“They’re already doing it, Chase. If they found more ammunition to use against her, they’ll likely sit on it and wait for the perfect moment to drop the bomb. This isn’t your first term. You know this.”
“It’s a looming issue until the election,” he agreed miserably.
“Is your fear that her reputation will suffer...” A pause. “Or that you won’t win her back now that she’s seen the cost of staying with you?”
Was he that transparent?
“I want what’s best for her. I’m not it.” So much silence came from the other end of the phone that he added, “Hello?”
“You don’t think you’re good enough for her?” Pen asked.
“I didn’t exactly say that.”
“What happened in that mansion? What happened between you and Mimi? How much of what the Dallas Duchess reported is true?”
“None of what she said is true. The exact opposite is true.”
“Meaning?” Pen wasn’t letting this go.
“She’s not trying to get her hooks into me. If it was up to me, I’d keep her as close as possible. She’s...not interested. In me. Long-term.” And who could blame her? Mimi had already received a small dose of what it was like to be with Mayor Chase Ferguson.
“You’re interested in a future with her.” It wasn’t a question, so he didn’t answer.
“An upcoming political campaign is not the time to start a new relationship. Or rekindle an old one,” he mumbled, hoping Pen’s pragmatism would have her agreeing with him.
“That doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”
Well. Hell.
“Don’t look for something that’s not there,” he warned.
A few taps of her keyboard later, Pen said, “I’m looking at the blog and these photos are...well, they could be anything but now that we’ve talked I can see it.”
“See what?” He tightened the grip on his phone and stared out the window at the snowy lake below.
“How protective you are of Mimi. And the tender vulnerability in her that you’re trying to protect.”
He opened his mouth to protest but he couldn’t lie to Penelope, or himself, any longer.
“Have you told her how you feel?”
“I told her I’d never drag her into the world of politics and oil, yes.”
“Chase.”
“Penelope.”
She sighed, conceding this round. “Sometimes... headstrong women don’t do what’s best because we’re trying to make our hearts as firm as our minds. Sometimes we need to know what’s going on in your heads and hearts so that we can make the right decision.”
“Trust me, Pen. Where Mimi and I are concerned, the decisions that have been made are the right ones. Take care of this and there’s a bonus in it for you.”
“Oh goody,” she murmured, droll.
“I’ll buy Olivia a pony.”
Her laughter chimed, lightening the intensity between them. He could always count on the mention of Olivia to snap Pen out of work mode. An unfair tactic, sure, but necessary.
“I’m on it. And, Mr. Mayor?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t make the decision for her. Either way.”
He nodded even though she couldn’t see him, and then heard a soft click as she signed off.
He hadn’t decided anything for Mimi. She’d decided. She was the one who was trying to keep her distance. He was carrying out her wishes.
Wasn’t he?