Moonlight In Vermont. Kacy Cross

      

      Table Of Contents

       One

       Two

       Three

       Four

       Five

       Six

       Seven

       Eight

       Nine

       Ten

       Eleven

       Twelve

       Thirteen

       Fourteen

       Fifteen

       Epilogue

       Maple Glazed Sea Scallops

       A Dash of Love

      Moonlight in Vermont

      Copyright @ 2017 Crown Media Family Networks

      All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereinafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

      ISBN: 978-1-947892-05-7

       www.hallmarkpublishing.com

      For more about the movie visit:

       www.hallmarkchannel.com/moonlight-in-vermont

      One

      Spring in Manhattan brought rejuvenation, fresh perspective, and lots of shiny new properties on the market. Fiona Rangely intended to take advantage of all three in her quest to stay on top of the real estate game. Her face graced Sold! signs across the city, and as soon as she closed this next deal, she’d beat her own record for the month.

      Everyone deserved a place to live that could become a home, where they’d build families and create memories. This conviction had helped Fiona become the queen of Manhattan real estate—that and a better-than-average ability to shut down her emotions during negotiations.

      Fiona put on her game face and turned her attention to the only thing standing between her and an unparalleled property with a view of the river.

      On a good day, other brokers called Tony Kapucki a shark. It wasn’t because he swam really fast. He had a reputation for bleeding every last cent out of a sale and she knew he’d try to take a bite out of this deal too.

      He didn’t disappoint her.

      “Do you realize what’s happening in the market?” Tony asked as they squared off over coffee.

      “You’re dreaming, Tony. You know it’s a fair offer.” She ignored his nonchalant shrug and leaned in as if about to impart a secret. “And you get to look like a hero presenting it to your client!”

      “Fiona.” Tony’s smirk held a hint of desperation. “I know you.”

      That meant she had him on the ropes. Now for the final one-two punch. “Then you know to listen to me.”

      “Eh.” Tony’s gaze shifted away from hers. “Another few weeks on the market, who knows what my client’ll get.”

      “My guess? Some shaky offers and an angry co-op board. So what’s it gonna take to close this deal, and give a nice grandma and her Pekinese a home?”

      Throwing in a mention of a dog always helped paint the picture for her opposition, and this was no exception. Tony took the knockout with grace, though he didn’t hesitate to tack on a few amendments to the contract that favored his client. No problem. The deal shook out in less than five minutes.

      The hustle of the city slapped her with its noise and beautiful chaos the moment Fiona stepped outside the bistro where she’d met Kapucki and handed him his hat. Her client waited for her near the entrance, looking too nervous to sit at one of the sidewalk tables lining the street.

      “We’ve got a deal,” Fiona said to the older lady, completely unable to keep her face from splitting into a wide grin. “And you’ve got a rooftop apartment by the river.”

      The relief and genuine excitement on her client’s face as she processed what had just happened gave Fiona a rush that she couldn’t replicate any other way.

      “They must have had a hundred offers,” the woman gushed as she and Fiona strolled a bit away from the crowd to where they could hear each other. “How’d you do it?”

      More like eighty-five offers, to be exact, but who’s counting. “Oh, a little creative financing and a whole lot of begging.”

      “Thank you.”

      The gratitude in her client’s eyes was all the thanks Fiona needed. “Location is everything, and you’re gonna love that place.”

      “Fiona, you’re amazing. Let’s celebrate.” The other woman grasped her arms in genuine enthusiasm, which only made it harder to say no.

      Unfortunately, she had to. Nathanial’s partners had rented out the poshest watering hole on the Upper East Side, and finally, after eight months of dating, Fiona would be meeting his work colleagues. She’d hoped the first time they were introduced, it would be as Nate’s fiancée, but he had yet to take her many hints. The man moved so slowly sometimes!

      Maybe she’d drop a few more breadcrumbs. If she laid a clear path, maybe she’d get a proposal for her birthday, though it was three very long months away.

      “Sorry, I can’t,” Fiona said and threw in, “But congratulations. I’m really happy for you.”

      Fiona sent her client on her way and palmed her cell phone. It fit into her hand perfectly, almost as if it had been made for