Quincy released her before he hugged her. “Why did you run for office? You’d never been political before.”
“Did you see the state the town was in?” She shook her head in disbelief. “The roads were falling apart. The mayor had been in office two terms too long. Doreen was doing a great job rallying the town to raise money for the schools and clinic, but we needed infrastructure help.”
Quincy’s lips curved into a smile. “So you stayed because you thought your cousin needed you. Then you stayed longer because you thought your town needed you.”
Ramona turned away, dragging the scrunchy from her hair. “Before I knew it, six years had gone by.”
“You once asked me why I’m in love with you.” Quincy deliberately paraphrased Ramona’s earlier words. “It’s because you have a big heart.”
Ramona blinked—a slow, sexy reflex that squeezed his heart. “You’re the only one in Trinity Falls who thinks so.”
He paced to within an arm’s length of her. “They don’t see the real you.”
“But you do?” She didn’t sound like she believed him.
“I always have.” Quincy relaxed, allowing his eyes to show the love he’d hidden in his heart for fourteen years.
Ramona looked away. “You’re scaring me.”
Her words chilled him. “How?”
“I don’t know who I am.” She blurted out the words.
“Who do you think you are?”
“All my life, I thought I was a displaced New Yorker. When I finally got my chance in New York, I failed. I thought I was the mayor of Trinity Falls, but the town’s trying to replace me. I’ve failed again.”
“It’s not personal, Ramona.”
“It sure feels that way. Now you’re telling me you know who I am, and you always have. How is that possible? How can you see the real me when I don’t even know who that is?”
The tears in her voice tore him apart. “Don’t allow New York or Trinity Falls to define you. Don’t even allow me to tell you who you are. Only you can decide who you are.”
Ramona’s ebony eyes were watery. “How do I do that?”
Quincy approached her. He drew the tip of his index finger down her soft, café au lait cheek. “Step one, you’ve already removed your mask.”
“And step two?”
He lowered his arm. “Stop hiding from yourself and everyone else. Start following your heart. Then you’ll figure it out.”
For the first time, Quincy allowed himself to hope that her plans could include him.
CHAPTER 31
“I come bearing gifts.” Ean entered Megan’s Books & Bakery office. He offered her a mug of coffee before closing her door.
“Thank you.” Megan accepted the coffee with a smile as warm as if he’d given her a bouquet of roses.
Ean wished he had brought her flowers, red ones to match her bulky red sweater and the blush in her cheeks.
She looked well rested. In contrast, he’d barely slept in the week since Leonard George had interrupted their evening with the news that his mother was going to run for office.
Ean made himself comfortable in her visitor’s chair and fortified himself with coffee. “Am I forgiven for my initial reaction to my mother’s decision to run for mayor?”
“Yes.” Her blush deepened. “All is forgiven.”
“Good.” Ean set his right ankle on his left knee and drank more coffee. “I don’t think you were as upset over my reaction as you claimed to be.”