CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX #2
The Mayor’s Mansion was a stately manor home in the most exclusive part of the ‘new’ downtown, The Estates at South neighborhood.
The neighborhood was over thirty years old, but people still thought of it as a recent addition to West Bay, especially those in my parents’ generation.
The official mayor’s house used to be a less impressive home in a much less desirable neighborhood.
The administration before me had decided a gracious home in The Estates at South was more fitting for the Mayor of West Bay, and I couldn’t say I hated it.
The stately oak-lined sidewalks and gas-light replica lamps on intricate wrought iron posts were more inviting than the old-fashioned mansion and grounds I’d grown up with in the ‘old’ money section of West Bay.
Those antebellum mansions and gardens felt old-fashioned to me now.
I much preferred living in the city, though I’d technically inherited my paternal grandparents’ mansion.
I would also one day inherit my maternal grandparents’ home, where my parents currently lived.
I had no desire to live in either of those cavernous homes.
Though beautiful, they were stuffy and out-of-date.
The Mayor’s Mansion was much better. It was also within walking distance to the town green, and, of course, city hall.
I had originally done just that, but the public went crazy citing concerns for my safety.
That’s when I’d bought the Rolls and begged Byron to come work for me.
He’d been much more expensive than the city could afford, of course, so I’d taken on the crazy high fees of an almost ‘round-the-clock security detail on myself.
And damn. I knew I could always trust him.
We’d been through a lot together over the years.
Hell, we’d known each other since third grade, when we, along with Nico Salazar, had started boarding school.
Byron was a vault when it came to my sexual proclivities and secrets.
If the public knew how often I’d gone to Cayenne to fuck around since it had opened, there’s no way I’d ever be elected.
I’d calmed down over the past months, though.
That led me back to thoughts about Nadine as I looked out the window at my beloved city. A year ago, I would never have imagined that I’d take part in the Cinnamon Girls auction. Signing up for the same woman for months was not in my wheelhouse. But Nadine had made it easy.
I leaned back against the plush leather seats and sighed. I thought back over my parting conversation with Nadine. Even though I’d known she had things to do outside of her interactions with me, I’d kind of thought she sat around and waited on me to come around.
It seemed like I was wrong.
Later, as I sat across from Whitney at Bahia Del Sol for lunch, I found my mind still wandering to Nadine.
I hadn’t requested a private room for more than one reason.
First, it would defeat the purpose of being seen with her.
And I wanted every-fucking-body to see us together.
Still, the main reason was that I didn’t want to be reminded of how great it had been between Nadine and I the last time I was here.
I sighed. I’d already texted Nadine to tell her I wouldn’t be coming over tonight. I’d told her I was staying over with Whitney. I let her think we were sleeping together even though we weren’t.
It might be a lie, but it would be better for our situation in the long run.
I’d had a surprisingly honest conversation with Whitney regarding my times spent with her.
She and I both knew no sex would be happening between us.
I’d admitted that I didn’t want to sleep in the same bed with her, either.
Instead of being angry, she’d said she felt the same way.
She did want me to stay over, though, to help my campaign and give her some companionship, so she’d agreed to have one of her guest bedrooms made up for me.
But people would never need to know that.
They needed to think we were together in every way.
So, I wanted the press to get plenty of pictures of me leaving her townhouse at all times of day.
She’d also said that she didn’t want to just attend balls and galas with me.
She wanted to go to the theater, the ballet, the symphony, nice dinners, and more.
I closed my eyes briefly at the thought of spending countless hours with this woman over the next few months.
Melda wanted us together until after my inaugural ball if I was elected.
It was scheduled for the first week of February.
I couldn’t imagine being with her that long.
Thank goodness I wouldn’t have to share a bed with her.
The thought made me shudder. I hadn’t told Nadine, but she was the only woman I’d ever spent an entire night in bed with. Before her, I’d fuck whomever I was with, then leave. I didn’t stick around. Ever.
I sighed. Nadine was different. She was fun and vivacious and… inappropriate. I couldn’t do this to myself. I couldn’t constantly think of Nadine and compare her to Whitney. It would torture me.
I looked across the table at Whitney. She smiled at me. God, she was so proper. I tried to think about what she’d do if I suggested we go to a private room and have sex while Leo Salazar watched. I almost laughed out loud thinking about how horrified she would be.
“What’s so amusing?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
She nodded and cut the fish she was eating into a perfect square before putting it in her mouth.
I was so glad she’d agreed that I would have a separate bedroom at her townhouse.
I didn’t know if I could force myself to fuck her.
And I couldn’t go to Cayenne. I’d already been through that, plus I couldn’t take the chance I’d have my picture taken outside of the club until after the election.
People might not be sure that it was a sex club, but there were enough rumors that I didn’t want to chance it.
So, whenever I could visit Nadine, I would have to make it count.