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

Chapter Four

Taylor

We’re preparing to leave when Mr. Knight, the wealthiest construction owner, comes storming through the office and straight into Brooks’s office unannounced. I can hear the commotion, and I’m sure it has to do with Honey. Moving closer, I listen to the shouting, and I’m right about the debate.

Mr. Knight has eyes for only her, and the mayor is goading him. I’d be worried, but since Brooks was a former Navy Seal. I’ve seen how badass he can be, especially taking on a younger man. Mr. Knight is actually older than him.

It sounds like the conversation’s ending, so I rush to my end of the desk as quickly as possible. Still, I’m not fast enough because Mr. Knight’s on a mission, and he nearly sends me on my ass.

“Sorry.” Always the gentleman, he quickly apologizes, even though it was my fault. I like Mr. Knight because he’s everything a man should be, including handsome, but he’s not for me. A brute had stolen my heart long before I met him.

“Everything okay, Mr. Knight?” I’m worried about the confrontation because I like both him and Honey. They’re great people and make the cutest couple if they can get their heads out of their asses.

He follows my gaze and then answers me, “It will be. You should get somewhere safe because the chance of the storm turning has grown in the past two hours.”

I smile and tip my head toward Brooks’ door. “I will as soon as we take care of the town.”

“You don’t owe that jerk anything.”

“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.”

“He’s probably, after all, young, beautiful women who are in his path.” He keeps talking, but I have a feeling she’s not listening.

“Are you still there?”

“I told you I wasn’t. I left a long time ago.”

“Girl, did you hear anything I just said?” His fists flex around the steering wheel as the weather gets worse. “You weren’t paying any attention to anything I said.”

“Sorry, the reception is terrible. It must be the weather as I drive away from the state.”

“You’re a liar. Leave now,” Brooks orders. Shit. What is she crazy?

“I’m leaving now.”

“That you are,” Mr. Knight snarls over the line. I look at Brooks, who shakes his head, but I just smile because it’s cute, and at least that means she has him there to protect her. The line goes dead, and I know one of them ended the call.

He turns his head briefly and looks at me with indignation. “They hung up the phone on me.”

“Well, they need to get to safety as soon as possible, so it’s for the best,” I reminded him. The weather had turned for the worst, and we had just left the storm’s path in time. I smiled at the ridiculousness because Honey had no idea the depths Mr. Knight would go through for her. He was risking everything to make sure she was safe.

“Why are you smiling?” he snarls at me.

“Your sister is too cute, and Mr. Knight is clearly smitten with her.”

He drives forward, jaw clenched through the rain, and finally says, “You’re not bothered by that?”

“Why would I be? I don’t have any interest in him despite what you think.” I hope he feels the daggers I’m shooting at him.

“I didn’t think that?” he mutters.

“For a politician, you’re a terrible liar.”

“That’s because I’m not a politician.”

“Could have fooled me, Mayor.”

“Sometimes…” he growls. I giggle, and then a loud crack in the air startles me, changing my mood. He reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. “It’s okay. It’s just some thunder and lightning.”

“I’m fine. Just out of the blue. Like popping open a can of biscuits.”

“A southern girl like you opening a can of biscuits?” He chuckles at me.

I slap his shoulder with my other hand, forgetting myself. “Shush you. Not all of us have time to bake fresh ones all the time. Besides, Pillsbury has some good ones.” I realize he hasn’t yet removed his hand from mine until I look down at our entwined fingers.

Seeing where my eyes go, he apologizes and releases his grip. “Sorry.” Now I’m the one who is sorry because I enjoyed the brief touch.

“It’s okay. I promise I’m not afraid of the weather. Okay, well, at least lightning. I can’t say the idea of a hurricane or even a tropical storm barreling down doesn’t frighten me.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll be home soon.” Well, to his home, at least. I live in a small apartment outside of downtown. We used to have a nice house, but since my mother’s death and my father’s rehab, I had to downsize. Unfortunately, my father hasn’t gotten his life back together since then, and we no longer speak. He’s moved away, and he says he is unable to accept that I work for Brooks. It makes no sense since Brooks gave him a second chance instead of going to prison.

“You’ve gone quiet. I didn’t mean anything by the home thing. I meant my home.”

“I know. I was just thinking about my dad,” I answered.

“He’s fine,” Brooks says with certainty.

My brows cinch together. How do you know?”

“Because he lives in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana now, which is far away from here.”

“He does?” I twist my head and stare at my boss. If I haven’t spoken to my father in over a year, how does he know about him?

“Yes.”

“How do you know that?” I asked.

“My lawyer informed me of his whereabouts.” He lays it out as if it’s no big deal, but I’m completely shocked that he’s aware of things like that. I have so many questions, but I only ask one.

“Why would he do that?”

“Just because he felt like telling me.” Again, he gives me a politician’s answer. I want to grab him by the lapels and ask him what he thinks about my father and me or why he pushes personal conversations away. Yet, he knows my father’s whereabouts, but I don’t.

“We’re here.” He enters the access code, and the gate opens up. Everyone has been sent away for safety. It was just Brooks and I who were left behind to handle other matters. He even sent his one personal security guard to go home because the man had a pregnant wife to look after. Although Brooks doesn’t really need a security guard since he’s pretty tough.

“Oh.”

The rain pelts down as Brooks rushes us inside his home. The second door closes, a loud boom tears through the sky. “We’re going to have a rough night.”

“Are we sure we got all the town’s people out?”

“I believe most of them got out or have taken shelter at the community center, which is sturdy. The supplies will be brought in by morning if needed. It’s the best we can ask for. Are you worried?”

“Yes. It would be the first time in my life that we’ve ever had a full-blown storm like this.”

“Well, the best we can do now is relax and let the storm blow over, okay?”

“I suppose you’re used to crazy weather like this.”

He shrugs. “It was part of my career. Would you like a glass of wine to calm your nerves?”

“Yes. That would be fantastic.” I nod, and he takes my hand, leading me into his kitchen. He’s moving forward, and I’m able to mask the electricity that shoots through my fingers. I don’t pull it out of his grip, so we hold hands until he pulls out a chair for me.

“Sit down.” Brooks quickly moves around the room and gets our glasses.

“You look like you need this.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“It’s been a long, crazy day.”