“He knew who I was when I called, and had already found my demo tape and burned it onto a CD. The quality sucked compared to a professional cut, but it was enough to download and send to an artist for a listen. When he knew I was in agreement, we hung up, and he called back in about an hour with an offer on the table.”
“You’re kidding. That’s great, honey.” Fletcher tried to put enthusiasm into his voice, but still, he worried.
“I know it. And because of you, I sold two of my songs to a popular singer. She’ll be recording them as soon as the contract is drawn up and signed.”
He couldn’t stand it. He had to know. He hated feeling weak. “I’m happy for you, Tess. But what will it mean to us?”
She smiled. “I wondered how long it would be before you asked that.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I don’t want to be selfish, but I want you to stay. I know I don’t have a right to expect it, but I hope you were honest with me about that.”
“Oh, Fletcher. This mess started because I wasn’t honest in the first place. I only told Coop once that I planned to move permanently to Justice. I never mentioned it to you in the letters I sent. And you had to consider the citizens first, and that includes your father.”
He lifted his head off his hand and played with her hair that he’d taken great, exquisite pleasure in tangling. “You’re a citizen of Justice, too, darlin’. If I hadn’t been so worried that you’d forfeit the house, and force me to tell my father I’d be damned before I let it be torn down, we could have been helping each other all this time.”
She snuggled closer to him. “Oh, I don’t know. I think I liked that bit of mystery at first. You were elusive, and even when I was doggedly determined, I couldn’t get near you. I was beginning to wonder if there really was a Mayor Graham. And Coop says that the minute he heard my voice he knew you’d fall in love with it.”
“It’s not just your voice I’m in love with, Tess.”
She looked at him sharply. “Can we really be in love after only a day, Fletcher?” She tipped her head, doubting the notion, but there was hope sparkling in her eyes.
“I know I can. This isn’t like what I felt with Jane. Wanna know how I know?”
She giggled. “Tell me.”
“Because when I was getting ready to go out tonight, to the governor’s, I wondered if that charity event would be my last one as the mayor of this town.”
“I’m sorry you missed your event, but I don’t get it.”
“I didn’t want to go anyway. I just didn’t have anything better to do on a Saturday night.” He tweaked her nose. “But what I mean is, being mayor, living here in Justice ... those things didn’t mean as much to me as being with you. If you’d forfeited the house and moved to Vegas, I’d have gone with you.”
“Really? Sin City? Talk about extremes, huh?”
He chuckled. “I’d have adjusted. But I know I’m in love with you because I wasn’t willing to leave my home to follow Jane. But I’d follow you anywhere and I’d be home.”
“That’s so corny, Fletch.”
He knew it sounded like a cliché, but he meant it, and the tears that formed in her eyes told him she knew he was sincere. “Do you love me, Tess?”
She put him out of his misery by nodding her head. “It’s crazy, but I do. Head over heels in love with you. And I’m not going anywhere. I told you this morning that Justice is a place to call home.” She laughed. “But really, wherever you are is home.”
“Are you making fun now, darlin’?” He couldn’t fight his grin. He didn’t care if she was ribbing him—it felt damn good to hear the words.
Her innocent look needed practice. “Now, Your Honor, would I do that?”
Fletcher chuckled. “I don’t care, but say it with conviction.”
She took his advice and pushed him back onto the mattress, lying across his chest. Gawd, she was hot!
She lowered her head and gave him a kiss that made all his parts pay attention. She lifted her head, and said quietly, “They say, home is where the heart is. Well, you’re here, and you have my heart. So I’m home.”
He pushed his advantage, going one step further. “Then marry me.”
Tess pushed up off him suddenly, sitting up, back on her heels, and looking down at him. “Are you kidding me? After one day? How is that going to look? What will your constituents say?”
He came up on his elbows, and after popping the question, Fletcher gauged her reaction. Shock, not fear. He could work with that. “They’ll say it’s a helluva lot better than shackin’ up with you. And I will be at your house every day after I leave city hall. We’ve got a lot of work to do if you plan to live there and make a career as a songwriter. I’m going to buy you a piano so you can write at home during the day instead of having to go to The Last Call to compose music and write lyrics.”
“Fletcher, I’ll be able to buy a piano—”
“But you need a place with good acoustics, and that front room would be ideal. Gawd, I’m gonna love hearing you sing, trying out new songs.”
“Fletcher—”
“Just a second, honey, I’m thinking,” he said, but he wasn’t, really; he was railroading her, giving her too many reasons not to refuse him.
She stalled him right on the tracks, saying quietly, “You really want to marry me?”
He looked at her, with that chestnut-colored hair snarled and tumbling over her naked shoulders, and he wondered how she could be so beautiful and so obtuse at the same time. “Tess, the last impulsive thing I did resulted in divorce. I know those aren’t good odds, but my heart and my faith weren’t in it.”
He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “I’m putting all my faith in you. I love you, and I want everyone to know it.”
She raised her eyebrows, considering his offer. “I suppose there are perks that come with being the mayor’s wife.”
His brow furrowed. “What perks?”
Tess smiled, the irony so poetic. “Well, if I request an audience, he’s legally obligated to see me.”
Fletcher chuckled, sitting up fully, and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t tell my father that. Since this whole thing started, I told him he’s got to make an appointment like everyone else, and I haven’t been available to him, either. See, honey? It’s not just you I was avoiding.”
Tess laughed, too. “Well, you can tell George I’m keeping my house. Problem solved,” she said, and put her head on his shoulder.
“Not yet.”
“What else is there?”
“You haven’t actually agreed to marry me.”
Tess snuggled down into his lap, and Fletcher had to force his concentration to remain centered. Her answer was too important.
Her soft, naked bottom wriggled and ground against his cock in a bid to get comfortable, but he knew it was just a bit of veiled, torturous payback. Reminding her of his avoidance might not have been such a good idea—another tip he filed away as a lesson learned. But she made it worth his wait as she murmured so low, he had to strain to hear. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He sighed in relief. “Thank God,” he exclaimed. “I thought I was going to have to go down on one knee.”
Tess cast him a pouty look. “You didn’t want to?”
He kissed her so thoroughly, she had a sleepy, dizzy look about her. “Not when I’ve got you naked, sitting here, giving me a lap dance.”
She giggled and socked him in the arm.
“You like making me suffer, don’t you, darlin’?”
Tess wriggled a little more, and tipped her head, considering. “I don’t know yet. I think I need more practice.” She grinned mischievously, slipping off his lap.
Fletcher hurled himself back down on the bed, and flung his arms wide. “Practice makes perfect, honey. Please, practice away.”
Shoving the covers out of her way, she lightly raked her nails up his calf, over his thigh, and finally closed over his now hard, achingly aroused cock. With a gentle squeeze and a
teasing flick of her tongue, practice, she did. Perfectly.
BRAVA BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 2004 by Kensington Publishing Corp.
“Good With His Hands” copyright © 2004 by Lori Foster
“Miss Extreme Congeniality” copyright © 2004 by Erin McCarthy
“Last Call” copyright © 2004 by Laura Leigh Arce
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