My One and Only(88)

“We won’t—”

“I wish you’d worn your hair up,” Meredith interrupted. “Clearly you and I don’t agree on the meaning of the word professional.”

Haleigh ground her teeth to keep the angry rebuttal from escaping.

“At least you’re wearing heels. That’s something.” When they reached the check-in desk in the city hall lobby, Meredith informed the security guard behind the counter who they were there to see, taking charge to the point of printing Haleigh’s name in the visitor log as if she couldn’t do so herself. On their way to the elevator, her mother said, “Having Elmer Culpepper as a security guard is as worthless as letting newborn kittens defend the White House. Whoever gave him that job should be fired.”

Rethinking their plan of allowing her mother to do the talking, Haleigh said, “I do hope your first question for the mayor will not be an inquiry into the hiring of Mr. Culpepper.”

As they stepped off the elevator, the older woman pulled a compact from her purse, checked her hair and her teeth, and returned the mirror without missing a stride. “Don’t be ridiculous, Haleigh Rae.” Stopping before the mayor’s office, she said, “Keep your head up, shoulders back, and smile without appearing simpering or intimidated. Understand?”

An army drill sergeant had nothing on Meredith Mitchner. Without a word, Haleigh gave a brisk nod, tucked the folder beneath her arm, and attempted the look her mother described. Apparently failing.

“Never mind,” her mother mumbled with an exasperated eye roll. “Before we go in, I have a surprise for you after the meeting.”

Certain she’d heard wrong, Haleigh said, “A surprise?”

“Yes. Which is another reason I wanted you to look nice.”

Haleigh’s mother did not do surprises. In fact, she hated surprises and once threw the fit of the century when Haleigh’s father had surprised the family with a puppy. Who didn’t want a puppy?

Coldhearted Meredith Mitchner, that’s who.

Suspicious, Haleigh said, “What is it?”

Another eye roll. “If I told you then it wouldn’t be a surprise. Now remember what I said.” Her mother made the universal sign for locking her lips. “No talking.” Before Haleigh could reply, the office door was halfway open. “Here we go.”





Chapter 27

Four days without Haleigh in his bed made Cooper a moody mechanic.

“Cooper!” yelled Ian from the front of the garage, causing his boss to bust his knuckle for the third time in the last hour.

“Son of a bitch,” Cooper barked. “What the hell is it now?”

“Chill out, dude. There’s someone here to see you.”

“Unless they can get this fucking oil filter off, I’m not interested.”

“Try wrapping sandpaper around it and using a band wrench,” Caleb said. “Better friction that way.”

Pulling his hands out of the under body floating above his head, Cooper said, “So you’re the pro now?”

Glancing around, Caleb said, “Do you know where Cooper Ridgeway is? He should be around here somewhere.”

Taking the hint, Cooper tossed the filter wrench into the open toolbox drawer. “I’ve been working this thing for nearly an hour and it’s kicking my ass.”

“Sounds like the perfect time for a break. How about we talk in your office?”

The suggestion of privacy piqued Cooper’s interest. “Is this about the rally?” he asked. The fundraiser started in less than twenty-four hours. Whatever went wrong now would have to stay wrong.

Caleb shook his head. “Not the rally. Your friend Jessi. I have news.”

“Ian, I’ll be in my office,” he said, leading Caleb through the garage and into the counter area. “Kelly, call Ronnie Ottwell and tell him his car won’t be ready until tomorrow.”

“Will do, boss,” she replied as the two men stepped into the office and closed the door.

“What’s the word?” Cooper asked.

“You aren’t going to believe this.” Caleb leaned his weight on the back of a heavy metal chair. “Gerald is finally back from his California trip, so I asked about your J.T. character, expecting the same answer we’ve gotten everywhere—that he’d never heard of him. But I should have known better.”

Excitement mounted. “So he knows who it is?”

“Gerald says there’s only one person in this town who has those initials, but he’s never actually gone by them, which is probably why no one else thought of him.”

“Come on, man. Who is it?”

With a satisfied smirk, Caleb said, “Jebediah Thomas Winkle.”