Can't Stop the Feeling (Whispering Bay Romance 6)

“We can move to the suburbs, and I’ll commute.”

“The Miami suburbs are just as congested as the city itself. Why can’t Rachel live with me here? We… You’re always wanting to buy me a new house, so all right. You can do that. You can buy me a new house in Hopalinka.”

“You want to raise Rachel in Hopalinka? By yourself?”

“I wouldn’t be by myself. I’d have you. You can come visit more.”

“My job is in south Florida and I work twelve-hour days.” His patience was beginning to wear thin, but this was his mother. “Look, Mom, we have to compromise. Rachel needs a permanent home and stability. She needs both of us. We can figure out the nanny thing later. Just promise me you’ll look at this brochure again with an open mind.”

Chapter Ten

Jenna sat back in her chair and rubbed her temples. It was the third time she’d gone over the spreadsheet in the past hour. The fiscal year ended in two days and she had to present this budget to the city council tomorrow for an official vote. Add to that, she also had her first town hall meeting tomorrow evening as city manager.

“You look tense,” Mimi said. She sat in the chair across from Jenna’s desk sipping a cup of herbal tea, looking extremely relaxed for a woman who was seven months pregnant with twins and had been in meetings all day. “You should definitely go to Bunco with us tonight. There’s nothing better for the soul than a girls’ night out.”

Along with their other best friend, Shea Masterson, Mimi and Pilar had founded Whispering Bay’s infamous Bunco Babes. Jenna wasn’t sure exactly what went on at the weekly Thursday night dice games, but it was rumored frozen margaritas were involved.

“If only I could,” Jenna said, thinking about all the work still left to do. “Maybe some other time?”

“Consider it an open invitation.”

“Thanks, but I thought someone had to die before a new member came into the group.”

“True,” Mimi mused, “but we’re always looking for subs. Besides, half the time we don’t even play. You can hang out and gossip with us.”

“How do you do it?” Jenna asked.

“Do what?”

“Work, a husband, kids, friends. And still manage to look so serene all the time?”

“I’m taking your advice and staying well-hydrated.” She pointed to her large tote where a big bottle of water stuck out of the opening.

“Seriously?”

Mimi laughed. “Oh, doll, I’m anything but serene right now. My lower back aches, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are sumo wrestling inside my uterus and I’m trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight. Zeke is working late, and my conscience just can’t give Cameron froze

n pizza twice in the same week. No matter how much he might love it.” She lay her cup of tea down on Jenna’s desk and stretched out her back. “When’s your new desk coming in?”

“Next week sometime. I can’t wait.”

“Let me know how you like it. I’ve been thinking of getting one of those new ergonomic desks myself. So tell me, how’s the budget looking?”

“I know I sound a little OCD, but I think we need to do another audit.”

“You’re kidding. So we’re going to have to spend more money to find out that we don’t have any?”

“I have a friend from grad school who’s starting up her own company and she needs clients. I’m pretty sure I can get her to do this for practically nothing if not completely free in exchange for a testimonial or some word of mouth. And she’s good. If there’s something wrong with our books, she’ll find it.”

“Do you think there’s something wrong with our books?”

Jenna hesitated. She didn’t want to alarm Mimi, not yet anyway. “No,” she lied, “but it never hurts to take another look. Right?”

Mimi sighed. “Okay. Call her.”

“One more thing. It’s about the new rec center. Is the grand opening still set for November?”

“Fingers crossed. I’ll be presenting all the details at the town hall meeting tomorrow night.”