“It sounds so romantic,” she joked. “A press release and me trying my best to look surprised when you propose.”
“Hey, just because you know it’s coming tonight doesn’t mean you know when. I’ll keep some of the details to myself so you won’t have to act shocked.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought of everything.” She settled back in her seat and tried to relax.
Ford exited the freeway and negotiated traffic through the one-way streets of downtown Dallas. Lily watched the city roll by in a wave of lights and movement as they made their way to the Dallas Museum of Art. They’d stroll through the space, take in the current exhibitions and the permanent collections, make small talk, and then her life would change. Lily’s knee bounced up and down as he found a spot in the parking garage, until Ford’s hand stilled her.
“Try to relax.” His easy smile sent warmth through her that calmed her nerves. “The hard part was making the decision, so let me handle everything tonight. This is going to be fun.”
He was right. They were embarking on an exciting adventure together, one she’d readily agreed to, and she should enjoy it. They’d spend a nice evening together, share a moment, and get on with it. They always had fun together, never had even the smallest disagreement. Sure, that was probably due to the fact that everything between them was strictly casual up until now, but this engagement wouldn’t likely change much between them. They’d see each other more often, and they’d share a giant secret, but their relationship wouldn’t change. With a shared goal of presenting a united front, all Lily had to do was relax and enjoy the public affection of a sexy man who made her laugh and kept things interesting.
The museum was typically closed at five, but members were invited to the opening of a special Manet and Cezanne exhibit that evening, and excitement was in the air. Patrons wandered through the space, murmuring and pausing in front of priceless pieces of art. Lily’s shoes clicked on the polished floor, and she tucked her hand into the crook of Ford’s arm, leaning close as they stopped in front of Monet’s Water Lilies, a painting she’d seen a dozen times before but always loved. The soothing scene of soft lilies floating in blue and green waters brought her to a simpler, calmer time. She dropped her head onto his shoulder, loving that he was tall enough for her to do so.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” His baritone rumbled through her.
“Mmm hmm. I’ve always loved this piece.” The painting had been part of the museum’s permanent collection since she could remember, and ever since her first visit during a high school field trip, she’d been drawn to it. The lazy, filtered picture was so relaxing and soothing.
“I never get tired of being able to walk in here and see an actual Monet, but I still enjoy the Kandinskys a little more.”
“Really?” She couldn’t believe anyone would prefer the hard lines and bright colors of Kandinsky over the dreamy, muted tones of Monet.
“I think it reminds me of when I was a kid and thought the more modern paintings were so cool. My parents dragged me and my brothers to museums constantly, and I didn’t exactly appreciate it then. When we were boys, we just tried to find something that looked interesting so we wouldn’t die of boredom. We weren’t exactly allowed to complain.”
The thought of little Rutherford Richardson and his brothers forced to quietly wander through art museums, hands shoved in their pockets or tucked behind their backs, was precious. Lily pictured a smaller version of him, the same amazing blue eyes, lit up with mischief, under a mop of brown hair. He probably wore little suits, too. Adorable. Did Ford want kids of his own? Did she? Whoa, Lily. One thing at a time. Let’s get engaged first. They wandered further into the gallery until Ford stopped in front of a Georgia O’Keeffe painting and examined it, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
She slapped his arm playfully. “Stop it. You cannot propose to me in front of this painting.”
“Hey, this is a painting of a flower. I don’t know what you see in it, but maybe you need to get your mind out of the gutter.” He took her hand and continued through the museum, cracking up at his own joke about the artist’s suggestive imagery.
The museum housed an incredible collection of ancient Mediterranean pieces, and they stopped in front of a solid gold Greek wreath dating back to the fourth century B.C.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Lily took in the beautifully preserved details of the wreath, awestruck that something so old was sitting in front of her, just like that. “Have you seen this piece before?”
Ford didn’t answer, and she turned to find him kneeling beside her, hope and affection in his blue eyes. He pulled a little blue Tiffany box from his jacket’s interior pocket and flipped the top open. A stunning princess cut solitaire flanked by smaller channel set diamonds on a thick platinum band was nestled in the velvet fold of the box, and her hands flew to her lips. It was perfect.
“Oh, wow.” It was all she could manage. This moment was planned and seamlessly orchestrated, and it wasn’t exactly authentic, but the emotions flooding her certainly were.
“Lily Ashton, you are the most amazing person I know. When I’m with you, everything is better, and I don’t want to spend another day without knowing that you’ll be my wife. Will you marry me?” Ford’s voice caught on the last word.
“Yes,” she whispered, nodding, and he slipped the ring on her finger. Catching his face in her hands as he rose, their lips met in a sweet, hopeful kiss. His lips were warm, and she could taste the slightest hint of cinnamon. Perfect. With a quick lift, Ford picked her up, and she laughed against his lips as her feet kicked lightly behind her. He set her down, gently so she didn’t topple over off the four-inch heels, and pressed another kiss to her forehead as his arms tightened around her. His strong embrace was brief, but for one perfect moment, she let herself believe she’d made the right decision.
“She said yes!” he said with a huge smile to the curious onlookers around them.
A small crowd had gathered when he dropped to his knee and erupted in applause at his exclamation. Lily wiped a tear from her cheek and accepted a warm kiss on her temple from her fiancé. The photographer she hadn’t noticed before asked for the couple to pose, and they threw matching radiant smiles his way as Ford wrapped her in his arms. This was practically a business transaction, nothing more, and she knew that. Ford needed a fiancée, and Lily needed an escape from hiding from something real. Her heart overflowed, though, because it was sincere, as sincere as it could be in their situation, and it was enough. He hadn’t professed a love she knew wasn’t genuine; he’d chosen his words carefully, so that every part of his proposal was heartfelt and true. Ford kissed her temple again, and she turned to catch his lips with hers. With the audience not quite dispersed, they shared a chaste kiss, perfect for the camera. The way he pulled her close, one hand on the back of her head, promised more to come. After months of dating with little more than a few heated kisses, Lily was ready for something more to happen.
As though reading her mind, Ford grabbed her hand and led her through the elegant crowd as quickly as he could without dragging her. Light caught on the facets of the diamond resting on her ring finger, and the weight of what she’d agreed to pulled at the corner of her exhilaration with every step across the glossy marble floor. One look at the man at her side brushed aside the doubts simmering below the surface, at least for the moment. This was perfect, the two of them. Beautiful chemistry, and easy back and forth, but no illusions of some great love. The ideal situation for someone who didn’t have a heart to give away anymore.
Their footsteps and hushed laughter echoed through the empty parking garage as they found Ford’s car. Instead of letting her in on the passenger side, he flashed a wicked grin and opened the back door for her to climb in. Not even in their giddy state would they actually have sex in a public place, but Lily knew the darkened garage and the car’s tinted windows would hide whatever mischief they got up to. She slid in and toed her shoes off onto the floor mat. With a sl
am of the door, Ford joined her, and they were alone, blissfully alone.
“I wanted a moment of privacy with my new fiancée.” He grinned, and her insides turned to jelly. Somehow with the engagement now official, it was safe to let down some of the resistance she naturally threw up against her attraction to him. The boundaries they’d agreed upon erased the compulsion to hold back for fear of Ford not reciprocating.
“I didn’t realize there would be a ring,” she blurted, realizing how stupid she sounded as soon as the words were out of her mouth. “I mean, I should’ve guessed, but all I thought about was the proposal. That was a nice touch.”
Ford’s easy laugh wound around her in the small space. “We can’t very well get engaged without a ring. I hope you like it; I wanted to have at least some part of this be a surprise for you.”
She admired the huge diamond resting on her finger, figuring it at least two and a half if not three carats. Yeah, it would do. “I love it, Ford. It’s truly exquisite.”
He shrugged, though he looked pleased that she was happy with it. “I thought it suited you. A beautiful ring for a stunning woman.”
“You’re sweet.” She breathed him in and watched as he loosened his tie and undid the top few buttons of his shirt. The intense gleam in his eyes was anything but sweet, and an answering need welled inside her.
Without further thought, she urged him closer to her, gently but insistently, by softly tugging the tie he’d loosened. Capturing his lips with hers, Ford pulled her up to straddle his lap and moved to the center of the backseat in one smooth motion. At almost six feet tall, Lily always felt Amazonian, but in Ford’s arms, she felt light, protected, and utterly feminine. He coaxed her lips open to deepen the kiss, their tongues tangling as her fitted sheath dress rode up her thighs. His arms snaked around her, pulling her closer as she fitted herself against him. Ford buried his face against her neck, sending hot breath and electric shivers across her skin. He nipped at the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder, dropping quick kisses as he nudged the fabric off of her shoulder. As his lips worked their magic, his hands slid down her back to cup her butt. He pulled her tighter against him, gently rocking her against the indisputable evidence of his arousal. His grip tightened, the pace quickened, and he moved from her neck to her ear.
“God, Lily, you’re so gorgeous,” he whispered. “I want you so bad.” He worked a hand beneath her until he could slip inside the thin fabric of her tiny lace panties. She didn’t even try to suppress the gasp that escaped her lips as his expert fingers went to work. He inhaled deeply as he kissed the spot behind her ear. “You smell incredible.”
Things were getting out of hand, going too far. She stiffened in his embrace, afraid to say anything but unable to recover her carefree mood. A slight tremble shook her body as she realized what she’d agreed to with the engagement and how far she’d almost gone in the backseat of the car.
“What’s wrong?” His voice broke through the silence, blessedly sounding worried instead of aggravated, and she couldn’t hide from him. She peeled her eyes open with great effort, to see genuine concern in his expression. Ford ran his hands up and down her sides, calming her.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I got carried away, and I don’t think I can do this.” As the words spilled out of her mouth, she cringed. Carried away was putting it mildly. She’d ground herself against him like a horny teenager, in a car where anyone could walk by and take a peek. She’d led him on without even stopping to think about the consequences. “I can’t believe I did that. I haven’t been with anyone since my husband died, and I’m not ready. I’m sorry, really, because I should have thought about that before all this started.” She waved her hand weakly between them, trying to explain.
“Hey, it’s okay. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.” The worry in his voice softened to understanding. “This is a lot for one day, and I don’t mind waiting. We can take things slow.”
She slipped off his lap, pulling her dress down over her thighs as she moved, and sat beside him in the backseat, sighing softly as she slipped her feet back into her shoes. She couldn’t believe how close she’d come to giving in to her attraction without even thinking through things first. It was bad enough that she’d agreed to marry someone else. She couldn’t betray Nathan by developing genuine feelings for Ford, too. The raw exposure of giving him control over her like that was unnerving. The past several years had made Lily an expert at maintaining tight control over her emotions and desires, the best way she knew to guard her heart against shattering. She never let herself fall for anyone, and at the very least didn’t enjoy a man more than he enjoyed her. Ford was working on breaking all her rules, and incredibly, she wasn’t sure she’d try to stop him for much longer. She wasn’t quite ready to cross that bridge, though.
“Tonight was supposed to be fun, and I’m sorry for ruining it. You put together such a nice proposal.” She fiddled with the fabric of her dress, uncomfortable meeting his gaze. “Maybe we should call it a night.”
Ford shifted in the seat beside her. “Sure, sure, no problem. But Lily, really, you didn’t ruin anything. This engagement is going to save my campaign, and I am incredibly grateful to you. I’m the one who got carried away, and I won’t push you again.”
They moved to the front seat in awkward silence before Ford pulled out of the parking garage and drove her home.
Chapter Six
Ford smiled to himself as he exited Central Expressway several miles before Lily thought he would. She’d given him directions to her parents’ house, and he’d picked her up a bit early to surprise her with a quick side trip.
“Um, you know that wasn’t our exit, right?”
Ford put his hand on her knee and squeezed, loving how natural it felt to reach out and touch her. “I’ve got a quick surprise first, if that’s okay with you.”
She grinned. “That sounds exciting.”
He followed the directions Joelle had sent him and found the building. “Here we are.”
Lily’s brow furrowed in confusion as he unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door. Ford walked around to her side and opened the door, offering his hand as she stepped out. She didn’t need his help, but he was glad when she took it. Ford led her to the door of the nondescript commercial building.
Fishing a key out of his pocket, he opened the door and held it for her. “Let’s check it out.”
Lily stepped in, elegant in the bland environment. White walls, low pile gray carpet, and generic office furniture greeted them. The air was still and chilly, but the place was clean. She turned as she took in the space, and finally spoke up. “All right. I give up. What is this place?”
“This could potentially be Soldier On. Joelle’s husband is a commercial real estate agent, and he is a genius at matching tenants and buildings. It’s just an idea, of course. There are plenty of other spaces when you’re ready to decide. He’s available to meet up with you if you want, but I thought it would be fun to show you this place myself.”
He could practically see the wheels turning as Lily walked around the building. “Oh my gosh. This would be perfect! It’s got everything.” She ran her hand lightly against the wall as they passed empty offices and found a kitchen. “I can’t believe you had time to do this.”
“Honestly, all I did was talk with Joelle’s husband about your organization and what you had in mind. He did all the hard work. I’m happy to take credit though.”
He pulled her close, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “This was a nice surprise, Ford. Thank you.”
“It was nothing. I can look at other spaces with you if you want, or I can turn you and your dad over to the real estate agent.” He cringed. “Speaking of your dad, I guess we should get going. I’m sure they’re expecting us.”
• • •
“This is the part where you tell me not to worry because they’ll love me.” Ford pulled Lily’s hand to stop her on the walkway leading toward her parents’ f
ront door. The suburban neighborhood buzzed with the sound of dogs and children outside enjoying the unseasonably warm fall temperature.
She squeezed his hand and grinned. “I would, but I’m not a liar.”
He tossed his head back with a laugh. “Oh, great. I can’t wait to meet them.”
“They’re…different. They may not adore you at first sight, but I’m sure they’ll be polite. You have nothing, well, mostly nothing, to worry about.” She bounced on her toes, adorable in the late-afternoon sunlight.
“You’d think I’d be used to venturing into hostile territory by now, but a congressional campaign is nothing compared to meeting the parents.”
“They’re outspoken, maybe even a little extreme in their views, but they stay out of my relationships.” The cocked eyebrow told Ford that Lily had at least guessed that his family probably wouldn’t approve of her, and at least she didn’t have a seven-member advisory team passing judgment on him. “And they won’t try to make you uncomfortable like some people would, so relax. Oh, and be sure to call them Ted and Jules.”
“Fair enough. Let’s get this party started.”
Before Lily could knock or turn the knob, the door opened to reveal a thoroughly-average middle-aged couple who were clearly pleased to see their daughter. She leaned down to embrace them each in turn, their greetings lost against her shoulders. With his hands shoved into his pockets, Ford rocked back on his heels, waiting for an opening to approach the trio.
Lily’s mother disentangled herself and enveloped Ford in a patchouli-scented hug, her sturdy, warm body against his a welcome change from the formal air kisses and brittle half-hearted embraces he received from his own mother. She ushered him inside, following Lily and her father.
“Come on in, you two. It’s not every day we entertain a congressman.” Jules encouraged them to sit in the living room while she bustled into the kitchen. Ted’s grudgingly muttered greeting told Ford all he needed to know about how the couple’s politics meshed with his own. If the lackluster reception wasn’t enough of a clue, the pictures of the Ashtons either raising signs at protests or posing with well-known liberals and civil rights activists filled in the blanks. He had his work cut out for him.
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