Ah, the old switch the conversation to catch her off guard. Right. Like she didn’t see that coming. But, what the heck.
“I don’t,” she said honestly. “He usually works from the outside in. Land first—places for trailers and equipment. I find ideal filming locations and try to open doors. He negotiates.” She paused, organizing the process in her head. “Once I settledon Mineral Lake, I started working inward. He’s been on the outskirts. I’m sure we’ll have a business meeting tomorrow, but I don’t know yet.”
Adam didn’t look away. “Where’s he staying?”
“At the Hidden Cove Inn.” It was the one motel in Mineral Lake, just down by the water.
Adam’s mouth flattened. “I’m not aware of anyone looking to rent their properties right now, so I’d like to know who he thinks he contracted with today.”
She shrugged. “Again, you’re asking the wrong person. But he’s good at negotiating, so I’m sure it was fair.” Although, Clancy had been known to turn the screws on people.
“How much research do you conduct when you settle on a town?”
“A lot,” she admitted. “The production company has a couple of investigative detectives on retainer. Clancy knows who needs money in the area.”
Adam took a drink of his water. “If he coerced anybody, he’s going to have a problem. Fast. Keep that in mind and stay out of the way if necessary.”
She studied him for a moment, taking in the stillness beneath his words. “What are you, the town’s guardian?” she drawled. “As the lone bartender?”
He didn’t move. “Yeah. I am.”
Now why did that sound like a threat?
CHAPTER 4
Shiller’s B&B sat at the end of Main Street, its porch stretched wide and pale in the dark with glorious spring flowers edging the grass and around the ancient trees. One floor was lit, the windows throwing warm squares into the yard.
Bianca cut the engine and took a deep breath. Spending dinner alone with Adam had reminded her that she knew how to relax. It had been so long since she’d been on an actual date. Not that they’d had a date, but still. She’d had fun. The tension had been over the top and the cool sexual kind, and the bartender could definitely flirt.
She angled her head to see the bulging clouds beginning to cover the moon. Thunder rolled across the hills, slow and heavy, followed by a silence that pressed in. The air smelled sharp and wet, rain close enough to raise the hairs on her arms.
She grabbed her bag and stepped out.
The porch light burned steadily, and she paused when she saw Clancy and Ewan sitting on the porch swing. “Boys?”
Clancy finished plopping the remnants of a sandwich into his mouth, still wearing the suit from earlier. He had, however, ditched the tie and unbuttoned his shirt. “Wasn’t sure you weregonna make it back here tonight.” His blue eyes sizzled beneath the mellow light.
Was that a dig? It felt like one. She climbed the steps, her boots thudding softly on the wood. “I told you I planned to stay here. Texted you earlier.”
“Yeah. But that cowboy bartender was looking at you like you were dessert.” Clancy kicked back, crossing his ankles and showing his leather loafers.
Somewhat true. Adam had not only looked at her like that, he’d offered weeks of fun.
Ewan looked from Clancy to her, one of his eyebrows arching. While Clancy handled the contracts and law, Ewan worked as the art director. He saw angles, structures, and textures like no one else. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Bianca said.
“Ha,” Clancy countered. “Bianca has been here one night and already found an extra to date.”
Ewan glanced at him. “You sound jealous.” Unlike Clancy, Ewan wore jeans and a flannel shirt with well-used boots. He liked to tromp around a location to find just the right places to film. He wore his blond hair longer to his shoulders and gold-rimmed glasses that framed his green eyes. “You jealous, Clancy?”
Yeah, sometimes the two of them got sick of each other.
Clancy rolled his eyes. “Don’t be stupid. I would rather the reputation of the production company didn’t hit the trash with our pre-production field team.”
Irritation clawed through Bianca, but before she could retort, Ewan chortled.
He laughed. “Whatever. Didn’t you sleep with the mayor of Bakerville while we were filming that limited series last year? Before the actors even landed in town?”