“I’ve interviewed every other faculty member at the university.”
“I want you to leave me alone.” Aggression built with her tone.
“If you don’t want to do the interview, I won’t force you—”
“You can’t force me. I won’t let you.”
“I just want to understand why.”
Peyton circled her desk and crossed to him. She grabbed Darius’s upper arm and marched him toward the door. “I won’t tell you again. Get. Out.”
Peyton caught him off guard. The top of her head didn’t even reach his shoulder. Playing football in college, Darius had tackled and been tackled by men more than twice her size. What made her think she could take him on? He could have slipped her hold at any moment. Yet he allowed the pissed-off, pocket-sized professor to drag him to her door—and then shut said door in his face.
Darius stared in shock at the sealed entrance before walking away from Peyton’s office. He shook his head in confusion. If nothing else, this encounter convinced him the former New York University professor wasn’t going to change her mind about an interview.
But he’d still like to know why not.
The bell above the main cabin’s door chimed Wednesday morning. Jack welcomed the distraction from his bookkeeping—until he looked up from the registration desk and saw the stranger crossing the lobby. He dragged a rolling suitcase across the hardwood floor.
Jack stood. “Can I help you?”
The sesquicentennial had lured former neighbors back to Trinity Falls. It also had attracted a few strangers, but no one had reserved a rental. Few people knew Harmony Cabins existed.
“Give me a cabin.” Without looking at Jack, the stranger stood the suitcase on its end, then pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his white mesh shorts.
“I don’t have any.” Something about the man rubbed Jack the wrong way. It might have been the matching white mesh shirt worn over a black T-shirt. White canvas shoes completed the odd outfit. The guy couldn’t be from anywhere near here.
The would-be guest stared at him in incredulity. “What do you mean you don’t have any? I just passed four of them on my way over here.”
“They aren’t available.”
“Are you telling me they’re all booked?” He gestured behind him. “Why don’t you have a No Vacancies sign up, then?”
Jack crossed his arms, growing tired of the smaller man. “They’re being renovated.”
“What the hell does that mean? Do you know who I am?” He held up his gold American Express card. “I’m Wendell Weber, music producer.”
Jack froze.
CHAPTER 19
This was Audra’s ex-boyfriend? The man on the other side of the counter was average height and weight. His tan features were clean-shaven except for the soul patch hanging from his bottom lip. His diamond stud earrings were the size of nickels.
“Did Audra know you were coming?”
“She’s mentioned me?” Wendell puffed his chest forward.
What had she seen in this guy? “Not in favorable terms.”
The music producer’s grin disappeared. “Who are you?”
“Jack Sansbury.”
Wendell looked him up and down. “You got something going on with her?” When Jack didn’t respond, Wendell continued. “You own this place or something?”
“Yes.” Jack didn’t like Wendell’s smile.
“Well, good for her.” His expression sobered. “Which cabin’s she staying in? I want to talk to her.”