String Beans (The Girls of Beachmont #2) by T. K. Rapp Read Free Book Online Page B

it by
now.
    “She’s not interested. Besides, there’s something up with her.”
    “Like?”
    “Not sure.”
    “Is she dating someone? Married?”
    “I don’t remember seeing a ring.”

 
    The day Vi came
into String Beans, it was the first time I acknowledged that I was the owner. I
knew my dad would be proud.
    I never planned on
leaving my cushy job as a corporate accountant in New York to run the family business.
But life had other plans. Dad called to tell me that Mom had suffered a massive
stroke, and since I have no siblings, I was left with little options. Mom and Dad
gave up so much for me, and I felt obligated to help. He was spending all his
time nursing Mom back to health, and the store was starting to tank.
    When I sat down to
look at the books, putting my business degree to good use, I discovered how
ineffectively the store was run. I crunched some numbers and talked to my dad
about some changes he could make and hopefully the store would become
profitable again.

 
    “How long have you
owned String Beans?” Viola asked, snapping me from my thoughts.
    “It’s been in the
family since before I was born. It was my mom’s dream, and my dad made it
happen. But I took it over about a year ago.”
    “What about your
mom?”
    “She had a stroke
and wasn’t able to run it anymore.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “She’s okay. I
mean, her speech is slower and it takes more time for her to do everyday
things, but considering they didn’t think she was going to make it, she’s
great.”
    She turned her body
toward me and rested her arms on the table. I felt like I was about to be
bombarded with a ton of questions.
    “Where did she come
up with the name?”
    I leaned back in my
chair and laughed as I clasped the back of my neck. “The easy answer, Mom’s
obsessed with coffee. But the longer answer is that she wanted to have
someplace in the area for people to escape. She loved the idea of being the
place people considered their second home…so she named it for coffee beans.”
    “And the string part of it?”
    “Isn’t it obvious?”
I asked.
    “Yeah, but tell me
anyway.” She smiled.
    “My dad is a music
guy. Can’t sing to save his life and has never played an instrument. But he’s a
big fan. I guess she chose the name for her and my dad, because while they’re
completely different, they work.”
    She remained quiet
for a moment as she considered my answer, but then her smile grew and soon she
was laughing softly.
    “Did you just make
that up? Because that was pretty damn impressive.”
    “You think?” I
questioned, amused by her response.
    “Oh yeah,” she
nodded. “That one is sure to get you some dates.”
    “I’ll have to
remember that.”
    “What did you do
before you owned the store?”
    “What do you think
I did?” I challenged, mimicking her posture. How a person sees someone else
speaks more about them than you.
    She leaned back in
her chair and contemplated the question. I was prepared for any number of
titles, but not what she said next.
    “Pornography
historian?”
    A laugh erupted
from me and she smiled, pleased with her joke.
    “Is that a thing?”
I asked
    “You tell me. I
mean, that is what you did, right?”
Viola asked with a smirk.
    “Very funny.”
    “What? Were you
something boring like an accountant?”
    My eyes widened,
and I nodded my head slowly and watched as her amusement turned to mortification.
    “You’re joking.” She
covered her face with her hands and peeked through her fingers. “You are joking, right?”
    “Nope. That was me.
Boring accountant guy.”
    “I didn’t mean
anything by it.”
    I smiled and pulled
one of her hands away with my own. I should have let go. For the life of me, I
didn’t know why I was still holding onto it, but I had to release her when she
all but shook my hand away.
    “Tell me something
about you,” I said, attempting to make things less awkward.
    “Not much to tell.”
    “I don’t believe
that. I think