Page 89 of Call it Reckless

The mayor leaned into his microphone. “I suggest we table this discussion for now. Ms. Allen, again, you have offered an interesting suggestion. But I think we need more information. Maybe you can put together a proposal with more facts, including a cost analysis, and bring it to a future meeting.”

“Thank you, Mayor Bowen. I appreciate the town giving the idea serious consideration.” She finally sat back in her chair.

I leaned over. “Nice job, Ms. Allen.”

“Thanks.”

Nothing else was brought up for discussion, and Mayor Bowen closed the meeting.

I held her hand as we left the meeting. On the way out, we passed both mayors, true and honorary. Mayor Bowen stopped us. “Ms. Allen. It was nice to see you making a positive contribution. Quite a change from the rapscallion you once were. I might still have my doubts about your suggestions tonight, but I appreciate the sincerity and effort to make improvements.”

His eyes dropped to our clasped hands. “I see you’re making strides yourself,” he said to me. “I’m sure that will help your future endeavors.”

As he walked off, Bristol looked confused. “What did he mean by that?”

I sighed, not wanting her to misunderstand. “He has this idea that only a family man would make a good sheriff.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she sputtered. “Besides, you alreadyarea family man. You have a daughter.”

“I agree. He thinks it should be the complete package.”

“And he thinks you’re dating me to change your image.”

I felt the tension building in her.

“Bristol, that’s not why I’m with you.”

She whirled to face me. “I know that,” she said, her face pink, and the gold flecks in her eyes shining through. “If you were looking for traditional, you wouldn’t be with me. I’m just angry that Rich Bowen didn’t pick you in the first place, at least not for such a stupid reason. You should run for sheriff next fall. I’ll help you.”

I knew she was loyal, but to hear Bristol believe in me and add me to her list of people she was devoted to stirred more than my dick. My heart pumped a hell of a lot faster, too.

“You’re incredible, you know that?” Not caring who was watching, I pulled her in and sealed my lips over hers.

She didn’t hesitate to respond. Her tongue dragged along my lower lip as her soft lips pressed against mine. There were a couple of whistles, reminding me we were in public, so before I got too carried away, I pulled back, offering one last light kiss.

“It’s like magic,” she whispered as her eyes fluttered open. “One kiss from you and any stress I feel falls away. How do you do that?”

Her words made me feel ten feet tall. “It’s not me, it’s us. And I feel the same.”

A throat cleared, and we turned to see Mrs. Seymour staring at us with a disapproving look.

“Hello, Mrs. Seymour. Have you solved your squirrel problem?” Bristol asked.

Beverly’s face brightened. “Why yes, we did, as a matter of fact.”

“That’s great. What worked?”

“Well, I missed the last council meeting, so I decided to listen to it. I figured I might as well turn it up loud in place of the music. Don’t you know that somewhere during the mayor’s speech, we heard all these little feet scampering across our roof? We ran outside. It turned out not to be squirrels at all, but a mother raccoon. She and her babies leaped onto a nearby tree branch. Earl sealed the hole again, and they haven’t been back.”

Reid and I managed to save our laughter as we congratulated Beverly and hurried to leave.

“That’s hysterical,” I gasped, wiping tears from my eyes.

“Looks like I’m not the only one who was nearly bored to death by one of Rich’s long speeches,” Reid said, still chuckling.

Hand in hand, I walked with Bristol down the sidewalk toward The Dogtrot, where we bumped into Em and Zach.

Emalee nudged her cousin with her elbow. “You were on fire tonight.”

---