Page 40 of Small Town Boy

“Didn’t I see you at Dolly’s the other weekend with Noel Keller?” Mrs. Chamberlain asks.

Her question catches me off guard. What does that have to do with anything? “Errr, maybe?”

“Maybe? You don’t know whether you were out to eat with Noel?”

“No…I mean, yes, Noel and I had brunch at Dolly’s. But I don’t know if you saw us.”

I regret my response almost instantly. I didn’t mean for that to be quite as sassy as it came out.

“No need to be rude,” Mrs. Chamberlain replies, right as someone else at the table snickers, “Brunch…”

“She’s a Yankee,” Mrs. Burch reminds her friend, leaning into Mrs. Chamberlain. Her lips are pursed, and her tone is one that makes it clear she’s not being complimentary. Not that she bothered to lower her voice any. “Didn’t know what dressing is…”

So much for that staying a secret…

Heat radiates up me, and a little layer of sweat breaks out over my skin. I need to just ignore her. Focus on why I came.

“I apologize. I suppose you wouldn’t be asking if you hadn’t seen us.”

There, I apologized. That should put us back on an even foot. I turn to look at Moira and Stacey, who are busy having their own side conversation and don’t seem to be aware that I could use their assistance.

“How long have you been in town?” Mrs. Burch asks, taking over what is starting to feel like an inquisition.

“A month? Just under? I’m the new director of marketing at Hayes and⁠—”

“A month…and you’ve already gotten your claws into one of the Keller twins,” she comments.

Claws? What kind of woman does she take me for? The last thing I have is my claws in Noel. I don’t even have claws!

“Er, no, ma’am, there is nothing going on there. Not like that. Noel’s simply been helping me since I’m new to town.”

“Oh, honey,” Mrs. Chamberlain says, exaggerating the O. Her tone is condescending, a far cry from the sweet, borderline seductive way Noel says it. “Bless your heart…”

Bless my heart? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? She is not my priest.

“A young man does not take a young lady to Dolly’s on a Saturday morning unless he has certain intentions,” Mrs. Burch adds, the rest of the group nodding and murmuring their agreement.

I recoil slightly, taking in her statement. Is she out of her mind? No, she knows what she’s saying. She’s trying to get a rise out of me. Noel does not have intentions toward me. Even if he did insist he was taking me to breakfast—not the other way around—and if he kissed me afterward. He was being friendly. Extra friendly if we count that kiss. If there were intentions, he would have called or something. Which, it’s completely fine he didn’t. Because I have a job to do.

Which is why I’m here. I need to get this back on track. I came here for a reason.

“I promise, it was just breakfast,” I assure them. The looks I get are a mix of disbelief and disapproving, but I don’t care. I didn’t come to gossip or to share anything about my personal life. “Anyway, like I mentioned, I’m the new director of marketing for Hayes. We’re really focusing on Hayes Gives Back, and our first project is the playground at the elementary school. Gus tells me that it’s been mentioned at a number of town meetings over the last couple of years that there is some new equipment needed.”

“Is Hayes going to donate it?” the woman who inquired about my name asks.

“Partially,” I reply. “Hayes will be making a large contribution to the fund. However, we are also turning this year’s Turkey Trot into a fundraiser for it.”

“Excuse me?”

I don’t know who made the comment, but incredulity is loud and clear. Oh boy.

“Yes, a fundraiser. I know that you as the local women’s club have a philanthropic arm, since you help organize Rhythm and Brews every year⁠—”

“Rhythm and Brews is its own committee, my dear,” Mrs. Phillips, the eldest of the group says. Her voice is calm as she explains that it started out as part of this organization, but has just grown too big and requires its own group. I listen intently, making mental notes as I go.

“That’s good to know. Thank you, Mrs. Phillips.”

“Of course, dear. So what do you need from us?”