Page 21 of Taken By Storm

He scowled again…and she knew she’d pushed the wrong button when he said, “But that’s not exactly true, is it? Because you’ve missed the lasttwoyears. Herb already gave your family an extension on the first year. It’s not the town’s policy to extend longer than that. Failing to pay your taxes?—”

“We’re good for the money. You know that. We just need more time.”

Scottie sighed heavily, making Kasi feel as if she were asking him to part the Red Sea or single-handedly straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as opposed to just asking for more time.

“I’ll speak to Herb for you,” he replied, like he was doing her the world’s biggest favor, “but you have to understand that this town depends on those taxes to function effectively.”

And to pay his salary.

Wisely, she held her tongue, her face flushing with anger and embarrassment. She hated being made to feel like a pauper. “I’m only asking for a little bit more time.”

“You realize there is another solution, one I mentioned in the spring.”

Spring, my ass,she thought.

Scottie had first dropped the marriage suggestion on her just four weeks after her mother died because apparently his ego was so large he genuinely thought he’d be the cure to her grief.

“I’m not interested in getting married. To anyone,” she added, simply to appease him. Unfortunately, she didn’t want to piss him off so much that he started making waves for her with Herb.

Scottie nodded, walking over to a basket filled with apples. Helping himself to one, he took a large bite, then nodded before stepping next to her again. “You know I’m on your side, Kasi. I’d do anything for you. I hate seeing your family in this position. I’ll talk to Herb. See you soon, sweetheart.” He gave her a smug smile, like he was some generous benefactor, pausing with one eyebrow raised. It was obvious he expected her gratitude, even though it was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she wasn’t his sweetheart.

“Thank you,” she choked out.

“Anything for you.” He stroked her arm again in that overly familiar way, and she swallowed down the bile his touch produced. With those parting words, he left.

Without paying for the apple.

The petty part of her considered calling the sheriff to report the theft, but she decided it probably wasn’t wise to piss the mayor off, since she was asking for more time to pay their debt.

Keith walked in just as Scottie was climbing into his BMW.

“Was that Grover?” he asked.

Kasi nodded.

“What the hell did he want?”

She shrugged, trying for nonchalant. She was unwilling to burden Keith with any of this. “Just trying to drum up votes.”

Keith gave her a hard look, and she realized her mistake. Up until eight months ago, she and Keith had been close. Which meant he knew her tells when she was lying.

She’d been avoiding his gaze, so she forced herself to look him straight in the eye as she added, “He’s up for reelection.”

Keith scowled, clearly unconvinced.

“Whatever,” he said finally, reverting back to this new version of himself as he walked out.

Suddenly, Kasi didn’t feel much like smiling anymore, so she did what she always did whenever she ran into Scottie. She put him out of her mind completely.

Chapter Four

Levi parked his truck next to the fruit stand, closer than usual. He figured he’d save himself and Kasi some steps as they loaded her empty trays and baskets. As he walked into the stand, there was a strange spring in his step that even he didn’t recognize.

He’d spent the better part of the afternoon grinning like a damn fool. Theo had caught him doing so in the brewery, when Levi had brought by a sample of the new variety of hops he was growing. His brother had taken one look at his big-ass grin and asked him if he’d gotten laid last night.

Levi hadn’t responded. Instead, he’d just rolled his eyes, whistling as he walked away.

Another brother, Maverick, had asked the exact same question an hour later as the two of them walked through the vineyard checking on the grapes, and he’d given him the same nonresponse.

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