Erica rolled her eyes. “He’s a bit dramatic that way. Anyway, his real effort to get a foothold into town was a more recent attempt to buy a distressed property.” She lifted her head from her notes to look at me. “Your father’s property.”
I swallowed but tried to look impassive. “Dad talked about selling.”
“He did more than talk. He and Stark were close to a deal. Do you know why he backed out?”
I looked at my coffee and then wondered if she’d be able to tell that I was going to be evasive. I looked at her again. “The ranch has been in the family for generations. Ultimately, he didn’t feel that he could sell the family legacy.”
“Records show that your father had some significant financial problems prompting the sale, and then, all of a sudden, his debts were gone.”
I simply stared and gave a small shrug.
“Stark isn’t happy about it. He’s going to have someone dig into it,” she said, her eyes studying mine for a reaction.
Nerves flitted up my spine. “You? Are you working for him?”
Erica laughed. “No. I’m doing a story on him. But knowing he’d look, I did my own digging. I found something quite interesting. Want to know what it is?”
I hoped that the drama class I took in high school was working as I made an effort to hide that I was squirming in my chair.
“It appears that Mayor Valentine bailed your father out.”
“The mayor and my father are long time friends,” I said like it made perfect sense. In actuality, it did make sense. I had no doubt that my father would help Mo if he needed it, too.
She nodded, suggesting she’d known that. “Everyone knows the Mayor was probably the wealthiest man in town until Stark arrived, but even he didn’t have that sort of available cash to help your father.”
I didn’t respond.
“I haven’t found any records that he sold some cattle or land or anything to get the cash your dad needed.”
“Whatever deal my father and the mayor have isn’t my business,” I said, hoping to put her off this line of inquiry. I had a sneaky suspicion that she knew the answers to the questions she was asking.
“I did find a trust. A trust that the mayor could get only if he was married. According to my records, he was divorced several years ago.” She studied me. Because I was having a hard time with the scrutiny, I took a sip of my coffee.
She sat back. “You must love your father very much to marry a man nearly twice your age to save the ranch.”
Panic shot through my body, but I did all I could to not react.
“There’s a marriage license from Watley county. Why the big secret?” she asked.
I leaned forward. “None of this is any of your business. Or the town of Salvation’s.”
“You’re protecting the mayor. Why? Sure, you’re young, but that’s not a scandal. And even if it was, he’s not running again.”
“Maybe you should talk to the mayor,” I said, feeling like I might be sick. This was exactly what he was afraid of, and I didn’t want any part of it getting out.
She gave me a coy smile. “I would, but he won’t talk to me.”
I realized my mistake. I should have taken my coffee and left.
“Do you know all the terms of the trust?” she asked.
“Yes.” I winced. I really needed to say, “No comment,” and leave.
“And what happens after a year?” she asked again.
“We have an anniversary?” I stood, knowing I needed to go.
She stood, too. I didn’t like the smug smile she had, and I hoped to hell she didn’t print any of this.
“So, you love him. If that’s the case, why is it a secret?”
“I really must get to work.”
“Oh, come on, your boss is your husband.”
I leaned in, hoping I wasn’t making a big mistake by confronting her. “You might consider reporting real news, Ms. Edmonds. At the very least, respect people’s privacy.”
“The mayor is news.”
“The mayor’s actions and policies that impact Salvation are news. Reporting on his private life makes you a gossip columnist. Is that what you are? Is reporting real news too hard or too boring, so you’re resorting to peeping through keyholes to find a story that is no one’s business?”
Her eyes flashed with irritation, suggesting I’d hit a nerve.
“Why aren’t you writing about how the schools don’t have enough money for books in their libraries? You could actually do some good there.”
“Your defensiveness makes me suspicious,” she said, arching a brow.
“I’m not defensive. I’m angry that you’d corner me while I’m getting my coffee to inquire about gossip instead of real news. You seem articulate and intelligent enough to not have to debase yourself by writing about people’s personal business. Or, are you like Stark? Or maybe you’ve been hired by Stark. Is that why you’re here? Is this your version of crashing Sinclair’s wedding? You’ve really fallen as a journalist if that’s the case.”
Her jaw tightened. “You’ve made your point, Ms…Mrs. Valentine.”
I flinched at her calling me Mrs. Valentine. I’d never thought about myself as that, and yet, that’s who I was.
“I have to say, though, your reaction suggests there’s more to this story.”
“Of course, you would. Meanwhile, the schools’ libraries still need books, but will you write about that? Will you help in the effort to make money to remedy that?” I gave her a disappointed and dismissive look, and then turned and hurried out.
My heart was beating a million miles a minute as I worried that I might have made things worse. What if she wrote about the marriage? I needed to warn Mo. What would he do? He couldn’t deny it. She’d found the marriage certificate. And what was the big deal, anyway? Sure, it might cause talk that the mayor married his young assistant. He’d be embarrassed about being a cliché, but so what?
As I entered the office, I had to consider that maybe this was a good thing. Perhaps, forced out into the open, Mo would confront his worries, and we’d come out the other end a happy couple.
27
Maurice
It was ridiculous how good I felt. Except for that Frank would still kill me and I’d look like a letch for being with a woman nearly half my age, being with Brooke was fucking fantastic. I don’t remember coming as hard or as often as I had with her last night. Not even with Shelley, who, admittedly, was pretty good in the sack.
Brooke might have been inexperienced, but she was a natural when it came to sex. All the times I’d imagined her sucking me off while I jerked off in the shower paled in comparison to the real thing. Even thinking about it now made my dick twitch.
But it wasn’t just the sex. Brooke was a sweet and intelligent woman. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, but she didn’t do it in that bossy, condescending way that Shelley always had. Brooke respected me and my need to continue to keep our situation a secret for the time being.
I didn’t know what I thought would happen by tempting myself by marrying her. I supposed I hoped I’d be able to keep my hands off her and treat her as the friend that Frank was expecting me to. I’d made an effort at that, but now that Brooke and I were well beyond being just friends, I had to concede that Frank needed to know. Not that I was fucking her, but that I had fallen for her.
Jesus, just thinking of that made my insides go haywire. Some from the excitement of it but also dread about the fallout. One thing was clear; I wanted to be with her, and that meant Frank needed to be told, and I’d have to endure whatever the town happened to think about the relationship. Since I wasn’t running for office again, I suppose it wouldn’t matter in the long run that the townspeople thought I was a cradle robber.
Feeling good, I walked into the office and noticed Trina at her desk. Remembering that Brooke told me Trina had verbally attacked her, I decided it was time to deal with the admin’s behavior. She’d always been a prickly one, but I couldn’t a
llow her to abuse Brooke or anyone in the office.
I strode over to her desk. “What is your problem with Ms. Campbell?” I demanded, leaning over her desk.
She didn’t seem particularly concerned about my tone when she answered. “My problem is that she’s doing my job. I don’t appreciate having my duties reassigned without you consulting me.”
Anger flared, partly at her, but also at me for allowing her to go so long without a reprimand for her behavior. “I don’t need your permission to assign jobs. I’m the fucking mayor.”
She flinched at the venom in my tone. Good. She finally recognized who the boss was.
“I know your friend will likely be mayor after me, but I am right now, I have the authority to divvy out tasks as I see fit. I also have the right to be pissed that one of my staff is creating a hostile workplace for other staff.”
She blinked, and for a moment, I wondered if she was going to cry. “Of course, you can reassign work. I’d appreciate knowing when you do it. Otherwise, you’re paying two people to do the same work. The taxpayers probably wouldn’t like that.”
Anger flared hotter and, “You’re fired,” sat on the tip of my tongue at her insolence.
“All I’m asking for is the respect to be told when you give a job to someone else that I have dutifully and skillfully done for you over the last several years. If you want to give your girlfriend my job, just do it, because this…how you’re secretly handing it over to her, is insulting.”
Girlfriend? Did she know about Brooke and me? Then, I considered that perhaps she was right in that I wasn’t giving her the respect she deserved by not letting her know about the tasks I was reassigning. Hadn’t Brooke scolded me on this same issue?
“I apologize for not being more transparent in the reassigning of tasks. That isn’t a reflection on the quality of your work. But your attitude needs a great deal of work, Ms. Lados. If you have a problem, come to me. Next time I hear about your mistreatment of anyone here, I’ll take corrective action.”
“Yes, sir.”
I stared at her one last moment, wondering if I’d made an impact and what she meant by referring to Brooke as my girlfriend. With a nod, I turned and went into my office.
I’d just taken a seat at my desk when my cell phone rang.
“Mayor Valentine,” I answered.
“Mr. Mayor,” Stark’s voice came over the phone.
Fuck. Just what I needed. “Mr. Stark. How can I help you?” And why are you calling my private cell phone and not through the office? A niggle of concern crept up my spine.
“As you know, I’m not thrilled about you stopping my purchase of the Campbell land. That’s twice now you’ve gotten in my way.”
“It’s not personal.” Mostly it wasn’t.
“I hear you plan to run for governor. Do you think the good citizens of Nebraska would vote for a man who is fucking his best friend’s daughter?”
Ah, hell. “I’m not running for governor.” I sat back in my chair, that niggle turning to full-blown panic.
“Then why all the secrecy around your marriage?” Stark asked in his smooth tone with the undercurrent of a snake.
“It’s no one's business, Stark.”
“I’m sure her father will have a different idea.”
“Frank is well aware of the situation.” Most of it anyway.
“Here’s the deal, Mayor, I’m going to expose you. I’m sick and tired of you and your office getting in my way. I’m working on getting my own man in—“
“If you’re getting your own lacky voted in, what’s the problem?”
“I don’t like having my plans thwarted, and I imagine the good people of Salvation won’t like that you’ve gotten in the way of jobs.”
“Look, Stark, it’s not personal.”
“It is for me. I’m working on buying a business in Salvation. You’re going to help pave the way for that, or I’ll expose you.”
I wondered if the business he was talking about was the Salvation Station since Ryder had mentioned it to me. But I put my attention back on Stark’s threat. “Expose what?” I asked like I had nothing to hide. Even as I said it, I looked to my door to make sure it was shut and that no one could hear me.
“Your secret marriage to your assistant. And I’ll tell her father that the man he entrusted his daughter to in an effort to save his farm is fucking her.”
Frank wouldn’t believe that. At least not from Stark, would he?
“I’ve got proof.”
I sat back, wondering what possible proof he could have. My initial response was to deny and do whatever I could to get Stark to keep his trap shut. But then I realized that there was no way out of this except with the truth. I’d already decided that I wanted Brooke. I was a bad friend to Frank by not telling him sooner. Now was the time. I’d tell him first, and then I’d tell Sinclair, and Trina, and then the rest of the office. It was time to let the chips fall where they may, so to speak.
“Fuck your proof,” I said. I’d tell the truth, but not to Stark. Not now. Frank was the first that needed to know.
I hung up on Stark. I didn’t feel as triumphant as I’d have liked at cutting him off, but the die had been cast. It was time to follow through.
I stood, grabbed my coat, and exited my office. “I’m heading out. Take messages. Don’t forward calls,” I told Trina.
She nodded.
I stopped, thinking maybe I should tell Brooke before I spoke to her father. “Is Ms. Campbell in her office?”
“I haven’t seen her,” Trina said. “She usually likes to go to the coffee place up the street.”
I nodded as I thought about what I should do.
“Is there something you want me to tell her?” Trina asked.
“Ah…no. Thanks.” I left the mayor’s office and headed to my car. I drove out to Frank’s place, trying to work out in my head what I’d tell him. By the time I pulled into his drive, I still had no clue as to what I should say.
“Here goes nothing…everything,” I said under my breath as I exited my car.
Frank burst through the door holding his shotgun. I stood and realized I was too late. Stark must have called him. And Frank believed him.
“Get off my property before I castrate you with my shotgun,” he bellowed.
Instinct had me holding my hands up. “Frank…let me explain.”
“Explain how you took advantage of my baby girl? I didn’t want to believe it, and yet, here you are, admitting it.”
“She’s not a child,” I said, wincing that perhaps that wasn’t the right answer.
“She’s my child. I trusted you, you asshole.” He waved the gun, and I flinched.
“I care for her, Frank. I really do.”
“I don’t give a fuck. Jesus, you’re like her uncle. What sort of pervert are you?”
I shook my head. “I’m not her uncle, Frank. I…I’m in love with her.” Part of me felt like I should have told her that before Frank killed or maimed me.
“Bullshit. You’re getting your rocks off. You promised this was a marriage on paper only. You fucking liar.”
I shook my head but didn’t explain that I’d never made such a promise. I thought about reminding him that she was my wife, but that seemed like a guaranteed way to get my dick blown off.
“I didn’t set out for this to happen. It just did. She’s a smart, beautiful woman, Frank.”
“You don’t talk about my girl. You hear me.” He waved the gun again. “I knew I should have taken Stark’s money. I sold my daughter to you, and I’ll have to live with that. But now it’s done, Mo. When I’m done with you, you’ll be nothing. You’ll have nothing.”
I wondered if he knew about the part of the trust that said I’d have to pay the money back.
“Frank—”
“Get out. This is your last warning. I’m well within my rights to shoot trespassers on my property.”
I nodded. “Okay, Frank.” I moved back toward my car. I’d come to do w
hat I intended, and it didn’t go well, just as I was afraid it wouldn’t. In his shoes, I’d probably react the same way. I needed to talk to Brooke and let her know what was going on.
I got into the car and backed out, keeping one eye on Frank in case he changed his mind and decided to kill me after all. I couldn’t go back to the office yet, so I headed home. From my home office, I called Trina.
“Is Brooke in?” There was no reason to keep up airs of formality by calling her Ms. Campbell now.
“She was, but then she got a call from her father and rushed out,” Trina said. “It seemed serious.”
It was nearly life and death for me, I thought. “Thank you. I’m at my home office right now if you need me.”
“Is everything alright?” she asked.
No. “Everything is fine.”
When I hung up, I sat for a moment, trying to catch my breath. I started to dial Brooke’s number but couldn’t figure out what to say.
Fuck. I hung up and scrubbed my hands over my face. I wondered if I should go back to Frank’s out of concern for Brooke. But then I realized that he’d blame me. Older man seducing an innocent girl. She’d be fine. If I was lucky, she felt something for me, too, and would let Frank know that what was between us wasn’t sordid. She’d call me, I decided. The next play really was in her hands. I didn’t want to get in between her and her father, so if she wanted me, she’d come and get me. And if she didn’t, if she chose her father, well, I’d have to accept that.
28
Brooke
I entered the office and started directly toward Mo’s office to let him know what the reporter told me. God, I hoped he didn’t take it badly. I knew he’d be unhappy, but I hope it didn’t cause him to push me away again. Why did it seem like just when he was in my grasp, he was then thrust away from me?
“He’s not in,” Trina said to me.
I stopped and turned to her. “Do you know when he’ll be back?”
She shook her head. “He didn’t say.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Trina wasn’t being friendly, but she wasn’t brusque either. It made me wonder if Mo had talked to her. I wasn’t sure how I felt about his intruding on my battles, but I had other concerns to worry about first.
Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 56