“Deep breath,” Mateo says. “Remember, most of these people are here to support you.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because Judith’s an asshole, and people don’t like assholes.”
I laugh. He grins and squeezes my hand. “Ready?”
“No,” I admit.
“Good. Let’s go anyway.”
We walk toward the entrance together. His hand finds mine, fingers intertwining, and I hold on like it’s a lifeline.
The doors open, and the noise hits first. Dozens of conversations overlap, chairs scrape, and the crowd buzzes. Then I see the room. Every seat is filled. People stand along the walls. It’s packed.
And right in the middle of the front row, wearing her signature white blazer, sits Judith fuckin’ Ashford.
She sees me. Smiles that cold, practiced smile, and my steps falter.
“Hey.” Mateo stops, turning me to face him. “Ignore her. Eyes on me.” I look at him. “You’ve got this. And I’m right here. The whole time.”
I nod and take a deep, steadying breath as we walk down the aisle together. Carol gives me an encouraging nod. Lin waves. Even Mayor Benally offers a warm smile from his seat at the panel table.
But I also see the hostile ones. Mrs. Patterson with her too-straight lips. David Torres with his arms crossed. Karen Voss whispering to the woman beside her while giving me the evil eye.
Finally, I see my people. My family. Jess, Macy, Isabel, and Dean have saved seats in the first row, on the opposite side of the aisle from Judith’s crew. Jess gives me a thumbs up. Mateo guides me to sit between him and Jess. His arm goes around my shoulders immediately.
“You look amazing,” Jess whispers.
“I look terrified.”
“Same thing.” She places her hand on my knee. “The lipstick hides the fear, I promise.”
Mayor Benally calls the meeting to order. The room quiets.
“Thank you all for coming tonight,” he begins. “We’re here to discuss a matter that’s been the subject of significant conversation in our community over the past two and a halfweeks. Sadie Pierce, a local business owner and resident of Sierra Rose Ridge for the past five years, has recently been identified as author Sienna Saguaro, who wrote the bestselling romance novelWildfire Summer. Some community members have expressed concerns about this, and tonight we’re giving everyone a chance to voice their thoughts. This is an open forum, so please be respectful.”
He looks directly at Judith.
Judith stands immediately. Of course she does.
“Thank you, Mayor Benally.” Judith’s voice is smooth, practiced. “I appreciate the opportunity to address this serious matter.”
She turns to face the crowd.
“For those who don’t know me, I’m Judith Ashford, president of the Sierra Rose Ridge Historical Society. I’ve lived in this town for thirty years. I’ve dedicated my life to preserving our history, our culture—“ Her gaze turns on me. “Our integrity.”
Then she pauses for effect, because Judith doesn’t do anything if not for attention.
“Which is why I’m deeply troubled by what Sadie Pierce has done.”
My hands clench in my lap. Mateo squeezes my shoulder.
“Sadie Pierce wrote a book—a romance novel,” she spits out. “Which I’m told contains explicit sexual content. And to make it worse, she set it in a town that is unmistakably Sierra Rose Ridge. She used our landmarks. Our legends. Our history. She took the stories we’ve built over generations and turned them into adult entertainment.”
Judith’s voice drips with disdain on that last word. I don’t dare look around to see the community’s reactions.
“She used the Farmers Market. The winery’s Sips & Stars event. The Red Rock Cliffs. The legend of Rosa Delgado and her forbidden love. She took all of it and repackaged it fordisgusting profit without any consideration for this town.” Murmurs of agreement ripple through parts of the crowd. Shivers crawl beneath my skin. Judith’s face twists like she’s tasted something rotten. “She turned our town into a backdrop for her pornography.”
