Chapter Nine
Brooks
Over the next week, our relationship had been the talk of Sweet Temptation Bay, and all eyes were on us. Although they had always been on us. However, this time, the tongues were wagging.
“About damn time,” Mrs. Reynolds said with her ladies who were playing bridge at the local tea shop.
“What do you mean, ma’am?” I ask, wanting to get some more of the local gossip to hopefully ease some of Taylor’s concerns.
“Come on and take a seat.” I pull up a chair from the empty table next to them and sit. She pats my forearm and says, “You have been hovering over Taylor like a lovesick puppy.”
“Mr. Thomas over at the delicatessen won the bet. He’s gonna be gloating for a good dang bit.”
“Oh, Mary. You know that man will never let it go.”
“Well, I knew I shouldn’t have bet on it, but then again, I didn’t bet on that handsome seaman coming to shore. Yummy. I remember when my late husband wore a uniform. Bless that handsome man.” I grumbled, thinking about Fields winking at my woman.
“Come on, young man. You better get on and marry that young beauty already because I have a handsome grandson I can introduce her to, and he’s rich and famous,” her best friend and my late grandmother’s friend, Louise Barrymore, shakes her head at me.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Barrymore, I picked up the ring this morning.” The town has always heard about this mysterious grandson, but they believe she’s a bit delusional because most have never met him. However, I know the bastard is real, handsome, and wealthy. He has a stage name because he’s not related to the other famous Barrymores and doesn’t want any confusion.
He’s slunk around to visit her on occasion, but his visits are short and incognito. I remember him as a kid because we used to be friends and played together.
“You go on and on about him, but we never see the boy. If I hadn’t seen the boy when he was little, I wouldn’t believe he was real, but you don’t have to lie and say he’s famous, Louie.”
“Whatever, you old bat. I tell you what I tell you. He’s famous, and that’s all. His business is his. He visited me right before the storm, but he had some matters come up and had to leave.” They roll their eyes at her. She waves them off and says, “Anyway, back to you, Mayor Brooks Payne. Your parents wouldn’t take too kindly to you delaying that wedding.”
“I promise she’ll be my wife before the week is out.” I nod and wave them off.
“No kiss on our hands?”
“You don’t want a kiss from that man. If the word is true, he’s been marking his territory, and she’s a very happy lady.” I blush, but there’s nothing to be ashamed about pleasing my woman, so I wink at them and walk away.
“That’s a good man,” Mrs. Blake cheers toward my back. They all start singing my praise, having no idea how I can’t wait to get back to the office where I plan to get hardly anything done because my soon-to-be fiancé is about to have her pussy plastered to my face for lunch.