“Come on, Meggie.”
“Don’t call me that.”
Ramona shed her coat. She sank into the teal blue upholstered chair in front of Megan’s mahogany-laminated desk. “No one in Trinity Falls can keep a secret. You know that.”
“Who would have shared that particular secret with you?” Only members of the business association knew their plan to identify a challenger for Ramona.
“Does it matter who told me?”
Yes, it does. “No, I guess not. But what makes you think your reelection is guaranteed?”
Ramona hugged her coat in her lap like a pet. “The people in this town won’t vote against me. They’re afraid of what I can do to them socially.”
“They should be more concerned with whether you’ll serve a full term. The fact that you’re planning to leave Trinity Falls at your first opportunity is not a secret, either.”
Ramona’s self-assured smile faded. “Leave the town politics to me. You’d be better off figuring out what to do about the bookstore.”
“You mean our bookstore? Our grandparents left it to both of us. Why are you trying to destroy it?”
Temper flared in Ramona’s eyes. “I’m not. I’m trying to improve the town.”
Megan studied her cousin in silence. “What is it that you want, Ramona? To run the town or leave it? You can’t have it both ways. Trinity Falls needs a mayor who’ll stay.”
Confusion nudged out irritation in Ramona’s dark eyes. Her gaze shifted. Did she even know what she wanted? “I have plans for this town—”
“How long will you be here to enjoy them?” Megan relaxed back into her seat, enjoying her cousin’s discomfort. It was nice to turn the tables on Ramona.
“Are you going to make loyalty your campaign platform?” Ramona cocked her head. “I don’t think that will go over well, considering you’re my cousin. That’s taking family feuds a bit far, don’t you think?”
Just that quickly, Megan’s enjoyment faded. “We may not be close—”
“No, we aren’t.”
“But you’re my cousin.” Megan ignored Ramona’s interruption. “I care about you. And I care about Trinity Falls. If you were honest with yourself, you’d admit that you’re not making changes to the center for the town’s sake. You’re doing it for yourself.”
Ramona managed to cross her legs, despite the tightness of her skirt. Impressive. “From where I stand, you’re the one being selfish. You care more about the center than the town.”
“Ramona, if you’re not sure what you want to do, take some time to figure it out.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m making this town a better place to live.”
“In your opinion.” Why couldn’t she get through to her cousin? “Most of the people in this town don’t agree with you.”
“They’ll come around, once they see that I’m right.”
Megan thought of the business owners who were struggling with the increased rent and faced an uncertain future for their businesses. “You’re gambling with their livelihood.”
“Well, instead of worrying about my campaign, you and your friends should figure out what you can do to help your businesses.”
“We already have. We’re going to find someone to run against you.”
Ramona narrowed her eyes. “You won’t win, Megan.”
“We aren’t children any longer, Ramona.” Megan swallowed back her temper. “If you break your toy, you can’t take mine. Books and Bakery isn’t just my livelihood. You draw an income from it, too.”
“I’ve got a job. My interior-design firm, remember? I have two, if you count this mayoral gig.” Ramona shrugged a shoulder. “The town center is in my way. You can’t stop progress, Meggie.”
“Stop calling me that.” Megan sat back in her chair.