In Over Her Head: An Anchor Island Novel by Terri Osburn (love story books to read TXT) 📕

“Are you listening to me?” Lauren asked, struggling to keep her rising anger in check. “Will, this is important.”

Blue eyes finally met hers. “I’m sorry. I’m listening, really I am, but there’s nothing I can do. Destination Anchor is a lead sponsor, and I’m the committee chairperson.”

“Let someone else be the chairperson this year,” Lauren pleaded. “My win could ensure a successful launch for Pilar's.”

Will dropped into the chair behind her desk with a heavy sigh. “Lauren, Pilar's will have plenty of publicity regardless of the competition. Four regional publications as well as Food & Fare magazine will be covering the event, and I’ve already lined up interviews with all of them. There’ll be three days of activities, during which we’ll present dishes ranging from bite-sized hors d’oeuvres to a full main course. We planned the opening for May first precisely to take advantage of the festival. I assure you, the competition is completely unnecessary.”

“But I need—”

“You’re meeting the Steinmans in ten minutes at the Sunset Harbor Inn,” Roxie interrupted, holding out a bright-purple folder. “I’ve added an updated checklist and a current copy of all costs incurred so far.”

“Thanks for the reminder.” Will bolted from her chair and snagged a light jacket off the coatrack in the corner. “I’ll be back in time to take you to lunch.”

“You’re meeting Randy at Dempsey’s for lunch, remember?”

Hugging the purple folder to her chest, Will glanced toward the ceiling. “What did I ever do without you?”

“You probably missed several meetings,” the assistant replied with a smile. “Don’t worry about me. Alex is bringing me lunch.”

Alex was the straitlaced island doctor whom Lauren had encountered during a previous visit to the Destination Anchor office. She’d never have guessed that Dr. Fielding would be Roxie’s type. The two couldn’t be more different, at least based on appearances. Lauren’s mother had tried the opposites-attract thing with little success, but then her mother had tried every type of guy and they’d all turned out to be losers.

Will set the folder down long enough to pull on the jacket, then grabbed her purse off a different hook and breezed toward the exit. “I’m serious, Lauren. Pilar's will have the best launch possible without you having to worry about that competition.”

“But I want to compete,” she mumbled as the busy woman left the building.

“She’s right,” Roxie said. “I get that you’re a fighter, but you’ll have to sit this one out.”

Lauren blinked, curious how a virtual stranger could know such a thing. “Sitting out is not in my vocabulary.”

With a chuckle, the assistant tapped the chair in front of her desk before returning to her own. “Sometimes life sucks like that. Have a seat. We need to talk.”

Without an excuse to decline, Lauren settled into the chair. “About what?”

Before she could answer, Roxie’s cell phone dinged and she checked the screen. A slow smiled curled her lips, but she didn’t pause to send a reply. “I’ll preface this by saying that I haven’t been on the island all that long, but in my short time here, I’ve learned a thing or two that might help you out.”

“I didn’t realize I needed help.”

“People seldom do.” Roxie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “My first suggestion is simple. Relax.”

Lauren tensed. “Excuse me?”

“Loosen up. You’re on island time now. If you keep giving off that ice queen vibe, you’re going to have a hard time fitting in.”

Suppressing a growl, Lauren said, “Why would I want to fit in?”

Roxie ignored the open hostility. “Why wouldn’t you?”

Because fitting in meant making friends, and Lauren preferred to avoid that activity.

Turning the tables, she said, “You don’t look like the fit in type.”

The woman’s smile grew wide. “I know, right? I walked onto this speck of sand with a chip on my shoulder the size of my Camaro.” Dark hair swayed as her head tilted to the right. “There’s just something about the people here. They don’t care who you are or what you’ve done. If you’re here and you pull your weight, then before you know it, you’re one of them.”

“What if I don’t want to be one of them?”

“I’ll repeat my question. Why wouldn’t you?”

Lauren didn’t answer and Roxie took her silence as encouragement.

“There’s no reason, right? I mean, you’re going to be living here. You need friends.”

“No, I don’t.”

Brown eyes narrowed but Roxie held Lauren’s gaze. If the busybody wanted a staring contest, Lauren would oblige. Seconds passed with neither blinking, until Roxie broke first.

“You’re stubborn. I like that. We’re going to get along, you and me.” Before Lauren could process that statement, Roxie leaned forward and rested her elbows on the desk. “Now, about Will. There are three things you need to know about our boss. One, she’s the most generous person you’ll ever meet. Two, she also works harder than anyone in the history of ever. And three, she’s like the unofficial mayor of Anchor Island. She and Randy own five businesses here, and everything they do is for the betterment of both the islanders and the island.”

Unsure how to respond, Lauren once again chose silence, which she assumed Roxie would fill. She was right.

“Despite her busy schedule, much of what Will does is volunteer work, and the festival committee, which organizes all island activities, is something she’d never give up.”

Pointing out what felt like the obvious, Lauren said, “If it’s a committee, then there must be plenty of other people to handle her stepping away for one time from one event. I’m not asking her to take a vacation or to stop volunteering. I’m simply asking her to put the restaurant first. How am I supposed to stand on the sidelines while every chef on the coast competes for best food?”

Roxie leaned back again. “When you put it that way, it does sound a bit more reasonable. But it also sounds like you want her to put you first more than the restaurant.”

Lauren rose from her chair. “I am the restaurant. My success