"Against the counter."
"Very professional."
"Very."
She's still smiling. I want to capture this moment. Keep it forever.
"No regrets?" I ask.
"None. You?"
"Best decision I ever made."
"Stealing blueprints or having sex?"
"Both."
She laughs again. Presses a kiss to my jaw.
"We should probably clean up."
"Probably."
The sign-up sheet is ruined.
Completely. Utterly. Destroyed.
I look at the bulletin board outside the town hall. At the water damage and the running ink and the illegible names.
Maris stands beside me. Silent. Her face is pale.
"How?" she finally asks.
"Water bottle," Mayor Johnson says behind us. His voice is apologetic. "Someone. Left one balanced on top of the board. Leaked all night."
"Appears so."
"Convenient."
"Now, I'm not saying it was deliberate?—"
"Of course you're not." Maris turns to face him. Her voice is perfectly polite. Perfectly controlled. I recognize that tone. She's furious. "Because that would mean admitting someone deliberately sabotaged Small Business Day to hurt local owners."
Mayor Johnson shifts his weight. "I'm sure it was an accident."
"Was the camera working?"
"The. Security camera?"
"Yes. The one right above the board."
His face flushes. "It. Appears to have malfunctioned."
"Of course it did."
"Maris—"
"Thank you for your time, Mayor."
