She looped her hand around Maisey’s free arm and tugged her away from me.
Panic slid through me. An alarm that was reflected on Maisey’s face for a brief second before she hid it. But then I reminded myself, even if it was Delilah who’d attacked Maisey last night, she could do nothing to her here, in a sea of people.
“Don’t go far,” I told Maisey. “I need to dance with my fiancée.”
She understood the warning.
“The bar is right there.” She pointed to the far corner where a line of firefighters had gathered, many with glasses already in hand. “Come get me when you’re done.”
I watched as the two women attempted to make their way through the crowd to the bar but were stopped every few feet as people greeted them. Delilah’s expression was pleasant, smooth, and professional, the flirty airhead tucked away. But it was Maisey’s smile that held people’s attention because of its charming authenticity.
I wondered if Delilah realized she paled in comparison to Maisey as she’d once paled in comparison to Chelsea. Worry scoured through me. Was Del really behind this? Was there any way to force her hand and prove it? The more the attacks had escalated, the less and less it felt like Delilah, but I couldn’t be sure. I’d never be sure until we caught the person red-handed.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk one on one since you heard I was retiring,” Nattingly said, drawing me back to him.
“You’re retiring?” I said it as if it were a question, but we both knew it wasn’t.
“Don’t be ridiculous, son. We both know you’ve heard about it, just as you heard the unofficial condition the city council has placed on the job description. I made sure you heard they wanted a married man to take my place. Except, I had a different vision in my head for how you’d solve the problem.”
It infuriated me all over again, just as it had that first day at the station when I’d heard him talking on the phone. I’d known what he wanted, and I’d panicked, trying to find a way out, but what he didn’t know was, in finding a way not to play the game by his rules, I’d finally broken free ofthe prison I’d locked myself in. I’d finally taken what was always supposed to be mine.
His gaze followed the two women like mine did. They’d almost made it to the bar.
“The city council is going to choose the next fire chief based on my recommendation,” he said, drawing my focus back to him. “I’d like to give that recommendation to the man who makes Delilah’s dreams come true. This little show you and Maisey are putting on isn’t going to get you what you want.”
It wasn’t blackmail, but it was close. Too bad for him I’d already made my choice. I wouldn’t give Maisey up for a damn job. I could get another position as a firefighter. It wouldn’t be as convenient, nor would it be in the town I loved and wanted to serve, but it would ensure I kept the most important thing in my life. It would allow me to keep Maisey.
“I hate to break it to you, Chief, but this isn’t a show. This is me finally claiming the woman who’s always been mine and her claiming me back. Nothing less and nothing more. If loving and marrying Maisey means I don’t get the position I’m more than qualified for as you retire, so be it.”
Surprise drifted over his face.
“Don’t be hasty, Beckett. We can all still get what we want here.”
“You’re wrong. If I gave up Maisey for a job, neither she nor I would have what we want.”
He huffed out a laugh. “Everyone in town knows this engagement is just for show. I backed you into a corner, and you swerved. It can still be fixed the right way.”
I stared at him for a few seconds, letting anger eat away at my insides, but then it hit me. If he made me choose, and I didn’t get the job, it would prove to Maisey, once and for all, that I was with hernotbecause it helped me get my dream job or because she and her dad had needed a place to land, but because there was nothing I wanted more on this Earth than her. Nothing.
It would be the ultimate grand gesture. I hoped I wouldn’t have to give up the job I wanted, but I would. Readily. Easily. No questions asked.
For now, I’d give her the gesture I’d already planned.
Instead of responding to the chief’s comment, I whirled around to the DJ booth. Leaning in, I asked, “Excuse me. Can I borrow a mic for a moment?”
The guy raised a brow, shuffled around, and came up with a microphone. He stopped the music, and at first, the chatter in the room seemed amplified.
“What are you doing?” Chief Nattingly demanded.
I ignored him, shouldering my way to stand in the middle of the dance floor and whistling to get everyone’s attention.
“Sorry to interrupt your night, folks,” I said. The room grew quieter but wasn’t silent yet. “This will just take a moment, and then we’ll move on to dinner and dancing and your generous bidding on the items in our auction for the fallen firefighter’s family fund.”
As I continued across the dance floor, people parted for me with ease. As I neared Maisey, the room became so quiet you could almost hear a waterdrop land.
“There’s been a misunderstanding in the rumors circling town lately. While Chief Nattingly has confirmed he’s ready to retire, the timing of it has very little to do with the changes I’ve decided to make in my life.”
I finally reached Maisey’s side. She looked panicked, eyes darting around the room and then back to me. She bit her lower lip and tugged at a curl artfully framing her cheeks. The only thing I regretted about this was knowing she’d be nervous. But she would have her romance-novel-worthy moment, damnit.