by Maddie James
Amazon Top 100 Paid Bestseller -- Contemporary Romance; Fiction Anthologies
A Ladies of Legend Novella (ebook)
Suzie Schul has it all. A booming business, a wonderful town to live in, and, well, food. Yeah, she loves to cook and she’s the best darned cook in Legend, Tennessee. Everybody says so. She runs her own B&B, has published a cookbook, conducts cooking classes on Saturdays, and caters for special events and holidays.
What more could she want, really?
Nothing that she will admit, anyway. And let's not even think about that brief escape to Gatlinburg several months back when she had separated from her then-husband, Cliff. Or the fact that the man ran off with her little sister while they were, um, estranged. And let's definitely not bring to light that she'd never really revealed to anyone in the small town of Legend what exactly had happened between her and Cliff.
Or the fact that while she was off "finding herself" and "losing her husband" at the same time, she sort of, well, had a fling. But never mind about that, because "the fling" is long gone and likely doesn't even know where to find her. Besides, he was trouble.
And just when Suzie thinks all is well, TROUBLE rides up to her B&B doorstep on a bad-ass Harley and tosses her perfect little world into some kind of big, bad tumble.
Chapter One
“I’ll take it.”
“You understand the deal is as is.”
Brad Matthews nodded. “I understand.” He looked up at the decaying and dilapidated structure and wondered what it was like in its hey day. Although he hated to tear it down, that was exactly what he was going to do. “The land is worth the asking price.”
“What will you do with it?” Martin McClain, the realtor he’d been working with, studied him from the side.
“I have a plan.”
Martin harrumphed. “Others have had plans, too. I assume you have the financing for renovation?”
He assumed correct. Brad suddenly had financing for just about anything he wished.
“Yes.” His answers were intentionally vague. These small town types, you never knew what they would keep confidential or pronounce in the coffee shop for the whole town to chew on.
That was the last thing he wanted, or needed: the whole town of Legend, Tennessee, all six-thousand-plus of them, chewing on his business.
No way. Not until he was good and ready.
“Lake Lodge is pretty special to the folks around here.”
Brad figured it was. Figured he’d also have a fight on his hands when they learned what he wanted to do with old Lake Lodge.
“Pretty special to me.” Brad left it at that and turned to Martin. “How soon can we close?”
Martin rubbed his chin with his forefingers. “Your loan is secure. The sellers are motivated. I’d say any time in the next few days. Let’s sign the paperwork and I’ll get it to their agent.”
He nodded and let a slow, languid grin spread across his face. “What else needs to be done?”
Martin studied him. “Well, for starters while you are here in town, I’d check with zoning, a local contractor or two, temporary utilities, et cetera.”
Good idea. It would keep him busy while he was waiting to take possession. Get the details out of the way so he could get to work.
He nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
Martin thrust out his hand to shake Brad’s. “Good dealing with you, Mr. Matthews. Got a place to stay while you are in town?”
For the first time since his arrival in Legend, a hint of trepidation skipped down his spine. Slowly, Brad angled his gaze toward Legend Lake and across the expanse of water. It was the same view Lake Lodge boasted of in old brochures, the one that forty years ago drew tourists to the mountains and the lake in droves.
And if he had anything to do with it, they would return in droves again.
His eyes rested far across the lake on a moderate-sized clapboard home that sat nestled in a young cove of trees bordering the lake’s edge.
“Yes. With any luck, I will have a place to stay.” He turned to Martin and shook his hand. “Thank you, Mr. McClain. I’ll give you a call in the morning.”
Martin headed toward his older model Jeep. The guy was going to enjoy the commission he’d make from the sale. Well, good for him. He imagined the guy could use the money. Might as well let his inheritance contribute to the local economy.
Turning, he eyed his newest toy—a brand spankin’ new, baby-blue Harley Davidson Dyna—and swung a leg over the warm leather seat. Felt good to be in the saddle. In control. Two dreams coming true. A hog of his own and becoming his own boss real, real soon.
He was a man with a plan; knew exactly what he wanted.
But there was one more piece of his plan to accomplish, and he would work on that one, next.
He kicked the bike into gear and the rumble broke the mountain calm. As he spun out, he wondered what the locals were going to think when other rumblings broke the silence of the small town.
Like dynamite blasting a hole in the side of their favorite mountain.
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