The Mayor’s Surrender (Sweet Temptation Bay #2)

Prologue

Brooks

My hand threads through my short hair, angrily tugging on the roots. The sound of my campaign manager’s heels walking across the lobby and toward my office amplifies my annoyance. Why I decided to take on the role of mayor is beyond me. I’m a hands-on kind of guy, and sitting in front of a desk isn’t easy. The assistants don’t make it any better with their incessant chatter and their endless flirting.

“Now, Mayor Payne, you can’t keep firing every assistant like this. It looks terrible. This is your fifth assistant this week. We understand that you’re going through a difficult time with the change in careers and the rapid special election. Still, the town has gone through such a major upheaval, and you’re the perfect man to bring the people together. They can’t see you as the brute the old assistants are making you out to be. You must be the hero the town desperately needs.”

She’s right, and a big reason I ran for the position in the first place was when the old mayor went down for corruption, destroying the trust of the people while stealing millions of tax dollars. Sighing, I adjust my suit tie and sit in my chair, trying to be calm and poised, but my damn leg is throbbing today. “Damn it. Fine. Send the next one in, but she better be good.”

“She’s all we have left,” she replied with a sigh as her shoulders slumped.

“That doesn’t bode well.”

“She’s good enough, but…” She bites down on her bottom lip, and I don’t like her sudden wary expression. As someone in her field and having dealt with me and my moods, she’s never been this nervous.

“But let’s just say collaborating with her will help your image.” My brow kicks up nearly to my hairline when I consider the only female that could make me look better.

“Oh, no…” Please help me. If it’s who I think it is, I’m fucking screwed.

In walks the walking temptation, the reason I let her father get away without serving fucking jail time, the reason I stayed in Sweet Temptation Bay long after I should have left, and the real reason I took the offer to run unopposed as mayor that I wouldn’t admit to anyone.

Taylor Phillips.

“Good morning, Mayor Payne,” Taylor says. It is that sugary, sweet southern belle tone with just a hint of grit only brought on by the rough months she’s endured.

I remember the first time she and I met. I’d just argued with my friend who wanted me to run for the open mayor position.

“Brooks, it’s the best decision for you. If I were you, I’d go for it. You’re going to gain sympathy, and you’re a townie, so you can easily win.”

“I’ll think about it. I need my rest, though.”

“Fine, just let me know.” I sent out the Attorney General, who happens to be a friend of mine. He wants me to run for mayor. A position I’m not quite sure I’m suited for, but my hometown could really use a new mayor.

“Hello? Admiral Payne?” a soft voice enters my consciousness. Suddenly, I’m awakened from my deep, depressing thoughts about my future. I’ve just spoken to my lawyers in the Navy, and I have no choice but to retire, given my injuries.

I was just offered the chance to run for mayor of my hometown yesterday, but I’m not in the mood to serve more people. Turning to the voice in the room, I find the cutest woman I’ve ever seen biting on her bottom lip. Have I died and gone to heaven?

The monitors in the room beat faster, showing my heart rate picking up and giving me away. That irritates me, so I take it out on the innocent angel in front of me. “Can I help you, sweetheart?” I ask, trying to figure out how to read her.

“Well, um…” Her long medium brown hair is up in a high ponytail, and I want to wrap my hands around her and drag her to me, demanding she tell me why she disturbed my peace.

“Look…I don’t know what you want, but I’m not in the mood to be guessing.” God, she’s beautiful.

“My name is Taylor Phillips.” I slam my eyes shut. She’s heard about her father.

“I see. You’re here to try to seduce me and buy your father’s way out of jail time.”

“Oh no. God, no. I’m about to be nineteen, Sir.” I blanched instantly. Fuck me. She’s only eighteen years old. Ten years younger than me, but I still was tempted to take the fucking offer if she threw it up there. Maybe part of me was more of a politician than I thought. The more I thought about it, the more I shook the idea from my head. Ms. Phillips was younger than my sister.

“Well, that’s good because I wouldn’t bite, anyway. So, what do you want?” I questioned, hoping to change the subject and calm down my growing erection tenting the bedsheets.

“Well, I just wanted to apologize on his behalf. See, we just laid my momma to rest. Two weeks ago.” I closed my eyes again because we did the same, along with my mom and dad.

“Please go on,” I say, choking on my own grief.

“I know it doesn’t excuse anything, but it’s been a rough road for us. See, she wasn’t even supposed to be on that cruise. She’d just gotten a new job. We thought she was at work that day, but she and her boss had taken a romantic cruise together, along with another couple.” My parents, I think to myself.

I reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Please don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Phillips.” Tears fill her tiger-shaped eyes. “Come have a seat over here.” I point to the chair next to my bed. She nods and moves to sit down, and I watch her every step, putting it down to memory. Fuck, she’s perfect but too damn young.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t come here to make you feel bad. Honestly, I just felt terrible about your situation. My father lost his mind a bit when he found out she’d been with another man.” I would, too. “He drank himself into a stupor.”

“So, we know what I was doing before our lives were uprooted, but Ms. Phillips, what were you doing?”

“I was in my first year of college working on my political science and business administration degrees.”

“Oh really? That’s interesting. Were you planning to run for office?”

“Hardly, but I have been working with the community affairs department in town, so I wanted to continue doing things like that.”

“You might have heard that I’ve been given the opportunity to run for office in Sweet Temptation.” She’s a sweet temptation, so why am I trying to know her better? This girl, of all women, should be off limits.

“So, this has knocked you completely off kilter?”

“You have no idea.”

“So, what did you want to say about your father's situation?” I might not be able to pursue her, but I am damn well going to protect her from this shitty life and hopefully help her get the career she wants.

She’s about to answer, but before she does, my lawyer arrives, walking in without knocking like he owns the fucking hospital.

“Admiral, I don’t recommend you have any conversations with Ms. Phillips here.”

“And why is that?”

“Because she’s the daughter of the defendant.”

“I’m aware of that. Did Ms. Phillips hit me with her car?”

“No.”

“Well then, that is none of your concern. Besides, I’m considering the suggested campaign run, and it will be good for my image if I play nice, won’t it?”

“That doesn’t seem wise, given her father’s predicament.”

“I’m actually recommending that his sentence be fulfilled in a mental institution or a rehab facility. He was not in his right mind at the time of the incident. His mental state was altered by the death of his wife.”

My lawyer purses his lips.

“But you lost your career,” he says.

“I’m on my way to a new one that may keep me close to my little sister and in my hometown. It’s not what I wanted, but I have to make the best out of a terrible situation. I lost my parents in that same damn accident as her mother, so I know the heartache they both feel. As angry as I am with Mr. Phillips, I don’t hold it against his daughter and sympathize with him.”

“Very well. I will inform the judge of your wishes.”

“Thank you.”

He steps out, turns around, and then comes back in. “Oh, and there’s a woman here who says she’s your campaign manager.”

“Yes, please send Ms. Granger in.”

“It was nice to meet you, Ms. Phillips. I hope you can return to your studies and heal from the loss,” I say, gently squeezing her hand.

She nods and stands. “Thank you for your time and your kindness. I’ll never forget it.” I watch her departure with longing and regret, but she’s too young and complicated.

“Are you okay, sir?” Ms. Granger says, tapping my shoulder and shaking me out of my memory.

“Yes, sorry. I was thinking about the speech I must give at the ribbon cutting. They wanted me to discuss my accident,” I lied.

She ducks her head and then twists her lips. I hadn’t spoken to her in months, avoiding all contact because she was too tempting for me to handle. Although I always kept track of her from the moment I exited the hospital. “I suppose it is awkward that I’m here.”

“No, Ms. Phillips, I recall you working in the community, correct?” She never returned to college after everything.

“Yes. Well, I was fired because of my father.” She claps her hand to mouth, regretting that slip of the tongue. She didn’t want to share that information with me, but I wanted to know.

“What?” I tried to act surprised, but I knew the bastard was the reason she was canned. He had a temper and a serious problem with alcohol and women. Today, I’d deal with him one way or another.

“Well, who gets fired from a volunteer position, right?” The disappointment and sadness are on her face, but she swallows it back and shrugs it off.

“People who are fools. Have Ms. Granger show you to your desk. I have things to do.”

“Yes, Sir. Thank you for this opportunity.” I nod and pretend that her words have no true effect on me when I want to leap over my desk and kiss her soft lips while wrapping her in my arms. Still, as much as she feels this is a favor to her, this job is more of a favor to me. It’s not like I have a choice in the remaining staff.

As she leaves with Ms. Granger, I release a calming breath and remind myself that distance and professionalism are key. I can do my best to resist my attraction to her because I spent my life as a Seal and have years of experience with control under pressure.

It was late when I crept through the alleyway where Jack Phillips stumbled along drunk.

“Jackie boy, we need to have a word.”

He nearly jumps out of his skin, twirling in a circle and leaning on a trash can. “Whoa. What the fuck are you doing following me, Payne?”

“It’s Mayor Payne to you,” I informed him, standing at full height.

His eyes turn to slits as he glares at me. “I don’t care what it is. You ruined my life.”

“Ruined your life? I gave you a chance to get better, and you didn’t fucking take it.”

“No, you suckered this community into thinking you’re a good guy by pretending to forgive and forget. Now you’ve hired my daughter. So what? You can try to fuck her,” he hollers, getting more and more belligerent. I want to drop him on his ass and send my fist in his face, but I have to be the better man.

“I didn’t hire her. My staffer did that, and that’s against the rules, Jack, but don’t ever speak about your daughter that way again.”

“You’ve been eyeing my daughter from the first moment. I’m not blind.”

“Watch it, Phillips. I’ll forget that you’re her father and finish what I should have done back then.”

“Of course, you’re corrupt. I wouldn’t expect any less.”

“You’re the corrupt one. If you don’t get away from Taylor, I’ll let on the real reason your wife was having an affair or why you were driving intoxicated. I don’t condone cheating, but there’s only so much infidelity someone can tolerate. How many times did you give your wife an STI?”

“Fuck you, Payne.” He swings at me, but I’m prepared. I step out of the way, watching him hit the ground, flailing as he stumbles in an attempt to catch himself with no luck. Phillips groans as the gravel cuts across his skin. I spot my new security off at the alley, keeping a close watch on the scene.

“I’d move out of town and stop embarrassing yourself and ruining Taylor’s life. You’re the reason she had to get a new job with the Mayor’s office. Throwing her in my path was all your doing. I should thank your sorry ass, but I won’t because she’s hurt by your actions. Clean your act up before you dare bring yourself around her again.” I walk away and meet with my security, Greg.

“I need to call my lawyer. Taylor needs protection from him. I want him out of town by morning.”

“I’ve got friends that could make that happen.”

“I don’t want him dead.”

He throws his palms up. “Understood.”

I chuckle and shake my head. After all, I was trained to kill, but I didn’t do it illegally. Besides, Taylor loved her father even if he was toxic and cruel as fuck.