncan’s winter wool overcoat was buttoned to his neck with a scarf and he still had a chill. “We had a little miscommunication.”

      “Because you trumped her on the deal with the Tates?”

      “She was the other buyer?” He rolled the candy over his tongue and digested the new information. He bit down and it shattered.

      “Yeah. Her brother and father wanted in on the purchase too. A big stretch financially for them, though.” Buzz raised a dismissive hand. “They wanted to restore СКАЧАТЬ