Sparks Fly with Mr. Mayor (4 page)

The authority in his tone, the confidence in his posture reminded her this was what Cole did. As a landscaper and nursery owner, he obviously knew
what he was talking about, leaving her little room to argue.

The gentleman eavesdropping quickly picked up on her hesitation.

“That's right, Lady Candidate, that garden is a money hole. Paradise Pines can't afford to pour money into a useless venture, no matter how pretty it is.”

From there, one diner then another chimed in with an opinion until shouts were being traded across the room. Dani did her best to represent the values of education, tradition and history, but she was nearly drowned out by coaches, proud dads and the odd soccer mom.

The derisive attitude sparked several women to speak up in defense of Dani. She sent Cole a sidelong look. She noticed he did nothing to add to the melee, but he did nothing to stop it either. He caught her gaze and she cocked her head toward the vocal locals.

“See,” she said.

“What?” he responded, all innocent.

“You're too smart to be able to play dumb. Your followers aren't so sharp. The women are rallying in response to the men's attitude. What a Woman Wants will be packed tomorrow.” She gathered her purse and slid to the edge of the booth. “Every time this happens, I gain supporters. I don't really want to win this race, but at this rate, I just might. You want to win? Then it's the men who need to be handled,
not the women.” She stood. “I have to get home to Faith.”

“I'll walk you to your car.” He unfolded his six-foot-plus frame from the booth.

Dani stepped away from the heat and male scent of him. “That's not necessary.”

“My grandmother would say it was and I'm already in her doghouse. I'm not going to disrespect the manners she taught me.” He tossed a twenty on the table and waved to Mattie.

Outside, fall nipped in the air, cool, crisp and pine scented, a far cry from the dry chill of Phoenix. Dani savored the knowledge she'd escaped the desert metropolis.

The border drug trafficking had turned her hometown into a violent, crime-ridden city. Maybe not to the level of New York or L.A., but bad enough she'd felt the need to move Faith away from the city that had stolen her father's life.

Dani stopped next to her car and turned to Cole, realizing they'd strolled the half block in companionable silence.

How was that possible when the man rubbed all her nerves wrong?

“This is me.” She gestured to her car. “Thanks for the escort.” She, too, had been taught manners.

“Let me.” He took her keys from her and moved to the driver's door.

She started to protest but that would only prolong the process. Really, she just wanted to go home.

She waited for him to step away from the open door, but he didn't. Instead he dangled her keys and waved for her to take her seat.

For his own perverse amusement he'd been playing with her all night. Well, enough.

She stormed forward, snatched her keys from him and invaded his space.

“Just so we're clear, this was not a date. We had coffee. We're invested together as godparents for Jake, otherwise we are opponents. It's best if we restrict our interaction to the christening classes.”

“Dani.” He took her hand, lifted her arm and twirled her around in a move smooth as a turn in a waltz, delivering her into her seat with a warm hand in the small of her back. “I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, but we're opponents more than you think.”

Stunned to find herself behind the wheel, she gazed up at him. “What do you mean?”

“It's simple, my lovely.” Still holding her hand, he lowered his dark head to kiss the back of her fingers before whispering, “I don't want to win either.”

Then with a wink and a wave, he sauntered away.

A
S
D
ANI PREDICTED,
by ten-thirty the next morning What A Woman Wants was crowded with women shopping, primping and lamenting the backward thinking of the Paradise Pines male population.

The conversation had been building steam for a while when the blonde in Dani's chair looked through the mirror at Dani and said, “I was just trying to say a museum wasn't such a bad idea, that we're always saying how the kids today are all into instant gratification. And if we stopped and talked about the past sometimes, it might slow them down a little and give them an appreciation of how we got to where we are today. And my husband says to me, don't be stupid and I better not be voting for no museum.”

Dani winced.

“Yeah.” The woman nodded, causing her hair to slip from between Dani's fingers. “I showed him stupid this morning when I forgot to make his lunch.”

“I know.” A woman at one of the nail stations spoke up. “It's not like I expect my husband to vote
for the museum, but I do expect to be allowed my own opinion.”

The stylist next to Dani turned off the blow dryer she wielded to point it and declare. “That's right. This is the twenty-first century, not the turn of the century. We earned the right to vote a long time ago.”

“I think Blondie's got the right idea,” Mrs. Day piped up. She'd pushed the bonnet dryer up so she could hear. “If we want to be heard, we need to hit the men where it hurts.”

“Yeah,” another voice chirped. “I bet he notices when his lunch is missing.”

Dani had a bad feeling about where this was going.

“Well, to be fair,” she interjected, “nobody is stopping any of us from voting.”

“No, but they're trying to tell us how to vote. That's just as bad.”

“Worse, they're trying to tell us how to think. If we let them get away with this, we'll wipe out a hundred years' worth of struggle for women's rights.”

“Yeah. Paradise Pines will be the most backward town in the whole U.S.A.”

“We have to hit them where it hurts,” Mrs. Day suggested with a tad more vehemence than necessary. “No cooking and no cleaning. We'll remind them what life was like in the dark ages of their bachelor days.”

“Let's do it. No cooking. No cleaning.” The women began to chant.

Dani held up the curling iron in her hand, demanding silence. “If we're going to do this, everyone has to participate or the impact will be lost. No wimping out.”

Emphatic nods followed her decree and they went on to plan their attack.

Now this was the fight Dani believed in. The museum and garden was a lovely thought but, for all practical purposes, doomed before they got started. Which didn't mean it didn't deserve a spot on the ballot. It was the insulting dismissal of their entire agenda that fueled the fight. The right to be heard, to be respected—yeah, this battle Dani would fight every time.

Their methods may be archaic but then so was the men's attitude. They said the way to a man's heart was through his stomach. With any luck it was also the way to reach their hard heads.

 

In church on Sunday morning, Dani discovered a couple of the Sullivan men had lovely baritones. Cole wasn't one of them. Did that stop him from singing? Of course not. And his flawed enthusiasm made his efforts more genuine. More charming.

She ought to know, as she stood almost shoulder to shoulder with him, separated only by the squat presence of her matchmaking daughter. The little punk had grabbed his hand and then her mother's, making sure they all sat together.

Which wouldn't be a problem, except the man kept finding ways to get to her without even trying.

She and Faith had been invited to church followed by Sunday dinner at the Sullivans'. As a future godparent to one of the Sullivan brood, Dani felt it prudent to accept. Expecting it to be the women and children attending, the presence of Cole and two of his brothers surprised her. In her experience men weren't big on attending services, but then faith had never really been a big part of her life.

Obviously it was for the Sullivans, from the toddlers who were well behaved and respectful to the adults who followed the readings in the missal but knew the prayers and songs by heart. Sunday services and family togetherness meant something to them.

It made Dani feel a part of something special. And this service, more than the christening classes, made her realize the role she'd taken on as godparent really was an honor and a responsibility.

For the first time in a long time, she bowed her head and prayed. She gave thanks for her beautiful, meddling, loving daughter and then asked for guidance, strength and the wisdom to make good decisions.

A soft snore on the other side of Dani had her turning toward Samantha. Her head listed slightly to the side and her even breathing betrayed her snoozing.

Dani nudged her friend with a gentle elbow.

Samantha started, blinked and grimaced at Dani. “Thanks,” she whispered.

Dani nodded. She'd noticed the shadows under her friend's eyes earlier and determined to find out what was causing Samantha's fatigue when they got a chance to talk.

When the congregation turned to wish each other peace, simple handshakes and well wishes were exchanged, but like everything else the Sullivans amped it up, adding hugs and kisses to the mix. For Dani, unused to demonstrative shows of affection, it was a bit awkward but not unpleasant.

Until she turned and met Cole's amused blue gaze. Immediately she saw he'd clued into her reticence. Showing him she could be a good sport, she lifted her head for his kiss on the cheek. At the last moment he turned his head and lightly brushed his mouth over hers.

“Peace be with you,” he said softly, as if he hadn't just sent her entire system into emotional turmoil.

The punk opportunist had sneaked a smooch in the middle of church. He ought to be ashamed. She narrowed her eyes at him before bending to give her daughter a kiss. Yeah, much more her speed.

An hour later she sat with Samantha at a backyard patio table watching the Sullivan men man the barbecue.

She pointed to them. “How did Gram get the guys to cook without giving away the whole make-them-listen plan?”

Samantha smothered a yawn then grinned. “She simply told them it was time to give the women a
break and they'd be cooking and doing the cleanup today. They didn't question her at all, just started talking about what they'd grill.” She swept a glance over the playing kids before settling her attention back on Dani, a determined glint in her eyes. “So I saw Cole plant one on you in church. What's with the two of you?”

“Nothing.” Dani immediately denied any connection between her and Cole. “So don't get your hopes up. He likes to mess with my mind is all. He doesn't mean anything with his flirting.”

“He kissed you in church, in front of his family,” Samantha emphasized. “Cole doesn't mix family and flirting.”

“Come on.” Dani sent her friend an arch glance. “We both know he's a master opportunist. He saw an opening and he took it.”

“Well, yeah, but it doesn't mean he wasn't serious. He kissed you in full view of Gram. I think he was declaring his intentions.”

Now there was a scary thought. His persistent playfulness and pretend come-ons already had her wanting things she couldn't have, reminding her of how good it had been to be held, to have someone to share her concerns with.

Dani shook her head. “He's already told me I'm not his type, and he couldn't be more right. He's all play and I'm all business.”

“It's a known fact, opposites attract.”

Dani shook a finger at Sami. “I'm not marrying
one of the Sullivans just to make you happy. We're as good as sisters already.”

“I know. I just missed you so much after I moved here, and now that we're back together I don't want to lose you again.”

“You didn't lose me before. At first you were busy fighting for Gabe and then I was grieving for Kevin. You came over to Phoenix as soon as you heard he'd been killed, helped me through the hardest week of my life.” Her voice grew husky as memories of that horrible time, of her overwhelming loss, rushed at her. “I don't know what Faith and I would have done without you.”

Samantha covered Dani's hand with her own and squeezed. Dani pressed her lips tight together, fighting for control. She drew in a deep breath, released it slowly, pushing the tears back.

“You were there every time I needed you. That's not going to change whether I'm in Paradise Pines or not, or if I'm married to one of the Sullivans or not. And I hope you know I'll always be there for you.”

“I know,” Samantha allowed. “Of course I know, but I love you and I love them. They really are good guys, and I want to see you happy.”

“I am happy.”

Samantha tilted her head and looked at Dani over her sunglasses. The direct gaze made Dani squirm in her seat.

“All right. But I couldn't handle happy right now. It's all I can do to handle Faith and the shop. And
now I have to fit a political campaign in, too. Tell me again why you didn't talk me out of that craziness.”

“Maybe because you agreed to do it before I heard anything about it.”

“Maybe.” Dani glanced over to where Cole strolled through the yard with Gram. She carried a ruffle-edged umbrella. He wore garden gloves and occasionally bent to prune a plant or pull a weed.

As Dani watched he threw back his head, laughing at something his grandmother said. For all their public dispute, the love between them showed in his gentleness, in her tolerance, and in their shared laughter. Whatever the outcome of the upcoming election, that love wouldn't change.

Dani barely comprehended that kind of family support and commitment. If it weren't for Faith, Dani wouldn't even recognize what she was seeing.

She thought of Cole's parting shot the other night and wondered if he truly didn't want to win the election, or if he was messing with her yet again.

Refusing to let him ruin her day, she turned her back to him, hoping out of sight would be out of mind, and asked Samantha what had her snoozing in church. For the next thirty minutes she listened to Samantha vent about Jake's cold, Seth's potty training, Gabe's preschool antics, and the ongoing bickering of the Harvest dance committee. The last made Dani glad she'd refused her friend's request to co-chair the event.

That was one time she'd made the right decision.
Then again, if she'd been working on the dance committee, she'd probably have said no to running for office.

Maybe there were no right decisions.

Right, and she could just hear Cole saying that meant there were no wrong decisions, there was just life.

No, she couldn't believe that. The right decisions allowed her some control, and she'd take any advantage she could get.

 

“You ought to be ashamed,” Gram admonished Cole as they strolled through the yard looking over her garden. “Making a move on a girl in church. It's something a fifteen-year-old would do.”

Cole laughed. “I was never so smooth at fifteen.”

“You're missing my point.”

“Come on. You taught us church was a place to celebrate life. I don't think the good Lord is up there shaking a finger at me for kissing a girl.”

“He might be if you're going to hurt that girl. She's known a lot of pain in her short life. She doesn't need any more.”

He rose from where he'd pruned weeds away from her blooming dahlias, his gaze going to the patio table where Dani sat talking with Samantha. Her hair flowed over her shoulder in a lush auburn fall, a beautiful frame for her creamy complexion.

“I'm not looking to hurt her,” he said.

“Just because you don't intend to doesn't mean you won't. Do you have feelings for her?” Gram held open a trash bag for the weeds.

He hesitated, then tossed the weeds and dusted his gloved hands together. “I like spending time with her.”

“Hmm.” Gram hummed in her maternal way. “Why? Is she someone you could leave your plants with?”

For a moment he didn't follow her and then it clicked. Annoyed after he ended a brief fling with a woman Gram particularly liked, she'd asked him what it would take for him to finally settle down. He'd replied he'd settle down when he found a woman he could trust his plants with.

She hadn't been amused.

He'd been serious. How a person handled a plant said a lot about them.

So, of course, the sad rubber plant in Dani's shop immediately came to mind. He shook his head. Crouching to examine the bed of dormant roses, he considered Gram's question.

“She's pretty, bright and a good mother. What's not to like.”

Gram nodded, her gaze knowing. “Yes, she's a good mother, which is usually enough to send you in the opposite direction.”

“I like kids.” His back went up.

“Yes, you're lovely with children.” She brushed
the hair back over his ear, a gesture of love. “But not usually in connection with the women you date.”

He pushed to his feet. “It was just a little kiss, Gram. It didn't mean anything.”

 

Before Dani knew it, the men were calling out that the food was ready. Chaos reigned as everyone attacked the great barbecue fare. The guys had roasted corn and potatoes along with the chicken on the grill and one of them dumped a bag of salad into a bowl. Simple but good.

Faith loved corn on the cob and it showed all down the front of her. Dani just shook her head and grinned at her baby. By the time she and the other women got the kids cleaned up, the men had the kitchen spic-and-span.

Dani sat relaxing with Samantha and her two sisters-in-law at the large dining room table in the family room when the men came in to join them. Dani took that as a sign to be leaving soon. Across the table, Cole was way too close.