Page 16 of Don't Go Faking My Heart

His warm hazel eyes hold mine. "I'll be back in ten minutes. And then we're gonna figure this out. You with me?"

A smile finds its way to my lips. "I'm with you."

CHAPTER FIVE

RUSTY

Istep into the bakery-slash-bookstore and nod at the teen working the register. She waves back at me, and then I wander into the aisles. I'm an audiobook guy. Give me something about the American Revolution or something in the fantasy/sci-fi/dystopian genres, and I'm all ears. But the effort to read versus listen exhausts me.

I didn't come here for books, though. I came here because the reception on the riverwalk is terrible. The timing of Matt asking for a job earlier couldn't be better. I pull out my phone and call him.

He answers on the first ring. "This is Matt."

"Hey, it's Rusty. You haven't found a job in the last few hours, have you?"

"No, sir," Matt says quickly.

"Great, because I have a big job for you."

"I'll take anything."

"It's temporary, but I need some help on the farm. A lot of help, in fact."

"A fruit stand?" he asks hopefully.

"There'll be some of that, but it's a lot bigger, too. I need you to help with my job. And I'll pay you double for the effort."

"Double?" Matt sounds like he's fixin' to faint. "I couldn't?—"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't trust you, Matt. I could really use you," I tell him. I won't outright pressure the kid, but he's hesitating over the money, not the work. I don't mind giving him a nudge in the right direction. "I've had something else come up, so I need someone I can trust."

"I can handle whatever you need, sir. I won't let you down."

"I know you won't. We'll go over details bright and early at the farm tomorrow."

"Sounds good. Thank you, sir! Thank you!"

I end the call before his desperate gratitude embarrasses him. Matt is solid, but he sees himself as a risky bet. As someone with my fair share of feeling like an underdog, I know platitudes won't do a thing for his confidence. I'll have to put him to work on something challenging tomorrow so he sees how capable he is.

He won't be able to do my actual job, but I'll talk to Tripp and tap a few people from the Nest—our local warehouse—to help.

With my phone in my pocket, I look around the bookstore and spot something in the candy display at the register that makes me chuckle. It has Ash's name written all over it. I pay and am on my way out when the bell over the door rings and another customer enters.

Teddy.

My earlier fire may have subsided, but the embers of my aggravation have stayed hot and ready. Seeing Teddy after the conversation I just had with Ash fans those embers into a growing flame.

Walk away, I tell myself. I pause for a moment, but then Teddy sneers when he sees me. I let the anger in my chest bubble and boil until it spills into my limbs. I march straight up to Teddy.

"Mr. Fielding," he says. He looks like the emcee of the Hunger Games, but with frosted tips instead of purple hair.

We'd all prefer the purple.

"Mayor," I say. I don't mean to growl, but Teddy's eyes tighten like I barked at him. "I was surprised to hear you support Bill’s position. You stand to benefit as much as anyone from a little increased tourism."

"Yes, well, if your proposal had been better?—"

"Save it for someone who pretends your crap don't stink, Teddy. I know you and Bill planned this 'neutral outside investor' the whole time." Teddy flushes. I wonder if he knows he missed applying his tanner all around his hairline. "I expect you two to give Ash a fair shake. Because if I pick up a hint of sabotage …"

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