Page 70 of Hottie on Her Shelf
After sucking in a long breath, he puffed out his cheeks and blew it out slowly. Bronson was right on one count. Eight years later, it wouldn’t do any good for him to ladle out recrimination and judgment. “Thanks for coming clean with me. I won’t lie—I’m disappointed. I’ll keep your secret, though. Sounds like it isn’t mine to share.”
“Thanks.”
Now the reason for this meeting was twice as awkward. Fitz considered walking away. He didn’t want to be perceived as trying to influence the man. He didn’t want to be perceived as anything like the rest of his family after that story. But…this wasn’t about him. This was about Hallie, and he had to do right by her.
“Look, I’m not asking for a favor. No wink and a nod. You can say no, and there’ll be no harm, no foul. I wanted to talk to you about your column space on Ms. Scott.”
“The librarian?”
Fitz led them back toward the swan pond. “The other mayoral candidate, yes. You should write whatever facts you want, but you’ve printed two op-eds with a derogatory slant on her being from Crow Harbor.”
“I gotta run something.”
Of all the things Fitz was responsible for as mayor, that for sure deserved to be filed under Not My Problem.
“There’s plenty of other things going on in Swan Cove to opine about. Folks in Crow Harbor work hard, do a lot to support this town. It’s insulting to them and to her to suggest Ms. Scott can’t be mayor because of the zip code she was born in.”
“You’re right, of course. And on a personal level, I agree.” Bronson leaned on the arrow-tipped top of the fence around the pond. “Fanning the flames sells papers, though.”
“This is the first two-person campaign in over a century. There’ll be plenty to cover.”
“You should know, since we’re laying all our cards on the table, that it wasn’t my idea. Your campaign manager suggested it.”
“Derek? I fired him.” And hearing that made Fitz feel doubly solid about the decision. Little weasel.
“Yeah, well, his directive came down before that.”
Fitz stabbed his fingers through his hair. Huffed out an exasperated breath. “He doesn’t speak for me. My father doesn’t speak for me. And the only directive I’ll give you is to be fair and objective. Period.”
“Even when it comes to the downtown expansion?”
Oh, for fuck’s sake! He wasn’t a feudal lord trying to scoop up the profits of everyone on adjacent land. “Especially then.”
The newspaperman had the bit between his teeth and pressed on. “Because, you know, it’ll benefit your family’s bank account more than anyone else’s, which some would see as at odds with your decision-making power as mayor.”
“Bronson, you know better than that. The entire city council votes.”
“You won’t sway it for your personal benefit?”
Enough was enough. Fitz knew it was Bronson’s job to ask the uncomfortable questions. It was a genuine kick in the gut, though, that anyone would even suspect Fitz of pulling strings. “Okay, we’re on the record as of right the fuck now.”
Shaggy gray eyebrows arched up. “Whatever you say.”
“We are only at the preliminary, investigatory stage of the proposed downtown hotel and marina expansion. It has not yet been put forth to the council for a vote to conduct further discussion. We’re nowhere near a vote on acceptance. That’s something the next mayor would handle.”
“Got it.”
He white-knuckled the railing, blocking out the hi how ya doing squawks of the swans. It wasn’t that hard when Fitz heard Hallie’s voice in his head. “What everyone should consider is that this expansion would, yes, benefit Swan Cove, but it would also have a significant negative economic impact on Crow Harbor.”
“How negative? Do you have solid numbers?”
Uh, not his job to be an informant. Bronson would have to do his own legwork. “As mayor of Swan Cove, this town is my sole priority. The people of this town, however, ought to have a healthy respect and consideration for our neighbors to the south as part of the decision-making process.”
Bronson’s mouth formed into a soundless O. “Are you sure that’s the message you want to put out, Mayor?”
“I am.”
After a long searching glance, Bronson nodded. “Glad to hear it from you.”
