“Of course.” Drew led the way to his office, also recently redone to reflect the store’s new color scheme. “Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?”
“No, thank you.” Carolyn settled into a chair as Drew took a seat behind the oak desk.
“I heard about the robbery,” he said. “It must have been awful. It’s what we fear most in this business, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Carolyn agreed. She’d done her best to shrug off the effects of the robbery-turned-hostage-situation, but it haunted her. Even though it had ended well for her, Austin, and her staff, it could have been devastating. “We were fortunate it was resolved relatively quickly and peacefully.”
“I heard the robber…” Drew trailed off, which brought the image of the robber’s final seconds to Carolyn’s mind.
“Yes.” Carolyn didn’t want to think about that.
“Where were you at the time?” Zach asked Drew, drawing the focus away from Carolyn.
“Right here. It was nearly closing time. As soon as we heard, we went into lockdown mode,” Drew explained, shifting his attention to Zach. Part of being in retail was assessing your clients. Carolyn could see that Drew wasn’t sure what to make of Zach.
“A wise choice,” Zach said neutrally.
“Yes. Despite what happened,” he turned to Carolyn, “I want to reiterate my offer to purchase All That Sparkles. I know the store’s reputation may have taken a hit with the robbery and some bad reviews, but the offer I made your mother a few weeks ago still stands.”
“We’re not selling, Drew. As a matter of fact, I came to discuss those negative reviews and some other difficulties All That Sparkles has experienced in the past month. I want to know if you’re behind them.”
“What?” The other jeweler’s mouth hung open.
“You heard me. Are you trying to sabotage my store so you can lower your offer while forcing us into selling?” She’d phrased it as bluntly as she could, trying to shock Drew to see what he would reveal.
Zach was perfectly still next to her, but he missed nothing. She was sure of that.
Drew’s face turned red before going pale. Mission accomplished. She’d distressed him, knocked him temporarily speechless.
He sputtered before finding his voice. “Carolyn, I…I hope you know that I would never stoop so low. It’s true I want to buy you and your mother out so I control the jewelry market in Sheridan Falls, but…but you must have a very low opinion of me to think I’d resort to unethical activity to do so.”
“The clues I have point to you.” She wasn’t letting him off the hook too easily, even if her evidence against him was nil—except that he stood to gain from her troubles. Even so, she questioned whether the man before her was capable of orchestrating a robbery and hostage situation.
“I can see how you think they could, but I’m a businessman.” He spoke slowly, getting himself under control. “And I may get aggressive in my tactics, but I would never willfully harm anyone.”
“You can see how it might look,” Zach said.
“I can, but I assure you I have nothing to do with your misfortunes.”
She tried to evaluate Drew’s truthfulness. The jewelry business could be ruthless at times, but they’d been friendly rivals for many years. She couldn’t see a reason why that would have changed.
“Have you had any peculiar incidents in recent weeks?” she asked, wondering if this was just her store or might be a bigger issue.
“Nothing at all,” Drew confirmed. “It’s been business as usual.”
“We’ll go, then.” She stood to end the conversation, but Drew jumped to his feet.
“Perhaps you could stay a little longer. Your mother has refused to listen to my latest offers, but I thought you might be interested.”
“Why would I be?”
“You have a son to raise. You’re getting married. You must want stability in your life. I can give you that. I’m prepared to buy the name, building, and any merchandise you have on hand. It would be a tidy sum, all cash. Think of it. You could probably not work for several years, stay home with your child, have more if you want.” Drew looked between her and Zach. “You’re young, Carolyn. You could take your life in a completely different direction and not live out your mother’s.”
He had no idea, Carolyn thought—no idea at all what All That Sparkles meant to her. It was more than a livelihood, more than a store. It was what her mother had worked to build, and Carolyn was convinced it was her future as well.
“We’re not interested,” she said, “and I speak for my mother and sister as well when I say that.” She walked from the office. Zach’s hand touched the small of her back, giving her wordless support. He’d said little to Drew, but his reassuring presence was enough.
Out on the sidewalk, he guided her to the car. “I don’t think we learned anything new,” she said as she buckled her seat belt.
“No, but I think we eliminated Castle Jewels from our list of suspects. I think he’s what he appears to be: an opportunist. He sees that you might be struggling, and he’s willing to take advantage—but I don’t think he’s the type to cause problems.”
“I think you’re right. No help from that quarter, but no harm either,” she concluded. “What’s next?”
“Let’s pick up Austin,” Zach said, “and wait for your IT company to get back to you. Their findings might give us a lead to pursue.”
She didn’t need to direct him as they drove to her mother’s house to get Austin. It was the house Carolyn had grown up in, so Zach knew it well.
“I can just run in and get him,” Carolyn offered when they pulled into the driveway.
“I’d like to see your mother,” Zach said, which was exactly what Carolyn feared. Her mother had been pestering her for details ever since Carolyn had admitted Zach was spending time with Austin, and she made no secret of the fact that she hoped Carolyn would give Zach another chance.
“Sure,” Carolyn said with little enthusiasm as she got out of the car. She entered by the side door, pausing to listen. When there was only silence, she guessed they were in the backyard. Zach stayed with her as she headed to the French doors that opened onto a deck. Her mom was pushing Austin in the toddler swing she’d just had installed for her only grandchild.
“Look who’s here,” Faith said, slowing the swing and lifting Austin out. “Mama and Dada.”
Great. Carolyn hadn’t wanted Austin to think of Zach as his daddy, in case it didn’t work out. She supposed kids at that age didn’t really know what a father was, but she was still cautious, unwilling to let her son be hurt by an unreliable father as she had been hurt by her own father.
Austin toddled toward them across the grass. The smallest bumps in the lawn could make him fall, but he was adept at getting back on his feet. To her surprise, Austin went straight to Zach, raising his arms to signal he wanted to be picked up. Zach swung him up, giving the boy a kiss on the cheek before holding him against his chest.
Uh-oh, she thought, when Austin waved at her from the safety of Zach’s arms. Her son was growing attached to his father, which wasn’t a bad thing in itself—Austin should know his father—but a part of her worried. What if Zach grew bored with mundane family life? He was used to a different existence, full of missions and specialized training. He worked for a security company now, where he could still use some of his skills, but he’d been unwilling to give up his exciting military life for her once before. Would he capture their son’s heart only to break it when a better opportunity came along? God, she hoped not.