Page 32 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
“No intrusion at all.” The mayor signaled for the server to bring them two drinks. When they were once again alone, he zeroed in on the reason he was drinking twenty-dollar a glass whiskey instead of crawling into bed to dream about a beautiful, curvy photographer in pink silk with black hearts.
“I’ve been talking with my campaign manager,” Josh said, “and she said that now’s the time to start solidifying endorsements. Make sure I know where people stand.”
“Smart woman. And I’ve been brainstorming with my strategist, and he warned me not to make any public statements too soon. To wait until the right candidate emerges with support of some local unions and businesses.”
“I thought I was the right candidate.”
“You’re a straight shooter, don’t mind asking the hard questions to get the answers you need. I like that. And I want to help you, but finding the right moment is better than just any moment, don’t you agree?”
Josh was as far from agreeing as the Easter Bunny was from the North Pole. That right moment? It had come and gone a dozen times over. “Any idea when that will be?”
“I see your brain churning, and don’t worry—you’re my front runner. In fact, I was thinking the perfect place might be Kitty’s charity auction. Some of the people attending are the people you need backing you. You work that charm throughout the night, get your family involved. A few famous faces will go a long way.”
Josh knew his brothers would stand by him in a heartbeat, but he didn’t want to leapfrog off their fame. Between agents and managers and obligations, they had enough people wanting a piece of them. Josh wanted them there, but not as pawns in a game. Someone as important as a state prosecutor should be elected on merit, not by who they had in their pocket.
“My brothers will be there to support my mom, but I don’t—”
“Mayor Caldwell, I thought I saw you.”
Wearing diamond cufflinks, a thirty-thousand-dollar watch and—well, shit—shoes with actual tassels, the last person Josh wanted to see approached the table, eying the empty seat. Had Josh not been so ticked that Russell Heinz was interrupting an important and private conversation, a long overdue conversation, he would have laughed because Heinz was a loafer. And that brought to mind Piper and their date-to-be-determined dance.
The mayor hadn’t been the only one to dodge him this past week. After talking with Anette at the Parks and Rec department, Josh had done enough dodging for an entire dodgeball team. Seemed getting a permit in such a short amount of time was near impossible. There were a lot of moving parts, clearing roads, directing traffic for parking and thoroughfare.
He hadn’t given up, but he was running out of ideas. Not that he’d tell Piper. Not yet, anyway. He wanted to make sure he’d exhausted all possibilities before delivering the news.
As a prosecutor, an important part of his job was looking at things from all sides and thinking through evey possible outcome. Josh was known as a fixer in the DA’s office. He knew how to finesse, where to go for answers, and when to ask for a second opinion. The permit wasn’t a done deal, it just needed some finessing.
They’d shared a few texts over the past few days, nothing special. Only him inquiring about their upcoming date and her inquiring the status on the permit.
She’d filled out the paperwork and refiled with the updated information. Josh had taken a box full of Parisian pastries to City Hall to sweeten up Anette, who assured him she was working on it and would have an answer by the end of the week.
Josh hoped it was the kind of news that could be celebrated over dinner. The kind of news that would open a slot in her schedule. He thought he was overworked. Between events, portraits, and her volunteer work, Piper was a workhorse.
According to the little recon he’d done at the last family dinner, Josh was starting to think her timetable for that date included never. Even the girls had struck out on a no-cameras-allowed night out. From the moment Piper had climbed in his car, he’d had the feeling she was more of a lone wolf. Unlike other women he’d dated, it didn’t appear to be some ploy to appear mysterious. He didn’t think going it alone was a preference—more of a necessity to avoid disappointment.
So while he didn’t have a definitive yes or no on the permit, he did have some news and promised to keep her appraised at every turn. So, while Heinz launched into his typical brown nosing, Josh pulled out his phone and looked up Piper’s contact and swiped off a fun text.
Josh: Checked Yelp today. Still no review. Beginning to wonder if I should have driven her home.
Piper: Having a hard time locating Just Josh to post review. Please advise.
Josh: He regrets the name decision immensely.
Piper: My pumpkin has yet to grow up into a big girl chariot, but she keeps rolling on.
Josh laughed aloud and both men looked at him oddly.
“We keeping you, Easton?” Heinz asked.
“I didn’t mean to take over your night. I know you’ve been working extra hours for my Kitty. Is there somewhere else you need to be?” the mayor asked. “I’m sure Russell here will keep me company until my guest arrives.
Yes. Josh needed to be anywhere but there. Maybe somewhere nice and quiet, that served top-notch cake followed by dancing—with Piper.
“Just confirming a meeting,” he said. “My apologies. It will only take a moment.”
Josh: If she gets temperamental, remember temperamental is my specialty.
Piper: I thought your specialty was arguing for arguing sake.
