* * *
“Fucking Hunter,”I fumed as I drove back home. I had camped out in the hospital the last few days while Barry recovered enough for transport.
“That’swhat he was discussing with Barry. And then he stood there and lied to me.”
I never should have trusted him. Every time I thought that maybe Hunter had turned over a new leaf, maybe he had changed, maybe I had made the worst mistake of my life all those years ago by not accepting his apology, Hunter was there to remind me that no, he was still a slimeball—a good-looking billionaire slimeball but a slimeball nonetheless.
I mentally made a list of all the things I needed to do. I was behind on my own deputy mayor duties, and I’d had to push several meetings. I needed to check in with Uncle Barry’s secretary. He refused to use a digital calendar, and the elderly secretary kept all his meetings written in very fine pencil in a large leather-bound planner. I needed to add his meetings to my calendar.
While being in the hospital with Barry had been stressful, I did have to admit that I was sort of looking forward to finally being the mayor. Things were changing around Harrogate. Not to mention, I was going to finally have the house to myself! Well, myself and my sisters. But as soon as I cleaned out all of Barry’s stuff, we would have tons more room. As I pulled onto my street, I mentally catalogued the most efficient way to pack up Barry’s things to send to Arizona.
“What the fuck!”
The door to the rambling Victorian house had a large piece of plywood nailed over it.
“What the hell?” I tried my key on the padlock, but it didn’t work.
“Is this some sort of prank? Are people after me?”
The wind blew, and a piece of paper nailed to the plywood fluttered in the wind. I read it, my vision blurring.
“Repossession notice. All content within belongs to the Harrogate Community Bank.”
I felt sick. Before I could collapse, I slumped down on the porch.
“Meg. Meg!”
“Hunter.”
I raised my head and glared at him as he jogged up the rickety steps.
“You!” I shrieked at him. “You knew about this. You knew they were going to repossess my house! Oh my god. I’m homeless.” I wanted to sob but I refused to let him see me like that.
Hunter wrapped me in his arms. “I didn’t realize until it was too late,” he told me. “Because you were at the hospital when the eviction was scheduled, the bank assumed ownership of your possessions.”
I started weeping.
“Don’t worry,” he assured me, resting his chin on my head. “As soon as the bank finishes the paperwork, they’ll sell the house at auction. I’ll buy it for you and give it back to you. It’s the cheapest way,” he said, smoothing down my hair. “Until then, you can live with me. I told you I’ll always take care of you.”
“You’regoing take care of me?” I pushed him away. “This is your fault.”
“No it’s not!” he said, incredulous. “This disaster is all Mayor Barry’s doing.” Hunter opened his briefcase and took out a sheaf of papers. “Barry drained all of the life insurance and inheritance money your parents left you and your sisters, then he took out three mortgages on this property. He lied, not me. I’m trying to help.”
“No, you’re not. Helping would be telling me the truth at the hospital. But you wanted to play hero,” I said angrily.
“It wouldn’t have done any good,” Hunter replied patronizingly.Gosh, I hated him!“You wouldn’t have been able to stop it.”
“No,” I said slowly, “but I could have gotten my fucking stuff out of the house. I have nothing. I’m in the same clothes I was in at the party this weekend!”
Hunter smirked. “Obviously I’m going to help you rescue your stuff.”
I looked at him suspiciously. “How? The letter clearly states that all contents in the house belong to the bank.”
“Yes,” he said, “but if the bank doesn’t know that an item exists and there is no proof that it exists, they can’t claim that it was taken from the house. If the bank comes and ask you if you took anything out, you just have to play dumb and ask, ‘What item?’ They won’t be able to give a list of anything specific. It’s a loophole. It’s also good for inheritance laws if you and your siblings are fighting over a family heirloom.”
“I can’t believe you. I’m the mayor of Harrogate now!”
“Interim mayor,” Hunter said mildly.
