His half-hearted attempt at an apologetic smile failed. “My client wishes to remain anonymous.”
“Then you can leave.” Dotty jerked her thumb over her shoulder toward the front door.
He widened his eyes as though her response surprised him. “You haven’t even heard my offer yet. Come on. It’s five figures.”
She eyed him with a cold stare. “I don’t care what you’re offering. Those pearls have been in my family for hundreds of years, and they will continue to stay that way. When I die, they will go to my daughter and then her daughter.”
Sophie smiled smugly.
“Why?” His question held a whining quality. “You probably have them buried in a safe where no one ever sees them. What good are they there? Passed down from generation to generation like a burden that must be carried because the one before you did the same. Why don’t you sell them to someone who really wants them? Someone who will take pleasure from them every day? You can take the money and buy yourself something nice.”
Dotty snorted in disbelief. “Cora? Do you have this man’s coffee and muffin ready? Because he’s leaving.”
Cora flicked a wide-eyed glance at Hazel, and she returned the gesture. “Coming right up.”
The disappointed man headed toward the counter and paid for his food, but he stopped at their table again before leaving. “Call me if you change your mind.”
Dotty turned her face from him. “Rest assured. I won’t.”
For several moments after the man had exited, no one in the café said a word.
Finally, Dotty released an exaggerated huff. “The nerve of some people.”
“Right?” Sophie added. “Like he can just waltz in and take my inheritance from me?”
June shook her head. “I think you made a big deal out of nothing. He was only asking a question.”
Just like that, the sisters were arguing again.
Cora watched them for a few seconds before turning her gaze to Hazel. “Nothing much changes around here.”
Hazel grinned. “One of the things I love about Stonebridge.”
Not long after, Hazel said her goodbyes, and she left with a package of Cora’s amazing snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies tucked safely under her arm. As she forced open the door and stepped out, she smiled. She might be in for a heck of a storm, but she’d have no one in her store to eat the cookies.
She’d told Gretta to stay home, knowing business would be light and they’d be closing early, so Hazel wouldn’t even have her assistant to help her devour them.
If she couldn’t eat them all, which was unlikely, she could freeze them for later.
She lowered her head against the blowing snow and headed down the cobblestone sidewalk toward her shop.
Several steps later, she barreled straight into a hard body.
Click HERE to purchase TWICE HEXED, Teas and Temptations Cozy Mystery Series, Book Two
The End
Book List
TEAS & TEMPTATIONS COZY MYSTERIES
Once Wicked
Twice Hexed
Three Times Charmed
BLACKWATER CANYON RANCH (Western Sexy Romance):
Caleb
Oliver
Justin
Piper
Jesse
ASPEN SERIES (Small Town Sexy Romance):
Wounded (Prequel)
Lawless
Cowboys and Angels
Come Back to Me
Surrender
Reckless
Tempted
Crazy One More Time
I’m With You
Breathless
PINECONE VALLEY (Small Town Sexy Romance):
Love Me Again
Love Me Always
RETRIBUTION NOVELS (Sexy Romantic Suspense):
Branded
Hunted
Banished
Hijacked
Betrayed
Whispers
Secrets
OTHER TITLES:
Moonlight and Margaritas (Sexy Contemporary Romance)
Sweet Vengeance (Sexy Romantic Suspense)
About the Author
Award-winning author Cindy Stark lives with her family and a sweet Border Collie in a small town shadowed by the Rocky Mountains. She writes fun, cozy witch mysteries, emotional romantic suspense, sexy contemporary romance. She loves to hear from readers!
Connect with her online at:
http://www.CindyStark.com
http://facebook.com/CindyStark19 (follow me)
https://www.facebook.com/cindy.stark.96780 (friend me)
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5895446.Cindy_Stark
https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Stark/e/B008FT394W