Page 75 of The Christmas Blueprint

“Me too.” His smile felt like an adrenaline shot to her heart. “But then Jeffrey Bane summoned me to expound on his master plan. I was hoping with the open house, we’d get the community on our side—put pressure on him if Zhang rescinded his offer. But he’s even more underhanded than I thought. He thinks if he refuses to grant any of the building permits, Zhang will finally get frustrated and sell the property, and then he’ll develop it. He really has the long eye and all the power.”

“He’s deliberately ruining the town just so that he can control all aspects of it. He’s like a parasite,” Sophia said. “Do you really think he can make it so that the merchants, farmers, vintners, and artists can no longer have any special events? It will kill us.” Her eyes were wide as what the traffic cop had said finally seeped in.

“This week I met with him and pitched your idea to him as a win-win. Re-creating Bear Creek into a tourist destination will create so much buzz and positive press and as the innovative mayor…” he paused as Sophia snorted her thoughts on that adjective “…he would garner a lot of publicity, but the concept of anyone winning but him was so foreign. His eyes bulged like a frog’s. I knew then we would have to change tactics and play hard ball.”

“That’s an insult to frogs everywhere, but Jeffrey always does seem teed up to win.”

“No one’s unbeatable.” And something in Killian’s voice reminded her of the significance in Elaine’s tone when she’d spoken to her before the open house.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

“He doesn’t want anyone else to win. I think you should teach him how to lose.”

“Me?”

“Beat him,” Killian said. “Run for mayor and beat him.”

“I’m barely a planning commissioner.” Sophia nearly choked on her spit.

“You are so much more than that.”

“What’s taking so long?” Riley asked, both she and Maeve poked their heads out of the front door of the shop.

“Have you kissed yet?” Harlow asked.

“No.” Sophia was tempted to shake her head like a wet dog as if that would make what Killian had just said seem real. “I thought we were headed that way, but Killian thinks I should run against No-Brain Bane for mayor.”

“That is better than a kiss!” Riley fist-bumped Maeve. “Yes. Yes. Yes!”

“Not in my opinion,” Sophia groused, but a weird warmth started flowing through her at the heated look in Killian’s eyes. He looked at her as if she were special, as if she had a superpower, like she could do anything, and she was starting to believe that.

“I’ll be your treasurer and legal advisor,” Maeve offered.

“I’ll be your campaign manager since I think my city planner gig is likely a bust,” Killian said. “But it looks like I will still get some planning and architecture experience with the Applegate Mill complex, Fire Ridge Wines, and a corporate expansion Zhang is planning in the next couple of years in Austin.”

“Don’t get your hopes up that you’ll be traveling.” Riley grinned. “When Sophia kicks Bane’s ass, she’ll hire you back as city planner—maybe even with an office. Sophia, I’ll be responsible for coordinating campaign volunteers. Your mom can shake people down for money. She always upsells me at the farm store.”

“We have an office for your campaign staff,” Maeve said, “and an event space, and Elaine and I are working on Lyric and Ruby to stay longer than Christmas.”

“All of the merchants will be on your side,” Killian said. “And the parents with school-age kids, plus you’ll have me to boss around. Win-win.”

“We’ll make the campaign signs and have volunteer sign-ups at the Christmas Market.” Harlow high-fived Thomas.

“You really think I should go for it?” Excitement arm-wrestled with fear and came out on top by a smidge.

“Absolutely,” Killian said. “Now everyone but Sophia needs to go back inside for a moment. I’m about to claim my kiss.”

“In a doorway?” Riley questioned.

“The sun is setting. The Christmas lights are coming on, and it’s starting to snow on the most beautiful Main Street in Oregon,” he said, his attention on Sophia.

“In the world,” Sophia said.

“It will be when you’re mayor.”

“Are we really going to do this? You’re really going to stay?”

He kissed her forehead, then her brow, and then traced her lips with his thumb. “Do what?” he teased. “Help you run for mayor and win? Absolutely. Will I kiss you? Many times. Hopefully, every day of my life from today on. I love you, Sophia Gonzales. I have forever. I want to stay if you’ll have me. My home is by your side.”

“Prove it,” she said, giving him a bit of cocky.

He loosed his smile, the one that had always had the power to melt her heart and steal her soul. He was hers. She was his. “I want you to kiss me, Killian.”

He did.

The End

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