Page 4 of Release You

I snorted and turned to face him. “You were thinking? It certainly didn’t look like it from where I was standing.”

“I’d never seen a woman like her, is all. It’s not just me, right? You saw her?” His ears turned bright red.

Yeah, I saw her, smelled her, felt her. But if a couple of her fingers tapping on my chest could make me want to forget about everything I came here to do, I was in deep trouble. No, I’d come this far. I couldn’t let some blonde bombshell with the face of an angel ruin my plans. I didn’t care how tight her jeans were. She was trouble, and she couldn’t stay.

“Get back to work, Russ. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Two blocks down, I climbed the steps to city hall and went straight to the mayor’s office. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with that sleazeball, but the hotel situation couldn’t wait.

“Good morning, Patty.” I smiled at his receptionist. “I need a word with the mayor.”

She smoothed out her skirt and pulled at her top before she scurried around her desk to stand between the door to the mayor’s office and me. “I’m sorry, Henry. He’s in a meeting.”

Through the glass panel, our honorable mayor sat at his desk, stuffing his face with donut holes. I raked a hand over my face and hair. I met Patty’s gaze, and her cheeks flushed. She offered an apologetic one-shoulder shrug and continued to hold her ground.

I stepped toward her, cocking my head so we were eye toeye. “I need to talk to him. And we both know he’s not in a meeting. That would actually make him productive.”

“Fudge. Okay, but—” She swallowed, making a sound like she was gasping for air.

“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.” I sidestepped her and marched into the office. Behind me, Patty said something about knocking first. Please. It wasn’t as if the asshole couldn’t see us out here.

Mayor Jonathan Cavalier looked up from his box of donuts and slumped back in his chair. “What do you want?” He blinked slowly as he smoothed the thinning hair on top of his head.

I gripped the back of the chair facing his desk. It was the chair or his neck. How did the townspeople not see him for the creep he was?

“There’s a woman in town. Apparently, she’s here for my hotel. Care to explain why the fuck that is?”

He flinched and looked behind me to Patty. I followed his line of sight back to the reception area, where Patty stood by her desk, staring at us with wide eyes and her fingers on the phone keypad. I flashed her a smile to ease her nerves. Hopefully, there would be no need to call the sheriff this time. I was full of patience today.

“What I do with my hotel is none of your business.” He wiped powdered sugar off his tie.

“Two queens and an ace high say the hotel is mine.” I ran out of small words for Jonathan Cavalier years ago.

He perked up at that. His beady eyes flicked toward the door before they landed on me. Everyone in town knew our esteemed mayor liked to lose money at poker. Thanks to his gambling addiction, I was finally the grand owner of one of the oldest buildings in town, an architect’s dream come true.

“Yes. Well, about that. I think it would be best if youdiscuss it with my lawyer.” He used his chubby index finger to page Patty. When he sat back, his white shirt showed sweat spots around his armpits. What a disgrace he was to the Cavalier family. My dad had always said so, and I agreed.

Patty rushed into the room, pen and notepad in hand. “Yes, sir.”

“Could you schedule an appointment for Henry and?—”

“Don’t bother. I don’t need an appointment.” I had no time for appointments. I hadn’t forgotten about “just Nikki,” who no doubt was in the process of settling in.

“Henry. Don’t do anything—” Patty’s words faded behind me as I rushed out the office and took the staircase to the main level, where the mayor’s lawyer and best friend kept his office.

The lawyer’s receptionist stood when she saw me coming down the hall. I put up my hand. “The mayor sent me.”

“Oh, Henry. Please,” she said, bracing a hand over her chest.

I knocked on the door. Then turned to her, pointing at the fake smile on my face. “I’ll play nice.”

She rolled her eyes at me but other than that didn’t try to stop me.The mayor’s lawyer friend had the same reaction to my presence as the mayor, except he reached for the antacids instead of the donut holes.

“How can I help you, Henry?”

“What’s going on with my hotel?” I stuffed my hands in the pockets of my jeans.

“Right. So you heard?” He swallowed, shuffling through papers.

---