Page 3 of Sunset

The mayor steps out from a shop just in front of Brynn. She stops and tries to turn around and walk back towards me, but it’s too late. Mayor Jones spots her.

“Brynn, just the person I was looking for.” Mayor Jones says.

For some reason, I don’t like the look on his face. It’s not friendly. I vaguely remember my mom telling me about the mayor’s plans to try and buy up the buildings on Main Street with a land developer, and then push out the Mom and Pop places and bring in large retail chains. That will mean putting us out of business, along with most families that live here year-round.

I guess, Lin and Brynn have been at the foreground fighting this, because their Inns are where most of the tourists stay, and they have almost more to lose than anyone else in town. The land developer would at least buy all of us on Main Street out, and we could start over, but their Inns would just die out.

I know they pitch the small-town life to their guests at both Inns, and that’s what Seaview is known for. So, many of their guests come here just for that experience.

“Mayor. What can I do for you?” Brynn says, turning back towards him. I know that tone. It’s the one that goes with her fake smile.

I don’t think she saw me, so I walk up behind her, but give enough space, so as not to draw the mayor’s attention.

“Miss Prescott has a meeting scheduled with me. Will you be joining her?” He asks, as his eyes run down her body, and I instantly know where his mind is.

I want to rip his eyes out for daring to leer at my girl. Wait, not my girl, but still mine to always protect. No matter what happens, she has always been mine to take care of, even if I’ve done a shit job at it recently.

“No, Mayor, I won’t. But don’t you worry, I was the one doing the research.”

“I bet you were. You know I could help…” Knowing where his mind is going, I step in.

“I doubt she needs help from the likes of you.” I snap, and both of their eyes turn towards me.

“Jasper?” Brynn asks, and I give her a nod. She has to know no matter what has happened between us, I won’t allow another man to treat her like this.

“Mr. Adams, you can tell your mom I got her message. All twelve of them.” He says.

“Well, you can tell her yourself by calling her back.” I level him with a glare.

He stares back at me for a moment, before his cell phone rings.

“The wife always wants something,” he grumbles.

“Maybe, you should get back to your wife, then,” I tell him.

Without thinking, I put my hand on Brynn’s lower back, just like I always used to do, as I guide her away from the mayor and further down Main Street.

“Where are you parked?” I ask her.

“I was handling that just fine, you know.” She huffs.

“I know you were, but that doesn’t mean you should have to deal with him either,” I say, keeping my tone soft.

She shakes her head. “I don’t need a ride. I walked.”

“I’ll walk you back to the Inn,” I tell her.

“I’m a big girl, Jasper. Been taking care of myself all these years.” She says.

The tightening of my chest has nothing to do with the guilt of leaving her to fend for herself. I’m just now beginning to understand what she went through, losing both her parents and Lin’s parents in the boasting accident five years ago. I couldn’t imagine both my mom and my dad dying at the same time. Losing my dad, has been hard enough.

“Humor me, okay?” I say, and she rolls her eyes at me and starts walking.

She still has the fire and spunk in her that drew me to her all those years ago. This is a dangerous situation.

Her Inn is on the water, so it’s a straight shot on the sidewalk from Main Street. The sidewalk curves along the water with benches scattered along the way. Because of the view, it’s a popular spot for people to take a stroll, or walk their dogs, and for joggers to run. The sidewalk dead ends at both Inns, which are at the end of the island. Our walk is over long, before I want it to be.

“Thank you for the escort, but I got it from here.” She says with a trace of sarcasm in her voice.

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