Page 57 of The Bodyguard's Fall

She smiled sheepishly. “Everybody thinks the mayor’s dating somebody, but nobody knows who it is.”

“Why don’t we know?” I asked, still confused while my eyes roamed over the list of possible girlfriends.

“The mayor isn’t saying a word. But these are the top women he’s been seen with.”

My eyes raked over the names. I didn’t know them all well, but I did remember Lisa Ellis, the mayor’s secretary, and the owner of the candle shop in town.

“How very…small-town romance of you all.”

She laughed. “Just this morning, I watched him go into the candle shop. He was there for at least twenty minutes, and he didn’t buy anything. Why would he do that?”

Her level of commitment was top-notch.

“But then Rosie swears she saw him walking down the street and flirting with Sharon Price. So, anyway, we started a voting board. Most of the town is in on it.”

I snorted, my eyes roaming the board. “So, these women are the possibilities?”

“Yeah.”

“What if he’s not dating any of them?”

“If you see him with somebody else, I’m happy to add her name to the list, but you don’t work on Main Street every day without seeing a few things go by your window.”

I laughed. “Okay, well, give me some time to do my own detective work, and I’ll be back to vote.”

I relayed the mayor’s dating life to Tate on our walk back to the truck.

“It’s the candlemaker,” he said, scooting me closer to his side as we snuck past the Ednas, who were both loudly talking on a video call, fighting over which way the phone should face.

My brows knit together, trying to act casual as Tate’s arm found its way around my waist. “How do you know?”

“The candlemaker. In the candle shop. With the window shades down.”

“This isn’t a board game. This is serious stuff,” I said, poking him on the arm. “Just for your smug face, I’m going to vote for Lisa Ellis, because I saw the two of them flirting hardcore at the mayor’s party.”

He stopped, a blank expression on his face, like he was now remembering the way Lisa always found a way to touch the mayor and laugh a little too loudly at whatever he said.

I grinned. “Who’s the detective now?”

“Tate Walker?!”

A loud, booming voice coming from behind us stopped us in our tracks next to Tate’s truck. I ducked slightly at the noise, clutching Tate’s shirt at his stomach as he whirled us around.

Tate relaxed immediately. It took me longer. A man, decked out in a brown flannel shirt, dirty jeans, and a straw hat, stood on the sidewalk, staring at Tate with a smile as big as his voice.

“I thought that was you. How are you holding up, son? I’ve been reading about you in the paper.”

And then, I knew him.

Joe Bugelbach owned the pumpkin patch Reese was currently working at for the next month. It was right next to the straw maze, so he and the Walkers had always had a good relationship. He strode up to Tate and held out a hand. Tate hesitated only a moment, relaxing his grip on me so he could greet the older man.

“I’m good, Joe. How are you?”

“I heard you were involved in a shooting. You alright? Is your partner still in the hospital?”

My stomach churned at this. Tate stiffened slightly.

“He’s almost out of rehab. He’s doing well.” His jaw tightened, and his clipped answers were telling. I wanted to help him escape, but I wasn’t sure how. And I couldn’t help but be curious.