His brother gave him a discerning look before handing him his own bottle. Miles quickly scanned the room, then took a hurried swallow of the beer.
“You know, it is legal for you to drink alcohol now and then, bro,” Gavin said with a chuckle. “You’re not running for senior class president.”
“Damn it, Gavin, I have an image to maintain.”
“Actually, I think your image is maintaining you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Miles demanded of his brother.
Except he’d already guessed the answer: Damn Squeaky Clean Miles McAlister. Gavin was right; he was coming across as an egotistical prig in this campaign. Miles took a healthy swig of the beer. He was beginning to really hate his public persona. Especially late at night when he was in bed. Alone.
His brother took back his bottle. “Having integrity doesn’t mean you’re infallible. You’re just as human as the rest of us.”
Miles wasn’t going to argue. He knew exactly how fallible he was. Twice this weekend he’d ventured down the darkened hallway that led to the stairs up to Lori’s room, only to have Squeaky Clean Miles yank on the leash and bark: Stay the course. He’d promised to leave her alone, but damn it, whatever was pulling him toward her was twice as loud and equally irritating in the quiet of the night.
While careful not to divulge her secret, she’d admitted that she was dangerous to his career and warned him off. Miles knew her warning wasn’t born out of indifference, however. Her body language told him she felt the connection just as deeply as he did. Even worse, despite her caution, he still wanted her. It was costing him to be honorable, to be squeaky clean. For the first time, he felt trapped by the damn list of goals he’d made up as a kid.
“You’re not a robot,” his brother was saying. “Stop acting like one. It just makes you seem like you’re better than the rest of us.”
“And we all know he’s not.” His sister Kate came up beside Miles, playfully nudging him in the shoulder with one of her own.
Gavin calling him out was bad enough, but Kate took way too much satisfaction in pointing out Miles’ shortcomings. “Butt out,” he warned her, cursing his abundance of know-it-all siblings under his breath.
Kate laughed. “I was sent up here by Coy, the Boy Wonder. He wanted me to tell you—and I quote—that Faye Rich is in the building.”
From their vantage point, Miles watched as the stocky, white-haired woman and her entourage made their way through the crowd. Despite the fact that they’d both attended nearly all the same events over the holiday weekend, this was the first time their paths had crossed.
Kate’s theatrical gasp was surely meant to irritate him. “Uh-oh, she’s going to kiss our mother on the cheek. Are you sure you’ve got Mom’s vote locked up?” Sure enough, Faye embraced their mother warmly.
Miles was worried about a lot of issues where their mother was concerned, but how she voted in the upcoming election wasn’t one of them. He stepped away from his siblings and headed for the stairs.
“Better grab a mint on the way down, bro,” Gavin teased. “You don’t want your opponent to smell the beer on your breath.”
Their obnoxious laughter followed him as he descended the wide, grand staircase. Miles tuned it out as Coy intercepted him on the bottom step.
“This technically isn’t a campaign stop for her.” Coy tried to steer him away from the area where his mother was seated, resting her hip. Lamar loomed over her like one of the giant trees that surrounded her inn. Faye Rich was holding his mother’s hand between hers while the two women spoke quietly together. Both women had served as the president of the local Rotary Club and acted as mentors to women operating their own businesses. Miles wasn’t sure if their relationship was built on mutual respect or a true friendship, but he was about to take advantage of it either way.
“I really don’t think this is a good idea, Miles.”
“Well, if it backfires, I’ll be sure and tell the governor that you warned me.” Stepping around Coy, Miles put a hand on his mother’s shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. She looked up at him in surprise. “Happy Fourth of July, ladies,” he said.
“Oh, Miles, you look as tired as Faye does.” His mother’s concern was genuine as she looked between him and Faye. Miles relaxed a bit, picking up the cue that Faye and his mother were, in fact, friends. His strategy just got a bit easier to execute.
“You’ve both been campaigning at full speed this weekend. Take some time to relax and enjoy the fireworks.” His mother gestured toward the other side of the room. “Julianne has a wonderful spread of food in the dining room.”
Faye smiled down at his mother, still holding her hand between her own. “I’m going to steal a few of those fabulous cupcakes you serve at the inn for tea, but I’m taking them home to my grandbabies. I promised I’d watch the fireworks with them. I just wanted to stop by and say hello to you. I’m so glad you’re feeling better and that you’re up and about.” She hugged his mother a second time. “My being here is disrupting the party, so we’ll just head on out.”
Miles glanced around to see that many of the guests had focused their attention on Faye. And on him. He scowled at Cassidy, who was videoing the exchange between his opponent and his mother. “Cass, can you get Mrs. Rich some cupcakes to take home, please?”
Cassidy gave him a startled look before quickly stuffing her phone in her back pocket and heading toward the dining room.
“Thank you, Cassidy. The kids love the ones with rainbow sprinkles,” Faye called after her. She lowered her voice and spoke to his mother. “It’ll be good to get home. My feet are killing me!”
“I wonder if I can get a minute with you in private,” Miles interjected.
His mother’s look was skeptical but Faye’s smile didn’t waver, almost as if she was expecting the unusual request. Miles felt the eyes of everyone in the room follow them to the butler’s pantry located next to the front door. There were murmurs about early fireworks, but Miles ignored them. Coy and the rest of Faye’s group shadowed their footsteps all the way. As Faye preceded him into the room, Miles held up a hand, stopping Coy and Faye’s staff in their tracks.
“We’ll only be a minute.” Miles gave them all a look that left no room for argument before closing the door behind him.
“I wasn’t kidding about my feet,” Faye said as she climbed into one of the director’s chairs. The cubby-sized room had been used by Ginger as a makeup station when Historical Restorations had filmed there earlier that year and the chairs remained as mementos. “I envy you being able to wear sensible shoes all day.”
“Can I get you something to drink?”
She raised an eyebrow. “We’re not going to be here that long, are we?”
Miles smiled in spite of himself. He liked this lady. She was good for the community. Well connected and well respected, she would make a decent representative. He wasn’t sure she knew the first thing about politics, but hell, neither did half the people in Washington. As far as he could tell, she was a woman of character and he was hoping to tap into that tonight.
Leaning a shoulder against the closed door, he crossed his arms over his chest, debating with himself about how to proceed. Coy was right, he probably should have given this conversation more thought. But his campaign manager was wrong about one thing: This talk needed to happen.
“I find it’s best to just dive in with both feet,” she said softly. “That way we can both be sure to see the fireworks tonight.”
“I’m only asking this to protect my mother from more pain.” Miles sighed heavily. “It’s about my father—”
“Let me stop you right there.” Faye held up her palm to him. “This campaign has nothing to do with your father. It’s about electing someone to fix what’s wrong in Washington. Tanya Sheppard and the rest of the media can try to make it about Donald McAlister, but I certainly won’t. Y
our daddy was a good man. And your mother is a dear friend.” She grimaced as she shifted in the chair. “Of course, I probably should hate her for snagging such a virile man for a fiancé, but after all she’s been through, she deserves a second chance at happiness.”
Miles’ gut clenched at the reference to Lamar, but he was going to have to get over his constant visceral reaction to the sheriff’s relationship with his mother. He made a mental note to work on that tomorrow. Tonight, he needed to work things out with his opponent.
Faye slid from the chair. “Keep in mind, I can promise only so much. You know as well as I do that the PACs and the party strategists are the ones to go rogue more often than not. But I’ll do my best to keep the focus on you and not your family.” She reached up and patted him on the shoulder. “The problem is that you have such a pristine image, there’s nothing else to go negative on. Help an old lady out, will you? Do something outrageous,” she suggested with a wink.
“I have a feeling that you’re not going to need any help.” Miles extended his hand.
Faye placed her own hand in his and pumped his arm up and down. “Let’s give the voters a positive experience.”
The crowd was still focused on them when they exited the room. Faye smiled as she took the container of cupcakes from Cassidy. “You’re really growing up to be a beautiful young lady, my dear,” she said before waving to the crowd and heading out the door.
Miles took a closer look at the teenager. Something was different about her tonight. He just couldn’t put his finger on it.
“Well?” Greer appeared at his side, interrupting his scrutiny of Cassidy. “How was your chat with Faye? Did she agree to play nice?”
“Even if she did, it’ll never work,” Coy said from behind her. “I still say you need some dirt on her just in case.”
Greer released an exasperated sigh. “We’ve already covered this, Coy. Miles is running as a Boy Scout. He can’t run a negative campaign.”
Do something outrageous.
Faye’s words echoed in his head, taunting Squeaky Clean Miles with their idea. He’d always taken the higher road, leading by example while chasing his dream. Up until recently, Miles could honestly say he never minded the path his life had taken. But when Faye had suggested doing something outrageous, Miles had immediately thought of Lori. And all the outrageous things he’d like to do with her.
“Come on.” Greer linked her arm through his, rousting him out of his thoughts—thoughts that could only lead to no good. “Let’s go line up some endorsements from Julianne and Will’s famous friends before I have to head back to Raleigh.”
* * *
Lori’s legs were numb but she didn’t dare move. Tessa had finally fallen asleep on her lap and she didn’t want to wake her. The dog clearly wasn’t a fan of loud noises, which struck Lori as kind of funny given that Tessa had lived as a stray on the streets of New York prior to taking up residence in North Carolina.
The fireworks had ended nearly a half hour ago and guests were wandering noisily back into the B and B. Lori had left a few platters of desserts in the library, which meant she’d need to clean up later. For now, though, she stroked her fingers through Tessa’s satiny fur and thought about Independence Day in another small town. Were folks there enjoying the pyrotechnic display over the bay? Had they churned homemade ice cream on the porch? Or waved little American flags as they marched down Main Street behind the fire truck?
Lori’s chest ached as she remembered that happy, simpler time in her life. And how she always wanted more. She’d wasted all those precious days dreaming of the glitzy, glamorous life her father lived—wanting him to want his daughter to be a part of it.
One of the guests was playing “New York, New York” on the music room’s piano, and Lori recalled her first Fourth of July gala on her father’s rooftop in Manhattan. The Empire State Building was lit up in red, white, and blue against the night sky as fireworks exploded behind the Statue of Liberty. Lori had been dressed in the uniform of the Hamptons, a chic Lilly Pulitzer dress, while drinking a Cosmopolitan from actual stemware—no red Solo cups at this celebration. The food was served by waiters dressed in white tuxedos, and even the ice cream was some designer flavor made especially for the occasion. Lori had never felt as sophisticated as when her father was escorting her around the rooftop and introducing her to his powerful and wealthy guests. Her sophistication had been a sham, though. She’d been pretending to enjoy herself because that evening on her father’s arm was all she’d ever wanted.
Sitting on the dark back porch of the B and B and looking back on that night now, she acknowledged that she’d felt like a fish out of water then. But Lori hadn’t been pretending as much as her father had been. His entire life had been a sham.
Tessa jerked back to alertness at the sound of hurried footsteps on the wooden steps.
“Oh my gosh, Lori, I almost tripped over you.” Cassidy halted at the top of the stairs. “What are you doing sitting in the dark?”
Hiding. Lori didn’t say it out loud. She was so tired of hiding, though. If only she could erase the last years and go back home. Never again would she pine for a different life; that was for sure. But home was out of the question now. Maybe forever. Still, she needed to find a place where she could have a life again. Just not here. As much as Chances Inlet reminded her of home, disappearing in a small town was next to impossible. Diesel had sent word that he had something lined up for Lori in Nashville. As soon as Patricia was healthy again, she’d move on.
Which meant she needed to find her grandmother’s ring, pronto.
“I’m just enjoying the night air. Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
Cassidy sat down beside her and Tessa nuzzled the girl’s arm. “I just need to get something in my room. I’m meeting some friends down at the pier.”
“Showing off your new look?”
A demure smile spread over Cassidy’s face. “Isn’t it awesome? Thanks for arranging it for me.” The hairdresser had spent part of the morning coloring and cutting Cassidy’s hair, giving her a softer, more carefree look. Given that much of the teenager’s life hadn’t ever been carefree, the change suited Cassidy.
Lori reached over and brushed a stray hair off the teenager’s face. “You deserve it. Consider it a graduation gift. A new look for college life.”
“Hard to believe I’ll be blowing this popsicle stand next month. I’ve been dreaming of getting out of here for so long. But now . . .” She shrugged.
Swallowing down the heartache that had been clogging her throat for the last hour, Lori gently squeezed the girl’s leg. “You may be leaving physically, but this place will be with you wherever you go. Small towns are like that. This place will always be your home.”
“You could unpack your bags and make it your home, too.”
With a shake of her head, Lori tried to lighten the mood. “Once you’ve gone, this place will lose a lot of its charm. There’s no point in me sticking around.”
Cassidy’s phone buzzed and she glanced at the screen. “That’s Kyle. I’ve got to bolt.”
“There’s a lot going on downtown tonight, Cassidy. Make smart choices.”
The teenager stared at her openmouthed.
Lori cringed. “I sounded like a mother there, sorry.”
Before she realized it, Cassidy had thrown her arms around Lori, wrapping her in a bear hug. Knowing the teenager’s history, she’d likely never had anyone care about her whereabouts or the choices she made. Stunned into silence, she peered over Cassidy’s shoulder, where she spied Miles in the shadows of the veranda, leaning against the railing.
“Make sure you’re home by eleven, Cassidy,” he said.
“Eleven?” Cassidy squeaked as she pulled away from Lori and assumed her normal, belligerent posture.
Miles’ pose remained relaxed in the face of a blustering teenage girl. “If tha
t’s too late for you, we can make it ten thirty.”
“No!” Cassidy huffed out a breath. “I’ll be home by eleven. I didn’t realize I was living in a prison.”
She stomped down the front steps, whatever she needed from her room apparently forgotten in her haste to meet up with her friends.
“Oh, by the way,” she called over her shoulder. “Mr. Maxwell, the guest in the Glasgow Suite, can’t find his pen. It’s one of those fancy silver ones. A Montblanc. He’s pretty stressed about misplacing it.” She shrugged. “I offered him one from the inn, but he didn’t seem to want that one. He wanted to talk to management. He’s all yours, Miles.” With a jaunty salute, she vanished into the dark evening.
Miles swore softly before stepping away from the railing. Bathed in the soft glow of the porch light, his handsome face looked both frustrated and tired. Lori figured after the grueling weekend of nonstop campaigning, he should get an award for still being upright. With a heavy sigh, he sat down on the step beside her. Tessa placed her head in Lori’s lap and eyed him warily.
“So what does that bring our total of missing items up to?” he asked. “A bracelet, a watch, and a pen have somehow been ‘misplaced’ inside the B and B.”
“And a ring.” Lori hadn’t meant to ever mention her missing ring, but the words slipped out anyway. She blamed it on the hot guy sitting next to her. Clearly, her ovaries had overtaken her common sense.
Miles slowly turned his head to look at her. “A ring?”
Lori nodded.
“Whose?” he asked in a tone that clearly indicated he’d already guessed the answer.
“Mine.”
He snorted out a breath. “That’s convenient.”
She tried not to let his statement wound her, but it did. “Because you still want me to be the thief?”
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