Page 30 of Resisting Temptation

“I need to prove it to myself,” I admit, the words truer than even I knew until I uttered them out loud. “Maybe I don’t need to prove anything to other people. But right now, I feel like I’m failing at life, and I need this.”

He smiles at me kindly. “I understand. I just want you to be happy, Sis. And safe. If you need to do this, do it. But if Beckett crosses the line, you swear to me, I will be the first to know, and I won’t be held accountable for my actions. I don’t trust him for a second and you shouldn’t either.”

I give him a gentle smile. I love my brother, he’s a good person, and I wonder how he turned out that way growing up under our father’s rule. “Look at you getting all protective over me.” I nudge his arm.

His handsome face hardens. “I’m serious, Paisley.”

“I know. I can handle Beckett. And if I can’t, you will be the first to know.” I’m stronger than he thinks, but he doesn’t know what I had to endure after he left for the Army. He still sees me as a little girl who needs to be taken care of. I’m not. I can do this. I dealt with our father, I can deal with Beckett.

Chapter 18

Noah

Emerson joins me backstage of the Alexander Hotel conference center, where our kick-off event is about to start. “You go on in five, after Mayor Michaels finishes his address. Are you nearly ready to take the stage?” She smiles.

I take a deep breath. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

“You know the very first mayor this town had was a Harrington,” Emerson says.

“He’s not someone I aspire to be, Emerson.” I know the story, my father lived for it. Something about this town belonging to us Harringtons. The Founders’ Day parade was his favorite day of the year because it was all about our family heritage.

“Can you believe your relative was a pirate? And captained the ship that supposedly took this town from its original owners.”

“I’m sure the story they tell on Founders’ Day is an embellishment of the truth, but knowing some of my relatives, it’s not unlikely.” I laugh lightheartedly as I watch our mayor address his loyal constituents; their cheers fill the air as he wraps up his speech about how much he loves this town.

Beckett, smirking, catches our attention from across the stage. Cocky and full of shit. The man’s ready to lie through his teeth to get what he wants. Irritation gnaws at me. Not because of him. I’ve known for years he’s a manipulative shit. Both the Prescott boys are. They turned out just like their father. My irritation is because she stands next to him, my girl, looking way too perfect in a black fitted dress and killer heels. She catches me checking her out, and her sassy red lips turn up at the side, like she is taunting me. Then she looks back to Beckett, taking his tie in her hands and fussing with it. My fists clench in irritation. Touching him is not part of her job description.

“How can he run for mayor anyway, isn’t there some law stopping it from happening? Conflict of interest and all that,” asks Emerson, glaring in his direction as well.

“Apparently, Beckett has stepped down from his role in the company for the term of the campaign. And even though it seems like there should be a law about this, as long as he discloses his ties to Prescott Media, there’s nothing else anyone can do about it,” Margo fills her in.

“But it gives him a massive advantage,” Emerson complains.

“I didn’t realize you were so into politics, Em.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. I can’t take my eyes off Paisley with him. But I can’t show them how muchit’s affecting me. I need to keep my cool so I can go out there and dominate this Q and A. I’ll deal with Paisley later for taunting me on purpose. Because I’m sure that’s what she’s doing.

“I’m not, I just really hate the Prescotts,” she huffs, still watching Paisley and Beckett.

“Don’t we all,” Margo agrees. And I have to wonder what he’s done to her. Ever since we started working side by side on this campaign, I’ve been able to feel her distaste for him. It’s like she has a personal vendetta against the man. But I guess it’s not that unusual around this town; most people don’t like the hold his family’s company has.

“Not Paisley, she’s Beckett’s new bestie.” Emerson sighs heavily, like the weight of the world is resting on her shoulders alone. “Look at the two of them.” But I don’t have to, my eyes haven’t left them. Paisley is reading to him from her phone, and he’s watching her intently. A little too intently. My jaw ticks. I can’t stand seeing the two of them together.

Knowing I need to pull it together before I go on stage, I glance back at Emerson, wondering why it’s twisting her up so much inside. I get that the paper did some real damage to the hotel’s reputation last year, but that wasn’t one hundred percent the Prescotts’ fault. Is she just as jealous of the two of them as I am? Could little Alexander have a crush on big bad Beckett? “Why does it bother you so much?” I ask, trying to shift the focus on to her.

She looks up at me, and I notice a flash of guilt in her eyes. “If she’s going to be anyone’s campaign manager, it should be yours,” she snaps, anger creeping into hernormally light and pleasant tone. And I can tell this has nothing to do with me.

“I have a campaign manager.” I smile at Margo, and she nods happily. “And besides, you know we would kill each other if left alone to plan this campaign.”

“Maybe.” She shrugs. “What did you do to her to make her hate you so much? I’ve never seen her so passionate about anything.”

“It’s a long story,” I grumble, not wanting to get into it this morning.

Margo’s hand comes to my arm, pulling my attention back to her. “One she could use against us?” she asks, her eyes wide and worried.

I had considered the same, but there is no way she would leak what we once were to each other. It wouldn’t help her fight against me, and she wants it kept a secret more than I do. “No.”

“So, you guys had some sort of romantic thing, and now she hates you because you hurt her?” Emerson searches my eyes for answers.

“If Paisley hasn’t told you girls, then I’m not saying a word.” I zip my lips.

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