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What I’m tellin’ ya, darlin’, is that all the hope and belief you got in your heart is a beautiful thing, and it’s somethin’ that we need around here. I won’t let her take that from us too.” I see Maisie’s eyes start to fill and that pretty smile creep onto her lips. “There's one person to blame for all this and that's her. She had that second chance to be a part of this family and she didn’t take it.” Maisie’s head nods in agreement, and my chest sags in relief as I cradle her in my arms and kiss the top of her head.
“Now we’ve figured that out, we have to talk about what we’re gonna do about that friend of yours.” I move us forward and when she goes to say something defensive, I place my finger over her lips so she can hear what I have to say first. “I get why she’s acting up, and Cole hasn’t been fair to her at all. I also understand that I can’t tell her who she can and can’t go to that stupid dance with. If she wants Leonard Mason to be her date, I won’t stand in her way, but I don’t want you getting involved in this. We both know it’s gonna end badly and we have enough to keep us busy. Whatever shit Savannah and Cole have goin’ on, they can work it out themselves. Deal?”
“Deal.” Maisie surprises me when she agrees, wrapping her arms around my neck and clinging to me tightly. “I never want you not to come to bed again,” she whispers. “And for the record, I think Savannah’s making a mistake.”
“Cole’s the one making a mistake,” I tell her, worrying that my brother will always be this way. I know he’s been through some unimaginable shit the past few years, but he seems determined not to let himself heal from it.
“I better get back to the babies,” she whispers, twisting her fingers through the front of my hair. “I missed you last night, so you better have thought of a way to make up for it.” Her lips rub together suggestively and it instantly gets my dick hard.
“I have a few ideas.” I make her squeal when I take her by surprise and slide both my hands under her thighs. Lifting her off the chair I spin her around and land her ass on my desk.
“Maisie, do you know where the Advil is? I—” Savannah pauses from her intrusion when she sees the position I have her friend in.
“Sorry.” She smiles and backs out of the room awkwardly while Maisie looks at me and giggles.
“Guess you’ll have to wait ‘til later, Mrs. Carson.” I slap her on the ass as she shimmies out of my arms and starts walking toward her friend.
“We need to talk.” Maisie takes Savannah’s hand.
“Remember what we agreed on.” I call out as she drags her toward the kitchen. I’m laughing to myself because I know there ain’t no way my wife will be able to keep her promise. She cares far too much not to interfere.
My phone starts to buzz and when I see Harvey’s name, I drop my head and wonder what the hell he could want from me now.
“What do you want?” I answer.
“You could sound a little happier to be hearing from me.” His tone is sarcastic and I really haven’t got the patience for him after spending the night with the fuckin’ horses.
“I’m busy, got a lot of campaign shit to be gettin’ on with,” I answer sharply.
“Glad to see you're taking it seriously,” he adds with the hint of a threat in his tone.
“So what can I do for you?” I ask again.
“I was just wondering why Noah had an altercation with Mason's son last night?” He does nothing to hide his disapproval.
“How d’ya?—”
“It's a small town, Garrett, news spreads fast,” he interrupts me.
“There was analtercationbecause Leonard Mason is an asshole.” I put him straight.
“Be that as it may, he’s also your opposition's son, and having Noah, who is very obviously part of your little gang, makes the public humiliation that happened last night look in bad taste.”
“I never made an order, the kid made a judgment call. And last time I checked, the River Boys are on your payroll. Ain’t their job to make the Mayor's life a little easier?”
“You’re not the Mayor yet, Garrett.” Now there's a definite threat in his tone, and it makes me grip my phone a little tighter.
I never wanted this. I liked my life just fine the way it was. But Harvey wants me in the role so I can be his puppet, and I’d rather that than have old man Mason in the seat. That old bastard would use the power to take everything my family worked for away from us.
“You know there's a really nice view from the Mountain Spring resort. I swear I can see the top of Copper Ridge. Place is a killer to get to from the airport though. If only there was a direct road from the airport. I guess that road would have to come right through your ranch huh?”
“You're here?” I check that I’m hearing him right?
“I had some vacation time and I like to keep a close eye on my assets,” he tells me casually.
“Don’t you have bigger shit to focus on than this little town?” I point out, starting to get concerned.
“This little town may not be part of thebig plan, but it is key to something much more important.”
