Sylvie had been a bit more slippery. She’d walked around and talked to people. It was a flaw in his plan, but then it was also part of her personality. He supposed being the mayor meant a lot of talking to people she didn’t necessarily know. When he’d looked over and seen Ashley walking away from Sylvie with that disdainful look on her face, a chill had gone through him.

He hadn’t wanted Sylvie to have to deal with his relatives. That had been naive and foolish, and he’d thought all night long about what he’d dragged her into.

“I talked to Ashley tonight. She’s still every bit as unpleasant as she was in high school.”

He winced. “I’m sorry. She shouldn’t have been there.”

“I don’t know. It was an illuminating conversation.” She took another sip. “Did you know Charles has a private investigator following you?”

He felt his skin flush. “No. I should have.”

“According to your cousin, you two do this a lot.”

It appeared a few minutes of relaxing his guard had done a world of damage. “I’m not proud of it but, yes, I’ve had someone investigate Charles. Yes, I was looking for dirt. This isn’t the first time he’s threatened my job. I have never used anything I discovered against him.”

Mostly because while Charles was mean and annoying, he didn’t seem to be dirty. He spent his time at his law practice or with his wife and children. He liked to hunt and fish and, according to his private investigators, hadn’t signed away his soul to the devil, though Rene rather thought they couldn’t be one hundred percent sure about that.

“Oppo research,” Sylvie said. “I don’t like it, but I understand the necessity at times. I don’t know. I thought maybe this was a one-time play of his. I know you’ve never gotten along, but I didn’t realize the two of you were at war.”

“I wouldn’t call it war. I don’t know. Maybe it is. I know he wants to win at my expense, and I can’t let it happen.” He hadn’t even realized he was being followed, but then he was sure Charles had gotten someone good. Would he put someone on Sylvie now? “I didn’t realize he’d hired anyone, though I told you I thought he might set someone on you when he found out about the marriage. I’ll talk to him. I’ll hire a bodyguard.”