Page 55 of The Keeper

Ivan let out a grunt and headed toward the kitchen. Rueben followed, unsure if the noise was rejection or acceptance of his suggestion until Ivan pulled up a stool and plopped down. Rory shot his boyfriend a quick wink as he waited for Seth to answer his question.

“Uh, yeah,” Seth finally said.

Rory cocked his head to the side. “Uh, yeah?” He tsked and shook his head. “I would’ve never associated those lukewarm words or attitude with you, Sheriff.”

“My commitment to my job and the election isn’t lukewarm. I just didn’t want to engage a formal campaign or hire a manager. It isn’t my style.”

“How does unemployment suit you?” Rory fired back.

Seth exhaled a long sigh as he considered the question. Everything about his demeanor changed before their eyes. He stood taller, notched his chin higher, and met Rory’s gaze with a look of determination that made Rueben squirm on his stool. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

The community had turned out in big numbers for the one and only debate between Seth and Martindale, but the town hall resembled a popped can of biscuits on the night Seth would stand alone at the podium and make his pitch to his constituents. Throngs of people—press and locals alike—filled every square inch of the building and spilled onto the lawns surrounding the building. Rory had planned for that contingency and placed portable speakers outside so all attendees got a first-person account of Seth’s statement and his answers to the questions he would field afterward.

The speakers currently played songs from a local country band who’d gotten famous after winning a popular reality competition. The group used their clout to support Seth when rumblings about his improper behavior stirred in the wake of Ulrich’s confession. Lyndhurst had also kept his word and would reiterate his endorsement when he introduced Seth. Support had come from many other sources, some surprising, such as Oliver Hawkins. Seth’s ex-fiancé had written a fair article that highlighted all the reasons Seth was the right candidate for sheriff without sugarcoating Seth’s mistakes. Oliver portrayed a man who was honest and decent but also human. The last line of the article had nearly moved Rueben to tears.

Are you really going to punish a man whose only crime was falling in love and reward a monster who refuses to denounce his hateful past?

With that one sentence, Oliver made two distinct comparisons between the candidates. Man versus monster. Love versus hate. Rueben’s heart knew the choice was clear, but his brain wouldn’t stop whispering mean things about their predicament being his fault. None of this would’ve happened if he hadn’t pursued Seth. He’d even said as much after Rory left on Sunday evening because Seth had looked like someone who’d faced down a tornado and barely survived. The Rory Effect had rattled them both, and Rueben had felt particularly vulnerable and guilty.

Seth had scooped him in his arms and pressed a firm kiss to his lips. “I will apologize for many things, but loving you will not be one of them.”

In the corridor outside the main hall, Rory stood back and assessed Seth from head to toe with keen eyes. “You are the one miracle I didn’t need to pull off today,” Rory said. “You’ve pressed your shirt to perfection, and the fit of your jeans alone should be enough to get you reelected.” Rory huffed a breath onto his shirtsleeve, then polished the sheriff’s star pinned to Seth’s shirt. “There. Perfection.”

“You’re sure this isn’t too soon?” Seth had wanted to do his press conference after the investigators thoroughly updated the public on everything that had transpired. Rory had heartily disagreed and made a case for getting in front of the press and public as soon as possible. Seth agreed, and Rory moved mountains to make it happen less than twenty-four hours later.

“You won’t be answering questions about any of the investigations,” Rory reminded him. “The reporters will give up and focus on the information you’ve put in front of them after you refer their case-specific questions to the task force enough times.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s nearly seven. Are you ready?”

Seth met Rueben’s gaze and smiled. “Are you?”

It was hard to guess what the next few months would be like, but Rueben wasn’t afraid of a challenge. Seth was his endgame, so he smiled and said, “Bring it on.”

“Great,” Rory said. “You two kiss and say your so longs while I prod Lyndhurst to take the stage.”

Once alone, Rueben turned and hugged Seth. “You don’t need luck, so I won’t say it. You’ve got this.”

They both knew Seth’s apology would be a semicolon, not a period. More questions and concerns would arise—some legit and others utter bullshit—but this step would address most issues.

Seth pulled him into a tight hug. “Hell yeah, I do. And I’ve got you.”

Reuben forced himself to release Seth and step back. With one last kiss, he left Seth alone in the corridor to find Kerry, who promised to save him a seat. The locals might’ve packed the hall, but Seth’s cousin was easy to find with his imposing size and dark looks. Attention shifted to him like an invisible wave, but Rueben squared his shoulders and walked proudly. Kerry had chosen seats directly behind the press, which felt an awful lot like sticking a bloody toe into shark-infested waters. Rory had every intention of using the media to their advantage, but Rueben lacked his confidence.

“Front row, huh?” Rueben asked when he dropped into the seat next to Kerry.

“Better than slinking to the back like you have something to hide,” the bruiser countered.

Rueben conceded his point with a head tilt. Then he took advantage of having Kerry’s undivided attention for once. “What are your intentions with Keegan?”

Kerry arched a brow, leaned closer, and said, “None of your business.”

A rebuttal sprang to his tongue, but Lyndhurst stepped up to the podium and greeted the crowd before Rueben could release it. Damn him. Keegan was his business, and he wouldn’t allow this sexy pirate to swashbuckle his way into Kee’s tender heart. But then he remembered the unfettered joy Keegan had displayed the previous day. Rueben had thought it was because the ordeal with the cult, at least legally, would soon be over. Three out of four remaining members had died, and the fourth signed a plea deal and would soon admit his guilt before a judge. Now, he realized the mountain-sized hunk smirking at him had a lot to do with the laughing and blushing Keegan did while Rueben made enchiladas. Scaring Kerry off was suddenly the last thing he wanted to do, not that it would work.

“Please don’t hurt him,” Rueben said softly.

Kerry’s expression turned tender as he held Rueben’s gaze. “And I ask the same of you.”

Rueben swallowed hard and extended his pinkie to Kerry, who chuckled as he hooked his finger around Rueben’s and shook it. Then, they turned their attention to Lyndhurst’s wordy introduction slash endorsement. There was still something Rueben didn’t like about the guy, but he appreciated the prosecutor sticking his neck out there for Seth, especially since he was fighting his own reelection battles. Eventually, Rueben drowned out the prosecutor and turned introspective, clapping whenever the audience did. He didn’t tune back in until Kerry rose to his feet and cheered. Rueben jumped to his feet, and there Seth was, standing tall and proud at the podium.

“Good evening.” Seth’s greeting quieted the crowd. “Thank you for coming.”

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