Better Than Chocolate by Sheila Roberts

Author:Sheila Roberts [Roberts, Sheila]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781611735543
Google: rDK9xPY8fLIC
Amazon: 077831345X
Barnesnoble: 077831345X
Goodreads: 13548078
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Sooner or later, trouble is bound to knock on your door. Welcome it. Then poison it.

—Muriel Sterling, Knowing Who You Are: One Woman’s Journey

Del wasn’t in his office. Again. “When will he be back?” Samantha asked Pissy.

“By noon, but he has a lunch date so he’s not going to be able to talk to you.”

“I’m sure he can spare a minute,” Samantha said, and plunked herself down on a chair to wait. This time she was not leaving until somebody told her something about those permits.

Pissy shrugged. “Suit yourself.” Then she went back to her desk and got busy looking busy.

Really, if people could get a degree in immaturity, Pissy would have a doctorate. Samantha took out her phone and began checking email.

She’d barely gotten started when Elena called. “You’d better get back here.”

The urgency in her voice made Samantha’s heart stop. “What’s going on?”

“Something fishy. The manager from the bank is here with two other men and they want to inspect the factory.”

“What?” Samantha bolted from her seat and hurried out the door. “Where are they now?”

“I sent them to the gift shop for some free samples. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You did the right thing,” Samantha said.

“Why are they here? Does this have anything to do with your meltdown a couple weeks ago?”

“Yes, but it’s under control. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry? ¿Estás demente? I know a shark when I see one. What’s going on, chica?”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Samantha assured them both. Oh, Lord, she hoped she was right. She ended the call and broke into a run.

But when she reached her street she realized she needed to face these buzzards from a position of strength, not weakness. Entering her business establishment breathless, sweaty and panicked was no way to put up a strong front. She slowed down, finger-combed her hair and found a tissue in her purse to blot her damp forehead. Then she took a deep breath and marched into battle.

She’d expected to see Blake the Snake and maybe another bank manager, but not the third man, and her heart seized at the sight of him. She knew this man, just like she knew all her competitors. She’d made it her business to check out the competition. Trevor Brown was a busy boy. Every year he lobbied for Madame C to become the official candy of Washington State, as the Liberty Orchards people who made Aplets and Cotlets did, and Brown & Haley, producers of Almond Roca—as if he was even in their league—and Sweet Dreams, the chocolate contender. He had big suppliers and a big appetite. He’d already gobbled up two small companies, and now he was looking to swallow hers. Well, he wasn’t going to get it.

She donned her business smile and forced herself to move forward, hand out. “I heard we had visitors.”

Blake shook her hand. She felt a jolt at the contact and told herself it was rage, pure rage.

He looked embarrassed. He should. He should be mortified by his behavior.

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