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“The woman is full of surprises.” So many surprises and other perfect, interesting, irresistible qualities that had him wishing for things… A pain crimped his insides, worse than the stabs of loneliness, of reluctant bachelorhood, that plagued him these days. Except worse. So much worse. Like hot-knife-twisting-in-gut bad.
“It looked like she and Gareth have been playing together for years. Too bad she couldn’t play point guard on the team next year, huh? With that three-point shot, they would be unbeatable across the entire state.”
Tag groaned inwardly. Bering was right; watching her with Gareth and Cody only illuminated the fact that she was undoubtedly closer in age to his teenage cousin than she was to him. Reaching up, he squeezed the back of his neck in an attempt to ease the tension clutching him there.
He still couldn’t believe it had happened. The chemistry between them was unlike anything he’d ever experienced except…except he had higher standards for himself than kissing a woman who was barely old enough to vote. That might be a slight exaggeration, but still, she was too young for him. The knot twisted tighter. He needed to think. He might need some ibuprofen. What should he do? He had to be straight with her. A task that would be so much easier if he didn’t like her so much. And she just had to be a Mariners fan and a basketball player? It was like some kind of cosmic joke.
He briefly considered, and then discarded, talking to Bering about it. He knew Bering wouldn’t judge, but would he approve? He wasn’t ready to admit what he’d done, to open himself to the taunting of a middle-aged cliché, however much he deserved it. What would the rest of his family think?
“Perfect timing. There’s Jack.” Bering slapped him on the shoulder as Senator Marsh’s SUV pulled up to the house.
Senators Marsh and Fincher climbed out of the vehicle as Tag and Bering approached. Greetings and handshakes were exchanged. Bering offered refreshments, and they both requested coffee.
Tag volunteered to fetch it. “I’ll get it. I was going to get myself a cup, anyway.” He headed toward the beverage area, stalling to gather his wits, while Bering gestured at an empty picnic table and led the men across the yard.
Tag joined them with the coffee. Small talk bounced around the table for a few minutes until Senator Marsh lowered his cup and said, “So, word has reached Randall that Mammoth Tracks Mining has been sniffing around the valley. They’re quietly trying to purchase mineral rights along the Opal River.”
Bering and Tag exchanged glances and Tag said, “That might explain it.” He told the two men about the inflated offers Hannah and Shay had received for their properties.
Senator Marsh nodded. “Yes, obviously word has leaked out. Usually, Mammoth uses a number of other companies to gobble up the outlying land. If they move in here, real estate prices will skyrocket. And I don’t think we need to talk about what this will do to Rankins if they’re successful.”
Bering exhaled a frustrated breath. “And I thought Cam-Field was the biggest threat we’d face in my lifetime.”
Senator Marsh gave his head a defeated shake. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years as a politician, it’s that there’s always a bigger monster waiting to take the place of the one just slain.”
“What can we do?”
“We’ll fight it legislatively, of course, as much as we can at the national level. But that’s the thing—we’re going to need strength at the state level. Which is what we’re here about.”
“Okay.” Bering nodded.
Tag tensed at the senator’s expression, anxiety zinging through him like a fishing line gone taut.
Senator Marsh went on, “Circumstances have arisen in Randall’s personal life, and he’s going to have to retire at the end of his term. Tag, we need you to run in the upcoming election.”
“Can we be ready by then?” Bering asked.
“When will I have to start campaigning?”
“We will be,” Senator Marsh answered Bering. “We can be. Nothing alarming in that background check and our research has told us that we’ve got strong financial backing coming Tag’s way.”
