Page 40 of Falling for Love

“Yes?”

“This is Danielle Stern, from the Board of Architectural Review in Charleston.”

“How can I help you?” I ask, glancing at Tristan, while wondering why she’s contacting me. We were thorough in filling out our application, but maybe there are things they want further specified. Because from what I was told, we’d find out if our application to make changes to the building was approved or denied by checking the customer self-service portal. Not by phone.

“I’m calling to tell you that your permit for structural changes has been denied. I’m so sorry,” she says.

My stomach churns and I stiffen in my seat. “Can I ask why?” The inspector in the preapproval process led me to believe this shouldn’t be a tough request to have passed.

“The information is on the CSS. Again, my apologies.” She disconnects the call, leaving me in shock. I place my cell on the counter and instruct myself to breathe and to think.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Tristan asks, reading my expression well.

“Our application for structural changes in Charleston was denied. Fuck.” I pound my hand on the counter of the bar.

Before Tristan can react, my cell rings again. “Hello?” I listen and mutter a curse under my breath. “Yes. I understand. Thank you.” I disconnect the call and turn to my partner. “Business license denied.”

Two back-to-back calls that should have come through in other ways. I shake my head at how badly I screwed up by calling the senator. “Apparently, Chandler Cross wasn’t kidding about making my life difficult.”

“Hey.” Tristan stands and puts a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure shit out. Don’t forget we’ve got sharklike lawyers in our corner.”

I nod. “We will get it sorted.” Somehow. There’s no other alternative.

The door to the club opens and Taylor walks inside. She’s wearing a yellow dress that hits mid-thigh, showing off the tan she’s acquired since arriving in Florida, and her hair is wavy today, falling to her shoulders. She’s sunshine and happiness and I’m about to take that smile right off her beautiful face, dammit.

“Hi!” she says to me, obviously in a good mood.

“Hi.” I walk over, wrap an arm around her waist, and pull her into me, pressing a kiss to her lips.

She blushes and waves at Tristan. “Hi.”

“Hello, Taylor. Your timing is perfect. I was just heading to my office, so you can have this guy all to yourself.” He grins at her, slaps me on the back, and walks toward the back of the club.

“Is everything okay?” she asks, staring after Tristan’s disappearing form.

I guide her to one of the tables, and I hold out a chair for her and slide it in as she sits. I take the seat beside her.

“What is it?” she asks. “What’s wrong?”

I rub the back of my neck, massaging the tense muscles there. “I have something to tell you, and I don’t want you to get upset.” I decide to do it quickly. “Our permits and applications in Charleston were denied. And not even through the normal channels. I got a personal call instead of finding out on the website like every other applicant.”

Her eyes open wide. “No, he didn’t! What am I saying? Of course he did. I am so sorry.” She wrings her hands in front of her. “I never wanted my problems to impact you or your business.” She bites down on her lower lip, gnawing on the tender skin. “No. He can’t do that.”

“He can and he did.”

She grabs her purse that she’d put on the chair beside our table and begins to search through it, coming up with her phone. “I’m going to call him.”

“No.” I grasp the phone and slide it out of her grip. “Stay far away from that asshole. I’ll handle my issues.”

“How?” she asks, pinning me with her gaze, and I know I’m not going to get away with a vague answer.

I close my eyes briefly and groan. “Lawyers. And my father has connections everywhere. I already had him help me get the senator’s direct phone number.” At that point I didn’t want to tell Taylor until after I’d made the call, so I didn’t ask her for the information. She’d have tried to stop me. Now I’m wondering if ignoring the man wouldn’t have been the smarter thing to do.

She nods, listening, but I see the stress in the stiff way she’s holding her shoulders.

“Don’t worry. I’ll see if my dad has anyone who can pull strings for me. Maybe the owner of the Panthers has connections with another senator, or someone who can override Cross’s pull.” I drum my fingers on the table, the whole situation aggravating on so many levels.

“I’m glad you have that option.”