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Drat She’d let her gaze linger too long “No No Not at all In fact, you look quite comfortable”

Her words did nothing to s his handso?”

“Uo?”

He didn’t say anything at first And then he returned his sunglasses to the bridge of his nose as he got to his feet There was so able to look into his eyes when they spoke

The sooner she got this presentation under way, the sooner it’d be over “Would you like a tour of the South Shore?”

“Yes”

Short and to the point She wondered if he was always so reserved She started to walk, thinking about where she should begin Of course, she’d given this tour a number of times before to other potential business owners, but somehow it all felt different where Mr Landers was concerned Everything about him felt different

Annabelle straightened her shoulders as she turned to the small piazza where an historic fountain adorned the center “I thought ould start the tour here The South Shore is a historic neighborhood”

“I see that Which makes me wonder why you think one of my cafés would fit in?”

“This area has had its better days” She’d hoped her presentation would make the answer to his question evident, but she hadn’t even started yet She laced her fingers together and turned to his had once been left for nature to reduce the community”

“That’s nice, but you haven’t answered my question”

She moved closer to the ancient fountain where four cherubs in short togas held up a basin while water spouts froht, spotlights lit up the fountain, capturing the droplets of water andthem twinkle like diaht

“If you will giveto it”

He nodded “Proceed”

She turned to the fountain “This is as old as the South Shore The famous sculptor Michele Vincenzo Valentini created it It is said that he visited Mirraccino and fell in love with the island Wanting to put his ift to its people The sad thing is that not long after the project was completed, he passed on”