The Summer of Us (Mission Cove 1)

I crossed my legs. “I would be interested in hearing them.”

He floundered, then waved his hand. “My group is coming. We’ll have to put that off for another day.”

“Uh-huh.”

The mayor’s golfing party reappeared, not seemingly put out he hadn’t rejoined them. I made sure to keep him plied with an endless supply of rye and water, followed by lunch. His wife had not been happy on the phone. I had heard her loud argument from where I sat on the bench, sipping a bottle of water. Not the actual words, but the tone of her voice was enough to let me know she was furious. Still, somehow, the paperwork was miraculously found and approved. When I received a message from Abby telling me she had the paperwork in hand, I was grateful I could leave. I’d had quite enough of the mayor, his wife, and his stories to last me a lifetime.

I stood and shook his hand. His eyes were clouded with all the alcohol, his words slurred. “Remember, you owe me,” he said, pointing his finger at me. “I’ll be in touch.”

“You do that.”

I walked away, trying not to laugh. He’d probably not remember any of this, or if he did, the details would be sketchy. All I had done the entire time was make a lot of noises and nod my head. Like all politicians, no matter how small-time, he liked to hear himself talk. I stopped at the clubhouse entrance and spoke to the manager. “The mayor is a little under the weather. Make sure he gets home safely. Don’t let him drive.”

He looked past my shoulder with a resigned stare. I had a feeling it wasn’t the first time the mayor had been under the weather at the course. But I refused to allow him to drive in case he had an accident. I didn’t want that on my conscience.

There was enough there already.Back at Sunny’s, I found Abby at a table in the bakery. She looked up as I walked in.

“Hey, boss.”

I sat down heavily, feeling exhausted. “Hi. Why are you working down here?”

She grinned. “You’re right. The biscuits are addictive. I could smell them all morning, and I was hungry. I came down to have something to eat and decided I liked it down here.”

I inhaled the sweet smell of cinnamon, sugar, and butter. “It does smell good.”

Abby’s eyes danced. “Sunny let me help in the kitchen for a bit.” She held out a plate. “I made these.”

I took a cookie from the plate, taking a bite. “Good job,” I mumbled around my mouthful. “If you get tired of being my sidekick, maybe Sunny will hire you.”

“She has a job here anytime she wants. I get the feeling you’re a bit of a tyrant.” Sunny’s arms draped around my neck, her voice a low hum in my ear.

I wrapped my hands around her wrists, pulling her tighter. I looked up, meeting her amused gaze. “I think I’m an awesome boss.”

She dropped a quick kiss to my lips. It took everything in me not to pull her back and kiss her harder. Longer.

“Uh-huh,” she responded, releasing her embrace and sitting beside me. She studied me. “You look exhausted.”

I ran a hand over my face. “I am. Between the mayor and his wife, it’s been a day.”

Sunny made a sympathetic noise in her throat. “She’s a handful.”

“When did she become deputy mayor?”

“Not long after your father died, I think.”

I shrugged. “She hated me as a kid, and it appears she still does. She didn’t try to hide the fact this morning.” I snorted. “Pretty sure after today, the hatred has grown to loathing. She’ll make any request that has to go through town hall difficult.”

“Why does she hate you so much?” Abby asked. “I mean, who hates a kid?”

I shrugged. “No idea, but she always has.”

Sunny pursed her lips, looking over my shoulder. There was something in her expression that made me lean forward. “What?”

“It’s probably nothing.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“I went to meet my mom at work at the hotel one day after school. I always used the employee entrance. It was a nice day, so I waited outside, sitting on a picnic table the staff used for breaks. It was sort of off to the side where no one would see it.” She paused, looking nervous.

My curiosity was piqued. “Keep going.”

“I saw Mrs. Tremont come out the back door and head to her car. She looked around as if she was making sure no one saw her. I remember wondering why she came out the back and not the front. She always liked to be seen.” Sunny swallowed. “As soon as she drove away, a man came out the same door. He did the same sort of sweep of the area, then he left.”

“So, she was having an affair,” I surmised.