Page 20 of The Mayor and the Mystery Man

I let Dusty sleep in to help him recover from the jet lag. He eventually stumbled downstairs in a t-shirt and boxers before realizing we had company. Golden blond hairs dusted his defined calves.

Forget turning off a light switch. I needed to cut the power lines.

“Hi.” Dusty waved at Vernita with a huge heaping of awkwardness. “I’m Dusty.”

“Vernita. Leo’s campaign manager.”

“I didn’t know you were coming over.” Dusty glanced down. “I would’ve put on pants.”

I didn’t mind the view. Dusty had always kept in shape through the physical demands of his job and his ability to hit up the gym whenever he needed without having to worry about kids. His thick legs jutted out like tree trunks, and his shirt stretched across his chest and arms. I caught very quick glances over my breakfast smoothie.

“I’m here to prep you,” Vernita said, hints of an amused smile.

“Like for surgery?” Dusty’s eyebrows shot up.

“For the interview.”

“Right. That makes more sense.” He wiped his hand over his face and wavy hair.

I knew that look. I poured coffee into the largest mug I owned, poured in a splash of half and half and one sugar, and passed it across the kitchen island.

“Thanks.” Dusty gulped it down. “Do you have—”

“Everything bagel is in the toaster.”

“Is it from that—”

“Sourwood Bagel Company. I got them first thing this morning, so they’re fresh.”

“And—”

“Cream cheese in the fridge,” I said.

“Is it—”

“Whipped. Not the brick.”

Vernita’s head whipped back and forth like she was watching a tennis match. The bagel popped up from the toaster. I tossed the hot food on a plate.

“Today’s interview is a softball,” Vernita said while I schmeared Dusty’s bagel. “But it’s still an interview. We need to be prepared. This relationship has come out of left field, and the press and voters are likely assuming you’ve been hiding Dusty away.The Mayor and the Mystery Manis what people are calling it online.”

“Catchy.” I slid the bagel across the island.

“Can you put more schmear on this?”

“You lop on the cream cheese, and half of it winds up in the trash.”

Dusty considered it, then nodded in agreement. He bit into his bagel and moaned with delight, sending a very inappropriate buzz to my crotch.

“They don’t make bagels like these in LA. I think it’s something in the water here,” Dusty said between bites.

“Anyway.” Vernita handed Dusty a dossier we’d put together.

“What’s this?” he asked with a full mouth.

“We compiled a list of potential questions Maria may ask along with preferred answers for each,” I said.

“So we’re riggingThe Match Game?” Dusty slid the dossier back to Vernita.

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