And I had always laughed it off.
“Damn man, she’s perfect. I’m going into politics.”
Jillian was the safe and sensible choice. But I didn’t realize even then how deeply in love with her I was, because I saw love as something twisted and unstable and toxic.
I was ambitious. I had loved being the King of Ramshackle Bay, having everyone eat out of the palm of my hand. I craved that celebrity status, those hits of adulation.
And over the last two years I had realized these hits were shallow and unfulfilling, and if I chased them, I would always want more. They would never satisfy me.
I hadn’t appreciated Jillian properly at all, not as her own person, not as more than a helpmate for me. I felt sick and ashamed of myself.
How could I ever convince her I had changed?
I had to show her I didn’t think of her as second best. Hopefully my work in the town would help demonstrate that I cared about her concerns.
If there were any objections, I knew Cash was going to try to get around everyone by declaring eminent domain and seizing the land anyway.
Was that scumbag Earnest working with him?
I had a long, uphill battle, but I wanted to prove to Jillian that I cared about her and would fight for her.
Discouraged, I went inside where Mrs. Greenberg was sitting with her feet up.
“How about you make me some latkes tonight?”
“All right, fine,” I said.
“What’ve you been out so late for?” she added as I began to mix the batter.
“Trying to convince everyone Cash’s just trying to scam the town with this stupid upcoming corporate deal.”
“A man with a bottom like that couldn’t do such a thing,” she said, but she narrowed her eyes when I said the wordseminent domain.
“Everyone in town adores him now, so what can I do?”
“No whining,” she said crisply. “So you screwed up and everyone hates you. You can come back from this.”
“I’mtrying.”
“I might be able to help,” she said. “I can talk to some people too.”
“Oh. Thank you so much,” I said. “Damn. I didn’t expect that.”
“Watch those latkes! Don’t burn them, boy!”
As I scrambled to obey, she stroked the top of her smuggest cat and eyed me contemplatively.
“Also, I noticed thatBluehas very distinctive green eyes. Strange, don’t you think? Cash doesn’t have green eyes, neither does Jillian. Quite a distinctive look around that chin, too. Adorable child.”
And with that, she got up to feed the cats, leaving me to try to pick up my shattered jawbone from off the floor.
CHAPTER 23
Frankie
My mind was in a whirl as I met Jillian at the yacht.
She looked absolutely delectable, and when she didn’t object as I took her hand to help her onto the boat, my knees almost buckled with joy.
