Page 11 of Rival Hearts

I found the ends of my long auburn hair as I read through the dimensions of their parade idea. “This is bigger than the finale at the very end.”

“I know. I told Kelvin I wasn’t sure it would get approved. He hauled out the parade regulations and said their float didn’t contradict any of them.” Ruth backed out the door. “I have to go meet my family to get the perfect spot. Have a good day, everyone!” She waved and then drew the door closed behind her.

“Kelvin would know.” Tyler held out his hand for the application and drew a lollipop out of his pocket. “Where’s Lila?I thought she’d be here.” He ripped off the wrapper and stuck it into his cheek.

I frowned and shuffled papers on my desk until I located my phone. There on the screen was a message from Lila. “Running late. As always.”

“Once again, I’m really sorry my real estate agency sold him the Whittaker place.”

“You didn’t sell it to him, someone who works for you did.” I shrugged. No one could have predicted how events would unfold from there.

“I know, but…” Emily frowned and rubbed her forehead before seeming to gather herself. “The parade starts in two hours. You can’t deny Grady’s request without people thinking you’re trying to prevent him from getting votes.”

“Oh,” I said, dragging out the word. “I’m fairly convinced Grady will do a fine job of not getting any votes without my interference. The campaign has been running for almost two weeks. No signs. No platform. People keep asking me why I have signs up everywhere when I’m going to be declared the mayor. No one knows he’s running. I sure as hell am not spreading the word.”

Tyler’s shoulders hunched, and he ran a hand through his dark-blond hair, tinged with red. He removed the lollipop from his cheek and gave her a sheepish look. “There is a chance I’ve told a few people.” When I glared at him, he continued, “I didn’t want people thinking you were so starved for attention you were advertising yourself when you didn’t need to.”

Emily, her campaign manager, raised her hand. “I told a few people too.”

“Great. My campaign is doing more work for Grady than he is.” I gave a snort of disgust. “I thought with Kelvin involved Grady might be a bit of a challenge. But he’s the same guy he’s always been.”

“Knock, knock.” Lila opened the door, her knuckles grazing the dark wood. “Did you guys get the text from Pete? Sabrina Kim filed a noise violation complaint about tonight’s fireworks.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I closed my eyes.

Tyler chuckled to himself, the lollipop clicking against his teeth.

“What’s so funny?” I snapped.

“Uh…” Tyler looked around at them, waving the lollipop in the air. “Isn’t Sabrina Kim Grady’s old high school girlfriend?”

Lila gasped. “Grady’s playing dirty.”

I collapsed into my chair. Sabrina had been at the open mic night a few weeks ago, and I’d seen her getting cozy with Grady at the bar.

“She used to get noise violations all the time in high school for the parties she threw,” Tyler continued. “I smell a rat.”

“What time are the fireworks slated to end?” Emily came around the desk to peer over my shoulder.

“Eleven fifteen,” I confirmed. “We didn’t publish the finish time, only the start.”

Lila bit her lip. “The Little Falls bylaw starts at eleven, right?”

“Yep,” I said. “I have to talk to Pete.” Rising, I gathered all the parade papers together and handed them to Lila. “Can you please keep this organized while I figure out how to fix our timing problem?”

“Can she file a complaint about something that hasn’t happened? And about the Fourth of July Fireworks no less?” Emily tightened her strawberry-blond ponytail, readying herself for battle.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Pete will know. Sabrina or Grady or whoever must have gotten the idea from someone.” I grabbed my purse off the table near the door and scooped my keys out of the front pocket. “Text or call with any other problems.”

“Got it,” Lila called after me as I shut the door.

****

At the warehouse, I stared at the boxes beside Pete. In my head, I counted them again. Then, out loud, I counted them a third time.

“Pete,” I said carefully. “There aren’t enough fireworks here.”

“I realize that.”

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