Can't Stop the Feeling (Whispering Bay Romance 6)

“Mr. Billings,” Mimi said, “I can guarantee you that whatever happens, it’s not going to happen fast, so I recommend you continue with your current plans.”

“Are you telling him to take his business out of Whispering Bay?” A middle-aged man with glasses addressed the room. “You all know me. I’m Josh Curtis and I’m a member of the chamber of commerce, and I can tell you right now that attitude isn’t going to fly, Madame Mayor.”

Betty Jean Collins spoke up next. “And I’m a member of the Gray Flamingos.” She stuck her tongue out at Josh. “I moved here to retire to a quieter lifestyle, not be run over by a bunch of drunken college kids on spring break.”

Betty Jean’s lizard imitation didn’t faze Josh. “Then maybe you should have moved to one of those retirement communities in the middle of the state. Where there’s a beach, there’s always going to be people. And those people are going to need beds to sleep in and food to eat and T-shirts to buy.”

And on it went, with half the room in favor of turning the beachfront property into commercial real estate and the other half screaming about how it would increase traffic and ruin the environment.

Poor Mimi. She spent the rest of the meeting backpedaling, trying to convince the crowd that she wasn’t deliberately trying to sabotage the local business owners or kill the turtles. Jenna sat there, a little stunned. She didn’t have anything to contribute to the meeting because no one seemed to care that the new budget had been approved.

How on earth did all these people find out about Nora’s offer to split the land?

Her gaze flew to Ben, and this time his attention wasn’t on the podium. Instead, he was staring straight at her.

* * *

Pilar turned off the mic. “That was interesting.”

The meeting, which should have lasted only about an hour, ran till nearly ten p.m. Most of the crowd had dissipated, but there were stil

l about a couple dozen people lingering in the gym.

“How did that happen?” Mimi asked. “The whole city knew about Nora’s offer.”

“Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out,” Pilar snapped.

“You think Ben leaked it?” Jenna asked.

“Who else? Or Vince Palermo. Obviously it was leaked by someone who’ll benefit from it.”

“All I know is that after today I need a long hot bath.” Mimi rocked her neck from side to side to ease the tension.

“And I need a good stiff drink.” Pilar turned to Jenna. “Want to join me at my place? Nick makes a mean martini.”

“Tempting, but no thanks.”

“Suit yourself. See you on Monday!” She left, arm in arm with Mimi, leaving Jenna alone by the podium. The maintenance man informed her that he was locking up in fifteen minutes.

Ben, Jenna noticed was still in the gym, talking to Lauren Miller. Lauren was a cute bubbly blonde and the owner of Baby Got Bump, the designer maternity shop next door to The Bistro. Jenna had met Lauren a few times and liked her. She was smart, and according to Mimi her business was growing like gangbusters.

Jenna walked across the gym floor and waited patiently while Ben finished up his conversation. If he noticed her standing there, he didn’t indicate it. She couldn’t help but hear a little of what they were talking about.

“I had no idea that was you,” Lauren said sounding impressed. “I’m definitely interested, but I’ll have to talk to my partner. How about I let you know something by next week?”

“Sounds good. You’ve got my number.”

The two of them shook hands. Lauren smiled when she spotted Jenna. “Interesting meeting. I’d love to stay and chat, but Nate’s waiting for me in the car. Bye!” she cried on her way out the door.

Ben turned to look at her. The corner of his mouth twitched up like he was trying hard not to laugh. “Hello, Jenna.”

Whatever she’d been about to say flew straight out the window. “What are you, a teenage boy?”

He took her by the elbow and marched her over to an empty alcove where they kept the trophy case. “You make me feel like one.”

He bent down to kiss her, but she placed her hand against his chest to fend him off. “First things first. How is Rachel?”

“She’s fine. She’s with Mom and probably still singing songs from Annie. At the top of her lungs, I might add.”