Page 88 of His Curvy Distraction

“Absolutely. She’s a good friend of Melody Holland. You know Ramsey, right?”

“Yeah.” The idea was getting more appealing.

“Melody said Casey is pissed about the articles. Considering finding a new job because she doesn’t like being tied to a place that would try to ruin someone who’s doing good things for the town. She also has a daughter who will be going to the summer camp.”

“So there’s a conflict of interest.”

Goldie shook her head. “Not if you’re talking about your job instead of the summer camp.”

“True.”

“How does the rest of your week look? Do you have time to meet with her tomorrow?”

“I’ll make time,” I said. Clearing my name was too important not to.

“Do you mind if I call Melody right now? I don’t have Casey’s number, but Melody watches Casey’s daughter after school. She sees her every day and can get in touch with her.”

“Please do.”

I listened to Goldie’s side of the short conversation. From what I could tell, Melody was on board and was excited to let Casey know I’d asked for her at Goldie’s suggestion.

“Melody is going to have Casey call Jane and get an appointment with you,” Goldie said as she put her phone away.

“Then we better tell Jane to make it a priority,” I said, getting up from my desk. I opened my office door for Goldie, who stopped at Jane’s office with me. “A woman named Casey…”

“White,” Goldie provided.

“Thank you. Casey White is a reporter and is going to call to get on my schedule. I want you to set an appointment with her as soon as possible. She’s a friend of a friend.”

“So she’ll put out a good article about you for once?” Jane asked.

Goldie laughed. “That’s the plan.”

“Exactly.”

Jane’s phone rang, and we all stared at it. Jane answered and winked at us before clicking over to the calendar. After a minute, she hung up.

“Tomorrow at nine,” Jane announced. “She’s going to have a photographer with her and said she wants to highlight all the good you’ve done for MacKellar Cove since you took over as interim mayor.”

“Good. Thank you, Jane. And you, Goldie. I appreciate you coming by, and being honest with me.”

“Any time, Omar. Have a good rest of your day.”

“I think it’s good you’re doing this,” Jane said. “It’s good for people to see who you are.”

“Thank you, Jane. I hope it’s good.”

“It will be. Goldie wouldn’t have recommended it. She’s your biggest fan. Well, maybe second biggest. I think Natalie might have top spot these days.”

My lips lifted into a smile at the thought of Natalie. I was definitely her biggest fan.

And there was no one I wanted to talk to about the article more than Natalie.

With Natalie’s late nights at the community center, we didn’t see each other during the week very often. I let her know about the article, and she wished me luck. She also asked to hear all about it on Saturday, when we had another date planned.

I was more nervous than I expected to be when I got to work Thursday morning. I knew this one article could have a bigger impact on my future than anything else I did for the next few months. I hated that it was true, but it was how politics worked. If a candidate looked horrible once, it was the only thing anyone remembered.

Thirty minutes before Casey White was supposed to arrive, Jane buzzed my office. I’d closed the door to focus and avoid distractions. I wasn’t excited about one, but I answered in case it was Ms. White there early.

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