Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
“She’s a kid,” I add, trying to deny my attraction.
“A kid? She doesn’t look like a kid and works for you, so I’m guessing she’s an adult. Just admit you’ve got a thing for her and can’t compete with a real man anymore.” He winks at her, and it pisses me off. I can’t react because it’s my job as the mayor to be strong and vigilant, and Fields knows it.
“You’re just mad because my old ass can do your job better than you, even with a fucked-up leg,” I say.
“I’d love to see you try,” he tosses out the challenge.
“It’s on.” I roll up my sleeves.
“Sir, I don’t believe that’s a good idea,” she adds, pressing her delicate hand on my bare forearm for just a brief moment, but it’s enough to drive my testosterone even higher.
“Taylor, relax. I can manage moving sandbags easily.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll give him back to you in one piece, beautiful.” She blushes at his words, and I want to punch him in the face, which only makes him smile.
“Come on, are you going to stand there all day, or are we going to get the work done? I have a town to protect.” Working fast and hard, I throw around the sandbags racing Fields while simultaneously keeping them in line and well organized. My polo is muddy and sweaty, so I pull it off and continue to work harder.
“I think we’re good, men,” one of the project leaders calls out when we’re down to the last two bags. Fields and I had filled perfectly. “Great work, Mayor Payne, Petty Officer Fields.”
“Sir, Mayor Payne is my former superior, Admiral Brooks Payne.” He at once salutes me. I salute him as well.
“At ease,” I say. Directing my focus to the crew that have worked tirelessly for hours, I add, “Thank you all for your hard work and dedication.”
“Sir, it looks like you did a lot of it yourself,” the foreman said.
“It felt good to get back in it again.” It’s a feeling I hadn’t expected to enjoy so much. Sitting behind a desk is nice and relaxing, especially because I have that sexy piece of ass I get to enjoy staring at day in and day out, but this is my true pleasure, working with my muscles.
“Sir, the cameras are approaching.” My assistant stares at me with her lips pursed, holding out a windbreaker with the coast guard logo on it, reminding me that I was fucking bare-chested.
“Damn. Thank you, Taylor.” I take it from her, and she turns her head away, looking toward Fields, which pisses me off, especially since I catch him winking at her again.
“You’re welcome, Sir.” Her cheeks are pink for the hundredth time today, and I’m about to kill a motherfucker for making her so damn heated.
I barely have the damn thing zippered when the camera crew makes their way to me. “Mayor Payne, can we get a word?”
“Just a moment. The Mayor is busy at present,” Taylor says, halting them like the amazing assistant that she is.
I step in front of her and say, “You can speak with the operations director.” I direct their attention to the Storm Disaster team the state sent over this morning, trying to stay to the side of the camera. Taylor hands me a bottle of water.
“Here you go, Sir.”
Smiling, I whisper, “Thank you.” I open it and guzzle it quickly before the cameras are on me. With a brief message to the press, I excuse myself to address the rest of the town matters with my assistant beside me.
The sooner we get away from this place, the sooner I can handle the adrenaline coursing through me. Even tearing through that physical labor didn’t stop the violent jealousy that burned in my chest at the way my former naval mate flirted with Taylor.
She was mine, even if I couldn’t fucking have her.
Chapter Two
Taylor
Why does he have to be so sexy? A mayor who takes off his shirt and gets dirty. Of course, he was challenged by one of his former Navy buddies. I do my best to avoid looking at him while he works, but it’s my job to be by his side and also to remind him about his schedule while also being careful.
The mayor ignored me the entire time he worked, which was fair, given he was competing to show he could still be a badass. Brooks Payne didn’t need to do that because he carried himself like a champion every single day. That was obvious, but I suppose it's hard to pass up when you have someone challenging you, especially someone younger. Either way, I think he’s amazing—irresistibly amazing.
I watched as though I was a professional assistant worried about her boss, or so I pretended to be. In reality, I was a young woman stressing over the man she fantasizes about every night when she’s alone in her dark room with her hand between her legs, looking for relief.