Mayday

Mayday Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: Mayday Read Online Free PDF
Author: Olivia Dade
“Yes?”
    â€œIs it time to start the meeting, Mayor?” Mrs. Whipler asked, her voice querulous. “I need to get home before eight. Tonight’s episode of The Bachelor isn’t going to watch itself, you know.”
    A glance at his watch confirmed it. Seven on the dot. Which meant he needed to get the meeting started and tackle Helen later. Not that seeing her body in that thin knit dress made him think of tackling her. More like stroking the soft skin beneath the fabric. And God, he knew just how that skin would feel under his fingers. The memory had haunted his dreams for months, along with the shuttered look on her face when she’d swung her legs out of his car and walked away without looking back.
    Shrugging away that image, he made his way back to the podium and started the meeting.
    â€œWelcome, everyone. I’m Wes Ramirez, Niceville’s mayor, and I’m delighted to see such an enthusiastic community response to our upcoming May Day events.”
    His eyes scanned the audience as he talked about the city’s plans. More women than men, which wasn’t surprising when it came to volunteer opportunities. A few people wearing expensive coats, and others in worn but clean clothing. A mix of different racial and ethnic groups. A representative cross section of the community, exactly as he’d wanted.
    A familiar face caught his eye. He inclined his head, greeting a woman seated toward the back, her graying black braids caught in a low bun. Bea Carter, one of the nine members of the City Council in Clearport, Virginia.
    She occasionally made the five-hour drive to visit her brother in Niceville, and she’d been corresponding with Wes since he’d managed to wrest extra money from his own City Council. In Bea’s messages and periodic visits, she asked him about his experiences with the Niceville government, probably hoping to apply what he’d learned to her own struggling city. He hadn’t realized she planned to attend any of the May Day meetings, but maybe she wanted to propose similar community events in Clearport.
    Her head bowed in a subtle nod of acknowledgment, and he smiled at her.
    Then he couldn’t avoid it anymore. Inevitably, his gaze swung back to Helen. And that’s when he realized. While the tall blonde next to her kept her narrowed, hostile gaze glued to him as he spoke, Helen didn’t make eye contact. She looked at the podium. Maybe even his shirt. But she never met his gaze. Not once.
    She hadn’t simply failed to notice him when she’d walked into the meeting room.
    She was ignoring him. Completely.
    Â 
    Nearly an hour later, she still hadn’t made eye contact. Not when he spoke about the city’s role in the celebration. Not when other speakers came to the podium, explaining subcommittees and divvying up responsibilities. Not ever. At least, not until he reached a vague line in the meeting agenda.
    â€œI see that the library sent a representative to discuss the history and symbolism of May Day, but I never got a message confirming the name,” he said. “So if anyone’s here from the library, please feel free to come to the front and make your presentation.”
    That Helen rose from her seat didn’t come as a shock to him. Given her lack of willingness even to look his way, he didn’t think anything other than professional necessity would have driven her within fifty feet of him. She made her way to the front, her eyes focused on the podium rather than him. Only when she arrived and he failed to move out of her way did she raise her gaze.
    â€œExcuse me, Mayor Ramirez,” she said, her voice firm.
    He couldn’t locate a single iota of warmth in her tone. Certainly not the kind of heat he felt standing only inches away from her.
    â€œWes,” he said.
    â€œExcuse me,” she repeated. “I need to get to the podium.”
    He didn’t budge. “Please call me Wes,
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