Finally, perhaps reaching a sort of détente with herself or her reasons, Paloma stopped and looked back at Deryn, her arms settling on crossing in front of her chest.
“Have you read theCaw?”
Deryn furrowed her brow.
“What a non sequitur. Why would I read theCaw?”
Paloma’s burst of laughter was as surprising as it was rueful.
“Why indeed.” She shook her head, and Deryn allowed her another pause. “John Moss is running for mayor.”
“There are, like, ten people running for mayor. Happens every time the elections are taking place.” Her gaze wandered as she leaned back on the cushions, trying not to imagine that they still held their joint scents. They didn’t, but the sensory overload slapped her in the face just the same. The smooth leather of the couch…
The smooth silk of skin…
“He might be one of ten, but he is polling neck and neck with me. And that is concerning.”
“You ran a poll? For a mayoral election in a tiny town that has a thousand people and two thousand cats living here?”
“It’s the other way around, and no, I am not the one polling. Someone else did. Someone invested enough to dump a ton of money into getting this data. And John Moss has the same amount of support as I do.”
Deryn crossed her arms around her chest.
“That doesn’t sound plausible. He’s a poser. An empty suit. Well, khaki shorts and a polo shirt, in his case. Why is he even running, and who in their right mind would back him?” Deryn asked the question as Paloma lifted an eyebrow and cocked a hip. She really should not be doing any of that if she expected Deryn to be half coherent. Those facial features, theones Deryn’s lips and fingertips had mapped all through that one night, were familiar, etched into her mind, into her skin… Paloma should not just…
Should not just…what? Exist? Jesus H, Deryn, get yourself under control!
Then, as she finally yanked her mind back to their conversation, the realization dawned.
“Damn, are you telling me that half the town is voting for a douchebag because he’s a local? And has a penis?”
“I’d rather not think about his penis, thank you very much, but yes, all of the above. A local man.”
Deryn grimaced.
“I can’t believe Crow’s Nest is this vapid. This shallow. Surely, they have seen the platform you’re running on. The improvements you’re planning to introduce for the elementary school, the homeownership program, the library renovations, and the tax credits for small businesses. I’m not even talking about the Center for Survivors…” Deryn trailed off as Paloma’s lips quirked in amusement. Damn it, why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut?
“For someone who isn’t in the habit of reading theCaw, you’ve been keeping up well with my campaign.”
It wasn’t phrased as a question. Well, she had been on the island for weeks now. She was bored in the elevator… No, that wasn’t true, but Deryn wasn’t about to confess to pretty much devouring Paloma’s campaign on social media the moment she left Reem and her crew and before she arrived here. It wasn’t for the politics, that’s for sure. But they did post gorgeous pictures of the woman. No, Deryn would not confess to that. It was a bit superficial, even for her. Still, she got the gist of her platform, in between eyefuls of long legs in Armani skirts.
“I mean, Victoria tends to talk in the kitchen…” She trailed off again, letting the obfuscation dissolve into the charged air.Technically, it wasn’t a lie. Her aunt did talk, and she was a staunch supporter of the Allende campaign, now that Deryn thought back. Deryn just didn’t pay any attention because, even this morning, the name Allende meant nothing to her. What a strange world that was. A world where Deryn Crowhart didn’t know who Paloma Allende was. Her heart thudded in her chest painfully—once, twice—as her eyes sought out the woman standing just a few feet away, looking expectantly at her. Once amber met green, the beating of her heart quieted.
You know her. You know her now.
“Ah, well…” was all Paloma said, and Deryn waited in vain for something else. When nothing was forthcoming, she racked her brain for another opening. Perhaps reassurance was the way?
“I genuinely don’t believe you have anything to fear from him.”
Paloma, who was looking at her through her little there-there attempt, pursed her lips. Deryn winced.
“I don’t fear him, Ms. Crowhart. But I do need help.”
Deryn felt her mouth open a bit. Paloma smiled and leaned forward slightly, her warm fingers lifting Deryn’s chin. The touch lingered just a second longer than Deryn felt was strictly necessary to simply snap her jaw shut. Not that she was complaining. Nope. When the fingertips fell away, she missed them like air. And she felt branded, with fire. Again.
Paloma took a step back and turned, and Deryn felt she could breathe.
“I need a…fake girlfriend.”
