Gil narrowed his eyes and grinned. “I’m glad to hear that. I don’t play dirty either.”
Now Moira narrowed her eyes. “Good to know.”
“I meant it earlier. May the best person for the job win, whether it’s you or me.” He shrugged. “As long as it’s not Denise.”
Moira hugged her arms around herself. “My mom is not happy that I’m running against you.”
Gil tore his gaze from Moira and looked at the lake. “I’m sure it just shocked her. As it did me.” He tipped his head toward his boat. “I was about to go for a ride. Care to come along, seeing that we’re friendly competition and nothing more or less?”
Moira seemed to consider his invitation. “No, that’s okay. I should probably get home. It’s going to be a busy week planning how I’m going to beat out the mayor of Somerset Lake.”
Gil chuckled. “It won’t be easy.”
“Nothing worthwhile ever is.”
He took a retreating step. “Last chance for a moonlit boat ride tonight.”
“Tempting, but it was a long day. I’m tired.” As if to make her point, she broke out into a yawn.
Gil wasn’t the kind of guy who pushed. He liked to think he didn’t keep company with that kind of guy either, but apparently he had at one time. Gil hadn’t kept up with Felix Wilkes, because, roommate or not, he hadn’t particularly liked the guy. He hadn’t disliked him either though. “See you later, Moira.”
“See you.” She turned and headed back toward her car.
Gil waited to ensure she made it okay. Then he led Goldie onto his boat, thinking about Moira as he skimmed the water. If he weren’t running for the mayor’s office, he would vote for Moira. Experience or not, she would make a good town representative. Other than high school government, Gil hadn’t had any political experience when he’d run for the position either. Just a dream and a desire for change. Back then he’d wanted to change the world, thinking it was easier than it actually was.
Had he made good changes since he’d been in office? He’d tried, but there was always more to do. Maybe he wasn’t as passionate or as hungry as he was four years ago. He always told himself he’d step down if he was at risk of becoming like the former mayor, who’d become a grumpy fixture in the town. Gil wasn’t anywhere near the likes of former mayor Bryce Malsop, but he could do better. Be better. He wasn’t about to give up his position to Denise or Moira. They didn’t have nearly the experience that he did. If either of them won, they’d have to do it fair and square.
* * *
“You were conspiring with the enemy?” Lucy asked Moira on Monday morning.
Moira was sitting with her makeshift campaign team at a table in the bakery. “What are you talking about?”
“If you’re going to run for mayor, you should know that all eyes will be on you at all times. You went to Gil’s house on Saturday night after the festival,” Lucy said, raising her brows high on her forehead.
Tess’s mouth dropped open. “You what? What were you doing there?”
Moira shook her head. “I went to his house, yes, but I didn’t go inside. I just stopped by to make sure he wasn’t upset that I was running against him. My conscience started to get to me, especially after Doug disowned me as his real-life hero. And where did this piece of information come from anyway?” Moira asked.
“Denise has spies. You and Gil are the enemies in her eyes. She’s going to be pulling out all the stops to find dirt on you,” Lucy announced.
“Dirt?” Moira asked. “This is Somerset Lake. We don’t run our elections with mudslinging.”
“Well, apparently she does,” Della said with a frown. “That woman can be pretty nasty. I helped her buy her current home. She hassled the previous owner of her house until the seller finally just gave her everything she wanted. I will never take Denise on as a client again.”
Moira reached for her cup of coffee. “Well, I don’t play that way. So now that we have enough signatures to put my name on the ballot in November, what else do I need to do?”
Tess tapped her finger on a list in front of her. “I did some online searches over the weekend. The process is fairly clear-cut. You just need to show up to the community events, shake hands, and push your platform as much as you can.”
“My platform?” Moira asked.
“It starts with the slogan. I love what Lucy came up with the other day. ‘Moira Green believes in small businesses and big changes,’” Tess said, adjusting her reading glasses on the bridge of her nose.
“I love it too,” Trisha said with a nod of approval. “Your focus is on the small businesses here. If they thrive, everyone thrives.”
The other women uttered their agreement.
“I like it as well,” Moira said with a growing smile. “Reva wants to interview me for her blog. I told her yes.”
“The one and only time you’ll ever willingly make bullet points on her blog,” Lucy said with a giggle. Then Lucy turned to Tess, who suddenly looked very serious. “We probably need to take her shopping.”
Tess looked at Moira, her gaze lowering to Moira’s T-shirt. “Shopping is a good idea.”
“What? Why?” Moira objected, looking down at her current attire. To be fair, she’d just pulled on the first thing she’d found in her drawer before leaving the house this morning. “I happen to like the way I dress. It’s comfortable.”
“You’re projecting an image. A brand. Right now, you are way too relaxed to be taken seriously,” Della said. “You have to dress the part. I never wear T-shirts and jeans when I’m showing a house. A first, second, and third impression starts with how you look.”
“Black pants and a simple blouse go a long way,” Lucy agreed. “It won’t be drastic. Just enough to project that you can be mayor of this town. We need people to take you seriously.”
Moira guessed they had a point. She’d never seen Gil looking anything less than polished. Denise on the other hand was just a little bit too polished. She wore fitted skirts and ruffled blouses 24/7, and her hair was practically a helmet of waves and hairspray. “Okay, you’re right. I guess I do need to go shopping.”
Lucy slid her gaze toward Tess. “Can we trade book club for a girls’ night shopping trip this week?” She pressed her hands together in a prayer position.
“You’re asking me?” Tess sipped her coffee. “I’m not the leader of our book club. It just happens to take place at my store. I’m game though.”
“Me too,” Trisha said.
Della frowned. “Unfortunately, I have to show a couple houses that night.”
“On a Thursday?” Tess gave her a disapproving look.
“Just this one time. My client couldn’t meet any other time. Send me pictures, okay?”
“Will do.” Lucy stood. “But right now, I need to get some bagels from your mom and take them back to the bed and breakfast for my guests.”
“Aww. How far along is the mother-to-be?” Moira asked. The Babymoon Bed &Breakfast catered to expectant parents.