Page 56 of The Mayor and the Mystery Man

“Oh? You want me to spank you?”

Leo turned red at the collar. My mind was apparently hard-wired for dirty talk.

I got into position, wound my hand back, and made contact with his right cheek. My hands lingered for a second and squeezed.

Oops.

Leo laughed along. His whole body seemed to levitate with enjoyment. He threw the ball and knocked down the pins.

I jumped up and down. I ran through the crowd of onlookers and hi-fived them. I was a ball of energy. And when I came back to Leo, he held up the panda for me. When I grabbed for it, he took my hand and pulled me into a kiss.

And just like that, I finally admitted what I’d been too scared to think: I was totally sprung for my best friend.

Our moment was cut short by a woman with a Vote for Rita T-shirt tucked into a pair of mom jeans. Another woman wearing a different-colored Rita T-shirt and culottes was right behind her.

“Hello, Mr. Mayor.” Rita and her wife were wearing matching smug smiles, but if I were wearing that outfit, I wouldn’t be smiling.

“Rita. Deb.” Leo gave them terse nods. “Good day for Applefest.”

“It’s gorgeous. Bill was saying attendance was likely going to break records.” Rita had the judgy eyes that I knew very well from years of being around church moms. My balls jumped into my stomach when she and Deb looked my way. “And you must be Dusty.”

“That I am.”

“We’ve been hearing so much about you. You formed out of thin air,” Rita said with a high-pitched laugh that sounded like hyenas being drowned, in my humble opinion.

I threw my arm around Leo. “Isn’t that how love goes, though? You’re going along, going along, and then suddenly bam! This guy who’s been in front of me this whole time is the love of my life!”

“You’ve been getting a lot of visitors to your booth?” Rita asked Leo.

“Yeah. This is the first break I’ve had all day. People love talking to the mayor.”

“I had a thought. Next year, I’m going to repaint the AMA booth. It could use a new color, maybe mauve.”

“Does it now?” Leo’s smile was so rigid it could cut glass. His grin read one hundred percent fuck off. Was it weird that I found it a turn-on. “That’s sweet that you have dreams.”

“You’re funny. Occasionally.” She and Leo smiled and waved at residents passing by. Their facades were A-plus.

“Have you seen the latest polls? Your lead is receding.”

“Oh, Leo. The only thing receding is your hairline.” Rita breathed in a gust of fresh, fall air, venom glinting off her white teeth. “You and the rest of Sourwood are in for a treat tonight.”

“How so?” Leo had an edge of curiosity to his voice, which he tried to play down.

“Did you hear that The English Patients are playing later?”

“Yeah. It’s quite a get for Applefest.”

“Who do you think pulled the strings to book them?” She revealed a Cheshire cat grin.

Oh, shit.

“The city council doesn’t get involved with Applefest. I didn’t see any change in the line-item budget for the event.” Leo went full business mode while squeezing my hand. Tight.

“There was no extra charge. Something Buchanan Real Estate wanted to do for the town it loves. I worked with the committee to keep it a secret since we were working down to the wire to clear it with their schedule. The drummer’s mother is a close family friend.”

I regretted living in Los Angeles for decades and not having any cool music connections—unless you counted my roommates who sang songs fromThe Little Mermaidwhen they got high.

“Sourwood is so excited to get a special concert from a huge band, not the usual local cover bands. And can you imagine their reaction when they find out it was because of me? Who do you think is going to be up there when they go on, receiving a ringing endorsement from the lead singer?”

---