The Marriage Campaign

“Then you understand what I mean. And while I thank you for this lovely meal, it wasn’t at all necessary.”

“It interrupted what you needed to do,” he said drily.

“Honestly, yes.” She almost bit her lip but stopped herself. She’d meant to chastise him, perhaps, but it hadn’t come out that way. She mentally cursed herself. She’d sounded petulant.

The right corner of Mark’s lip inched up and he rubbed his chin. “So I find beside me a woman who can save herself and handle sticky situations on her own. And she’s riled that I stepped in.”

“Absolutely,” Lisa said, a prickle of wariness riveting up her spine. While he’d controlled the conversation earlier, this time he was doing more than exerting his expertise. He was leading her somewhere, readying himself to zero in on something still unknown to her.

“Although you admit that your having dinner with me did please Herb and will tickle my father and mother with delight,” he pointed out.

“But my role isn’t to sit here and eat with you,” she countered.

“And if I asked you to another meal instead?”

Oh, he was smooth. But this time she didn’t miss a beat. She said, “I’d say no.”

Instead of being offended, he simply smiled, that grin of his indicating he’d been quite prepared for her rejection. “Of course you would say no. I can even list the reasons. You don’t have time. You’re too career-oriented. And quite frankly, despite our kiss, you’ve never liked me much, have you?”

She reached for her water glass, the movement allowing her needed composure. He’d turned the tables on her yet again by seeing straight through her.

“Well?” he prodded.

“No,” Lisa admitted, sticking with the honesty approach. “I’ve heard way too many stories of your exploits over the years to believe that you’re any kind of continual dinner-date material. You’re a playboy, Mark. You kissed me and left me. Probably a momentary aberration, certainly a lack of common sense on my part. No, I’m sorry, but you aren’t dating material, much less marriage. And with my job, I don’t have time to waste.”

He sat back, his expression thoughtful. “So that’s it.” He shook his head, more to himself than at Lisa. “My misguided-youth reputation precedes me that much. I’ll have to talk to my sister about that. I can assure you that my being a rogue is extremely exaggerated.”

“Right.” Lisa gave a short, disbelieving laugh. “That’s why you attended Joann’s wedding reception with one woman and left with another after kissing me and declaring that I was the one you wanted. Can you deny that you left with someone?”

“I’m already tried and convicted. What’s the point?”

Lisa pushed her dessert plate forward. Thankfully their tablemates were engaged in their own private conversations. “The point is that I’d really prefer not to discuss this, especially here. I apologize for getting us started on this topic, so let’s drop it. How we feel about each other is irrelevant. You pass the hat, and I tell my parents and Joann I’ve seen you and that you’re doing well. You do the same, and we go our separate ways and all is right with the world.”

That dark eyebrow arched in skepticism. “That’s it?”

“There should be more?”

“Fate reintroduced us for a reason. Are you sure you’re ready to sever our newly formed alliance?”

In a show of derision, she arched her eyebrow right back. “What new alliance?”

His voice dropped a notch as he baited her again. “The one that could get you everything you need and want.”

“I’m dating someone,” she said, the fib automatic.

“So am I,” Mark said without blinking. As for his statement, Alanna still didn’t believe the relationship was over, so that certainly made his statement enough of a truth to satisfy a politician.

And as for dating Lisa, as a freshman she’d been cute: blond hair, blue eyes and a smile that, when she got just a little older, would drive all the boys wild. At the wedding reception, she’d been hot. He’d wanted her then. Heck, he remembered being just drunk enough to think that she could be the one. That’s why he’d made a beeline for her at the first opportunity and worked on her all night before finally getting her alone in the hall.

Which was why this grown-up Lisa with her political promises now annoyed him and yet still intrigued him. And he let nothing that piqued his interest simply slide by without some intervention on his part. Especially now that he understood why she hadn’t met with him that night. Women. Always jumping to conclusions. Like now.

His smile faded to indicate his seriousness. “Our alliance has nothing to do with some misguided crush or some kiss or us dating—let’s clear that up. However, given that you and I have Joann in common, you should consider me your ally. Despite my jaded view of politics, I have connections in this town that can get you money for Herb’s campaign. I know people that you can’t reach without me and I have access to even more through my mother. Do you know how thrilled Mom’s going to be when I tell her I saw you? And that you’re working for Herb? Herb, who was in their wedding party?”

“He was?” Lisa hadn’t known that.

“Yes. And the minute I tell Joann, you know she’s going to suggest that I help you, as well.”

“I was already planning on calling her later this week. I also had your parents on my agenda.”

“Well, plans change, don’t they?”

“Obviously,” Lisa said, and Mark knew she was referring to what she saw as his indiscretion at the wedding.

Mark reached forward and took a long sip of water. As he’d said, she already had him tried and convicted. There was no point in revealing the truth now. He’d been raised that you always kept an ace in the hole. Lisa’s misperception was his ace.

He could see the hypothetical wheels turning in her head as she contemplated what he’d said. For a moment he wondered if achieving her end goal ever tempted her to consort with the devil. At least he wasn’t that bad, which he’d prove to her one step at a time. Then he’d reveal the truth. For suddenly Mark had clear insight into what he wanted from Lisa Meyer. He wanted the magic back. At the reception, he’d drunkenly thought she was the one. Maybe she wasn’t anymore, but if nothing else, he wanted her apology and, with it, a complete surrender that she’d been wrong about him.

“You really should consider my proposition,” he told her. “You know I’m right and that in reality I’m really not that bad of a guy. Let me help you.”

“Why are you doing this?” she asked.

He covered her hand with his, an intense warmth fusing them together. “Because Joann would hate it if we couldn’t be friends. Because it’s the right thing to do.” And because I’m not finished with you yet.

Lisa pulled her hand free as Herb reached the podium. Herb’s speech gave her some time to consider Mark’s outrageous proposal. The offer sounded too perfect, too ideal. And everyone knew the old adage that if something sounded too good to be true then it probably was.

But Mark held true to his word, starting Pass the Hat with the announcement he was putting four thousand into the kitty, two for him and two for his father. The female vocalist hired for the evening sang a patriotic ballad while campaign staff passed black top hats around the room. Once finished, the formal part of the evening drew to a close, replaced with dancing and mingling for those wishing to stay.

Although she was able to escape from Mark during the dancing, Lisa had to admit that his proposition bothered her. Form an alliance with him? He was on her list, slightly above the devil. He was a cad.

So the odds of partnering with Mark: zero. Sure, the idea held merit, but Lisa had learned early that all favors came with either price tags or strings. And he’d already deserted her once.

Being indebted to Mark Smith in any way was plain frightening, and Lisa was a woman whom little scared. But tonight, the way he’d simply taken over and gotten what he’d wanted—namely her—had been a powerful example of his gumption and guts.

He was a man who did what suited him, a man steeped in the tradition that growing up in wealth and privilege offered. Mark could have been anything, done anything. It didn’t work that way for Lisa. While she would put Herb Usher into the governor’s mansion, she’d never live there herself.

Seeing Herb get his governorship was her goal, an investment in achieving the political appointment she wanted.