Page 25 of Christmas Kisses

The Mayor turns around, surprised.

"Hoffer, is it? What do you want?"

"I want you to stop manipulating Sam to do your bidding. She's a good citizen and an amazing business owner and doesn't deserve your treatment of her."

"What's Samantha been telling you?"

"She prefers 'Sam'."

"Are you enamored of her? Is that what this is about?"

"I was there both times you've roped her into doing things for you, without payment, I may add. You're abusing your power."

"Samantha won't fail me, I'm sure of it. I might even ask her to be my date for the Mixer." He raises his eyebrows insinuatingly.

I don't know what comes over me, but I curl my right hand into a fist and punch him right in the nose. He, of course, starts screaming like a little girl. Blood spurts out of his nose, and a feeling of contentment goes through me. He deserves a broken nose. I see Lilah duck into the back of the store, and I guess she's calling the police.

Oh, hell. I'm going to be arrested, that's for sure. Lilah hands the Mayor a small towel, and he presses it on his face. He's moaning and groaning, and every now and then, a curse word comes out of his mouth. He's worse than a sailor, but it doesn't take long for him to threaten me and say that he will press charges.

Five minutes pass, and the sheriff and deputy walk into Lilah's store.

"Arrest him." Mayor Douchebag says while pointing a finger at me.

I show my hands to the sheriff, and he cuffs me and takes me into custody. My free call is to one of my brothers so that they can come bail me out. The mayor and the sheriff have a loud shouting match, and I'm told I need to cool down in jail until morning and that the judge needs to see my case. I'm wondering if the judge is a friend of the mayor and what this will cost me in the end.

I still don't regret it. The next morning, I have a crick in my neck, and my lower back hurts like a bitch. Turns out I have a visitor, one I can't say no to. They let Sam in and she leans against the bars of my cell.

"What did you get yourself into, Ben Hoffer?"

I don't say anything because I know she won't like the words that come out of my mouth.

"You're just not going to talk to me?"

"He's taking advantage of you,” I mutter. “I couldn't let him get away with it."

"So make him pay for things with his own money. Don't use him as a punching bag."

I get up and approach where she's standing, her face in between two bars. I place a kiss on her forehead and stay with my forehead resting against the bars.

"Ben…"

"Please don't defend him. I don't think I could stand it."

"I wasn't going to do that. I was going to say it's my fault. I should have stood up to him, but you know that's difficult for me."

"You did nothing wrong, Sam. He's a jerk, and someone has to put him in his place once and for all."

"They say you're going in front of Judge Carrington later today."

"I don't know how that is going to go. What if the judge is friendly with the douchebag?"

"I'm on it."

She puckers her mouth, and I give her a big, sloppy kiss on the lips. An hour later, the judge dismisses the case as he swipes coffee cake crumbs off his robe. The mayor starts insulting the judge, and the judge asks him to do some cooling down of his own.

All I want to do right now is take Sam into my arms and ask her to be mine.

Chapter 10

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