Free A Taste of Trouble by Gina Gordon Page A

haven't even renovated yet.”
    “I've also done a quick walk around the building, and it looks like your garbage facilities are not up to par.”
    “What?” Her voice must have risen because Patti sidled a little closer.
    “The debris is blocking the alley, which is a fire hazard.” He glanced over his clipboard.
    Liv's eyes widened and her stomach churned. Was he not listening to her? Her thoughts flashed to her bank manager denying her the loan. This was exactly what she was afraid would happen.
    He dabbed his pen on whatever sheet of paper that was held steady by the clip. “I'll be back in a couple of weeks. Give you some time to get things up to snuff.”
    Oh, she planned on getting things up to snuff. He could bet on that.
    “You have your work cut out for you, Ms. Crawford.”
    Liv didn't expect a city inspector to be her best friend, but somewhat pleasant, maybe even accommodating, would be nice. It seemed as though she wasn't going to get either.
    Austin came up behind her and grabbed hold of her arm. He squeezed, offering comfort.
    Just then a gust of cold air swirled into the store as Nancy entered. She dusted off the lapels of her coat with one hand, a stern expression on her face.
    “Nancy,” Liv said. “What are you doing here?”
    “Hello, dear.” She struggled with a few bags and she held a stack of files close to her chest.
    “Let me help you with that.” She walked around the counter toward the front door and grabbed the bags out of Nancy's hand.
    “Nancy, great to see you,” Patti said as she jumped up on the counter.
    “Whatcha got there, Nancy?” Austin asked as he took position beside Patti.
    Instead of acknowledging her friends, Nancy's eyes grew wide when she registered the man standing in front of her. “Why, Mr. Cross, what on earth are you doing here?”
    “Nice to see you, Ms. Arbour.” He smiled. He actually had teeth. “I was just advising Ms. Crawford that she has a lot of work to do.”
    “Isn't this place a disaster?” She shrugged out of her coat and looked for a spot to rest it. The front space was still filthy. Liv didn't blame Nancy when she tucked her coat under her arm. “It's why I'm here.” She approached the counter and laid down the stack of files. “I brought you some inspection materials, a tip sheet, the regulation itself.”
    “Nancy, that's so kind of you.” Liv glanced at her friends, who smiled.
    There was no mistaking how much Liv needed Nancy in her life. She was always looking out for her.
    “That is a great place to start,” Mr. Cross added. “All the information you need to pass the inspection is in those checklists.”
    Liv's eyes widened and her stomach churned. That stack of pamphlets and checklists was…so very thick.
    Nancy released a few sheets of paper from the file and passed them over. “I printed this from the Internet. You must have every one of those items completed in order to pass.”
    Liv glanced back at her friends. Patti played with the hem of her shirt, a look of fear and sympathy in her eye. Austin, on the other hand, looked ready to take on an army. The small vein in the side of his neck pulsed under his skin.
    Liv took hold of the paper and quickly glanced it over. Many of the items on the list were exactly what Nancy had mentioned the first time she had stopped by—shelving units, electrical outlets, placement of items in the refrigerator, temperature—but there were at least twenty more. The room spun. No way was she going to get all of these things done before her expected opening.
    “I'll be back to follow up on your progress.” Cross slid his clipboard under his arm and nodded his head at Nancy. With that, he strode to the front door. Before he stepped out into the cold, he turned and glared. “Don't take this lightly, Ms. Crawford. The city has a zero tolerance policy for non-compliance.”
    Even the merry jingle of the bell as Mr. Cross walked out the door did nothing to ease her tension.
    “Did that just