“Louder.”
“I am a fucking badass,” she yells, her eyes popping open like she’s surprised herself.
I laugh. “Fuck right you are. No one who’s not a fucking bad ass could become mayor of Yuletide and stick to it even when everyone is pushing you to quit.”
She nods. “Okay. Okay. I can do this. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. What did an ultra-rich person do to you?”
She shudders. “Boarding school. Sixth through tenth grade. I was beneath them and they knew it on sight. Until I figured out how to fight back, they made my life hell.”
I wish I could find those kids and show them how wrong they were about the woman in front of me. “Let’s get one thing straight, Blue Porter. You are beneath no one. I don’t go to war with anyone who’s less than my equal, and there is no one inside that house tougher than you.”
She nods. “I kicked your ass in that war, too.”
I snort. “You barely managed to prank me at all. I ended up having to rescue you.”
She shrugs. “I’m still mayor and you don’t have your permits. I’d say I came out ahead.”
“We can argue about that later. Are you ready to go inside?”
She looks at the house and frowns. Then she lifts her chin and determination takes over her features. “I am a fucking bad ass.” She turns to me. “But if it gets too bad, will you take me home?”
“Demon, I’ll be looking for any excuse to leave as soon as possible.”
“Then let’s do this.” She smiles, and it hits me how much I like being Blue Porter’s partner.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Blue
The front door to the über-mansion Garrick grew up in swings open before we’ve stepped all the way onto a porch so wide and expansive it can only be called a veranda.
To my surprise, it’s not a butler who opens the door, but a man who looks a lot like Garrick. He’s a little broader and a little older, and his smile is warm and open. It’s like seeing a fun-loving, relaxed version of the life-sized pain in the ass I’ve been dealing with for almost a year in Yuletide.
Barry runs at the man and he bends to catch her, rubbing her furry head with a good-natured laugh. “Hey, there, sweetheart.”
Two other dogs appear, Great Danes from the look of them, and Barry forgets all about the man petting her to run off with them.
“They’ll take her out to the backyard,” the man says to Garrick.
“I know the drill,” Garrick says.
The man turns to me. “I don’t know how he convinced you to go out with him. But I’m sure glad to meet you.”
Garrick winces. “Hudson. Chill, dude.”
Hudson grins at his brother. “Naw. I’m good.” He offers me his hand. “Hudson Riverton. Welcome to the estate.”
I take his hand. “Blue Porter. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Around here, family hugs.” Hudson opens his arms wide and gestures me toward him with his fingers. “You okay with a hug?”
“Sure.” I am not from a family of huggers, I am not myself a hugger, but when in Rome and all that.
Hudson pulls me into a quick bear hug before letting me go and grabbing his brother. He hugs Garrick so tight he lifts him off the ground. “Hey little brother. Glad you pulled your head out of your ass and decided to show up.”
Two more men appear in the doorway. “I knew Hudson would keep her out in the cold,” the taller of the two says. He’s got light hair and even lighter blue eyes. He’s taller and leaner than Hudson and Garrick, and his smile is warier. “Come on in. I’m Theo Riverton.”
