Page 7 of Shotgun Spouse

“Help?” Mrs. Imani's eyes sparkled. “You did more than help, my dear. You commanded that stage. You’ve got a natural talent for this.”

“I just wanted to make sure everyone got the information they needed.”

Mrs. Imani leaned in slightly, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “You know, with reelection coming up, we’re going to need someone strong to lead this town. Someone who knows the ins and outs of how things work and can actually get things done.”

Bunny blinked, caught off guard. She'd seen deals go down like this while watching Preston schmooze and Grant weasel. But she'd never had it happen face to face.

“Have you considered running for mayor, dear?”

The words hung in the air, weighty and electric. Bunny’s breath hitched as she tried to process them.

And then Grant laughed.

It was a sharp, dismissive sound, cutting through the murmurs of agreement that had begun to ripple through the small crowd gathered around them. Bunny turned to see him standing a few feet away, his arms crossed and his grin smug.

“That’s a good one,” Grant said, shaking his head. “Bunny, mayor? Let’s be serious, Crystal.”

"It's Mrs. Imani, dear. I am nearly three times your age. Show an elder respect."

"Of course, of course, Mrs. Imani." Grant tried and failed to laugh his blunder off.

A part of Bunny wanted to laugh it off, to deflect with a joke or a polite excuse. But another part—a quieter, moredetermined part—whispered that this wasn’t just flattery. It was an opportunity.

“Thank you. Your support means a lot to the campaign.”

"I'm not interested in the campaign. But you." Mrs. Imani gave Bunny another pat on the shoulder, and then she turned and melded into the crowd.

Grant went pale, his confident swagger replaced with unease. He cleared his throat, forcing a tight smile. Then he took off after Mrs. Imani.

As the crowd began to disperse, with more than a few lingering glances in her direction, Bunny felt a strange mix of exhilaration and fear. She had thought she could be mayor, but it was the same thought that she could be president when there was a policy she didn't particularly like. It was a pie in the sky, not a reality. She decided to get out of here before anyone tried to slide more dessert on her full plate.

Outside, the snow was coming down in thick, heavy flakes, turning the world into a quiet, white blur. Bunny’s boots crunched against the pavement, each step kicking up a fine dusting of powder as she trudged back to the mayor’s office. Her coat was pulled tight around her, her scarf wound so snugly she could barely feel the bite of the wind. But no amount of winter gear could thaw the irritation simmering in her chest.

Her grip on her bag tightened as she replayed the events of the evening. Teddy Carter, the man with the world’s easiest smile and the world’s worst timing, had left her hanging yet again. How could someone so infuriatingly careless be so beloved? It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right.

The sight of the warm glow spilling from his office windows only made her jaw clench tighter. He was here? After she’d had to step in, save the evening, and salvage what was left of their administration’s reputation?

She pushed through the door, shaking the snow off her boots, and marched down the hall. As always, his office door was ajar like an open invitation.

Her anger flared. She didn’t hesitate. She stormed to his door and stepped inside. “Mayor Carter, do you even realize what you?—”

Her words caught in her throat.

Teddy was standing near his desk, one hand holding a phone to his ear, the other cradling… a baby.

CHAPTER FIVE

Teddy cradled the baby awkwardly in his arms, rocking back and forth like he’d seen parents do a thousand times but had never tried himself. The little bundle in the fuzzy blue blanket had been peacefully dozing for all of five minutes before waking up with a wail so piercing it could’ve doubled as a fire alarm.

"Okay, buddy, okay." Teddy bounced on the balls of his feet as the phone rang in his ear. "We’ll figure this out. Just... work with me here."

The baby’s cries only grew louder, echoing through the quiet office. The faint smell of baby powder and something less pleasant wafted up to Teddy’s nose. He grimaced but kept bouncing.

Finally, the line clicked, and a calm voice came through. "Child Protective Services. This is Melissa speaking. How can I help you?"

"Hi, yeah, this is Mayor Carter. Someone left a baby—an actual baby—on the doorstep of my office. I’ve got a note saying it’s for me, but obviously, that’s... not possible."

There was a pause on the other end. "I didn't know you were dating, Mayor Carter."

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