Chapter 2 The Town Meeting

The Rusty Anchor smelled like old beer. Grace arrived early, choosing a seat in the back row where she could watch everything without being noticed.

People trickled in slowly. Mrs. Patterson with her walker. Jake and his wife Sarah. The Kowalski brothers who ran the last operating gas station in town. Every face told the same story of exhaustion and fading hope.

Rita dropped into the seat beside her. "So. Your ferry boyfriend called a town meeting."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Right. You just stare at hundred dollar bills from strangers for fun."

Grace had kept the money. She hated herself for it, but the ferry needed repairs and her bank account was almost empty. Principles didn't pay bills.

"I don't even know him," Grace said.

"Oh... WOW" she said sarcastically.

Suddenly, the room went quiet. Grace looked up and felt her stomach drop.

Dominic Cross stood at the front of the room setting up a laptop. He had changed from the expensive suit into dark jeans and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked good. Too good.

Mayor Chen rushed over to shake his hand. "Everyone, please welcome Mr. Dominic Cross from Cross Development. He has an exciting proposal for us."

Exciting. Grace wanted to laugh. Nothing exciting ever happened in this town anymore.

Dominic turned on the projector. Images filled the wall behind him. Luxury cabins. A spa. Restaurants with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the river. Everything looked new and shiny and expensive.

"I know your town has been struggling," Dominic began. His voice carried through the room easily. Confident. "The factory closing hit you hard. Young people are leaving. Businesses are shutting down. So I'm here to offer a solution."

He clicked through more images. "Cross Development wants to invest thirty million dollars to transform this area into a premiere resort destination. We would buy properties at above market value. Residents who want to stay would have guaranteed jobs. Healthcare. Stable income."

The room exploded in whispers. Grace felt her chest tighten.

Mayor Chen was beaming. "This could save us."

"Or wipe us," Grace said loudly.

Everyone turned to look at her. Dominic's eyes found hers across the room. Recognition and Challenge passed between them.

Grace stood up. "You want to kick out families who have lived here for generations? Turn our home into a playground for rich tourists?"

"I want to give this town a future," Dominic said calmly. "Right now you're dying. I'm offering you a chance to survive."

"We don't need you to save us."

"Don't you?" He moved closer, stopping a few feet away. "What's your plan? Wait for the factory to reopen? It won't. Hope young people stop leaving? They won't. You can hate me all you want, but I'm the only real option you have."

Grace felt heat rise in her face. "You don't care about this town. You just want to make money."

"You're right. I do want to make money." His honesty caught her off guard. "But that doesn't change the fact that these people need help. Your pride won't feed them. My resort will."

She looked around the room. Mrs. Patterson could barely afford her medications. Jake had been unemployed for over a year. Rita worked three jobs and still struggled. Dominic was right and she hated him for it.

"There has to be another way," Grace said, but even she could hear how weak it sounded.

"Then find it." Dominic's voice dropped lower. Intimate. Like they were the only two people in the room. "But while you're searching for perfect solutions, real people are suffering. I can help them now. Can you?"

Grace wanted to scream. Or cry. Or punch him in his perfect face.

"You're a bastard," she whispered.

"I've been called worse." His eyes held hers. "Usually by people who know me much better."

The meeting continued but Grace barely heard it. Questions were asked. Arguments broke out. Some people loved the idea. Others were suspicious. Mayor Chen kept saying it was their only hope.

Grace felt like she was drowning.

When the meeting finally ended, she pushed through the crowd toward the exit. She needed air. Distance from Dominic Cross and his perfect solutions.

"Grace."

She kept walking.

"Grace, wait."

She made it to the parking lot before he caught up. His hand touched her elbow and she spun around.

"Don't touch me."

"You were impressive in there." He smiled slightly. "All that passion... anger. It's kind of attractive."

"I don't care what you find attractive."

"Are you sure?" He stepped closer. Too close. She was trapped between him and her truck. "You've been watching me all night. The same way I've been watching you."

Her heart pounded. "You're full of yourself."

"Maybe." His hand came up near her face but didn't quite touch. "Or maybe you feel this too. This thing between us."

Grace could barely breathe. The space between them felt charged. Electric.

"You want to destroy my town," she managed.

"I want to save it." His voice was soft now. Almost gentle. "Maybe we both need saving."

The words hit too close to something inside her. Some truth she wasn't ready to face.

Grace pushed past him and climbed into her truck. Her hands shook as she started the engine.

Through the window she saw Rita walk up to Dominic. They talked briefly but his eyes never left Grace's truck.

She drove home too fast. Her mind raced with thoughts of blue eyes and dangerous smiles and the way he had looked at her like he could see straight through every wall she had built.

She hated Dominic Cross.

She also wanted him.

Both things were true and Grace didn't know what to do about it.