Page 106 of Hottie on Her Shelf
“I never intended to win, just to shine a light and convince the mayor to make changes himself. But now I actually want to win. That’s why I’m so nervous. I’ve met so many people, learned their opinions, and gotten to know Swan Cove so much better in the last two months than in all the years I’ve lived here.”
The campaign had also given her the gift of Fitz. Even though he’d been more of a loan than a gift, Hallie would always remember how he’d made her feel, how much fun it had been to be with him. She didn’t regret a moment they’d spent together—fighting and flirting—despite how much it hurt every day to not be with him anymore.
“Hallie, will you join me for a moment?” Felicia stood just beyond the doors to the hallway.
She scrambled out across Megan. “Thanks for all your help—”
Felicia wrinkled her nose. “Stop that. No need to get maudlin. I wanted you to know your parents are here.”
“But they said they weren’t coming. They, ah, didn’t want to be a distraction.” The story of their bankruptcy, shockingly, hadn’t ever been in the Gazette. No hecklers had brought it up at any event.
When she’d checked in with them yesterday, they were still loath to “embarrass” her, no matter how many times she’d insisted that simply wasn’t possible.
“I heard. It’s nonsense.” As usual, Felicia wasn’t pulling any punches. “I collected them and put them up in the Montgomery box. You need their support tonight.”
Hallie wanted to gush out her thanks, but she didn’t want to get snapped at. “That’s one heck of a favor. I’ll owe you.”
“I’ll call it in right now.” She took Hallie’s arm and led her backstage. “Give him another chance. You’re good for each other. And you’d be an invigorating couple at my dinner parties.” A little push at the small of her back sent Hallie toward the dressing rooms.
And the unutterably handsome man standing there.
…
Fitz knew that the record for a human holding its breath was twenty-four minutes. He’d made the mistake of joking about heroically lasting two minutes swimming laps, and his sister had coolly informed him just how unimpressive he was. Trust Blake to bring the science facts (aka, kill the fun) to any and every situation.
Thing was, now it was his turn to contact Guinness because he’d been holding his breath for two hours, ever since he’d gone to enlist his aunt’s help. Fitz didn’t think Hallie would’ve agreed to meet him alone at his own request.
He didn’t blame her.
She had to be hurting as much as he was. Staying apart was self-preservation. Except he hoped to get her to listen long enough for him to fix everything between them, the way he should’ve done weeks ago.
Seeing her in the dim lighting didn’t relax him. There was every chance she’d bolt away after Felicia, now that she’d seen him, just like she had after dumping his ass. This time, though, he wouldn’t let her get away.
“Hallie, please. Five minutes. Just let me talk to you.”
“There’s nothing left for us to say. We’d simply go in circles and end up in the same miserable spot.”
“Not true.” He eased forward a few steps as the door clanged shut behind his aunt. “We only go in circles if we stay on the same track. I’m proposing we go off-roading. A whole new path, a whole new direction.”
“I’m not trying to be difficult, but car metaphors don’t really work with me.”
“I’ll start over.” At least she hadn’t budged. Yet. “Hopefully, we both will. Come with me.”
Hallie raised an arm to point at the three rows of red-velvet curtains. “Fitz, we have to be on stage soon. You know, so one of us can be declared mayor?”
Precisely why he needed to talk to her now. “Rand McCallam likes to give speeches. He rarely gets the chance. He’ll be rambling on for ten more minutes than allotted. We’ve got time.” He grabbed her hand and pushed out the heavy fire door.
Nine o’clock on a Monday night meant the streets were deserted. A good portion of the town was inside the opera house, waiting on the election results.
Fitz slowed his walk. Better not to rush the last few steps to the swan pond. It might be the last time Hallie let him hold her hand. No better way to do it than under the winking stars and the bright moon reflecting off the ocean. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“Fitz. Don’t. You don’t have to give me polite platitudes. There’s no audience.”
“Sorry.” Not sorry. He wouldn’t, couldn’t, hold back tonight. This was a lay all your cards on the table moment. “I’m about to offload a whole string of facts on you. That’s simply the first one.”
Hallie’s smile was tenuous and full of regret. Fitz never wanted to see that smile on her face again. “The sentiment is appreciated, then, but we can’t go backward.”
“Thanks for that segue. I’m all about moving forward tonight.” He took a deep breath. Jammed his hands in his pockets. “Starting with the assurance that I’ve made sure you’ll win or lose tonight solely on your merits. There were some, ah, sketchy shenanigans that my parents tried to pull.”
