Page 127 of Sugar & Shadows

She laughed. “No. And if I did, I’d call the hot firefighters, not the mayor.”

Okay. Point taken.

“How can I help you?”

“You didn’t hear this from me, but Sabrina is out to dinner with Corporate Ken right now. Thought you might want to know.”

There went my heart rate again. “Who?” I demanded. “What are you talking about?”

She sighed deeply. “The tall finance vampire. Ethan What’s-His-Name. The rich kid with the fake teeth.”

My vision grew spotty as I pulled up short in front of the general store. “Why is she having dinner with him?”

“Not sure,” she told me. “She’s meeting him at the Thistle Inn. She mentioned it on the TAP text chain. And you know I don’t like to meddle…”

That was a bald-faced lie. It was a shock she’d kept her tone so even as she told it.

“But I thought you should know.”

“Thank you,” I said, clutching my phone tight enough to make my knuckles ache.

“Remember. You did not hear this from me. If you rat me out, I’ll deny it. But I don’t like the look of that guy. He’s too smooth.”

After the call had disconnected, I spun on my heel and stomped away from the store. The Thistle Inn was on the other side of the green, past the school. I could be there in ten minutes, as long as no one stopped me to chat. And it was probably faster than going around the building and getting my car.

I pulled the hood of my jacket up, kept my head down, and rushed through town. Despite the freezing temperatures, I broke into a sweat. My heart had yet to settle. My blood pressure was probably through the roof.

And it only climbed as I thought about Ethan anywhere near Sabrina.

The Thistle Inn was fancy. Candlelit.

Ugh. The image of him leaning in to talk to her over a flickering flame? It made my gut churn. He’d charm her, probably tell her Ivy League stories and brag about his dad’s money. Didn’t he know Sabrina was not easily impressed? I clenched my fists and picked up my pace. I’d feel bad for the guy if I wasn’t actively plotting his demise.

Here and there, citizens waved and called my name, but all my focus was narrowed in on one issue. I wasn’t the mayor right now. I was someone else.

Sabrina was—well, she wasn’t my girlfriend or my partner, and though we’d tentatively talked about being friends, that wasn’t quite it either. But she was something to me. Significant. The mother of my child, yes, but more.

And I wouldn’t let the lack of a label get in the way of kicking this guy’s ass if I needed to.

The inn was a massive historic mansion that faced the mountains. It was elegant and had won many awards, but by the way I yanked the door open, it may as well have been a porta potty.

The lobby was all leather furniture and tasteful chandeliers. Mountain chic, as many people described it. A few guests were clustered around a large fireplace and two older men played chess at an ornate table by the bay window.

“Mayor,” Caroline said when I walked in the door.

She and her sister Linda owned the inn, and tonight, the two of them were manning the front desk.

Linda turned and gave me a once-over. “You’re looking especially emotionally unstable tonight.”

“Thanks,” I said, striding past them.

“They’re in the dining room,” she offered.

“I didn’t ask,” I called without turning around.

“You didn’t need to,” Caroline said. “We all know where you’re going. And for the record, I give you five minutes before Sabrina threatens violence.”

“She seems relaxed tonight,” Linda said. “Put me down for ten.”