Page 36 of Someone to Tempt
She studies me for a long minute. “Are you jealous?”
Hell, yes.
“Of course not. Like I told you, Jake and I are dance partners because we’re both getting something from it. Actually, we ran into each other last night at Tony’s.”
She gives me a look like I just told her I climbed Mt. Everest since we last spoke. “What were you doing at Tony’s?”
“Karaoke. Isn’t that why everybody goes to Tony’s on a Thursday night?”
“You’re not everybody.”
Fair, but I don’t appreciate having it pointed out to me again. “Let’s focus. I mentioned you to Jake, and he seemed open to the idea of a date.”
“Wait, you were the one who suggested he ask me out?”
I shrug. “Just living up to my end of the bargain. I might have also mentioned that you frequent Skylark Roasters most mornings.” Okay, that’s not true, but if I’m going to take credit for the match, I might as well go all in.
“You’re really not interested in him?” she asks.
Don’t lie, my lady bits command. They are very interested in Jake. Especially after that kiss and feeling his hard length pressed against my body. His impressive length.
“We’ve already covered that. And you can say all you want about me not being fun or fitting in around here, but I’m a woman of my word. Jake and I have history, and it’s not good. We’d be a terrible match.”
“Picking bad matches never stopped your mother.” She crosses her arms over her chest.
“I’m not my mother.”
She nods. “My cousin is going to announce his campaign tomorrow at the rodeo.”
I groan. “That’s a pro move.”
“Everyone in town will be there, including you,” she says, then rifles through the papers on her desk and hands me a sheet.
I look down at the itinerary that has me kicking off the rodeo with a horse-drawn carriage ride around the arena. “This isn’t going to happen.”
“You weren’t at the rodeo this summer, either.”
“Because I’m allergic to horses.”
“On-board some allergy meds because you’re part of the main event. I’ve already said yes on your behalf.”
“You can’t say yes on my behalf. I didn’t know about it.”
She shrugs the same way I did earlier. “I’m holding up my end of the bargain, too. Joey plans to play up the fact that this community needs a mayor who supports local events.”
“I support the local community. There’s a line item in the budget for the Cows for Kids program.”
“Iris, you can’t just throw money at things. That isn’t enough. People around here want you involved.”
I think about all the hugs and back slaps I got after karaoke.
“Fine. I’ll stop by the pharmacy store this afternoon.”
“That’s the spirit.” She gives me a thumbs up, and it only looks a little bit like she’d rather be flipping me the bird.
I take it as a win. “Thanks for letting me know about your cousin’s plans.”
“As long as it doesn’t get back to my mom.” She takes a seat behind her desk. “She might disown me.”
