in the fair,” she stated in clear terms, her voice soft yet assertive.
“What place might that be?”As if he couldn’t guess. Lady Pandora, right. More like Lady Charlatan. Jason scowled, disappointed that this lovely, exotic creature was most likely a parasite of the worst kind. She had to be the fortune-teller he’d banned from this year’s fair.
In his experience, fortune-tellers were frauds who preyed on the innocent and unsuspecting, dealing out false hope and bad advice. And that’s when they weren’t outright cheating the gullible public out of hard-earned savings.
“I’m sure you’re aware the city has chosen not to have a fortune-teller at the fair this year, Ms. Pandora.”
“Call me Ms. Cooper. Lady Pandora is my professional name. As you’ve guessed, I’m a teller of fortunes. You disapprove, though I believe you judge us too harshly. There are the unscrupulous in every vocation, that doesn’t mean all are frauds and parasites.” Her brown eyes met his; hers were rounded in exaggerated innocence. “It may surprise you to learn, Mr. Mayor, that politicians are often thought to lack integrity and to have only their own interests at heart, taking advantage of the masses while lining their own pockets.”
Jason frowned, taking the hit directly to the gut. She’d pushed one of his hot buttons square on the head. Neither did he miss the fact that her choice of words so closely echoed his thoughts. He shook off the unease the coincidence generated. He didn’t believe in mind readers, in being able to see into the future. If she expected him to change his mind, either about his beliefs or about letting her into the fair, then she obviously wasn’t very good at her job.
“Ms. Cooper, I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time. Blossom has a bad history with fortune-tellers, which is why the ban stands.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, because I’m ready, willing and able to perform at this fair. I’m contracted with this carnival troupe, which means I can’t go to another fair and even if I could, it’s too late at this delayed date.”
She spoke softly, slowly, the cadence so serene that the words lulled and suggested on an elemental level. Jason caught himself leaning forward to catch every word. Disgusted, he shook off her seductive spell.
“I sympathize, but that’s hardly my problem.”
“It is, actually. I’d happily trot along my merry way, but I need the income from this fair. Not just for myself, but for my family. And your ban is not only insulting, you’re frustrating my purpose.”
He frowned at her use of the legal terms: ready, willing and able, frustrated purpose. Her message came through loud and clear. Ms. Cooper had obviously been talking to a lawyer.
He might be worried except he’d drawn up the contract and knew it was airtight. Which didn’t mean she couldn’t contest it if she had the time, money and inclination. Given her transient lifestyle, he doubted she’d go to the effort. Admiring the cling of leather to soft curves, he almost regretted the necessity of sending her away. But the last thing Blossom—or he—needed was the trouble she represented.
“Still not my problem, Ms. Cooper. We contracted with the carnival months ago. I made it clear at the time no fortune-teller would be allowed in the fair. You need to take your grievance up with the carnival troupe.”
“Oh,” she waved a slim-fingered hand, uncrossed impossibly long legs and flowed lithely to her feet. “I have a better idea.”
She inclined her head as if she’d heard something interesting, then focused those brown, brown eyes on him. “So you’re an attorney as well as the mayor. How fortunate the townspeople of Blossom have you to safeguard their interests. But you needn’t worry, they have nothing to fear from me.”
She smiled a serene smile that did nothing to calm him and everything to arouse his suspicions, distracting him so he almost missed her next statement. “I believe we’ll let them decide whether I should be allowed in the fair.”
He shot to his feet and met her at the door. The scents of leather and honeysuckle made an intoxicating mix, making him light-headed until he pulled himself together.
Just when had he developed such a biker babe fixation? The sooner this hot mix of trouble vacated his town, the better.
“There’s nothing to decide, Lady Pandora. I regret there’s no place for you in Blossom.”
She sauntered through the doorway, hips swaying provocatively before turning to deliver the last word. “Oh, no need for regret.” This time her smile was pure challenge. “An apology at the end of the fair will do. You don’t have a problem admitting when you’re wrong do you, Your Honor?” She snapped to attention and offered a mock salute. “Or should I say, General, sir?”
“What?” Shock rocked him back on his heels. How could she possibly know his childhood nickname? His grandfather had called Jason Little General when he was a tiny kid.
“The contract may not be as airtight as you think.” She taunted him. “You were distracted remember? Someone didn’t feel well.”
Rikki. His daughter had had the flu. How could Lady Pandora know that? Before he pulled himself together enough to ask, she escaped out the door.
He stabbed his secretary’s call button.
“Yes, sir?”
“Get me Sheriff McCabe on the line. I want to know everything there is to know about Lady Pandora.”
“Oh, wasn’t she just wonderful, Jason?” his secretary practically gushed. “So helpful. She told me where to find the diagram for the new addition to the library. You know, the one I’ve been looking for for two days. She told me it had slipped behind the copier and, sure enough, that’s right where it was. Isn’t that amazing?”
Jason gritted his teeth. “Just get me the sheriff, please.”
Cherry Cooper, Lady Pandora to His Honor Mayor Jason Strong, grinned as she rode down in the elevator. Oh, the look on his face when she called him General. As the MasterCard commercial said: Priceless.
She bet not many people saw shock reflected in those intelligent blue eyes, on those chiseled features. With his bold cheekbones she suspected he had warrior blood in his history. Indian, Celt, Viking, she couldn’t narrow it down, but she sensed he came from a long line of fighters.
He didn’t shake easily; she’d give him his due there. Still, she’d rattled him a tad. More bluff than anything else. Body language and ego gave away a lot. Years of experience had taught her how to read a person almost as well as her psychic talent.
She already knew the good mayor was going to be a problem.
Not only because he refused to change his mind and let her into the fair, but because he made her palms itch.
Definitely not a good sign.
She’d known a month ago when she first visited Blossom that trouble would touch her here. Still, she hadn’t counted on the distraction of a maverick in a suit.
How she wished she could hop on her bike and roll on down the road.
But her grandmother’s health came first. The latest surgery had been successful, but her traveling days were over.
Wry
