“Then…” He took her hands in his, lifting them to his chest. “You want me to get down on one knee? ’Cause I will.”
A little color drained from her face. “You’ve got a dog running for mayor and a fake engagement between two opposing candidates. Let’s skip the pretend proposal.”
“Is that a yes?”
Once again, she bit her lip and looked at him, searching his eyes as if she could find answers there. “It’s not a no.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’ll go back into that room and announce that we just got engaged, but I will not pretend that it’s anything other than a statement about that archaic rule and how stupid it is. I will be ‘betrothed’—which sounds more like the meaningless business arrangement it is. I won’t act like I’m madly in love with you. I won’t tell stories about some whirlwind long-distance relationship. I don’t want to lie, but I’ll do what I have to in order to keep that man from running unopposed.”
He looked at her for a long time, nodding slowly. “Okay, then,” he finally said. “We’re engaged. I thought it would be scarier than this.”
“I thought it would be more romantic than this.” She held up her left hand. “I even thought there might be jewelry involved.”
He sucked in a quick breath. “We need a ring.”
“It’s not necess—”
“Oh, hell yeah, it is. It makes it official and believable. So, come on, I have an idea.” He started to tug her to the door, then stopped and turned. “One kiss before we do this? You know, for authenticity and to seal the deal?”
She stared at him for a moment, no doubt winding up her next retort to shut him down and remind him that this bogus idea was so far from authentic that it crushed her honest-to-the-core soul. And, for God’s sake, there would be no kissing.
But then she stepped closer, put her hands on his cheeks, and pulled her face to his. Without a word, she leaned into him and kissed him square on the mouth.
Her lips were warm and soft and felt like they melted under his. Angling his head, he took more, unable to stop himself from wrapping her in his arms again. She let out the softest, sweetest whimper in her throat, sliding her hands around his neck and holding tight while they both got lost in the sensation.
“What on earth is going on?” The door flew open and hit the wall with a crack, revealing Mayor Wilkins, who stood with one hand on her hip and a packet of papers in the other, staring at them like a high school principal catching teenagers making out in the janitor’s closet.
“We’re kissing, Blanche,” Connor said, still holding Sadie and loving that she didn’t whip away and try to pretend they weren’t.
“And we’re waiting,” the mayor shot back, looking from one to the other, her expression one of disbelief. “Are you ever coming back, or has Easterbrook scared you away?”
Sadie turned and slid her arm around Connor’s waist. “We’ll be right there, Mayor Wilkins. We were just…ironing out some details of our campaigns.”
She used the papers to swipe up and down at them. “Is that what you’re calling this?”
“Give us one minute, Mayor,” Connor said, holding tight to the woman next to him. “We just have one more minor detail to agree on, then we’ll meet with the committee.”
“One…more…” She narrowed her eyes. “What kind of detail?”
“The kind that people discuss when they are engaged,” he said.
“Betrothed,” Sadie corrected.
Blanche gasped. Her hand fell from her hip. And her jaw dropped so hard it could have hit her chest. “Oh…oh. Oh. You wouldn’t.”
“The law is ridiculous,” Sadie said. “Sometimes you have to fight a ridiculous law with an outrageous idea.”
“That’s just…” The mayor looked from one to the other. “That’s not…” She let her shoulders drop. “That’s actually…” She sighed, frustrated and obviously weighing every word. “Quite inspired.”
“We can’t let him win,” Connor said softly. “You know that, Blanche. You know it in your heart. You know how your late husband would feel.”
“Frank would twirl in his grave if that man sat in the mayor’s seat at town council meetings,” she said softly.
“We feel the same way,” Sadie said. “He can’t win, so we’re fighting his old-school rules with our newfangled idea.”
“But…” Blanche lifted the papers in her hand. “You need to know that I just spent ten minutes reading that charter very carefully, and right under article two, it says…” She looked at the paper and squinted, then shoved the packet toward them. “I forgot my glasses.”
Connor took the papers and skimmed the words and numbers, looking under the detested article to read out loud.
“‘Any individual in any position of governance who willfully and knowingly commits an act or omission not in accordance with the commandments of this charter will forfeit their position immediately.’ What the hell does that mean?”
“I think,” Sadie said, turning the paper to reread it, “it means if the elected official is caught lying, he or she must step down immediately.” She looked up at him. “Pretty sure that pretending to be engaged would be considered ‘an act or omission not in accordance with the commandments of this charter.’”
“Then…we don’t pretend, Sadie.” Connor looked hard at her.
She stared at him, a storm of emotions in her eyes. “We don’t?”
“Or we are so convincing, no one can possibly accuse us of committing an act not in accordance with the charter.” He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face to him. “Can you do that?” Especially after that “meaningless business arrangement” speech she just gave.
“To beat him, I can.”
“Okay, then,” Blanche said, sliding the papers from Connor’s hand. “I’ll give you two a few more minutes. And as far as I’m concerned, we didn’t have this conversation.” Without another word, she backed out of the stairwell, letting the door clunk behind her.
For a long moment, they stood silent, still arm in arm. Very slowly, he turned to face her, easing her body into his. “Come on, Ear Girl. There are worse ways to win an election.”
She stared up at him for a long time and finally, slowly nodded.
“Is that a yes?” he asked one more time.
She didn’t answer, but got up on her toes and put her lips on his again for another long and sweet kiss. He held her tighter and closer, letting their bodies press and find the natural curve where they both fit.
Blood thrummed in his head as he tasted her lip gloss and inhaled that soft, sweet, citrusy scent of Sadie. She gripped his arms and slid her hands up to his shoulders, angling her head, deepening the kiss, letting heat build. Then she drew back with her eyes still closed and her lips parted.
“Yeah,” she said on a strangled breath. “I can fake…feelings.”
But they both knew the truth. Nobody was faking anything.
Chapter Nine
“If you lose that ring, Connor Mahoney, Shane will kill you, and I’ll hide the body.” Chloe pointed at Connor as they were leaving her office on the third floor. Like Mayor Wilkins, Chloe had been surprised by their “announcement,” but when Connor explained the situation and asked to borrow her engagement ring, she didn’t hesitate.
“You’ll get it right back,” he called as they headed out of her office to return to the conference room. “I promise.”
Sadie looked down at the impressive oval solitaire on her left ring finger, knowing its worth from the endless conversations she’d had with her ex about diamonds. Not one on her finger, of course, but his expertise on the subject had been remarkable.
“You sure this isn’t going to blow up in our faces?” she mused, still a little dizzy from that last kiss.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” he asked as they slipped back into the stairwell and headed up to the fourth floor.
“They throw us out of the race completely? Oh, and I could lose this ro
ck.”
“Please don’t.”
She slowed her step and took a steadying breath, but he turned to her, putting a warm hand on her cheek. “You ready, future Mrs. Mahoney?”
The words and gesture, meant as a joke, literally made her a little off-balance.
“Maybe save the affection for when we’re in public.”
“Says the girl who just kissed the daylights out of me. Twice.”
“I don’t generally buy things without trying them on. Twice.”
“And I fit like a dream.”
She snorted softly. “Shut up.” She pointed to the closed door of the conference room. “It’s show time.”
He draped an arm around her and planted a kiss on her cheek that was unnecessary, but gave just the boost she needed. “Let’s crush the competition.”
They both took a breath as he opened the conference room door. “Sorry for that—”
Frank lunged at Connor, letting out a few desperate barks demanding to know where he’d been, swatting at Connor’s stomach, and whipping that tail like a big, hairy windshield wiper.
Connor laughed and eased him back down to the ground. “Easy, bud. Easy. And sorry for the delay, everyone. Sadie and I had to agree on something.”
“To officially withdraw from the race?” Easterbrook asked, impatience and irritation imprinted on his scowling face. “Gavin has the paperwork ready.”
“No,” Sadie said. “To go public with our news.” Without a word, they joined hands and raised them so the diamond could sparkle in the sunbeam that poured in through the window.
“Sadie and I are…”
He lifted a brow at her, letting her do the honors of dropping the bomb.
“I believe the word Thad Bushrod used was betrothed,” she said, smiling at him.
“What?” The reaction reverberated around the room in a chorus of voices at various pitches and levels of astonishment, including from Frank, who barked at the general commotion. But no one was louder or angrier than Mitch Easterbrook, who launched out of his chair and turned as white as his crisp, collared shirt.
“What the hell do you take us for, Mahoney?” he demanded, addressing Connor exclusively. “Idiots?”
Frank barked and crawled under the table.
“A lot of things, Mitch, but not that.” Connor dropped to his knees to comfort the dog. “And congratulations would be nice.”
“Congratulate my ass,” Mitch hissed. “This is a farce, just like your dog running for mayor.”
“You’re the one who brought in antiquated rules,” Sadie said, gesturing toward the paperwork in front of Gavin. “And we’re willing to comply with them.”
“So which one of you is out of the race?” Easterbrook asked.
“Neither one of us.” Connor stood and put his arm around her again. “Frank is running, with me as his chief of staff, and Sadie is running as she announced. We’re both running.”
“Against each other?” Easterbrook’s voice rose.
“That’s usually how engaged people spend their time,” Connor joked, getting a few laughs from everyone except Mitch.
As the others muttered comments to each other and themselves, Mitch gathered up some papers, flipping through them frantically, tapping his finger on some words Sadie assumed were the ones they’d read in the stairwell. “You will forfeit.”
“We will not,” Connor lobbed back.
Easterbrook slammed the papers down and stared hard at Sadie. “I should have expected something like this from you.”
The force of his words and the unbelievable nerve it took to speak them made her take a step back.
“Watch it,” Connor ground out, tightening his grip on her, but narrowing his eyes in warning.
Mitch ignored him, staring hard at Sadie. Could anyone else see the challenge in his eyes? Was he daring her to go public with what she knew about him? Because Mitch Easterbrook also “knowingly committed an act” not in accordance with the “be of good repute” part. He had to know she had that on him.
“So you come waltzing back to town after almost two decades and think you can turn things upside down with some…fake relationship?”
She lifted her chin defiantly, hoping he could read the warning in her eyes. He definitely had more to lose than she did. “Do not push me.”
The entire room went dead silent, and she could feel Connor’s questioning gaze on her, but she refused to back down. Mitch finally retreated, getting his papers and shifting his blistering stare to Connor. “Typical of you, Mahoney. Everything’s a joke.”
Connor flinched so slightly that no one else might have even noticed, but Sadie did, and her own accusation came to mind. Easy to see why Easterbrook thought that, with the canine mayoral candidate and those quick one-liners, but the man who made impassioned speeches about the town? She was going to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“The joke is you thinking you could run for mayor unopposed,” Connor said, his voice low and steady. “So we will see you on the campaign trail.”
“Oh, speaking of,” Mayor Wilkins said. “We need to set a date for the first debate.”
“I don’t care what day or time it is,” Mitch muttered, rounding the conference room table. “You’re going down, Mahoney. You and your dumb ideas and your stupid dog and your…your…” He threw a glance at Sadie.
“I would be very careful with your next word,” Connor said softly.
Mitch shuttered his eyes, then marched to the door and slammed it as he walked out, leaving the room in stunned silence before it suddenly erupted with questions, comments, and a few very noisy barks.
Then Mayor Wilkins extended her hand to Sadie. “May I be the first to congratulate you, my dear?” She gave a wistful smile. “And you, Lieutenant Mahoney.”
The rest of the room chimed in with their congratulations, none that heartfelt, all a little skeptical. Gavin simply flipped through some papers in front of him, which Sadie assumed were copies of what Easterbrook had.
“He’s right, you know,” Gavin finally said softly, his words quieting everyone down. “This is a creative solution, obviously, but if it’s just that, then he can make a compelling argument for a forfeit if either of you wins. And he will.”
“Let him try,” Connor said confidently. “We’re in one hundred percent agreement that this is real.”
“And if you dissolve the relationship after the election?” Gavin asked.
“Not a chance.” Conner pulled her closer. “Right, honey?”
She just smiled at him like he hung the moon, because…show time.
Then she turned to Gavin. “If you would be so kind,” she said. “Can you tell me if, other than a betrothal and thirty signatures from locals, there is anything else I need to do to formalize my run for mayor? Blood from a stone? Family tree tattooed on my arm? Two chickens sacrificed in Bushrod Square?”
Gavin ignored the chuckles around the room and gave her a dark look, obviously not convinced by their act. “The signatures need to be turned in to the Election Committee by the end of the day on Monday,” he finally said. “Other than that, we just need to pick a date.”
“For…the wedding?” Linda May asked brightly. “’Cause I’ll do the cake for free.”
“For the debate,” Gavin clarified with a frustrated sigh, not thrilled that everyone was playing along.
“As quickly as is reasonable,” Mayor Wilkins said, shooting a look at the door. “I have a feeling Mr. Easterbrook will be stirring up some, uh, controversy, so the sooner you two get out in front of Bitter Bark and present your platforms, the better.” She opened her calendar. “I suggest next Thursday. That gives you time to prepare and share your…news. But the signatures have to be in, Sadie.”
“My family alone will get you most of them,” Connor said.
Sadie frowned and glanced at Gavin. “Family members of the opposing candidate? Let’s be sure there’s not some rule that can be used to trip us up.”
Gavin looked up
from his papers, then shook his head. “There’s no reason you can’t have those signatures from Connor’s family. As long as they’ve lived in Bitter Bark for ten years.”
Connor nodded. “We can get everything you need from Mahoneys and Kilcannons and finish up with my coworkers at the fire station. And your people, of course.”
She had no people. Just Nana, Boomie, and Demi now. “I’ll start with my grandparents this afternoon,” she said, wanting very much to tell them the engagement news before they heard it through the Bitter Bark rumor mill. “Is that it?”
“That’s it.” Mayor Wilkins closed her calendar and let out a long sigh, looking at both of them. “I will tell you that I have my informal briefing with the press tomorrow, and I expect they’ll have a lot of questions. It’s not a press conference, but it might behoove you two to campaign in the square or near town hall tomorrow to get your message to the media.”
“Thanks, Mayor,” Sadie said.
She nodded and added, “I hope you two know what you’re doing.”
So do I, Sadie thought.
A few minutes later, they took the elevator down to the main floor with Gavin, Nellie, and Linda May, who chatted about getting back to the bakery before the lunch rush, no doubt so she could serve up some gossip with her croissants.
Frank stood inches from Connor, staring up at him and swishing his tail. Gavin scrolled through his phone, silent. When the car clunked to a stop, Nellie put her hand on Sadie’s elbow to hold her back.
“Can I talk to you privately for a second?” she asked.
“Of course.”
As they all stepped out of the car, Sadie held up a finger to Connor. “Gimme a minute, okay?”
“Sure, I see Shane just came in, probably on his way to have lunch with Chloe. Frank and I’ll be right over there.”
With a nod, she turned to the librarian, who inched her off to the side, pushing some hair behind her ears and taking a breath before she started.
“For what it’s worth,” Nellie said, “between you and Connor, I’d really love to see you win. I mean, having Frank as the ‘mascot mayor’ would obviously be great for our town and tourism, but to be honest, we have some serious problems in Bitter Bark, and it might take a serious person to fix them.”
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