Darius feigned a nervous shiver. “And I needed Quincy’s protection from her wrath.”
Megan settled the strap of her black purse onto her shoulder. “Ramona’s term is up next year. Maybe we can find someone to run against her.”
“Why don’t you?” Ean took her elbow to escort her from the hall.
Megan almost tripped over her feet. “Me?”
Ean steadied her. “Like I said, you’re a natural leader.”
She’d never considered herself a leader. She’d found the courage to push back against Ramona’s bullying. But leading a town? Was that something she could do? Was it something she wanted to do?
Tension was an uninvited guest seated at the tables with the Trinity Falls Town Center Business Owners Association members the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. Megan had expected their unease after last night’s council meeting.
She opened her mouth to start the discussion, but Tilda forestalled her with her question for Ean.
“How much are you paying in rent for your office space?” The elderly owner of Gifts and Greetings pinned Ean with a shrewd look from her sharp gray eyes.
Megan stiffened at the older woman’s tone. This was Ean’s first meeting. But his wasn’t one of the new businesses Ramona wanted to bring in. Did the other members realize that?
“Tilda, that is so rude.” Belinda drank some coffee. The voluptuous owner of the Skin Deep Beauty Salon had almost choked on a bite of bisc
otti at Tilda’s question. She’d selected the pastry from the snacks Megan and Doreen had provided from the association’s petty cash fund.
“Why?” Tilda’s frown deepened the fine lines on her thin pale face. “He has the newest lease among us. If we don’t ask, how will we know whether they’re raising the rents on the stores?”
“She’s right.” Grady Weatherington, owner of Fine Accessories, cast a dubious eye toward the biscotti. He picked up a chocolate chip cookie instead and pointed it toward Ean. “What are you paying?”
Ean named a figure that made Grady cough. Megan caught her breath.
Vernon Fox’s bushy brows shot to his thinning red hairline. “I guess that answers the question of whether they’re going to raise our rents. They are.” The owner of Are You Nuts?, the nuts and candy store, lowered his coffee mug.
Ean exchanged a concerned look with Doreen. “I hadn’t realized the rent was higher than what everyone else was paying.”
Doreen waved a dismissive hand. “How could you know that?”
Vernon turned to Megan. “I can’t afford to pay a higher rent.”
“None of us can.” Belinda pushed her perfectly styled raven hair from her forehead with her well-manicured mahogany fingers. “Can’t you talk to Ramona?”
Megan shook her head. One more worry to add to the list. “You were there last night, Belinda. You heard how Ramona reacted to my attempts to reason with her.”
Belinda waved her biscotti. “I don’t mean as business owner to mayor. I mean as cousin to cousin. Use the bookstore’s roots to appeal to her. They were her grandparents, too.”
Megan squelched her frustration. “I’ve tried that. Ramona’s not going to give me special treatment just because we’re cousins.”
Tilda grunted. “There is no reasoning with Ramona. She’s a soulless bitch.”
“No, she’s not.” Megan pinned Tilda with a look. Regardless of how angry she made Megan, Ramona was still family. “Ramona’s goals are different from ours. Since we’re unable to change her mind, I think it’s time we try to get another mayor elected.”
Doreen tapped the table with her fingertips. “That’s a great idea. Make her a one-term mayor.”
“Who are you going to get to run against her?” Grady cast his gaze around the table as though prodding the other members’ memories. “That’s how she got elected the first time, remember? And that’s how the mayor before her got elected. Twice. No one ran against them.”
Ean glanced at Megan before turning to the others. “I think Megan would make a great mayor.”
Megan’s stomach dropped. “No, I wouldn’t.”
Tilda gestured toward her. “See? You won’t even run against her.”