“I’d like a permit for a dance on New Year’s Eve. It’s for a building my grandfather owned, and then I want to present a proposal for a youth recreational center in the same building.”
He passed around a sheet of paper. “This is a brief overview of what I want to do and the funds I’m requesting from the city. All I want tonight is the permit for the dance and a motion to consider the proposal.”
Nicole scanned the paper. A youth center at 1453 Washington Street. Wasn’t that where Jake planned to house his senior center? She lost whatever else was said as she read the outline Peter had provided. Nicole had long believed the town needed a place for older teens to gather. In fact, it was part of her long-range plans for the city—if she ever became mayor.
Betty called on Jake to explain his reason for being there, and Nicole turned her attention to him.
“I’m here to submit a proposal to the council, asking for approval and financial support for a senior center,” Jake said. He handed each member an envelope. “I realize you’ll need time to look this over, but I’ll be glad to answer any questions.”
Nicole had already read the proposal, but she wanted to see his five-year business plan and budgets. She found the address of the building: 1453 Washington Street. She hadn’t been wrong on that.
A slow burn started in the pit of her stomach. If Jake had drawn her into some sort of contest between him and Peter, she’d throttle him. She looked up as Boyd Anderson cleared his throat.
“Jake, how do you propose to get the rest of the money to run your center?”
Jake turned to address the oldest member of the council. “Boyd, I intend to form a nonprofit and have already applied for tax-exempt status. That way I can apply to foundations for money. I also applied for my first federal grant, getting it in just under the deadline. I’ll know in April if I’ll receive it. In the meantime, I have backers who will help fund it until the grant money starts coming in.” Beside her, Peter stiffened. She’d bet he hadn’t applied for tax-exempt status.
“This is a grassroots-type thing,” Jake continued. “Until I receive funding, we’ll start small and see where it goes. The first step will be renovating the building on Washington Street. I applied for a permit this morning.”
Peter raised his hand, and the city clerk nodded. “If you would all look at item four, you’ll see I applied for a renovation permit on the same building late yesterday afternoon, which supersedes Jake’s.”
Mayor Gordon nodded.
Cal Sheridan folded his arms across his chest. “Looks to me like you two need to get your ducks in a row.”
Nicole winced. When Cal used that confrontational voice, it meant they were in for a long meeting.
“That’s why I’m here tonight,” Jake said.
Peter leaned forward. “Same here. Item five is for the permit and the proposal for a youth center, and item six is my request for a permit to host a dance on New Year’s Eve.”
Mayor Gordon usually voted for whatever Peter proposed, but she knew he was a good friend of Jake’s, as well. She turned to see the mayor’s reaction.
He shook two tablets from a bottle and popped them in his mouth, and then shed his jacket. “Is anyone else in here hot?”
The room was warm, and the head of the transportation department got up and adjusted the thermostat. In minutes cool air circulated around them.
“At least it’s not just me.” Hugh loosened his tie and glanced around the table. “We’re not going to settle this in the work session. We may as well table it until the council meeting.” He nodded to Betty. “Put them together as the last point of business, and let’s move on to other matters.”
The remaining items listed on the agenda were quickly dealt with. “Okay, let’s adjourn until five o’clock in the boardroom.”
Nicole checked the time. Only ten minutes before the meeting was scheduled to start. Enough time to get some answers. She hunted Jake down. “Are you and Peter working together, or competing for the same building?”
He grimaced. “Competing, unfortunately.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before you recruited me for help?”
“He’d mentioned a youth center, but when I asked you to help me, I didn’t know he’d present something tonight.”
“You still should have mentioned it.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I’ll try to remember that for the future. Will dinner after the meeting make up for it? Maybe Venelli’s...they have great pizza.”
She rolled her eyes. “Charm won’t get you out of this one. And for the record, my support for your project will depend on numbers and your long-range plans, not dinner at Venelli’s. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get to my seat.” She started to walk away. “Oh, by the way, Peter asked me to go for coffee with him when we’re done here.”
Ouch. Had no one ever turned Jake down for Peter? One would think not from the look on his face. In a blink, he was back to his usual self with twinkling eyes and sideways grin. “It’s only fair to warn you I always get my way...eventually.”
She laughed and walked out of the boardroom, almost bumping into Peter.
“I’m sorry.”
Peter ran his fingers through his blond hair, catching the lock that had fallen over his forehead. The one she’d been tempted to brush back herself because it was so uncharacteristic of him. She’d never seen Peter anything but put together.
He glanced past her, and his shoulders stiffened. “Jake has a good proposal,” he said. Then he looked at her. “I really would like to have coffee afterward. I’d like to talk to you about the youth center.”
At least he was being honest. That wasn’t fair. Jake had been up front about why he’d wanted to have lunch with her. “I think I can spare you a few minutes.”
“Good. Have you ever written a tax-exempt application? Because I haven’t even looked at what’s involved.”
“I helped write one for the art guild. I might be able to give you a few pointers.”
“Thank goodness.” He nodded toward the mayor. “I need to see him a minute.”
Jake approached her again as she climbed the podium to take her seat. She couldn’t help but notice that the cousins had the same blue eyes. Yep, Jacob O’Neil was every bit as good-looking as Peter, but in a different way.
With his Irish features, he was really more handsome than Peter, more dangerous in a sense. Like the bad boy in movies that always got the girl. Peter had more of the California surfer look. She wasn’t sure which of the two might be more trouble to her heart.
Nicole drew in a deep breath. No way was she setting herself up for another Stuart. Neither Jake nor Peter would cause her a problem as long as she remembered why they had suddenly started paying so much attention to her.
“I really do want to apologize,” Jake said. “And if you won’t go out with me tonight, how about some other time?”
And the game was on. She crossed her arms. So this was the way a deer felt in the crosshairs of two hunters. “Call me tomorrow.”
“I don’t have your cell phone number.” He cocked his head. “How about giving it to me and then agreeing to go to dinner tomorrow night? Unless you want to ditch Peter and grab something to eat tonight.”
Her mother would be ecstatic if she knew both Jake and Peter were trying to get dates with her. Too bad she wasn’t telling her. Nicole fished a card from her