Page 1 of The Mayor's Surrender

Prologue

Brooks

My hand threads through my short hair, angrily tugging on the roots. The sound of my campaign manager’s heels walking across the lobby and toward my office amplifies my annoyance. Why I decided to take on the role of mayor is beyond me. I’m a hands-on kind of guy, and sitting in front of a desk isn’t easy. The assistants don’t make it any better with their incessant chatter and their endless flirting.

“Now, Mayor Payne, you can’t keep firing every assistant like this. It looks terrible. This is your fifth assistant this week. We understand that you’re going through a difficult time with the change in careers and the rapid special election. Still, the town has gone through such a major upheaval, and you’re the perfect man to bring the people together. They can’t see you as the brute the old assistants are making you out to be. You must be the hero the town desperately needs.”

She’s right, and a big reason I ran for the position in the first place was when the old mayor went down for corruption, destroying the trust of the people while stealing millions of tax dollars. Sighing, I adjust my suit tie and sit in my chair, trying to be calm and poised, but my damn leg is throbbing today. “Damn it. Fine. Send the next one in, but she better be good.”

“She’s all we have left,” she replied with a sigh as her shoulders slumped.

“That doesn’t bode well.”

“She’s good enough, but…” She bites down on her bottom lip, and I don’t like her sudden wary expression. As someone in her field and having dealt with me and my moods, she’s never been this nervous.

“But let’s just say collaborating with her will help your image.” My brow kicks up nearly to my hairline when I consider the only female that could make me look better.

“Oh, no…” Please help me. If it’s who I think it is, I’m fucking screwed.

In walks the walking temptation, the reason I let her father get away without serving fucking jail time, the reason I stayed in Sweet Temptation Bay long after I should have left, and the real reason I took the offer to run unopposed as mayor that I wouldn’t admit to anyone.

Taylor Phillips.

“Good morning, Mayor Payne,” Taylor says. It is that sugary, sweet southern belle tone with just a hint of grit only brought on by the rough months she’s endured.

I remember the first time she and I met. I’d just argued with my friend who wanted me to run for the open mayor position.

“Brooks, it’s the best decision for you. If I were you, I’d go for it. You’re going to gain sympathy, and you’re a townie, so you can easily win.”

“I’ll think about it. I need my rest, though.”

“Fine, just let me know.” I sent out the Attorney General, who happens to be a friend of mine. He wants me to run for mayor. A position I’m not quite sure I’m suited for, but my hometown could really use a new mayor.

“Hello? Admiral Payne?” a soft voice enters my consciousness. Suddenly, I’m awakened from my deep, depressing thoughts about my future. I’ve just spoken to my lawyers in the Navy, and I have no choice but to retire, given my injuries.

I was just offered the chance to run for mayor of my hometown yesterday, but I’m not in the mood to serve more people. Turning to the voice in the room, I find the cutest woman I’ve ever seen biting on her bottom lip. Have I died and gone to heaven?

The monitors in the room beat faster, showing my heart rate picking up and giving me away. That irritates me, so I take it out on the innocent angel in front of me. “Can I help you, sweetheart?” I ask, trying to figure out how to read her.

“Well, um…” Her long medium brown hair is up in a high ponytail, and I want to wrap my hands around her and drag her to me, demanding she tell me why she disturbed my peace.

“Look…I don’t know what you want, but I’m not in the mood to be guessing.” God, she’s beautiful.

“My name is Taylor Phillips.” I slam my eyes shut. She’s heard about her father.

“I see. You’re here to try to seduce me and buy your father’s way out of jail time.”

“Oh no. God, no. I’m about to be nineteen, Sir.” I blanched instantly. Fuck me. She’s only eighteen years old. Ten years younger than me, but I still was tempted to take the fucking offer if she threw it up there. Maybe part of me was more of a politician than I thought. The more I thought about it, the more I shook the idea from my head. Ms. Phillips was younger than my sister.

“Well, that’s good because I wouldn’t bite, anyway. So, what do you want?” I questioned, hoping to change the subject and calm down my growing erection tenting the bedsheets.

“Well, I just wanted to apologize on his behalf. See, we just laid my momma to rest. Two weeks ago.” I closed my eyes again because we did the same, along with my mom and dad.

“Please go on,” I say, choking on my own grief.

“I know it doesn’t excuse anything, but it’s been a rough road for us. See, she wasn’t even supposed to be on that cruise. She’d just gotten a new job. We thought she was at work that day, but she and her boss had taken a romantic cruise together, along with another couple.” My parents, I think to myself.

I reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Please don’t cry.”

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