Page 79 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

“All in favor of Lucky Reynolds as interim mayor, raise your hand.”

Six hands lift. Archer votes against Lucky.

“You’re making a mistake,” I say.

“It’s a precaution. Nothing more.” Charlotte pats my arm. “The town needs leadership, that’s all.”

“Mr. Prince?” a nurse in navy scrubs waves me toward the desk.

“This isn’t over.” I tell the council then stride toward the nurse. “Yes?”

“Miss Winslow is asking for you. Follow me.”

“Landon!” A blonde with her hair in ringlet pigtails and an old concert T-shirt waves at me. “Tell Zoe we’re here for her. Tell her we’ve got her back.”

“I will.” Depending on how this conversation goes, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who will help Zoe navigate this chaos.

The nurse badges us through the security door, and I follow her into the emergency department. The color scheme in this part of the Medical Center isn’t any more joyful than the waiting room. The pictures are identical.

Zoe stands outside a closed door nibbling her thumbnail. Relief washes over her face when our eyes meet.

Thank God she’s happy to see me.

I gather her into a hug. “Are you okay? How is your dad?”

“It wasn’t a heart attack.” She presses her tear-streaked cheek to my chest and exhales. “Anxiety and stress.”

“And you?” I squeeze her tighter.

“I don’t know. Still processing, I guess.” She nods toward the door. “I didn’t want to leave him.”

“Everyone is waiting for news.”

“I don’t know what to say.” She wiggles out of my embrace and slumps against the wall. “He’s weak, fragile. He’s not taking care of himself, and now they know it.”

“They just voted Lucky in as interim mayor.”

“Of course they did.” She digs the heels of her hands into her eyes. “Makes sense that they wouldn’t promote me to his position since he was in the middle of firing me.”

I tug her back to me and tilt her chin so she looks me in the eye. “Zoe, you deserve to be mayor, but only if you want the job. Don’t do it for them.”

“They don’t respect me.” She blinks rapidly, but tears gather along her eyelashes anyway. “Dad doesn’t. If everyone only sees me asBaby Girl, what’s the point?”

“I didn’t ask whattheywanted. Do you want to be mayor of Rainwater Bay? Or is this my opportunity to whisk you away to the French Riviera and lavish you with so much attention you get sick of me?” I brush a soft kiss against her lips.

“I can’t just leave. What about the estate? The renovation? Dad’s sick.”

“And you’ve taken great care of him for months, but caregivers are allowed to take breaks. You don’t need to worry about the house. Collin has everything under control.” I thread our fingers together and press the backs of her hands to my chest. “Stop worrying about everyone else and decide whatyouwant. Do you know how to do that?”

“Not really.”

“You can’t let anyone else decide what your future holds.” I brush my knuckle over an escaping tear. “Even me.”

“But what if what I want doesn’t fit what you want? You have a life outside Rainwater Bay. Your people need you, and I don’t know if I can just leave.”

“Zoom meetings are annoying, but they get the job done.”

“You would stay?” The desperation in her voice kills me.