Page 23 of Loving My Enemy

The building was old on the outside but once I was inside, all the modern renovations were present and accounted for, including air conditioning, ramps, and a shiny new elevator. The copper accents gave it a much older appearance but the ride to the fourth floor was smooth and silent, a testament to the newness of it.

I stood just outside the door with “Mayor Leland Ashford” emblazoned on it and took a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. I didn’t know why I was nervous, only that I was so anxious, the gift bag of goodies shook in my hand. A momentlater, the door to the office opened and Penny appeared. “Are you planning a terrorist attack or what?”

I blinked, stunned, and shook my head. “I’m here to make a delivery. Mrs. Ashford purchased a care package for the mayor.”

Penny rolled her eyes and stepped back. “Of course she did. Go on back. He’s just changing his tie.”

I stepped inside the large, dated office and found Mayor Ashford staring at me with a wide, Texas-sized grin. “Ms. Nyland, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

I held up the basket and set it on his desk. “A special delivery from your wife.” As the mayor unpacked the gift bag, I explained what everything was and how he should use it. “It’s very simple and it’ll make the place smell welcoming and relaxing.”

The mayor blushed and shook his head. “My wife really is something special, isn’t she?”

“Seems to be,” I agreed, even though I hadn’t met the woman.

“She takes good care of me. Do you have a man to take good care of you, Elka? Or a woman,” he added hurriedly.

“No, sir, I’m completely single for the time being. I have to focus on my career.”

He held up the silver-and-lavender spray bottle and sent two pumps of mist into the air. “Smells incredible.” Like a child with a new gift, Mayor Ashford did it again and groaned at the scent. “You’re quiet a talented young woman, Elka. You make these wonderful creations and you saved Paul, something we’re all mighty grateful to you for.”

I felt the blush rising up my neck and cheeks before my brain could tell that little embarrassed part of me to sit down and shut up. “It’s what anyone would have done. I’m just grateful he’s all right.” Aside from a wicked case of sunburn and dehydration, Paul Brinkley was already lounging on his porch and drinking beer. There was no direct sun there, which made him safe. “Iwon’t keep you, mayor. I just wanted to drop off the order along with these cookies to say thank you for your business.”

“Nice touch,” he said with a smile around a bite of lavender shortbread. “Have a seat, Elka. There’s something else I’d like to discuss with you.”

Suddenly I was a kid again, caught with a bag of cheesy popcorn and a small stash of chocolate and candy when I knew I shouldn’t have been eating them. Even though I was no longer a child, I sat when he told me to. “Is there something the matter, mayor?”

“The opposite. Sheriff Henderson couldn’t stop raving about your chili. Said it was better than any he’s ever had.” He saidwhat? That news was shocking to me. I mean, sure, he did eat two and a half bowls, but he seemed like a man with a huge appetite.

“That’s nice to hear.” But I had no clue where he was going with this. Did he want me to make him a batch and, more importantly, was that an appropriate request from the mayor of my town? “You want me to make you some chili?”

“Yes. Me and the whole town at our Tulip Annual Chili Cook-Off. We’ve had it every year for the past thirty years and it would be nice to have some new blood who also happens to be a pretty lady and a hero.” Oh he was laying it on thick to make sure he got his way. “Me and Judge Mayburn, along with Tyson, will be judging the dishes,” he added, punctuated with a charming smile.

“Can I think about it?” I didn’t want to be the center of attention, for any reason. It would probably give Deputy Vargas exactly the excuse he needed to run me out of town like some Wild West villain.

“If you must, but this would be a great way to get to know some more of your new community. Maybe find a fella for you.”

I didn’t bother to tell him that the first man to show any kind of interest in me seemed to hate my guts. It was humiliating and hard to explain. It was sweet of the mayor to worry, so I smiled and inched my way out of the office.

“You can’t run from the mayor.”

I whirled at the closeness of Penny’s voice and gasped. “Maybe not, but I can try.”

“Resistance is futile,” she said without any real emotion as she handed me a white envelope with a red tulip splashed across the front. “This is your entry application. Most of it is already completed, so figure out what kind of chili you want to make and then name it.”

Her matter of fact tone might have thrown off a lesser woman, but my mother was the queen of making demands without themsoundinglike demands. “I haven’t agreed to do it yet.”

“You will,” she sang breezily.

My fingers bent and flexed, itching to shake some sense into the no-nonsense woman. “We’ll see. I made chili exactly two times in my whole life, both using a recipe I found online. I don’t have a special recipe, Penny. Or a name for said nonexistent recipe!”

Penny was unfazed by my outburst but there was a hint of sympathy shining in her eyes. “Add a weird ingredient like chocolate and give it a cutesy name so you stand out. The end.”

I knew enough about lost causes to recognize one right in front of me, so I took the envelope, sighing heavily sigh, rolled my eyes, and left City Hall. I had a few more deliveries to make, a stop at the post office, and now, apparently, chili research.

Chapter 13

Antonio

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