The Unintended Groom. Debra Ullrick

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.

      “Miss Bowen, Mr. Kingsley.” He breathlessly said their names as he scurried around to the other side of his desk and plopped down in his chair. He pressed his hand against his chest and drew in several streams of air. “I—I t-talked to the other members...” He panted out the words, then reached for his cup. Between breaths, he took several sips of his beverage. When his breathing neared normal, he spoke again, “We have decided to issue you a license, after all.”

      Abby wanted to jump up and down and hoop and holler, but in order to maintain a professional persona, she restrained herself.

      “But—”

      Uh-oh, here it comes. She should have known there would be a but in there somewhere. There always was with him.

      He held up his hand, looking only at Abby. “Anytime either I or the committee members feel your establishment is harming our community, or it doesn’t conform to the high standards we have set for our town, we will shut you down. And, the stipulation of maintaining a male business partner remains the same, or we will shut you down. Is that understood?” This time the mayor looked at Harrison.

      “I foresee no problem with that,” Harrison answered with a confidence she didn’t feel.

      Abby yanked her gaze in his direction, wishing she had the same assurance as he did as she had no intentions of maintaining a business partner, and he had no intentions of staying here. Unless...hmm. Unless he eventually became the silent business partner they had discussed the day before. She didn’t know why that wouldn’t work. After all, nothing was said about him having to remain here in town.

      The whole thing was a huge risk. One she was willing to take. Convinced once the mayor and his cronies saw how much money the business brought to their town and just how classy the place was, she had a feeling they wouldn’t care if her business partner lived here or elsewhere. Doubt niggled at her, but she paid it no mind. Nothing would douse her joy. Nothing.

      * * *

      Pride was the only way to describe how Harrison felt.