The Unintended Groom

Harrison and Abby followed Miss Elsa down the long hall. Portraits hung on either sides of the wall. “Who are these men?”

“That one’s the mayor.” She pointed to the largest portrait. “The others are the town committee members.”

“I see.” That painting of the mayor told Harrison a lot about the person he was about to encounter. He was full of himself. Harrison knew exactly how to handle someone like him. After all, he’d had a lot of practice at that endeavor.

Miss Elsa knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

The woman opened the door and moved out of the way. “Get us something to drink,” the short rotund man sitting behind the massive desk demanded of Miss Elsa without so much as a please anywhere in sight. No wonder the woman had looked so miserable when they’d first walked in. Anyone who had to work with someone like him, someone with no manners, would be miserable. He knew that firsthand working for his father. From what Miss Elsa said, she had no choice. She needed the job. Well, when they got their business up and running, he’d talk to Abby about hiring the older woman to help ease her misery.

The portly mayor didn’t even stand when they entered the room. Harrison mentally shook his head. This was going to be an interesting meeting. But he loved a good challenge.

“Miss Bowen, good to see you again.” The way he said it spoke volumes. He hadn’t meant a single word of his greeting. This arrogant snob was phonier than fool’s gold. His eyes ran up and down Harrison, a look meant to size him up and to intimidate him. Harrison wasn’t the least bit fazed. He’d come across his type before.

“Mr. Prinker, may I introduce Mr. Harrison Kingsley? My new business partner.” Abby’s gaze stayed on Harrison, though he caught the smug look she gave the mayor just the same.

Mr. Prinker’s thin lips separated, and his bushy brows rose toward the ceiling.

Harrison grinned inside and extended his hand. “Mr. Prinker.”

The mayor just stared at the hand as if it were something that would devour him. He was right; Harrison just might cause the man some bodily harm if things were as he surmised they might be. Moreover, he knew he had the upper hand the moment the mayor showed the slightest sign of weakness. One always had to assess their opponent before going into battle. His father had taught him the art of combat well.

Mr. Prinker quickly masked his surprise, and his face turned stern. “There’s been a change in plans, Miss Bowen. I was going to send a message to you this afternoon. We’ve decided not to grant you a license, after all.” He sent Harrison a sly grin. The challenge was on.

Chapter Four

Abby’s ire rose. Something that happened a lot since coming to this town. How dare this man try to stop her dream from coming true? Especially after dragging Harrison and his boys halfway across the country. “What do you mean you’ve changed your mind?” Her anger came through her voice loud and clear and she didn’t care one whit that it did.

“Before you answer that...” Harrison glanced down at her, and she immediately caught his silent message to calm down. She’d try, but it wasn’t going to be easy.

Harrison stared down at Mr. Prinker. His tall stature, broad shoulders and glare made for quite an intimidating figure. “You need to explain yourself, why you have changed your mind and why Miss Bowen even had to obtain a license in the first place.”

Mayor Prinker’s eyelids lowered toward his meaty hands, then his gaze came back up to Harrison. Gone was the haughtiness, replaced with uncertainty.

Abby hid her grin of satisfaction, knowing the man had met his match.

“The committee and I decided with Hot Mineral Springs growing as rapidly as it is, in order to make sure no unsavory businesses soil our upstanding town or bring trouble to our quiet community, we voted to implement the business license law. We feel a dinner theater will bring too much riffraff here.”

“What?” Abby slammed her hands on her hips. “Just what kind of an establishment do you think I will be running?”

The mayor turned his eyes on her, then at Harrison, whose one eyebrow spiked and whose other eye narrowed menacingly at him. Swaying and tugging on his tie, the rotund man loosened it. Sweat drops formed on his balding forehead. He pulled a monogrammed handkerchief from his pocket and blotted his forehead with it.

“Explain yourself, sir.” The authority in Harrison’s voice snagged Abby’s attention. He crossed his arms, and the glare he sent the mayor was even more pronounced. “Before you do, you need to apologize to Miss Bowen for insulting her with your misguided insinuation. Anyone with class can tell just by looking at her that she is a fine, upstanding person. I am not sure I can say the same for you, however.”

“Now just you wait a minute.” Mayor Prinker shot upward, his chair scraped across the wood floor. He slammed his palms flat on his desk and leaned toward Harrison. “I’ll not sit here and listen to you insult my reputation.”

Harrison’s brow hiked again. “And yet isn’t that exactly what you’re doing to Miss Bowen?”

The mayor blinked and closed his eyes for a brief moment, then plopped his bulky form back onto the black leather chair. “I see what you’re saying.” He looked up at Abby. “Please accept my sincere apology, Miss Bowen.” He folded his hands together and lowered them onto the desktop in front of him. “However sorry I am, I still cannot issue you a license.” The apology was sincere, not only in his voice, but his eyes, and Abby actually felt sorry for him.

“Mr. Prinker.” She stepped forward. “I thank you for your apology, and I understand your concern. However, I assure you that my—” her attention swung to Harrison “—our establishment will only bring culture and even more refinement to your...to our lovely community.”

His eyes slatted as if he didn’t believe her.

Abby restrained herself from allowing her frustration to show. None of that would get him to trust her or get the license she needed. “I can assure you our theater will host only the finest of plays. Are you familiar with Jane Austen’s work, Mr. Prinker?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Well, then you know what wonderful works of art her novels are.”

“I sure do.” His chest puffed out.

“That there is nothing questionable in them to perform. Correct?”

The mayor nodded, and Abby noticed the slight curl of Harrison’s lips.

“No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in our establishment, only the finest teas and beverages will be served. Our guests will dine in high fashion. They will savor six-course French cuisine meals prepared by my cook, Veronique, who hails from France.” At that, the man all but drooled. Abby wanted to roll her eyes but didn’t because she herself was on a roll. “They will then be escorted to the theater where they will sit in exquisite, plush-velvet chairs and watch plays put on by reputable people only.” She gave that a minute to sink in before she proceeded.

“A theater such as the one we intend to create, like the one back home in Paradise Haven, did not bring in riffraff, nor did it cause the town or anyone else any trouble. On the contrary, actually. When word got around, society’s very elite traveled from miles away to watch the productions. Those very people stayed in the town’s hotels and increased the revenue of every establishment there.”

Greed shrouded his eyes.

She refused to tell him that people who didn’t have much came, as well. From the little bit she’d been around the mayor, he might deem them as riffraff or undesirables, which they weren’t, of course. “I assure you, Mayor Prinker, just as the theater in Paradise Haven did not tolerate anyone who caused trouble, we will do the same.”

The mayor sat back in his chair and raked his fingers across his double chin.

Abby looked over at Harrison. His smile of approval meant a lot to her.

Mayor Prinker rose and walked around his rich mahogany desk and stood within feet of her. “I need to discuss this new information with the other board members. I shall call a quick meeting in the boardroom. You and Mr. Kingsley can either wait here in my office, or you may come back later this afternoon.”

“We’ll wait here.” Harrison spoke before she had a chance to.

“Very well. I shall be back in a few minutes. Have a seat and I will send Miss Elsa in with some tea.”

“That won’t be necessary. But thank you.” No matter how thirsty she was at the moment, Abby didn’t want the poor older woman to have to walk any more than she had to with her bad leg.

“Very well.” With those words he stepped out of his office and disappeared from their sight.

Abby and Harrison sat down in chairs not nearly as nice as the mayor’s.

“You handled that very well, Abigail.”

She felt so good about things, she didn’t even mind that Harrison had called her Abigail instead of Abby. “Thank you. So did you.” She nibbled at her lip a moment. “Do you think they’ll agree to give us the license now?”

“Judging by the greed in Mayor Prinker’s eyes, I’d say that’s a pretty good indicator that we’ll get the license.”

No sooner had the words come out of his mouth than Mayor Prinker came rushing through door, huffing and puffing. That had to be the shortest meeting in history.