“But you need the money?”
“I don’t need it for me.” I stopped there. She didn’t need to know Frank’s business, although chances were she already did. She was his lawyer, too.
She studied the paperwork again. “I’d already gone through this before you came thinking you might need it.” She looked up again. “Unless you’re getting married, there’s no way you can get at it.”
I nodded and stood. “Thank you for your time, Jeannette.”
“My pleasure, Mo. I’m sorry it’s not better news.”
I shrugged. “It is what it is.”
I headed out of the law office and back to my car. I drove the short way to City Hall, hoping to clear my mind enough to focus on city business. I’d have to figure out something else for Frank later. But pushing the idea of Stark buying his ranch out of mind was easier said than done.
I was distracted and edgy as I read through reports Trina set on my desk.
“Mo…ah, Mr. Mayor?” Brooke peeked in through my door.
Great. Another reminder of my inability to help Frank. I had no doubt that she’d come out okay. She was smart and doing a great job in her position. She’d land on her feet and be able to take care of herself. I wasn’t sure Frank would fare as well. Ranching was all he knew. At forty-five, he was too young to retire, and knowing Stark, the offer wouldn’t give Frank much to walk away with. What job would he get? He didn’t even have a high school diploma. That meant Brooke would be supporting them, and I wasn’t sure she made enough to do that. She was a category one employee on probation for her first six months. If we had to cut staff in the next year, she’d be the first to go.
“Yes,” I said, waving her in. “What do you need?”
“I have the data on the public works you asked for.” She moved toward me.
I watched her, feeling guilty that I wouldn’t be able to help her father. The more I watched her, the more my thoughts turned to where they shouldn’t go. Like how lovely her blue eyes were. How her skirt hugged curves that, to this day, I regretted not taking advantage of even as I loathed myself for what I had done to her. I was a fucking pervert to still want her.
“Great. Thanks,” I said a little more curtly than I intended as I put my attention back on my work.
“Is everything all right?” she asked as she set the report on my desk.
“Fine.”
“You don’t sound fine. Or look fine.”
I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. I suspected she was waiting for me to tell her I was ready to swoop in and save her family’s ranch. I was being a coward for putting it off. I sat back and looked at her again, trying to ignore how much I wished I could wrap her up and protect her. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to fulfill my promise to you and your dad about helping you.”
“Oh?” Her breath hitched, but I could see her working to keep her emotions in control.
“I have a trust from my Aunt Adele, but I can’t get to it. There are terms that I don’t meet.”
She frowned. “Your aunt left you money, but you can’t have it?”
I nodded. “Not until I meet the terms.”
“What terms?”
It was going to sound so stupid. I knew my aunt wanted me to be happy, but I had no doubt that she got this nutty idea from some romance novel she read.
“I have to be married.”
Her eyes widened. “But you were married.”
“Yes, well, Adele didn’t like Shelley.”
Brooke had an expression that suggested she hadn’t liked Shelley either. “It doesn’t change the fact that you were married. And you’d still be if she hadn’t left, right?”
Talking about my failed marriage with Brooke was agony. “I don’t know.” I suspected that if Shelley hadn’t changed, we’d probably be divorced by now, anyway. Surely, I had my limits, too. She just hit hers sooner than me.
“Adele died after Shelley left. She wanted me to find love and happiness still. Her heart was in the right place.” My only other option was to liquidate some of my other investments or mortgage my house, but I was reluctant to do that. Adele’s money was extra. I didn’t mind using it because it didn’t add to my bottom line or livelihood. My personal investments and the ranch, they were my financial stability.