“Yes,” she drawls as her eyes assess me, a brow arching as her gaze passes over my crotch and to my hands on my hips. “Well, I wanted to congratulate you in person. I understand why you were voted in.”
I tip my chin, my back remaining ramrod straight. “Thank you.”
“I expect you have a lot to figure out now. Who you’re going to appoint, and everything else you need to arrange.” She glances around the room, an amused curl to her lips as she looks at a campaign poster with my face on it. As far as pictures of myself go, it’s not bad. Harley even joked she wanted one for home to talk to when I’m out.
I take a slow breath, my shoulders relaxing as I picture Harley’s smile.
“Actually, the majority of the decisions are already made. I knew before the election where my faith lies should I be in the position to choose.” The hairs on the back of my neck rise as Bea smirks at my words.
“I’m sure you did. You always were organized. And skilled at taking control.” Her eyes drop down my body again, and I clench my teeth, irritation flaring inside me and puffing my chest out.
“I appreciate you stopping by,” I say, allowing the suggestion in my words to invite her to leave. Instead, she walks closer to me and reaches out, trailing a blood-red nail down the lapel of my jacket. Her perfume invades my lungs as she closes the distance and suddenly hugs me, pressing her face against my neck and her tits against my chest.
What the hell does she think she’s doing?
I grip both of her shoulders and move her back swiftly, every muscle in my back tightening. She looks up at me through her lashes.
“I’ve thought about you a lot over the years.”
“I can’t say the same,” I grunt, letting her arms go. The corners of her eyes pinch. But it’s not hurt causing them to do it. Not unless hurt pride counts. Bea always fed off attention. Especially from men. She’s an attractive woman. Dark hair, tiny waist, big tits. Puffy full lips that look like she’s a natural at giving head. But even though I can see all that, the knowledge of who she is beneath it all couldn’t make me less attracted to her.
Especially now.
All I think about is blonde hair, baby blue eyes, pink lips, and a soft voice that makes me feel like I’m in fucking utopia when it sighs my name.
My Angel.
“Why are you here, Bea?” I try again. The little reminiscing for old time’s sake hasn’t worked, so I know she’ll give me the real reason for her visit.
“Like I said. I wanted to congratulate you.” She wets her lips as her eyes glance to my neck and quickly away again. “How does Harley feel about the upcoming move to Gracie Mansion?”
The tightened muscles in my back are joined by the muscles in the rest of my body hearing Bea say Harley’s name. She says it so sweetly through her parted red lips. Deadly poison.
“You didn’t come here to ask after my girlfriend.”
The corners of Bea’s lips curl down at my refusal to discuss Harley with her.
“Fine.” She tilts her chin up at me and sniffs. “I want you to consider talking to Graham. He has some very strong contacts in the city. His knowledge would be useful when choosing your commissioners.”
I swallow down the ball of rage, burning a route up my windpipe and threatening to erupt, incinerating everything in its path. I’m not surprised in the slightest. Honestly, I’m surprised Bea hasn’t come sooner. The fact it’s her approaching me and not Graham tells me one of two things. Either he doesn’t know she’s here. Or she’s convinced him she can sweeten me up first. Make me remember all the non-existent good times we had together all those years ago. I can’t remember a single good thing about our relationship, except the fact that she was happy to only be fucked from behind and not ask questions about why I liked it that way. Even after she saw the texts from Riley and found out about what happened, she never questioned it. She didn’t care then. And she doesn’t care now. Not unless it’s about her.
“I’m aware Graham is very well informed to make such decisions,” I say, noticing Bea’s brows incline. “But I have it handled. Do thank him, though.” I let the practiced smile spread over my face as her brows drop and she purses her lips.
“Okay. I see how it is.” She straightens up and something flashes behind her eyes before she quickly blinks it away. “Well, good luck, Reed. Do give my regards to Harley, won’t you?”
I stare at her, because like fuck am I going to do that. Harley can’t stand Bea any more than I can. And Harley likes almost everyone. She even talks to plants, for fuck’s sake. My lips soften at the mental image of her in those ugly cat pajamas, talking to Bruce and Beryl.
The movement of Bea flicking her long, dark hair over her shoulder brings my attention back to her as her lips lift into a tight smile. “Goodbye, Reed.”
“Bea,” I counter, walking her to the door and holding it open for her.
She lifts her eyes to meet mine one more time and her chest rises as though she’s going to say something else. Then she breathes out slowly.
“You’ll be a good mayor, Reed.”
I watch her leave, holding my breath until she’s gone.
What the fuck was that?