Page 36 of The Prez’s Daughter

Savage shook his head.

“I don’t get it. She spends most of her time fucking complaining about being in Rivermont Ridge. I tell her to go and have some fun, enjoy the life she always wanted, and what do I get?” he asked. “She keeps sticking around. I keep expecting her to blame me. Like I’m the one that put Hilary up to that crazy ass shit.” Doc slapped his hands on the bar. “Whiskey!”

One of the club women had that smile on her face, like she thought she was going to be able to tempt the Prez himself. Doc was a one-woman man. Even when he was married to Nancy previously, and she was cheating on him left, right, and center, he didn’t stray. He was loyal. The same will happen for Maeve, only Savage had a feeling she was not a cheater. She was loyal.

“What’s got you down?” Doc asked.

“Nothing.”

“You know, the women are all talking about you.”

“They should learn to mind their own fucking business. This is no place for them,” he said.

Doc winced. “They’re not wrong, though, are they? You are in a pissy mood.” Doc knocked back the whiskey.

“Sorry,” he said, rubbing a hand down his face. “Any news on Grim?”

“Nope. We knew this would take time, but as soon as he knows something, he’ll give us a call.”

There was no way he could keep making small talk with Doc. It was wrong.

“I’m going to go and check on Andy.”

“Hey, you’ve seen a lot of Charlotte lately, haven’t you?” Doc asked.

This made Savage tense up. “What do you mean?”

“You and Charlotte seem to be getting along. I try calling her. I want to make sure she’s okay, but when it comes to my little girl, I seem to struggle with everything,” Doc said. “Is she all right?”

He didn’t know why he was asking him. Savage nodded his head. “She seems okay.”

“I’ve seen the way she is around you. I’m glad she has you as a friend.” This was his chance to tell Doc, to talk to him.

He knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Doc was going to be pissed at him, but instead, Savage turned on his heel and made his way out of the clubhouse.

Martha Bernadette was counting on them. As he checked through Andy’s details, Savage straddled his bike, and it was time to make his way out to that ranch.

He rode all the way there, not once stopping in town, and made himself go the long way around so he wasn’t tempted to stop by the coffee shop, or sit outside the beauty salon just so he could catch glimpses of Charlotte. He was well and truly pussy-whipped. There was no other word for it. When it came to Charlotte, he was putty in her hand.

Arriving at his private location, he was far enough away that no one would have heard his bike. Settling into his old spot, he grabbed his binoculars and started to scout the area, but he was shocked to see Andy was already there, as well as Jimmy. This time, there were no arguments.

He didn’t know how long they’d been talking, until Andy pulled out an envelope. Savage zeroed in and saw as Jimmy opened the envelope, but there was a hesitation with this. Something didn’t sit right with Savage.

Andy slapped him on the back and held out his hand. Jimmy didn’t take it, but he held onto the money as he made his way back to the car. Andy rubbed his hands together, as if he had just made some great deal. Andy also didn’t stay long. He gave one last look at the ranch house, then left.

Savage’s curiosity was piqued, and he got on his bike, riding all the way into town. Only, he didn’t go and see Charlotte, although that was the only place he wanted to go. Instead, he went straight to the real estate shop. There were several advertisements in the window of new homes for sale or rent.

Entering the shop, he immediately saw the receptionist, a middle-aged woman who wore a thick collar with a frill on the end.

“How can I help you?” she asked. Her spectacles were perched on the edge of her nose, and she looked at him with disdain.

Instead of answering her, because he didn’t have time to play Twenty Questions, he walked right into Jimmy’s office. There had been a few dealings with Jimmy along the way. The guy wasn’t bad, but was always looking to make a deal or a profit.

“Savage,” he said.

“Jimmy, good to see you,” Savage said.

Jimmy’s receptionist came rushing into the office. “Mr. Guy, I am so sorry. He just barged in like this.”