Page 53 of The Good Luck Cafe
Moira laughed. “You’re kidding, right? I’m a nine-one-one dispatcher for the town that has the least number of emergencies in the state.”
Gil grinned. “I’m proud of that fact. Not that I can take credit.”
“You take some. You’re a good mayor, Gil. I know that and so does this town.”
His gaze lingered. “We’ll see come election. I have some steep competition this time. I’m talking more about you than Denise.”
“Me?” Moira was surprised he’d consider her real competition. Some part of her felt like an imposter for even throwing her hat in the ring. Another part of her, however, really thought she could do this. She had ideas and thoughts, and she believed she could make a difference if she wanted to.
“Why not you? You never really know what you’re capable of until you try. I don’t want to give up my job, but I’m proud of you. That probably sounds strange, but I am.”
Moira couldn’t help grinning. “You’re right. It does sound strange. But thank you.”
He met her gaze and held it, and it felt like she was in that moment in her dream, on the boat, when he was looking deep into her eyes, seconds away from kissing her. “You’re welcome, Moira.”
Chapter Sixteen
Gil’s stomach growled loudly. “Sorry about that.”
Moira glanced up. She was sitting across the room from him, keeping her distance. Emotionally, she was hot and cold where he was concerned. She was frustrated and upset with him about wanting to displace Sweetie’s. But at the same time, it was hard not to like Gil. “Do you think they’ll feed us in this place?”
“I would say yes, but Sheriff Ronnie is enjoying our jail time way too much. Surely they feed the inmates though.”
“It would be a crime not to,” Moira agreed.
Sheriff Ronnie had been stopping by the cell on the half hour, updating them on their bail moneys. Gil was in the lead, halfway to making bail, which he felt a little guilty about. He didn’t want Moira to have to spend the night in here alone.
“Hey, you two!” a cheerful voice said from outside the bars.
Gil looked up at Darla, who had two huge bags from Sweetie’s in hand. “Please tell me one of those is for me,” he teased.
“Of course it is.” Darla winked. “I’m not going to leave my favorite daughter and favorite mayor in jail to starve.” Her smile slid away. “Not saying my next vote is going to you, Mayor Gil.” She looked at Moira nervously.
“It’s okay, Mom. I get it.” She gestured to Gil. “He’s trying to put you out of business though. Why are you feeding him?”
Darla shook her head, her eyes rolling with amusement. “Don’t mind her, Gil. She’s protective. Always has been.”
“Understandable,” Gil said.
“I’m also right. And you have always been too forgiving and nice,” Moira said.
Darla gave her daughter a wary look. “Mayor Gil is just doing his job. I know that. And, you know, maybe it’s time for me to retire like your father.”
Moira stood and walked over to where her mom was standing. “That’s just silly talk. You still love what you do. You don’t want to retire, Mom.”
Gil watched the two interact. He’d always been fascinated by a mother-daughter relationship. It was so different from the way he and his own mother interacted. Moira wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. He supposed that was one thing that would make her a good mayor. He always wanted to satisfy everyone involved, whereas Moira picked a stance and stood by it.
Darla handed a bag through the bars in Gil’s direction. “Here you are, Mayor. I made your favorite.”
He got up and walked over to her now. “Thank you, Darla. You’re too kind.”
“Yes, she is,” Moira said pointedly.
Darla bounced a pointer finger between them. “You two play nice, okay? You’re alone and having a meal together.” She shrugged. “If you ask me, that’s kind of like a date.”
Moira looked at Gil.
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “It’s the closest I’ve been to a date in a while,” he agreed to Darla.
