Candidate For Love

by Lita Lawson

  “Circumstances are a funny thing.” He shifted his weight, and the movement caused his thigh to brush against hers, sending a shiver of anticipation through her. “When I took this job to protect you and Sammy, I hadn’t planned on sticking around town. I’d just blown in to pay my respects to a man who died, someone who hadn’t given up on me when I was a punk with a chip on my shoulder. I stayed a few days to visit with Duke and Livia. I ran into Tad at the funeral.”

  Christine still didn’t say anything, just let him continue. She owed him a chance to explain his side to her.

  “He offered me this job of watching out for a woman and a kid who were getting threatening calls. He offered me good money, but that wasn’t the reason why I took the job. When I found out you were the woman, I was interested.”

  Surprised, she asked, “Why would that matter?”

  “Because. Remember way back when we were in high school? You mentioned it the first night I ran into you again.” His lips parted, and his disarming smile appeared.

  Christine felt a slight blush kiss her cheeks at the memory.

  “You remember . . . the time I almost gave you a ride home on my bike.”

  She nodded. “And protected me from the bullies who were bothering me. But Tad finally showed up.”

  “Yeah.” JT’s eyes narrowed. “Over all the years since I left town, that’s the one thing that haunted me.”

  Puzzled, she asked, “What did?”

  “That I never got to take you for that ride. I couldn’t help but wonder what possibilities might have been missed that night.”

  The air stilled between them, and Christine wasn’t sure she could breathe. She’d never seen him so earnest, so sincere.

  Mutely she nodded, unable to speak as his thumb grazed her lip.

  “And now that we’ve ridden together,” he said as he inched his body closer to her, leaving no room between them, thigh to thigh, hip to hip, “I’d like to stick around and see where things might go.”

  Christine’s heart raced as JT lowered his head and rested his forehead against hers.

  “I know you don’t want to talk about things right now, Chris. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate. But I just want you to remember, I want to keep taking that ride with you.” He kissed her gently on the forehead. “Come on. Let me walk you to your car.”

  After that, she wasn’t sure her legs would work. She’d never been so overwhelmed by anyone’s words before. He was giving her time to think, and wasn’t pressuring her.

  His palm pressed into her lower back, leading her out the door into the dark, cool night. The gravel crunched under their steps. He opened the driver’s side door and helped her get in her car. Before shutting her door, he said, “Just don’t write me off so quickly, Chris. Think about giving me another chance.”

  He closed the door and remained in place, watching as she pulled out of the parking lot onto the street. Looking in her rearview mirror, she could still see his darkly silhouetted figure standing there.

  Christine wanted to cry. She didn’t want the ride to end either. But it was so hard for her to trust again. She’d been lied to and hurt by Tad, and it had hurt her deeply. If JT hurt her that way, she wasn’t sure she could survive it.

  Her throat constricted, and the threat of tears stung her eyes. Right now was one of those moments she would love to be riding a motorcycle so she could forget everything that was bothering her.

  Chapter 15

  For Christine, the next few days crawled by at a snail’s pace. Constantly thinking about the election on Tuesday stretched her nerves to the breaking point.

  So wrapped up in her worries, she hadn’t decided what to wear on election night. Tuesday morning, she made a last-minute dash to the mall and dragged Sammy along with her, much to his disappointment. After an hour of trying on clothes, she settled on a vivid patriotic blue color, and Sammy got a new navy suit with a red bow tie.

  JT had told her before that she didn’t need to the hide the fact that she was a woman, didn’t need to dress so conservatively all the time. He encouraged her to be herself. She missed him and wished she was ready to trust a man again.

  Once they got back home, they ordered pizza in. Sammy played with a computer game while Christine got dressed.

  Looking into her makeup mirror as she applied foundation, she tried to quell the butterflies in her stomach. Nerves wouldn’t help the outcome of the election. Her hand shook while she applied mascara, and she wound up getting some on her eyelid instead.

  “Calm down,” she told herself.

  What was the worst that would happen if she lost? She would serve out her term on the city council, and could contemplate running for another term there. Or she could simply continue with the hospital foundation board, and perhaps see if she could find a full-time position at the hospital doing fundraising or public outreach.

  She didn’t want to continue being thought of as Tad’s ex-wife, the daughter of the socialite Anderson family, or the woman who lost the election because of hot kisses with a hunk on a motorcycle. It was high time she created her own niche, found a way to make her own mark in her hometown.

  Sighing, she banished all the negative thoughts from her mind. Whatever happens, happens. End of story.

  But her heart nagged her. What about her and JT?

  Rising, she went to the closet and pulled her dress from its hanger. She slipped it on and closed her eyes. It reminded her of when she and JT had gone to the museum together. How afterward he had shimmied the hem of her dress up over her hips. How his touch had warmed her skin and sent chills up her spine.

  And his kisses. His oh-so-hot kisses had seared her body like a brand, leaving her begging for more. When he was finally inside her, she had come alive. Together they had created an intoxicating magic.

  She missed him. The realization made her open her eyes and sit down on the bed. She truly missed JT.

  After zipping up her dress, she slipped into her shoes and went back to the mirror to apply lipstick. Her reflection showed a sadness in her eyes she couldn’t deny.

  “Mom,” Sammy yelled up the staircase. “We’re gonna be late!”

  “In a second.” Fluffing her hair one more time, she applied hairspray with a quick spritz.

  Sammy was waiting for her at the landing, holding a bunch of daisies and lilies from the garden in his hand. “These are for you.”

  “Thanks.” Her eyes clouded with a mist of sudden tears. “That’s very nice of you.” Bending down, she gave him a quick, tight hug, careful not to linger too long since he kept insisting he didn’t like the “mushy” stuff.

  “Let me put these in water, and then we’ll leave.”

  • • •

  Christine’s campaign headquarters had been transformed into party central. Red, white, and blue balloons and streamers were hung on the windows, walls, and even the filing cabinets.

  Brad met her and Sammy as they entered. “The lady of the hour!” he exclaimed as he hugged her and ruffled Sammy’s hair.

  Sammy scowled at the gesture of affection while he fidgeted with his bow tie.

  “The polls will be closing in half an hour.” Brad’s eyes danced with excitement. “Results will start coming in shortly after that from the smaller precincts.”

  Brad loved the challenge of politics and elections, and Christine knew she should be just as enthusiastic tonight as he was. But for her, the election had lost its luster. She pasted on her best candidate’s smile and began working the room, thanking volunteers, media, and donors alike. Everyone had worked so hard for her, and she appreciated their efforts.

  She was glad to see she had a good turnout. After the bad press about her dating, she wasn’t quite sure how many people she had alienated.

  “Oh, and I’ve got a surprise for you.” Brad pointed to the back of the room.

  Her parents. Her heart swelled at the fact that they hadn’t missed the event. But that was followed by another bout of nerves. If she lost, thei
r disappointment and disapproval would have to be dealt with.

  No time like the present.

  She made her way to her parents, who were already holding court. Her father looked dashing in his navy suit, his blue eyes sparkling at the excitement. She was sure it reminded him of his many elections waiting for the outcome. And her mother stood dutifully beside him, her arm intertwined possessively with his. Her petite figure looked trim in a tailored red suit, and her cropped blond hair was neatly coiffed, not a strand out of place.

  “Darling,” her mother said as she kissed the air next to her cheeks, careful not to mess her makeup.

  “Mother.” Chris hugged her gently and turned to her father. “Dad, glad you could make it.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. A second generation carrying on the family tradition.”

  “Hopefully that will be the case.”

  She remained in the ring of her father’s fans for as long as she could, and then made her way to talk to her supporters.

  An hour after the polls had closed, everyone sat around a TV. Thoroughly bored by that time, Sammy played a game of solitaire on the computer at her desk. Initial polling results showed the incumbent with a slight lead, with only about a one percent margin of error.

  Brad was manning the telephones, talking to precinct workers and getting updates on percentages as they closed.

  “Hey, Christine, you’ll never believe this.” He waved her over to his desk.

  As she approached, he laughed. “You’ve got an interesting pattern developing here.”

  “I do?”

  “Yes! This is incredible.” He laughed again, slapping his hand on his thigh. “You’re beating out the incumbent in his own liberal precinct.”

  “Are you serious?” Christine couldn’t imagine how that was happening.

  “It must have been the last-minute campaigning you did down at Duke’s, and helping out with the little boy’s benefit.”

  Incredulous, she dropped into a seat. A conservative candidate beating out a liberal—the incumbent—on his own turf? It was unheard of, and she remained speechless.

  “Christine . . .”

  She turned around, and there was Tad.

  “Tad.” Surprised, she stood, and he greeted her with an awkward hug and a kiss on her cheek. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “After all I’ve done, it was the least I could do.” Several flashes went off as nearby cameras documented their embrace.

  Brushing aside his comment, she just nodded in agreement. “Sammy’s over at the computer, if you want to spend some time with him.

  He started to walk away, and then turned. “One more thing, Chris. Are you still seeing JT?”

  She stiffened. “Not that it’s any of your business, but not at the moment. I still haven’t decided if I can trust someone again. Until I feel I can, there’s no point in spending time with him. I can’t let Sammy get attached to someone who won’t be sticking around.”

  “I have nothing to gain by telling you this, but I think you should give the guy a chance.” He smiled at her, the most genuine expression she’d seen on his face in a long time. “He seems to like our kid.”

  That smile reminded her of the better times she’d spent with Tad, and somewhat took away some of the pain he’d caused her.

  “Okay.” She watched as he walked away and sat down next to Sammy at the computer.

  Sighing, she went back to the TV to watch the results come in.

  By midnight, Sammy was stretched out on the couch, his head on his dad’s lap as he slept. His bow tie had been removed hours earlier, and Tad had laid his jacket over the boy to keep him warm.

  The headquarters had cleared out, and only the staunch supporters and volunteers remained. Soon the election would be called. The race had remained tight all evening, but in the last hour with three-quarters of the results tallied, Christine had maintained a small lead over the incumbent.

  “Everyone, they’re going to call it soon,” Brad announced to those remaining.

  Christine took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as she waited.

  A semicircle of supporters stood behind the couch, and everyone was quiet. The announcer came on and declared Christine the winner.

  A rousing cheer went up, waking Sammy. She kissed him, and accepted a hug from Tad and her parents. Brad gave her a bear hug next, followed by a whirlwind of people who also wanted to hug her and congratulate her.

  Excitement hummed through Christine’s entire being. Exultant, she couldn’t have been more thrilled if she had won the lottery. It meant everything to her to know that she had stood on her convictions and not caved under the press’s hounding about her and JT.

  JT. The thought of him filled her with a sadness and a longing. She scanned the room for him, but knew she wouldn’t find him there. She hadn’t expected him to show up, but a part of her had hoped he would.

  There was no more time to think about it as the media crush was already arriving. She slipped into the bathroom to gather her thoughts and try to prepare her acceptance speech.

  My acceptance speech! I’ve won!

  A delayed reaction of her sweet victory made her pulse pound. She checked her makeup in the mirror as she tried to remember what she had always imagined she would say if she ever won.

  As she ran a fresh coat of lipstick across her lips, Christine could see her hand was shaking. If only JT was here, she would feel calmer. But she didn’t have the luxury of thinking about him. It would distract her, and she’d never remember what her acceptance speech was supposed to be.

  When she emerged from the bathroom, Brad was waiting for her nearby.

  He grabbed her in another bear hug, unable to hide his enthusiasm. “I told you we were still in the running. Ye of so little faith.” A big smile spread across his face. “Now, Madame Mayor, are you ready to make your acceptance speech?”

  Shakily, she replied, “If I could just remember what it was!”

  Together, they laughed. Flashes of photos being taken flickered around the headquarters, making the building look as if it had been invaded by fireflies.

  “Let’s go.” Christine hooked her arm in Brad’s and they walked into the crowd. Standing in front of one of her campaign posters decorated with streamers and balloons, Christine faced the small crowd of well-wishers and journalists.

  “Good evening.” She couldn’t suppress the grin on her face. “I am so thrilled and grateful that the voters have spoken and made me their mayor.”

  Cheers went up, interspersed with clapping and a few whistles.

  “I’ll keep this short, as the hour is late.” She glanced over to where a sleepy Sammy was standing next to his dad. “There are so many people to thank, and I can’t begin to name them all, but you know who you are.” As she spoke, she wondered what JT was doing at this moment. “I pledge to work hard for every citizen of Charleston. It is my goal to make this a better community for all of us to live and work in.”

  With a smile, Christine concluded her acceptance speech by saying, “Thank you all for continuing to support me throughout this campaign. Now, go home to your families.”

  She shooed them away playfully, and made her way through the group of people, shaking hands and smiling.

  • • •

  When Christine pulled into the driveway, her headlights cut a swath through the darkness as she made the turn, reflecting off the chrome of JT’s motorcycle parked out front. Her heart rate sped up, and she felt her hands grow cold and her mouth go dry.

  She got out of the car and went around to the passenger side where Sammy was sleeping.

  “Here,” a deep voice said behind her. “Let me get him for you.”

  Stooping, JT lifted a sleeping Sammy out of the car and followed Christine into the house. She led the way upstairs. Leaning in Sammy’s bedroom doorway, she watched while JT gently laid Sammy on the bed, worked his shoes free, and covered him with his blanket.

  Her heart pounding, she look
ed at the man, really looked at him. Dressed in his usual black clothing, wearing his leather jacket and his hair gathered in a rawhide tie, he didn’t look like the type of man who would tenderly tuck a child into bed. But he was. JT treated Sammy like the boy was his own.

  Retreating from Sammy’s bedroom, JT joined her in the hallway. With him standing next to her, the area seemed to shrink in size. His body was close enough to remind her of how his touch could turn her on like no other.

  Her voice husky, she whispered, “Thanks for carrying him up here for me. He’s grown so much; I can’t carry him anymore.”

  When she met his gaze, his eyes looked like liquid gold. Whispering, he said, “Come downstairs, I’ve got something on the porch for you.”

  This time she followed him, taking in his mane of hair that ended just below his shoulders. Her gaze traveled down to his tight butt and the jeans that couldn’t conceal the strong muscles beneath the fabric.

  He held the screen door open for her as they went out into the cool night air. As she walked past him, she felt the heat emanating from him.

  JT went over to the glass-topped table and picked up a long white box. He held it in front of her. A bow of red, white, and blue ribbons was tied around the box.

  “What’s this?” She took the box from him and cradled it in her arms.

  “It’s a congratulatory gift. I thought you might like it.”

  Undoing the knot in the bow, she let the ribbon fall to the floor and lifted the box lid off. As she unfolded green tissue paper inside, the scent of roses gave away the surprise. Lifting the box closer, she breathed in the sweet aroma. There had to be at least two dozen in there, all red.

  “Thank you, JT. They’re beautiful.”

  “Not as beautiful as you.” Angling his face, he leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips, and then pulled away.

  Christine didn’t want to open her eyes. And she wanted him to keep on kissing her.

  “Chris,” he said, his voice low.

  Opening her eyes again, she couldn’t see his in the dim porch light. Shadows played on the strong planes of his face.