Sinclair shook her head. “That’s not right.”
“It is what it is. The point is, when I resign, you’ll be acting mayor. Make it work, Sinclair. Don’t give Stark and Wallace any ammunition to use against you.”
“No. You can’t resign. I won’t let you.”
I sighed. “Sinclair.”
“Just wait. You said it’s been a couple of days. Maybe Stark won’t out you. Maybe he’s sitting on it for later. But that gives you time.”
“For what?” I asked. “Whether it’s now or later, I’m going to be disgraced. Better you get the experience—”
“No. Wait a little longer. Give it until next week to think about it, at least. Please, Mo. Don’t give up. As your deputy mayor, I insist that you stay a little longer.”
I didn’t know what she expected would happen between now and next week, but maybe she needed time to wrap her head around being mayor. I could give her that time.
“Okay.”
“Good. Now, what’s the deal with you and Brooke?”
I looked away, not wanting to talk about it.
“Do you love her?”
I scrubbed my hands over my face. “Yes. I know it’s wrong—”
“Wrong? Why?” She sounded completely perplexed.
I gave her a you-know-why look. “She’s Frank’s daughter. I’m nearly twenty years older than her. I’m her boss. Take your pick.”
Sinclair pursed her lips. “Don’t be a baby, Mo. The heart wants what the heart wants. She’s an adult. You clearly care about her and her father after giving them a small fortune. You’re a good person. I just wish she was worthy of you.”
“She deserves better—”
“Bullshit.”
I jerked.
“You’ve given her your trust money. You’re about to give up your job. Where is she? Not with you. In fact, are you sure she didn’t connive her way in all this?”
“No. She’s not like that.”
“Are you sure? She’s got your money for her dad and has no consequence while you’re about to lose your farm and job. You know Trina kept saying that Brooke was gunning for her job, and I thought she was just being Trina. But maybe she was right.”
I shook my head, even as her statement gave me an unsettling feeling in my stomach. “I’m the one that assigned the work. Trina’s feelings are my fault. I think we’ve worked it out, though.”
“Brooke still has your money and isn’t living up to her end of the deal,” Sinclair said, arching a brow. “You did get a prenup, didn’t you? She can’t take the farm, can she?”
“I did get a prenup, but that was just to protect my existing assets. I could take the parcel that Frank put up as a type of collateral, but…what for? It won’t help me pay what I owe.”
“Sell it to Stark.” She said it as a joke, but then she seemed to like that idea. “That would get them back.”
“I don’t want to get them back, Sinclair.”
She gave me a look of sympathy. “What do you want?”
I wanted Brooke as a real wife. I wanted to fill my house with babies we’d make. I wanted Frank to forgive me and give his blessing for all that to happen. But I didn’t say any of that. “Right now, I just want to make sure I don’t fuck up your future as mayor.”
She waved her hand. “That won’t happen. I won’t let it.” She stood. “I have some work to do. Don’t you dare do anything with that resignation, do you hear me?”