Page 9 of The Mayor's Surrender
“Don’t let Mayor Payne bother you.” I grip his shoulder, squeezing it just as my boss opens his office door. We turned, and the expression on his face made me freeze and blush. He’s angry.
“What the hell is going on?” Brooks snarls, venom practically falling from his lips, taking me by surprise. Does he think Mr. Knight and I have a thing?
“Mind your business, Mayor. Don’t you have a hurricane to worry about?” Mr. Knight says, giving him attitude. God, it’s clear there’s a pissing match over Honey, and they’re taking it out on me.
“Yes, so I’d expect you to keep your grubby paws off my assistant.” Wow, I can see how pissed that made Mr. Knight. He’s clearly offended by Brooks’ comment, but he’s actually not touching me. I was the one touching him.
“I don’t have any hands on your assistant.” He turns back to me with a smile and says, “Thanks.” Oh shit. I feel I’m about to get an earful from my boss.
He can’t fire me because, without me, he’d be up Shit’s Creek without a paddle, but that doesn’t mean he won’t consider it. “What the fuck was that about, Taylor?”
“What are you talking about, Mayor Payne?” I ask like the professional I am.
“You were flirting with my sister’s boyfriend.”
“Excuse me? First, that’s not what I was doing. Second, who I flirt with is none of your business. We’re in a crisis management mode, so we must leave here now. Are we leaving, or are we going to stick around here and argue?”
“Give me one more minute. I have to make a call. You get your shit and try to keep your hands to yourself.” He storms back into his office, and I do my best to stave off the angry tears.
He won’t need to fire me if he keeps this up. I’m going to quit. Does he truly think that poorly of me? After all this time together, does he think I’m like my mother? He knows everything my mother did and how it destroyed my family. Like I would hurt Honey like that. I can’t tell if I’m more hurt or pissed.
I’m about to leave alone when he comes out of his office with his things. “Let’s go before the weather turns. I need to call my sister in the car.” My heels scurry quickly behind him with my things in hand. With the thunder rolling nearby, I won’t pick a fight with his growly commands.
We slid into the vehicle and drove off as fast as possible, calling his sister from the Bluetooth on the dashboard.
“Honey, where are you?” he snarls.
“I’m safely away from danger, of course, Brooks. Where are you? In the thick of it?” I can see the vein in his temple throb.
He grits his teeth, driving through the wet streets toward the highway. “It’s my damn job as the mayor and as your big brother. I’m just making sure that you got out of town and to safety before it’s too late.”
“Yes, I did, but they said it’s not even going to hit Sweet Temptation head-on.”
“You never know, and you’re my priority.” We know that it might be miles away from the eye of the storm. Still, we’re in the path and, therefore, at a huge risk.
“Second priority,” she says. I feel terrible because Brooks devotes so much time to the town, and she must feel neglected, but he truly worries about her a lot. It’s really wonderful to see the love they have for each other. She continues, “Hey, don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to be your priority at all because I’m a grown woman now. Hello, twenty-two and own my own business and everything.”
“Just make sure you’re out of town before the storm hits.”
“Relax. What is up your ass? Have you been keeping tabs on me?” I bite my tongue and try not to get annoyed because I’d love to have someone care about me like that. She has two men worried about her, and she’s being a bit stubborn about it all.
“I’ve got too much to do to be running down and checking up on you. That’s why I’m asking you to use common sense, stay out of trouble, and keep yourself safe.”
“I am safe.”
“You’re lying and besides, you’re not aware of all the dangers that are out there. It’s not just the massive hurricane barreling our way. What about Samuels and Knight?”
“Knight? Like Mr. Knight?” Her voice changes, and it’s clear that she likes him, but I already know that.
“Yes, that old prick,” he says while stealing a harsh at me. What the hell? Does he really think I’m interested in Mr. Knight?
“He’s not that old,” she says. I agree with a nod, visibly sharing her sentiments to just annoy him like he’s irritating me.
“He’s too old for you,” Brooks says, looking at me while he says it as if it’s a warning to me. Why does that dark stare melt my insides?
“Possibly, but what does he have to do with me?” I want to ask him the same thing.
“Just I wouldn’t be so complacent about your safety.”