Page 72 of Autumn Kissed

“This is to help us figure out who your dad is dating.”

I scan across the board, then tilt my head to the side as what I’m looking at finally sinks in.

A section of the board is covered in hearts that surround photographs of Dad, Sharon, Genevieve, and Lisa. Beneath the women is a bar chart filled in with various heights and corresponding colors and numbers. Lisa’s is at the highest, but the others’ aren’t far behind. A decorated ballot box hangs from the wall off to the side, collecting votes written on small pieces of pink paper.

I’m stunned. “Are people really this invested in who my dad is with?”

“Apparently.”

“How did you even find out about this?”

“The Ednas.”

I should’ve known. Gossiping old bats. They literally have no filter—or shame.

“I heard them talking a few days ago about voting in the library and discovered this,” Archer says. “In full transparency, I was going to use it against him. Send him chocolates and balloons and flowers from each woman to make the town think he’s dating all three. But showing you is much more productive.” He motions to the board again. “Apparently, the whole thing has gotten pretty popular with the local book club.”

I shake my head, trying to make sense of it all. “I feel like I need some insider knowledge.”

“Maybe she can help.”

He points across the library to Emma Harper, who’s carrying a stack of books in her arms and sliding them one-by-one onto the shelf.

She glances up, and her lips split into a grin when she sees me. When she realizes where I’m standing, however, her smile tightens, and she straightens her nametag before coming up to stand beside us.

“Hey,” she greets with a nod at Archer. “I’m surprised to see you here, Juliet. My sister tells me you’ve been as busy as she is with the festival.”

Emma’s little sister is Rosie, and while they’re similar in personality, the two couldn’t look more different from each other.

“I needed to take a little break, or I was gonna lose it,” I joke. Then I motion to the billboard, pointing specifically at the photo of Dad. “Do you know anything about this?”

“Oh, that? Um, yeah. It’s a board for...concerned citizens?”

I quirk an amused brow. “Concerned or nosy?”

She grimaces, her pretense falling. “I’m sorry. This is so awkward. I promise it’s just for fun. We just love the mayor and want to see him happily settled, but I can totally take it down if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable? Are you kidding?” I laugh as Archer watches on in amusement. “I’m a little taken aback that so many people are as invested as I am, but I’m honestly relieved. I knew he was dating someone. This just confirms I’m not going crazy.”

Relief lowers Emma’s shoulders. “Oh, I’m so glad.”

“I mean,” I say, reeling it in, “if people start calling him Daddy Mayor in front of me, I might throw up a little bit, but this is just fine.”

Emma laughs. “Noted.”

“So is it privileged information, or can you share with me what you know?”

“I think with you being his daughter, you get all the information you want. We’ve got some pretty good spies in our book club, so buckle up.”

Archer and I stand by in silence as Emma launches into the knowledge of the three women, and I listen with fascination.

“Lisa Ellis is a popular option,” she says, pointing at the secretary. “Especially with the romance readers. Forbidden romance trope and all that. Sharon Price is close because she’s just a go-getter like your dad. There’s evidence that she helped him last time he was sick, so there’s the Florence Nightingale Effect, too. Then there’s Genevieve Hazelton, which would be the Opposites Attract trope. There are just so many good options.”

I can’t help but agree.

When she finishes, I give some information of my own, and I can see Emma’s mind working out the connections. “What I wouldn’t give to see him flirting with Sharon Price. And choking at the mention of Ms. Hazelton? So good.” She stares up at the board with her hands on her hips like she’s looking at some murder mystery she’s determined to solve. “One day the truth will come out. Oh, hey, you’ve gotta cast your vote. Then you can come back and get one of the fun stickers I’ve ordered.”

“I think I need to give this a good think first. When does voting end?”