Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
T he room buzzed with polite chatter, the kind of conversation filled with carefully chosen words and tightly restrained ambition. Bunny stood near the back, her fingers clutching the neatly typed speech she’d worked on for hours. The paper was still warm from the printer.
The business leaders in the room weren’t just here for the crab cakes and champagne—they were here to be impressed, to decide if Mayor Carter’s administration was worth their support for another term. Problem was, the mayor was nowhere to be found.
“Still no answer.” Frank snapped his flip phone shut with a frustrated sigh. His furrowed brow and red face made him look like a steam engine ready to burst. “If he doesn’t show up soon, someone’s going to have to speak for him.”
Bunny’s gaze flicked to Preston, who was working the room like a campaign manager, hedging his bets. His smile was just a little too slick, his laughter just a little too loud as he schmoozed the crowd. Nearby, Grant stood with a small group of donors, his posture confident, his tone low and conspiratorial.
Frank sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. “Grant will love this."
"I could give the spee?—"
Frank snatched the printed papers from her hands and marched over to Grant. He clearly hadn't heard her. Or hadn't registered her words as they left her mouth.
As part of the old boy's club, Frank hadn't been a supporter of the previous mayor. He'd been cheering at her downfall, though Bunny caught him smirking at her closed door office antics with her young aides. Still, Frank had no interest in having a woman in charge. Bunny had never even met his wife in all the years she'd worked in the mayor's office. Frank constantly bragged that the woman was tending to his home and making sure his dinner was hot.
The two men put their heads together, and then Grant climbed onto the stage with Bunny's printed words in hand. The bright lights caught on the gelled shine of his hair. He tapped the microphone once, the feedback making a few people wince.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here tonight. As you know, our administration has been hard at work creating a vision for our town’s future.”
Bunny noted that he said our instead of Mayor Carter's , but at least he didn't say it was his administration. Grant's delivery was stiff, his tone flat. She’d spent hours crafting the speech, making it warm and engaging, and he was butchering it line by line. At least when Teddy riffed, he had a warm tone that made people listen.
“And with your continued support, we can ensure that this vision becomes a reality. Uh… where was I?”
A murmur rippled through the audience as Grant flipped the paper over, his eyes darting across the lines like he was reading them for the first time. Because that's exactly what he was doing.
“Excuse me,” came a voice from the press section. “Could you elaborate on the proposed tax incentives for local businesses?”
Grant froze, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “Uh… well… that’s something we’re, um, currently… reviewing.”
This was always the worst part, when the room started slipping out of the speaker's control. The business leaders shifted uncomfortably in their seats. The press leaned forward, sensing blood in the water.
Bunny looked for Frank, but he was headed out the door, his phone pressed to his ear. Bunny didn’t think. She just acted.
“What Mayor Carter’s administration has proposed is a tiered tax incentive program that prioritizes small and medium-sized businesses, ensuring that growth starts at the community level.”
All heads turned to her, the spotlight figuratively and literally shifting as she made her way to the stage. Grant stepped back, flustered, as she took the microphone.
“By focusing on local businesses, we not only boost the economy but also create a stronger, more resilient town. The mayor’s plan ensures that resources are allocated fairly with long-term sustainability in mind.”
The tension in the room began to dissipate as Bunny answered question after question, her knowledge and poise winning over even the most skeptical faces. After it was over and the polite applause had died down, Bunny remained behind the podium. Her hands gripped its edges, her pulse still racing from the adrenaline of stepping into the spotlight. The speech she’d delivered—a last-minute, off-the-cuff mix of her carefully prepared remarks and quick responses to audience questions—had landed far better than she’d expected.
“You were brilliant up there,” said a voice behind her.
She turned to see Mrs. Imani, one of the town’s biggest donors, approaching with a bright smile and a firm handshake. The older woman radiated the kind of no-nonsense energy Bunny had always admired, and her words carried weight in this town.
“Thank you,” Bunny said, her cheeks warming. “I’m just glad I could step in and help.”
“Help?” Mrs. Imani's eyes sparkled. “You did more than help, my dear. You commanded that stage. You’ve got a natural talent for this.”
“I just wanted to make sure everyone got the information they needed.”
Mrs. Imani leaned in slightly, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “You know, with reelection coming up, we’re going to need someone strong to lead this town. Someone who knows the ins and outs of how things work and can actually get things done.”
Bunny blinked, caught off guard. She'd seen deals go down like this while watching Preston schmooze and Grant weasel. But she'd never had it happen face to face.
“Have you considered running for mayor, dear?”
The words hung in the air, weighty and electric. Bunny’s breath hitched as she tried to process them.
And then Grant laughed.
It was a sharp, dismissive sound, cutting through the murmurs of agreement that had begun to ripple through the small crowd gathered around them. Bunny turned to see him standing a few feet away, his arms crossed and his grin smug.
“That’s a good one,” Grant said, shaking his head. “Bunny, mayor? Let’s be serious, Crystal.”
"It's Mrs. Imani, dear. I am nearly three times your age. Show an elder respect."
"Of course, of course, Mrs. Imani." Grant tried and failed to laugh his blunder off.
A part of Bunny wanted to laugh it off, to deflect with a joke or a polite excuse. But another part—a quieter, more determined part—whispered that this wasn’t just flattery. It was an opportunity.
“Thank you. Your support means a lot to the campaign.”
"I'm not interested in the campaign. But you." Mrs. Imani gave Bunny another pat on the shoulder, and then she turned and melded into the crowd.
Grant went pale, his confident swagger replaced with unease. He cleared his throat, forcing a tight smile. Then he took off after Mrs. Imani.
As the crowd began to disperse, with more than a few lingering glances in her direction, Bunny felt a strange mix of exhilaration and fear. She had thought she could be mayor, but it was the same thought that she could be president when there was a policy she didn't particularly like. It was a pie in the sky, not a reality. She decided to get out of here before anyone tried to slide more dessert on her full plate.
Outside, the snow was coming down in thick, heavy flakes, turning the world into a quiet, white blur. Bunny’s boots crunched against the pavement, each step kicking up a fine dusting of powder as she trudged back to the mayor’s office. Her coat was pulled tight around her, her scarf wound so snugly she could barely feel the bite of the wind. But no amount of winter gear could thaw the irritation simmering in her chest.
Her grip on her bag tightened as she replayed the events of the evening. Teddy Carter, the man with the world’s easiest smile and the world’s worst timing, had left her hanging yet again. How could someone so infuriatingly careless be so beloved? It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right.
The sight of the warm glow spilling from his office windows only made her jaw clench tighter. He was here? After she’d had to step in, save the evening, and salvage what was left of their administration’s reputation?
She pushed through the door, shaking the snow off her boots, and marched down the hall. As always, his office door was ajar like an open invitation.
Her anger flared. She didn’t hesitate. She stormed to his door and stepped inside. “Mayor Carter, do you even realize what you?—”
Her words caught in her throat.
Teddy was standing near his desk, one hand holding a phone to his ear, the other cradling… a baby.