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Milo turned to him. “What do the Dixie Wardens get out of this?”

“One less fucking ski resort.” Black snorted. “And possibly a favor or two if needed.”

Everyone looked around, including me.

Were we okay with owing the Dixie Wardens a favor so we could take care of this as quickly as possible?

The general consensus of all the neighbors was…yes.

Hell yes.

I left everything up to Milo, who seemed to be the ringleader of our band of misfits.

By the time I was walking out of my neighbor’s house with Black a half hour later, I felt a hell of a lot better coming out than I did going in.

Black kept pace beside me, his face impassive.

When we got to my car, he opened my door for me and said, “I can’t come over tonight.”

Disappointment rocketed through me.

But he soothed away my sadness by saying, “Breakfast tomorrow? I have to work the late shift.”

I swallowed. “Are you sure you want to be seen out in public with me?”

He shrugged. “As long as you don’t mind being seen out in public with me.”

Him saying that made me wince.

A couple of days ago, Black’s reputation would’ve never been a problem.

Now, he had a reporter in town that was dragging his name through the mud so completely that people were getting wary.

Black’s reelection was coming up soon.

The conversation that I’d overheard between Denver and Black reared its ugly head.

Black being seen with me would be a death sentence to his campaign.

Which had me answering the exact opposite way that I would have had I not overheard that conversation.

“I’m sorry, Black,” I backpedaled. “We can’t be seen together. My reputation can’t take anymore.”

Lies.

My reputation was downright nonexistent.

Black’s issues wouldn’t affect me either way.

However, if he wanted to think that was the case, then so be it.

Black and I would never work out anyway.

Sure, I enjoyed spending time with him, but maybe it was better to not get used to having him around.

But the look of hurt on his face that was there and gone in a flash had I not been paying such close attention almost changed my mind.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” He squeezed my wrist.