A Soldier's Valentine. Jenna Mindel

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СКАЧАТЬ sorry to push you out, but I really need to get my run in before a chamber staff meeting later this morning. You can return the mug later.”

      He held up his coffee. “Thanks.”

      “Sure. We have an open chamber meeting later this week. You should attend, meet the other merchants and see how we can help support your business in this community.”

      “I’ll think about it.” He wasn’t much for local politics, nor was he good at mingling.

      She gave him a smile that nearly knocked him over. “There’s really good food. The fancy dinner club around the corner is sponsoring it this month. You won’t be sorry.”

      Did she realize the power she wielded with a simple look? “Maybe.”

      “I’ll hold you to that.”

      “Uh, yeah.” He made his escape before he said something stupid.

      Ginger Carleton was cheerful with tart-sweetness rolled into one attractive package. Not that he’d ask her out. Dating his tenant would be completely inappropriate, like dating a woman under his command. And he was tired of seeing people under his command damaged—or worse. Not to mention that she was too young for him and better kept off-limits. Way off-limits.

      * * *

      “Well, Ginger, what do you think? Can you get the merchants on board?” Brady Wilson, the chamber president, waited for her response.

      Ginger leaned back in her chair. The scowling face of Captain Zach came to mind, but she pushed that image aside. As liaison between the merchants and the chamber, it was her job to rally the troops, so to speak. “I don’t know. I mean, other than the slight chance of our town being highlighted in the statewide tourism campaign, what’s in it for them?”

      Or her, for that matter.

      Decorating specifically for Valentine’s Day was an expense she hadn’t planned for. She had a few things, everyone did, but a big storefront display contest meant going all out. Something everyone did at Christmas. She couldn’t afford to buy new stuff to do that. She could barely afford to restock her inventory.

      “We could award prizes,” the chamber secretary offered.

      They’d done that for their Christmas Shopper’s Walk. Ginger had heard several complaints that the judging was biased. The same couple of businesses won every year regardless of the decorations used.

      Ginger bounced the eraser top of her pencil against her notepad. “One prize, a really good one, and the judging should come from the community. Something they can be part of, like maybe anonymous online voting on the chamber website.”

      Brady narrowed his eyes. “We’ve already paid for our statewide advertising. That could be the grand prize. A year’s worth of advertising across the state, as long as the Maple Springs Chamber of Commerce is somehow listed, too.”

      Ginger’s mouth watered. She could barely afford to advertise, and then only with a few local print runs. Statewide exposure was definitely a grand prize. At least, it was for her. It might make a difference in her online sales, maybe even her summertime foot traffic.

      “I like it!” Ginger finally said.

      Brady clapped his hands together once. “Then let’s get moving.”

      The sound startled the treasurer, who’d nodded off during the meeting.

      “I’ll let the bureau of tourism know our plans and invite them for the big reveal. Just maybe, with some hype, they’ll send someone up here. If we can show Maple Springs as a place for lovers on Valentine’s Day, we might have a shot at making the state campaign.” Brady stood, looking thoughtful. “Yes, yes, that’s our theme—Maple Springs Is for Lovers. Ginger, get the word out. Sandy, draft a newsletter today and email it. Let’s get this done now!”

      Ginger held up her hand. “Whoa, Brady. When will we announce the winner and how?”

      He was pacing the floor of the small boardroom, clearly excited. “Maple Springs is the place for lovers. Let’s prove that on Valentine’s Day. We need something to draw couples downtown other than restaurant specials. But what?”

      “Something romantic,” Sandy said.

      “I’m stumped.” Ginger wasn’t one for romantic daydreams. Men on white horses didn’t exist in her world.

      Brady laughed. “I rely on you ladies for that insight.”

      “My brother has one of those fancy horse-drawn carriages. Maybe we can hire him for the weekend.” The treasurer yawned.

      Brady grinned. “Perfect. Let’s make it so.”

      Ginger shared a look with Sandy. This might actually work.

      The area restaurants usually ran Valentine’s Day specials, but they could ramp it up this year. And if the town’s merchants cleared away their old Christmas greenery in exchange for hearts and cherubs, downtown would look fresh and pretty. With a town made over in time for Valentine’s Day, they might even lure skiers away from the hills and into the shops. She’d have to find a Valentine’s Day tea blend sure to spark romance.

      Thoughts of Captain Zach and the way he’d held her tight this morning sent a shiver through her. Surely Zach’s shop would open soon. Even so, Ginger needed to convince him along with the other merchants to decorate their storefronts in time for Valentine’s Day with the theme that Maple Springs Is for Lovers.

      She was used to cajoling store owners to buy into chamber-sponsored programs. But Zach Zelinsky was a much harder nut to crack. And grumpy, besides. If nothing else, her childhood had taught her to steer clear of men like him.

      She’d have a greater chance of winning the grand prize if his window was decorated like hers. Both had to be good. And that meant they’d have to work together.

      Her belly flipped. Anticipating that conversation wasn’t pleasant. She might get a fight or all-out agreement, and she didn’t know which one scared her more.

Chapter Two

      Ginger entered her store through the back. Flicking on the lights, she heard muffled voices and froze, listening. The sound came from next door. She strode into her shop and peered through the sliding glass door that separated their respective spaces. Opened boxes were strewn everywhere and Bubble Wrap and packing peanuts puddled on the newly refinished wide-plank floor.

      Curious for a peek at the kind of work an ex-army captain might make, Ginger couldn’t stand it. Flicking the lock on her side, she tried the slider and it gave way to her touch. He hadn’t locked his side. Her heels clicked on the wood floor as she entered, announcing her presence.

      And Zach appeared from around a corner. “Oh, it’s you.”

      Could he sound less enthused?

      “It’s me.” She grinned at him. “The door was open and I, um, really wanted to see your work.”

      He cocked one eyebrow.

      And СКАЧАТЬ