Page 33 of Hoax and Kisses
I shut it all out, focusing solely on what I need to do tonight. This is not the time to spiral over things I can’t control.
Near the front, I spot the mayor—with the same gray hair from his headshot on the town’s website—speaking with another man.
“Mr. Mayor,” I say when I get to him. “Zoey Delacroix.” Shoulders pulled back, I extend a hand. “Nice to officially meet you.”
He studies me, not a single flicker of expression betraying his thoughts. For a second, I worry my judgment was off and tonight’s outfit choice was a mistake. I kept it rather professional but still left the heels behind, opting for a silk blouse tucked in fitted black pants and leather ankle boots. My hair is twisted and held in place with a clip, and I went for a very natural makeup style. It’s an approachable look, right? I really toned it down.
Unease threads through me as the silence stretches. I’m racking my brain for a way to stray away from the awkwardness when he breaks into a wide smile and finally shakes my hand.
“Robert Denison. But everybody calls me Rob. Welcome, Ms.Delacroix. Your father and I worked together a few years back. But then, everything went down and—”
He closes his mouth, leaving the rest of his sentence hanging.
That unease blossoms into a hint of discomfort.Whatwent down?
Whatever it was, I push the thought aside. “Call me Zoey, please.” I pause, my mind backtracking on his words. “Wait. How did you know about my dad? I didn’t mention—we don’t have the same last name. I don’t—”
He pats my arm. “It’s a small town. Information travels fast.”
My stomach lurches. Fuck.Fuck, fuck, fuck. When did it evengetout? At what—
Matt. It has to be him. After my dad called the other day, his whole attitude changed. I’m pretty sure he was about to ask me out, and then… he dropped his scissors just as my phone rang. Did he see his name on my screen? Did he overhear the conversation?
Fuck.
Visibly tired of watching me gape, Rob starts to turn back to the man he was speaking to when I interrupted. But I clear my throat, stopping him, and wipe my sweaty hands on my pants. I have one shot at this.
“I’ve read the agenda for tonight, and I’d like to submit a project for the land that’s up for sale. I wonder if you’ll be kind enough to give me the floor for a few minutes.”
He frowns. “The land isn’t open for submission yet, and the decision won’t be made before the next meeting.” He pauses, scrutinizing me with narrowed eyes. Then, voice lowered, he asks, “What kind of project are we talking about?”
I can smell interest when I see it. Rob worked with my dad till the very end. That alone tells me he might not be as close-minded as most of his constituents. If I play this right, I can sway him in my favor.
“A hotel.”
His eyes widen in alarm.
Dammit. “Notyour conventional hotel,” I rush to add.
Poor guy must have really gone through the wringer with that failed deal.
“I’m not talking about a resort or anything luxurious, and I’m not asking for you to endorse my project. Let me present my case. That’s all I want. If people don’t like the proposal, they’ll be free to express it, and we can go from there.”
He presses his lips together and hums. Eventually, he pushes a hand through his gray hair and says, “People won’t be happy about this.”
I shrug. “I don’t need them to be. What I’m offering is working. I would rather avoid protests, but as long as you’re on board, that’s what matters.”
He looks at the pile of documents next to him. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
What doesthatmean?
I clear my throat again and lift my chin. “I only ask for a chance to speak, that’s all.”
Rob holds my gaze for a long moment. Finally, he sighs. “Okay. I’ll go over the testament, and you can take it from there.”
“Thank you.”
On my way to an empty seat, a tall, broad frame appears in the doorway at the back of the room.
