5. CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

The next morning, he couldn't help but smile from the moment he woke up. Mercury's date had gone better than he could have ever imagined. Dorsey was adorable as fuck. He could have sworn when he'd bent over at one point after dropping a chip, Dorsey had been wearing lace underwear, and damn if Mercury hadn't wanted to get on his knees and find out for certain.

"I'm heading out for a meeting with Jesse to see if he came up with a way to help Mr. Nettles," he told Dion with a wave.

"Good luck and no matter what Jesse tells you, he does not need another caramel macchiato." Dion pinned him with a look of warning. "Trust me, your nerves will thank you later."

Ookkayy. That was odd, but he nodded and headed downstairs. He could see Dorsey working inside Tasty Balls, but he hadn't opened yet. Mercury made a mental note to stop at his store after talking with Jesse.

He headed down Main to City Hall. He wasn't certain what was worse, the giant Bigfoot statue or the freaking stream that actually ran into the building. Once inside, he had to admit, it was the stream. Not only did it go inside, but it wound through part of the lobby, often spilling a bit of water on the floor, making it extremely dangerous. Not to mention, there wasn't anything along it to stop someone from stepping in it.

Not exactly smart. Then again, he'd found many of the laws in Cedar Falls wouldn't hold up in court. Mostly. Actually, there were several things on the books that made no sense at all. He wouldn't be surprised if something about falling in City Hall was one of them.

"Mercury," Jesse practically yelled from right behind him.

It's not that he couldn't have found the mayor's office on his own, but he had to admit it was easier to be led to it. Still, the way the current mayor practically bounced around was a bit disconcerting.

"I get it," Jesse said even as he walked across the wet floor. "Gaudy. Right?" He waved his hand in the direction of the stream. "That was, unfortunately, not a good time for the citizens of Cedar Falls."

Mercury seriously hadn't expected that. "It wasn't?" he asked. Dion hadn't mentioned the previous mayor.

Jesse nodded vigorously even as he led Mercury further into City Hall. "You have no idea. I'll even show you the private bedroom Donald Murphy had made for him and his…well, I would say ‘mistress', but we've since learned it wasn't just one woman he'd been having sex with."

When they'd entered an office, Jesse gestured to a wall with a topical map on it. "If you want to see it, let me know. In the meantime, I have a solution for Mr. Nettles. I wish he had come to me sooner."

Was Jesse bouncing?

It was hard to be certain, considering Jesse hadn't stopped moving as he showed him the map. "This is Mr. Nettles's property." Jesse pointed to an area on the map. "But more importantly, this is The Wilde Side." Jesse moved his finger to the area just north of Mr. Nettles's farm. "Since Cooper opened the youth group home, he's needed more land for his farm but can't afford it."

Then Jesse jerked his head toward the door. "Come on. We can meet Cooper if we hurry."

Mercury had been too stunned at first. He hadn't caught up with Jesse until he was outside. "Where are we going? Both farms are at least twenty minutes from here."

Jesse barked out a laugh. "Why would we go there? It's not like we'd be able to walk either property. They're huge. I called Cooper to come meet us at Sweet Buns."

That was probably true. That said, he also wasn't certain why they were meeting with Cooper at the town's bakery. "Why didn't you ask Cooper to meet us at your office?"

Gabriel suddenly met them at the corner of Main and Peachtree. "Because Jesse wants another macchiato," he told Mercury. "Plus, he really hates being cooped up in the office for, like, more than ten minutes at a time."

What? "Are you kidding me? You are the mayor. How do you stay out of the office?"

Gabriel looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "You really don't know Jesse, do you?"

Even as they continued down Main at a far faster pace than he would have thought anyone could manage in three-inch platform flip flops–which he still didn't understand how someone who was the mayor wore–Mercury said, "I just met him yesterday."

That had Gabriel laughing. "I would welcome you to the club, but trust me, you probably don't want to belong."

Somehow, Mercury believed Gabriel meant it.

"Zane," Jesse exclaimed. "It's good to see you at the counter."

Why did Jesse seem…well concerned?

"I promise, this is my first one, but I need a caramel macchiato." Even as Jesse said it, Mercury somehow knew he was fucked.

"I was here when you ordered both your first and second one this morning, Jesse," Zane reminded him. "And I told you the second time when you were literally hopping like a damn bunny that you wouldn't be allowed another."

Shit. Dion's words about that macchiato were making sense.

"Yeah, I mean, I get it." And yes, Jesse was actually vibrating. "But we…" And even as he said it, Mercury couldn't deny that Jesse was actually bouncing. "Have a meeting with Cooper. You wouldn't want me to fall asleep, would you?"

Wow. That was… a lot. Dion might have had a point.

Zane shook his head. "If I give you another one, you have to promise not to stay here."

Seriously? That couldn't be good.

Jesse nodded vigorously. "Done."

Gabriel groaned.

Shit. Definitely not good.

Oddly, they were sitting at a table in Sweet Buns after they'd all gotten their orders. Apparently, not only did Jesse not need to keep his promise, but Zane also didn't force his decree.

The weird thing was Jesse actually bobbled on the chair as if he couldn't sit still even as he held his macchiato, which nearly spilled the liquid. Mercury was seriously questioning whether meeting Jesse was smart.

A man walked into Sweet Buns and headed straight for their table. "Conner," Jesse exclaimed as he stood and kissed both his cheeks.

It hadn't been something he'd expected, but then again, nothing about the situation had been normal. That said, being the professional he was, he stuck out his hand when introduced.

"You mentioned you wanted to expand your farm," Jesse said when they sat back down. Or, at least Conner, Gabriel and Mercury sat. Jesse, on the other hand, was pacing the table, which was just fucking odd since he hardly managed a step before having to turn and head in the other direction.

"I already told you I can't afford to buy more property." Cooper sat down in the one chair available.

Jesse smirked. "What about renting or leasing?"

Okay, now that his mind wasn't spinning, Mercury was starting to understand Jesse's mind.

"Can you pay Mr. Nettles to use his land?" he blurted loudly.

Conner grinned. "Definitely. But, when I've attempted to approach him, Ernie hasn't exactly been approachable." Conner chuckled. "That said, if you are coming to me," he directed that comment to Jesse. "I'm assuming he's more approachable now."

Jesse's tilted his head from side to side several times. "Sort of."

Even though he understood the tactic, Mercury didn't understand it. If Conner was truly trying to grow his farm but was unable to buy land, he should have been thrilled by this idea.

Yet, when Jesse explained why they were there, Mercury knew, without a doubt, Conner hadn't even considered expanding. "Are you fucking kidding me?" Conner exclaimed when Jesse was done. "I'm barely able to afford the mortgage and lights on."

Jesse waved a dismissive hand at Conner. "That's not an issue. But you must admit, you need more land with all those kids. They can keep up on your crops easily, and more acres would make it easier to keep them busy."

The glare Cooper had been aiming at Jesse softened some. "I don't deny that with how many The Wilde Side has taken, we could use more land, but that doesn't mean we can afford it."

From what he'd heard, Cooper had recently opened a youth home for LGBTQ+. He not only helped them as a social worker but also taught them how to make it on their own—first, by working his family farm, but also in any skill the teenager gravitated toward.

Once again, Jesse waved his hand at Conner as if his concerns about money didn't mean anything. Yet, Mercury didn't understand how it didn't. Conner could afford to rent Mr. Nettles's land, or he couldn't. Right? Yet, even as he thought that he was certain he was missing something.

"That will be covered," Jesse said as if it was inconsequential. "I just need to know if you'll do it."

Connor's jaw dropped for several minutes before he nodded. "Of course. But are you sure?"

Mercury had to admit, he wasn't exactly sure what had just happened. No. That wasn't true. He did. He just had no fucking clue how Jesse had manipulated all of them to make it work. Because he had little doubt that was exactly what had happened.

From Dion assigning Mr. Nettles to him to basically gifting both Mr. Nettles and Connor with the money to make what they needed happen. Even as he tried to grasp the how Gabriel touched his arm. "Trust me, it's better to just go with it."

Could he, though?

Mercury wasn't sure. Still, if it meant saving his client from losing his farm, he was willing to give a bit of latitude.

Jesse leaned over. "Tasty Balls should be open by now."

Suddenly, nothing mattered more than seeing Dorsey. "I need to go. Can you make this happen?" He gestured toward Connor.

Jesse looked affronted by the suggestion that he might not be capable of making a deal. "Go see your man. I'll take care of everything else."

That was something Mercury could easily agree to. "It was nice meeting you, Connor. I hope you and Mr. Nettles can make a deal."

Not even listening to see if Connor responded, he left. The need to hold Dorsey in his arms…to kiss those full lips, was all he knew.