Page 29 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

The single word hangs between us.

I want to whisper,I’m not such an assholein her ear, but there’s a reason I force myself to think of her asthe mayor, notZoe.

Zoe is a beautiful woman who snags my attention. The mayor is a professional adversary who I can’t let boss me around.

The distinction is vital to my wellbeing despite our playful banter earlier.

Zoe drops her eyes to her hands. I don’t miss the way she bites her lip until it blanches. She wants this place restored, so why does she look sad? Is it because I’m the one fixing the house? Her mom was involved, but she died. Is that it?

What happened to the fiery woman who was excited about restoring this treasure?

I tuck my hands in my pockets so I don’t slide one to the small of her back and lead her to a better part of the house. One that I know will put a smile on her face. “Do you want to see the other work they’ve done?”

She steps away from me. “No, but you need to add ten more cabins to the blueprints, even if they’re just for show, for now. That’s the only way the council approves the permits and doesn’t petition for an easement.”

“You want me to lie to them?”

She wanders into the living room and runs her fingertips over the hearth. “This house wasn’t meant to be a hotel. It will lose a lot of its glamour and lore during the renovation, but it needs to be restored. We can’t let this key piece of our history crumble, but we can’t turn it into Disneyland either.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

She scoffs. “If Lucky has her way, there will be roller coasters and funnel cake stands on every corner.”

“How depressing.”

“I know. Can you imagine anything more tragic?” She swallows thickly.

“I’ll tell Collin about the plan.”

We share a hesitant smile. Her eyes sparkle with gratitude.

My stomach doesn’t feel clogged with bile anymore. A warm sensation climbs into my chest and tingles down to my fingertips with the urge to brush my thumb across Zoe’s cheek. Is her skin as soft as it looks?

I fist my hands.

What am I thinking? It’s got to be the mold infecting my brain. She’s the mayor. There can be no touching. No caressing her cheek.

“Will ten additional cabins satisfy them?”

She nods. “I’ll need copies of the revised blueprints.”

“Collin will submit them to the city.”

“No, I mean, I need my own copies. Today or tomorrow, if possible.”

“Why?”

“Just because.” She shrugs and walks toward the windows overlooking the forest.

“Zoe?” What isn’t she telling me?

“It’s just…I mean, for my records. So I don’t have to wait.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“Well, now that you mention it, no. I don’t. I can’t. You said you’d build twenty cabins before, but then you didn’t have Collin put them on the plans, so I can’t trust you this time either. I need proof.”

“And what we submit to the city isn’t good enough?”