It Takes a Hero

by Gina Wilkins

  Perry made no secret of the circumstances that had put them together for the evening; in fact, he seemed to relish telling everyone that Kristin had “bought” him with a generous contribution to charity. She cynically suspected that he considered his own participation politically advantageous. He even arranged to have them photographed by several of the society-page photographers in attendance, making sure Senator Henley—whose reelection campaign Perry was spearheading—was included in a couple of the shots.

  Kristin was on her best behavior all evening. She sipped champagne and nibbled hors d’oeuvres and paid close attention to what others were saying. She didn’t drift off into daydreaming, as she had tended to do since childhood whenever she was bored or distracted. She kept her few political opinions to herself when they conflicted with those expressed by others around her—Perry, included. She wasn’t here for political reasons, she reminded herself, but for charitable ones. She was a writer, an entertainer, not a policy maker.

  Though this was hardly her usual milieu, Kristin wasn’t really nervous during the evening. Maybe Perry’s continuous presence at her side helped. He was so completely at ease that she couldn’t help but relax. Though there were times when she sensed his attention was focused elsewhere—usually on his candidates—she didn’t mind. After all, she was busily making mental notes of everything she might be able to use in a book.

  A beautiful woman with dark auburn hair and truly amazing breasts spilling out the top of a gorgeous black dress approached them with a faint smile for Perry and a curious look at Kristin. “Hello, Perry. It’s been a while.”

  Kristin noted that his smile looked a bit strained, for the first time all evening. “Hi, Jennifer. How’ve you been?”

  “Fine, thank you. And you?”

  “Great. I heard you just got back from Europe.”

  “Italy,” she confirmed. “It was lovely.”

  This was the most stilted conversation Kristin had heard all evening. It was quite obvious that Perry and Jennifer had a personal history. They must have made a beautiful couple, she thought, studying them discreetly, but she’d guess from their behavior now that it had ended unpleasantly.

  Jennifer turned to Kristin. “I’m sorry, we’re being rude. Since Perry has neglected to introduce us, I’m Jennifer Craig. And you are...?”

  The dig at Perry was subtle, but sharp. Kristin cleared her throat. “I’m Kristin Cole.”

  “Elspeth mentioned that you ’bought’ Perry at a charity bachelor auction.”

  Kristin smiled. “Yes. He very generously donated his time to the literacy fund-raiser.”

  Jennifer lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow. “As busy as Perry usually is, it’s amazing he found time to donate to any charity, no matter how worthwhile.”

  Kristin heard the message embedded in the comment Whatever had been between Jennifer and Perry, his busy schedule had been a serious problem for them.

  “I’m learning to manage my time a bit better than I used to,” Perry said quietly. “This fund-raiser was important. I found the time for it.”

  Jennifer studied him somberly for several long moments. “That’s nice to hear,” she said finally. “Maybe you’ve learned there are some things more important than the latest polls.”

  She turned to Kristin without giving Perry a chance to respond. “It was very nice to meet you, Kristin. I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my friend is waiting for me. See you, Perry.”

  “See you, Jenn,” he replied. He watched her walk away, then turned to Kristin. “I′m thirsty,” he said, smiling as brightly as he had before the encounter with Jennifer. “Want some champagne?”

  She nodded and accompanied him to the nearest champagne fountain. She noticed that Perry didn’t look over his shoulder as they moved away. Apparently, he wanted to forget all about the encounter with Jennifer Craig.

  There was dancing later in the evening, after the guests had been welcomed by several prominent speakers. Kristin danced several times with Perry and then with the quarterback of her favorite professional football team. Perry arranged that dance for her after she spotted the athlete and mentioned how much she enjoyed following the team. Before the evening ended, she’d danced with so many celebrities that she knew her mother would be both thrilled and envious when Kristin told her about it later.

  She saved the last dance for Perry. Despite all her mental precautions, she couldn’t prevent a little thrill of reaction from coursing through her when he took her in his arms. This slim, graceful male had quite a nice body hidden behind his conservative evening wear, she couldn’t help thinking as he pulled her close on the pretext of being able to converse while they danced. “Have you had a nice time?” he asked her.

  “I’ve had a lovely time,” she answered, determinedly pulling her attention away from his broad chest and strong thighs.

  “Is there anyone you haven’t met that you would like me to introduce you to?”

  She laughed and shook her head. “I’ll never remember everyone I’ve met tonight. But thank you for being such a gracious host.”

  “I’ve enjoyed it,” he said, looking sincere—not that she put much stock in that, since she knew looking sincere was a successful politician’s primary talent.

  “Most of the guests seem to have left,” she commented, glancing around the emptying ballroom.

  “Yes. They’ve made sure their names will be included in all the society-page reports tomorrow, and now they’re off to whatever forms of entertainment they really prefer.”

  She looked up at him, wondering how he really felt about splashy galas like this one—and the people who attended them. “Was the evening a success? In terms of the fund-raising goals, I mean.”

  “A great success—in all respects,” he replied, looking satisfied.

  “I didn’t hear many people talking politics tonight”

  He shrugged. “Tonight wasn’t about politics, per se. Tonight was about money. And a great deal of it was raised. Interesting, isn’t it, that you and I have spent two weekends now raising money for worthwhile causes?”

  Kristin bit her lip, unable to prevent a quick frown, when he compared the bachelor auction with tonight’s event. She was passionately in favor of raising money for charities such as the literacy project. She’d donated to bake sales for churches, walkathons for medical research, car washes for high school cheerleaders, rummage sales for the local humane society. She’d bought cases of Girl Scout cookies and spent hours reading to schoolchildren, encouraging them to pursue their dreams as she had pursued her dream of writing. But she was having a hard time believing that any of those causes belonged in the same category as raising money to make sure Perry’s political cronies were put into office.

  Perry’s gaze narrowed on her face. “Is something wrong, Kristin?”

  She deliberately cleared her expression. “No, of course not. I’m glad your fund-raiser was a success. You must be very pleased.”

  He looked as though he might question her more, but the song ended. Maybe she only imagined it, but Perry seemed reluctant to release her. He held on just for a moment after the music died away, studying Kristin’s face, as if wondering what she was thinking. She fervently hoped her thoughts didn’t show in her eyes, since she’d been doing her best not to let him see that she had been thoroughly dazzled by him.

  As if to give her an out, Marcus Williams appeared at Perry’s side. “Perry, I need to talk to you about something,” he said a bit apologetically.

  “What is it, Marcus? Has Mrs. Henley...?”

  Kristin wondered why Perry seemed worried as he asked about the senator’s wife. But Marcus. shook his head. “No, she’s fine. The thing is, I′ve just heard that you’ve been requested to appear on Friday Morning Update tomorrow. They’re going to be talking about the vice president’s latest gaffe. It was thought best if you go on to represent Senator Henley, rather than sending him to comment directly. ”

  Kristin watched
as Perry’s expression turned instantly speculative. She could almost see him weighing pros and cons, looking for pitfalls, mentally writing sound bites. And then he nodded. “It probably is best if I do the talking this time. We don’t want Robert to look too opportunistic.”

  Kristin managed not to roll her eyes. The political process was so calculated. Every word measured, every action debated. Who wanted to live that way?

  Perry glanced suddenly at Kristin, making her hastily clear her expression. “About our plans for tomorrow...” he began.

  “Don’t let me keep you from your work. I quite understand if you need to cancel.”

  He shook his head. “I have no intention of canceling. Friday Morning Update is taped very early. All I need to do is set our meeting time back half an hour. I’ll pick you up at ten, rather than nine-thirty, if that’s all right with you.”

  “Yes, of course, but are you sure you have time? Tonight was certainly well worth the contribution I made to the literacy auction, anyway, and I really should get back to work, myself.”

  “You bought a package that included an outing tomorrow,” Perry said stubbornly. “I’ll pick you up at ten.”

  Sensing that his pride had come into play, Kristin nodded and acquiesced. “All right. I′ll be ready at ten.”

  “Great. Marcus, you’ll make the changes in arrangements for us?”

  “You bet.”

  “Thanks.” He glanced at his watch. “Since I’m getting such an early start in the morning, I’d better call it a night. Kristin, are you ready to go?”

  “Yes.” She smiled and wrinkled her nose. “To be honest, it’s already past my usual bedtime. I tend to be one of those early-to-bed, early-to-rise types.”

  Perry chuckled. “I tend to be late-to-bed, early-to-rise. I’ve learned to get by on four or five hours’ sleep most nights.”

  “Less, at times,” Marcus agreed wryly.

  After a few more instructions for his aide, Perry escorted Kristin to the waiting limousine. She glanced over her shoulder as they left the ballroom. It really had been a special evening, she thought a bit wistfully.

  THE FEW PEOPLE WHO WERE in the lobby of Kristin’s hotel so late on this Thursday evening glanced their way as Perry escorted her through the front doors. She knew their evening clothes made them stand out from the more casually dressed tourists and business travelers. And she could spot the ones who recognized Perry, though most of them were fairly discreet about it.

  Kristin suspected Perry would have been noticed even if he wasn’t a regular on television talk shows. Men would heed the confident way he walked; women would be drawn to his masculine grace and beauty. Kristin was more accustomed to blending into crowds without being noticed, having always considered herself an observer rather than a participant. Yet she admitted to herself that there was a nice ego-boost to being seen with a man like Perry Goodman, if only for one evening.

  She just hoped all the mental notes she’d made during the past few hours would be of use to her when she sat down at her computer again.

  Perry insisted on walking her to her room, though she assured him she could make it by herself. “What kind of date would this be if I didn’t see you all the way home?” he chided good-naturedly, stepping into the elevator with her.

  She knew he was trying to be polite, that he was filling the role of “perfect date” as best he could. The whole evening had been an illusion, and Kristin thought she’d fit in very well, considering that she’d spent the entire time pretending. She wondered if Perry would be quite so persistent about spending more time with her if he had seen the real Kristin Cole.

  She couldn’t help wondering if there was more to Perry Goodman than the polished, practiced politician he’d shown her during the evening.

  There was no one else in her hallway when she and Perry stepped off the elevator. Her key card in her hand, she turned to him at her door. “Thank you again for a very interesting evening,” she said, in a low voice.

  Perry moved a step closer, his manner casual, nonthreatening, his eyes gleaming with humor. “So this is the end of the first half of our ten thousand-dollar date.”

  Kristin had to chuckle at his wording, though she was suddenly, vividly aware that she and Perry were alone together for the first time. “Yes, I suppose it is.”

  “I’m not sure you got your money’s worth,” he said with a crooked, self-deprecating smile.

  “I’m quite sure I did,” she replied airily. Now, if only she could manage to squeeze a few chapters out of the experience...

  “There’s still one small detail we should take care of before we can officially call it a night.”

  She didn’t trust his innocent expression for a moment. Her pulse was suddenly showing an odd tendency to race. “What small detail?”

  “The good-night kiss. It is customary, you know, at the end of a date.”

  Kristin cleared her throat. “This wasn’t exactly a date.”

  “Of course it was. The nicest date I′ve had in quite a while, actually.”

  There hadn’t been any overt flirtation in Perry’s manner toward her earlier. But he was most definitely flirting now. And Kristin would have had to have been made of stone not to respond. She swallowed. “That’s a very nice thing to say. But...”

  “One little kiss,” he murmured, laying a hand against the side of her face. “Just to make it official.”

  She couldn’t help smiling a little, though her heart was now tap-dancing nervously in her chest. Her hands rose to his shoulders, and she was vividly aware again of how solid he was. “I suppose there’s no harm in one little kiss.”

  “No harm at all,” he assured her. And then he lowered his mouth to hers.

  The moment his lips touched hers, Kristin realized that this wasn’t going to be a “little” kiss. This, she thought dazedly as his mouth moved against hers, was a toe-curling, mind-spinning, bellringing humdinger. And, oh, was she enjoying it!

  When Perry finally drew back for oxygen, Kristin found herself staring up at him, unable to think of anything to say. What witty, sophisticated thing would one of her heroines say at this point? Kristin was quite sure it wouldn’t be “Holy Moses!”

  Perry didn’t step away. Instead, he leaned close again and murmured, “Maybe just one more...”

  Kristin closed her eyes and lifted her face again. Just one more...

  Amazingly enough, the second kiss was as spectacular as the first. Kristin’s knees wobbled; she leaned against Perry for support. His arms went around her—and she wasn’t sure if he was holding her up or himself. She gasped for breath when he finally lifted his head.

  “I could come in for a little while....” he said, his voice husky.

  As tempted as she was to agree, Kristin managed to smile and shake her head. “We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. I’d better get some rest.”

  He looked momentarily disappointed, then he smiled and stepped back. “Well, it was worth a shot. I’ll see you in the morning, Kristin Sleep well.”

  “Good night, Perry.”

  She turned and opened her door. Before she stepped inside, she couldn’t resist looking over her shoulder. Perry was waiting for an elevator. Look ing elegantly at ease in his tuxedo, he stood with one hand propped against the wall. His dark hair was just a bit rumpled, as if by an errant breeze—or a woman’s fingers. He looked so utterly delicious that her mouth almost watered.

  Before she could be tempted to drag him into the room with her, Kristin hastily went inside and closed the door. And then fastened all the locks. Only then did she allow herself to sag against the door and mutter, “Holy Moses!”

  Kristin TURNED ON the television as she dressed the next morning, tuning in to Friday Morning Update —a program she never watched at home. Perry wasn’t the first guest, and before fifteen minutes of the program were up, Kristin’s eyes were already glazing over with boredom. Two representatives from opposing philosophies were debating an obscure issue, and Kristin had n
ever heard so much petty bickering and sarcastic name-calling in her life.

  And then Perry came on screen. Kristin could see right away why he was so popular on the talk show circuit. The camera loved him. When he talked, Kristin had the oddest sensation that he was speaking just to her, and she had no doubt other viewers felt the same way. He presented his case clearly, concisely, congenially, and when his counterpart from the other party tried to draw him into a heated argument, Perry was able to hold his own without resorting to personal attacks.

  Kristin didn’t have to agree with everything he said in order to admire his style. His presentation was flawless. Again, it was that very perfection that nagged at her. Just who was the real Perry Goodman? Was he no more than the glossy surface he presented to the public? Was he really deeply committed to the ideals he espoused, or would he argue as eloquently for the other side if paid enough to do so?

  Did he ever lose his temper or say something stupid? Had he ever spilled a drink on a head of state or walked out of a rest room with toilet paper clinging to his shoe or even temporarily totally lost his cool?

  It occurred to her that she really hadn’t spent enough time with him to get to know the real Perry. She knew that if he was judging her on the time they’d been together so far, he probably had a far different mental picture of Kristin Cole than what she was really like. Everything had just happened to go right for her last night; she hadn’t said or done anything foolish—except, perhaps, for those good-night kisses that had left her tingling long after she’d closed herself into her room. She blamed those on the champagne she’d sipped during the evening, which made a very convenient excuse for her uncharacteristic behavior.

  She only hoped she could make it through one more day with “Perfect Perry” without doing something utterly stupid.