Page 18 of The Mayor's Surrender

“Come on, young man. You better get on and marry that young beauty already because I have a handsome grandson I can introduce her to, and he’s rich and famous,” her best friend and my late grandmother’s friend, Louise Barrymore, shakes her head at me.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Barrymore, I picked up the ring this morning.” The town has always heard about this mysterious grandson, but they believe she’s a bit delusional because most have never met him. However, I know the bastard is real, handsome, and wealthy. He has a stage name because he’s not related to the other famous Barrymores and doesn’t want any confusion.

He’s slunk around to visit her on occasion, but his visits are short and incognito. I remember him as a kid because we used to be friends and played together.

“You go on and on about him, but we never see the boy. If I hadn’t seen the boy when he was little, I wouldn’t believe he was real, but you don’t have to lie and say he’s famous, Louie.”

“Whatever, you old bat. I tell you what I tell you. He’s famous, and that’s all. His business is his. He visited me right before the storm, but he had some matters come up and had to leave.” They roll their eyes at her. She waves them off and says, “Anyway, back to you, Mayor Brooks Payne. Your parents wouldn’t take too kindly to you delaying that wedding.”

“I promise she’ll be my wife before the week is out.” I nod and wave them off.

“No kiss on our hands?”

“You don’t want a kiss from that man. If the word is true, he’s been marking his territory, and she’s a very happy lady.” I blush, but there’s nothing to be ashamed about pleasing my woman, so I wink at them and walk away.

“That’s a good man,” Mrs. Blake cheers toward my back. They all start singing my praise, having no idea how I can’t wait to get back to the office where I plan to get hardly anything done because my soon-to-be fiancé is about to have her pussy plastered to my face for lunch.

Epilogue

Brooks

“Honey, it’s nice of you to stop by, but where’s your overgrown shadow?”

“He’s working. I came to see my darling brother and my beautiful sister-in-law. Is there something wrong with it?”

“Does your husband know that you waddled all the way over here?”

“Waddled?” she asks, glaring at me. I know I’m going to pay for it, but my sister’s adorable, and so is my wife, who are both round in the midsection since they’re both expecting. Our parents would be happy to see our family grow. “I’m going to ignore that if you don’t tell Axel I’m here.”

I clamp my lips together because I can’t promise that shit. He’s not in control of his obsession as I am. He has a tracker on Honey, and he’s going to know where she is. Especially after the shit she pulled during the storm. I’m only in control of my obsession because she’s my assistant. Her desk is mere feet from mine, a door away, a door that now remains open unless there’s a meeting in my office like now because I can indulge in my need to see her.

“Brooks, why aren’t you answering me?”

My office phone rings, stopping me from having to answer her. Luckily, it’s my wife, and I have to take the call. “Yes, beautiful?”

“It’s Mr. Knight on the phone, Mayor Payne.” Instantly, I’m annoyed.

“I’m going to spank that round ass of yours when we’re alone, wife.”

“I’m not alone out here, sir.”

“I don’t care. Everyone knows you’re married, and who the fuck is out there with you?”

“…Workers.” I didn’t hear her, but I had to deal with Axel before he showed up here, so I took the call from her and answered him. “Axel, your wife is here.”

“Let me speak to her.”

“You be nice to my sister.”

“Always.”

“Good.” I hand the phone over to my sister, step around my desk, and straight out the door of my office to find out who is with my wife. What the hell is he doing here?

The second I see the bastard, I want to clock him. It’s been a while since I saw that prick near us. Bryan Maines kept his distance and did his job for Sweet Temptation Bay, so I had no reason to pull any contracts or his license.

“Good afternoon, Mayor Payne.” His tone is clearly one of resentment, but there’s no threat.

“Is there something you need that doesn’t include bothering my wife?”

---