Page 50 of Cold Winter Nights

“Come on, open those tight lips. This soup’s guaranteed to warm your bones,” she sang, chasing his mouth with the steaming liquid on a spoon.

Stone craned his neck, trying to back away from the spoon being pressed against his bottom lip.

“I’m plenty warm enough, Myra since you damn near got me sitting inside this fireplace.”

“Oh shush, you been up there in those mountains, freezing all alone in that cabin. I know you’re still cold and hungry.”

“I—”

Myra shoved the spoon into Stone’s mouth cutting off any further protest.

“Oppsie, got a little in your beard there.” She chuckled, wiping at the mess she’d made with her towel.

Stone gave her a wry glare and Royal could barely withhold his snort.

“Royal. Are you listening?” Council Member Lewis asked.

Royal cleared his throat and turned away from the hilarious sight.

“Yes, I heard every word,” he lied, trying to hide his smile behind his coffee mug.

“We all just can’t believe that you were able to secure these kinds of funds with no strings attached,” she gasped. “It’s incredibly generous.”

Royal refocused his attention on the town manager and other officials sitting around the table.

“I care about this town, I care about the people in it.” Royal cut his eyes to Stone. “You now have a chance to turn this setback into an opportunity, and I’d like to help make that possible.”

The four of them were almost on the edges of their seats.

“This money gives you a chance to rebuild and to think about other sustainable revenue sources.”

Royal took another sip of the strong brew.

“I’m only wanting this town to succeed, and in all of my years in finance, I know of one cardinal rule, and that’s to not rely on a sole source of income.”

He could feel Stone’s eyes on him and Royal made sure to raise his voice so his lover could hear.

“I plan on staying in Windeville. I want it to be my home. So, if you’re open to it, I’d like to assist you further in your long-term planning. Not to sound like a braggard, but I have a strong financial background. I’d like to talk about a possible advisory role in the town’s finance department, at least for the next few years.”

The mayor’s dark eyes glittered like onyx, her smile growing wider the more he spoke.

“I believe I have some pretty good ideas on additional revenue sources and improving your budget process.”

Mayor Jenkins glanced around at her colleagues, receiving subtle nods from each of them before she pulled out a manila envelope from her briefcase.

“I have another proposal, Royal.” She slid over what looked like a contract and stopped it in front of him. “Since Windeville will be your home. I’d prefer you to have a more formal role. What would you say to being my town’s financial manager?”

“We don’t want to put pressure on you or anything,” a council member said quickly. “But we’ve never had anyone here with your level of expertise, and we know that you would be the perfect one to help guide us through any financial crises going forward.”

“If we ever have any again,” the mayor laughed.

“And the hours won’t be demanding. You can set your own hours. Oh, and Mrs. Parks is an amazing executive assistant. Somehow she keeps up with all official matters, you won’t find a better, more detail-oriented secretary in all of Maine.”

Royal smiled. He liked Mrs. Parks. He’d run in to her a few times at the general store, loading her cart with printer paper. She’d be a far cry from his past assistants.

Royal knew he’d have to occupy his time somehow. He couldn’t just sit in Myra’s kitchen tasting samples of her dishes or waiting on the couch for Stone to come home from work.

That may suffice for a while but eventually his mind would need a bit more stimulation.

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