Page 30 of Back to You

“And Captain Jack is being put in doggy prison on the town square until ten thousand dollars is raised to pay for a large segment of the sleigh. Which does a couple things.”

He took a sip, leaning back in his chair while they all leaned forward.

“They figured it would just about kill Ms. Angie to see Captain Jack in a cutesy dog prison. They’re going to put it up on YouTube live so people can send in money. And it’s going to be probably the fastest fundraiser anyone would have come up with.”

“Should we be scared the lairds understand YouTube live?” Jamie asked.

They all paused a moment, thinking that over. Then deciding they didn’t want to think it over.

“Also, they figured we have an expert in our midst—Cam, they had some incredibly flattering things to say about you, although McPhee is still a little miffed about some ball game eleven years ago.” Noah looked at Cam like he was going to dive into the history of his high school record, then shook his head. “Their feelings that the town meeting was more than alet’s all get on the same page and start moving forwardsituation were, shall we say, becoming extreme.”

“When hasn’t that been the definition of our town meetings?” Cam asked and they all turned and looked at him. “What? I love those things. I try not to miss them. I’m ninety-nine percent sure the people fromGilmore Girlswere secretly recording us for decades.”

Noah just tilted his head to the side as if trying to figure out whatthatmeant.

“Moving on.” Noah took another sip of his beer. “They were shocked—as we all were—when Jonathan was suddenly on the stage giving himself a new title and announcing he was in charge. They were annoyed when he started challenging Cam from the stage. But they were ticked off when the officials just let him do it.”

“So was most of the town,” Jamie tossed in.

“Right, but they see this as a precedent that can’t be allowed to go on. The town has worked a certain way for centuries and the fact that one snotty man with an insane ego is going to try to change it for a power grab against the kid he bullied for years is a bridge too far.”

“I told you we should have kicked his ass and nipped this in the bud.” Jamie pointed his beer at Cam. “We wouldn’t be in this situation now.”

Cam gave him a look of utter disbelief. “We were seven. You wanted to kick his ass and ‘drop him off the pier’ when we were in second grade.”

“See? I was ahead of my time.”

“Yeah, if we wanted to be mob bosses.”

“Anyway,” Noah stepped back in. “They had one very big concern. And I have to say, I actually agree with them.”

Vivian nodded and glanced around the table. “What? You aren’t all thinking it?”

“No, honey,” Cam tested out the endearment on his tongue. It didn’t feel right for grown-up Vivian like it did when they were teenagers.

Also, she looked like she was going to smack him.

Noah gave her a smile, and Cam considered punching him. Where was all this violence coming from?

“They’re concerned—and I’d say rightfully so,” Vivian started, “with the fact that Jonathan, while working in the capacity of town accountant—”

Jamie snickered.

“—apparently has a client who is unilaterally making decisions about major town events. Free of the town governance and the lairds and a vote.”

She looked pretty pleased with herself and a spurt of pride went through him. People had always just seen the model’s body and face with the flash of cool-fire red hair and assumed she had fluff for brains.

Nothing was further from the truth.

Man, she must be tired of proving herself over and over again.

“You know, that caught my attention, then I just put it away.” Jamie saluted her with his beer. “Nice catch, Breck.”

“What did the lairds say about it?” Lyra asked.

“Nothing I’m going to repeat, but let’s just say they weren’t happy.”

“Don’t like giving up control, huh?” Spence asked.

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