Read Online Deconstructing Lila (Entangled Select) by Shannon Leigh - Free Book Online

fun.

Lesson Number Five —
    A smile and a polite thank-you are two of the best weapons in your personal arsenal. A kiss is not half bad neither.

Chapter Seven
    “G oodness, Lila! I’m so sorry I took so long. I had to drop the kids at home and then get gas.”
    Rose Garner’s brunette curls bobbed around her head as she dug in her giant leather satchel for the keys to the Goodwin building. Lila had known the petite mother of two since Rose had squished mashed potatoes in her hair over a boy in the sixth grade. Fortunately their disagreements had progressed to more civilized terms and the two still kept in touch through emails and late-night phone calls during The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon .
    “No problem. I’m just dying here in the heat. It’s not like it’s a hundred and ten degrees or anything.” She gave Rose a wink.
    Finally seizing her keys, she juggled the massive puzzle until she found the right one. Lila tapped her chipped nails on the doorframe, considering a French manicure for herself. Granny’s garden was taking a toll on her hands.
    While Rose muttered to herself about ancient locks and oversize keys, Lila peeked impatiently through the dirty front window, ignoring a string of escalating curses when the door wouldn’t budge.
    “I don’t understand all this sudden interest in the Goodwin building. It sits here empty for years, and all of a sudden, when the city is set to demolish it, I’ve got people comin’ out of the woodwork to check it out.”
    Lila gave her a sideways glance while wiping the glass for a better view. She almost laughed out loud at Rose trying to strong-arm a 125-year-old door in her lime-colored capris, sleeveless ribbed sweater, and matching lime ballet flats. She’d wager the door would whip Rose if she didn’t want to get inside Miss Pru’s so bad.
    “Are you serious? Who else is interested besides me? And why are they ‘in the know,’ when I’ve gotten nothing but crap from the mayor?” she asked Rose.
    “A few people have called over the last week as the deadline got closer. After taking a look at the amount of work this place needs, I guess they decided against it because I haven’t heard back from them. Looks like you’re the only sucker dumb enough to truly consider signing the bottom line.”
    The key slid into the lock at last and Rose put a shoulder against the door, pushing it open. Stepping ahead of Lila, she found the switch, and the sudden glare of lights silenced both of them.
    It was a disaster. Not just dusty and unkempt, but wires hanging out of the walls, floor tiles peeling back up to reveal the dirty crawl space beneath, and ceiling tins missing or battered with water damage.
    Lila stepped carefully around the busted-up remains of a low candy counter and inched closer to the stairs ascending to the second floor.
    No way was she chancing it. They would probably give way beneath the extra weight she’d gained succumbing to bread pudding and potato salad over the last few days.
    Glass crunched underfoot as Rose stepped farther into the store. “After Goodwin’s closed up, kids used to break in through the back door and hang out in here, telling ghost stories, drinking. You know, typical teenage boredom.
    “The Goodwins’ kids didn’t want the place, so it sat here, open to vandalism and neglect until the city acquired it two years ago through condemnation. They’ve since wised up and decided it was too costly. The plan is to demolish it, making room for a rec center.”
    Lila tried to ignore the glaring faults, and instead focused on the simple but beautiful Victorian design. The walls were solid brick, and underneath the grit, she detected a warm patina. The ceiling tins were original and with a lot of work and cleaning, could be eye-catching again—in a good way.
    A massive oak bar stretched the length of one side of the room. Intricate woodwork full of ivy and elaborate flourishes scrolled across the top of the bar and ran down