Harlequin Kimani Romance September 2014 Bundle: Seduced by the Heir\Secret Silver Nights\Someone Like You\Indulge Me Tonight (29 page)

Chapter 18

“N
iko, it's Monique.”

“Hey, Mo.”

“It's funny hearing you call me that.”

“That's what's on your campaign posters. Who'd ever vote for a mayor named Mo?”

“Probably the ones who preferred that to Nicodemus.”

“Ouch! I was named after a great man.”

“Perhaps, but you started it.”

A week had passed since Niko had played doctor and brought healing potions, his presence included, into her house. They'd exchanged a few phone calls and texts, their camaraderie growing with each exchange.

“I just called to thank you for the information you gave me. I have a meeting with the producer later today. He's really creative and has already given me some great ideas. You were also right in that he is flexible and able to work within my budget. So, again, thanks so much.”

“You're welcome. How are you feeling?”

“Much better.”

“Good. You sound better.”

“Yes, I had a very good doctor.”

His voice dropped an octave. “Is that right.”

“Yes.” Her voice became sexy, flirty. “He's really good.”

“Good. You can thank him tonight.”

Monique swallowed, gripped her phone tighter as she asked, “How?”

“By buying me a hamburger.”

“What?” Niko laughed. This was obviously not the answer she'd expected. “Are you serious?”

“Mo, I don't play when it comes to food. Do you have any appointments tonight?”

Monique checked her calendar. “Aside from the video-production meeting, no, I don't.”

“Then what about seven-thirty, at the Cove Café?”

“You're determined to get gossip started, aren't you?”

“Why are you worried about wagging tongues?”

“Because perception is reality and I don't need any type of scandal smearing my name. You're in the lead and feel there's no need to worry. But I'm coming for you, Niko. I promise you that.”

“What time is your appointment with the producer?”

“Five-thirty.”

“Move it to seven and have him join us. That way it won't be just us two.” When she remained quiet, he told her, “I want to see you, all right?”

“I'll see if he can change his schedule. If so, I'll see you then.”

“Bring your big wallet. Since you're paying, I'm going to go for the triple-decker.”

“For sharing your commercial producer with me? I'll even let you order fries.”

Another busy day made the time pass quickly. Monique had asked the producer to meet her at six-thirty, so she'd have a half hour to talk over strategy before Niko arrived. Scott was a young, bright recent college graduate with a degree in film production. He worked at the public station to hone his chops with plans to move to a bigger commercial market next year. Most importantly, he was passionate about what he did and obviously very good at it. She told him her goals and overall vision. He presented ideas on how to best convey that in thirty seconds. By the time Niko joined them, just after seven, Monique felt confident about the plans that had been made.

“Well,” Niko said following their greeting, “I see my opponent didn't want to show her hand.”

“Nothing personal,” Monique replied, a sly smile matching her devilishly twinkling eyes.

“Of course not!”

The three got down to the business of ordering, but just as the waitress came over, Scott's phone rang. He listened, a slight frown instantly marring his face. “Does she have a fever?” He gathered his things. “No, it's okay. I'll stop by the store and be home in a minute. Okay. Love you, too.” He hung up and gave Monique and Niko an apologetic look. “Sorry, guys. I've got to run.”

“Is everything all right?” Monique asked.

“I've got a little one who's teething. She's not too happy right now. I'd like to stay, but the wife needs some things from the store.”

“No worries, man,” Niko said, rising to shake Scott's hand. “Go take care of your daughter.”

Once Scott left and Niko sat back down, he picked up his menu. “Sorry about that.”

“It wasn't your fault.” Monique perused the menu, as well.

“True, but I know how you hate to be seen alone with me.”

She looked around. “It's pretty crowded and nice and bright in here. Plus, we're on opposite sides of the table. I think we make an innocent-enough-looking tableau.”

“I concur.”

The waitress came back over and took their orders. “You weren't kidding about the triple burger,” Monique said with a laugh. “A pound of ground sirloin? That would last me for days.”

“I have a voracious appetite, what can I say?”

Thoughts of what she was hungry for could get her in trouble. Time to change the subject. “I finally had real conversations with Buddy and Dick.”

“What's your impression?”

“They were a lot as you said they'd be. Dick was pleasantly patronizing. I don't think he very much likes the idea of my running against him. Buddy is passionate about his causes, which I admire. He'll be good for this town.”

“I agree with everything you just said.” He nodded at one person, waved at another. “There's a question I've been meaning to ask you.”

“What's that?”

“The guy you were with the other night, Rob. I haven't seen him in town before. Who is he?”

“An ex who is still a good friend.”

At least he'd been before they'd argued. She still hadn't heard from him, and the concert was next week. Lance might get his wish after all.

“I admire people who can remain friends after dating. That has rarely worked for me.” The increasingly irate messages Ashley had left during the week because he'd refused her invites were solid proof.

“It's not easy. But Rob and I were friends before we began dating.”

“They say being friends before lovers is the way to go. What happened, if you don't mind my asking?”

“Rob wanted to get married.”

“And you didn't?”

After a long pause, Monique answered, “Not to him.”

“But you do want to get married?”

“Someday.” Monique looked at Niko, her expression unreadable. “When the right man comes along. What about you? Are you a confirmed, lifelong bachelor?”

“I'm not afraid of commitment. I love family, love children, and hope one day to have them.”

“So what are you waiting on?”

Niko didn't hesitate in his answer. “The right woman.”

Her comeback was interrupted by a familiar face approaching their table. The woman gave Monique a dismissive once-over. “Is this why you haven't returned my calls?”

Niko looked up. “Hello, Ashley.”

Providing Monique a clear view of her back, Ashley focused on Niko. “Is this why you've been running from me and are no longer available for conversation or to share a drink?”

“Does it look like I'm running from you now?”

“You know you've been avoiding me. Don't even try to lie.”

Other than a brief tightening of his jaw, Niko showed no outer signs of irritation. “You have my attention now, Ashley. What do you want?”

“If you'd returned one of several messages left on your phone, you'd already know. I want to play a more active and pivotal role in your campaign.”

“And I texted back the contact number for volunteers, though allowing me to place promotional items in your salon has been very helpful.”

Ashley changed tactics: lowered her voice, smiled seductively and lazily ran a hand up Niko's arm. “I'd like a more...personal role, you know, work with you directly to ensure the win. Unless you've found another way to shut down your competition, put some of that good Niko lov—”

“That's enough.” His voice was low yet deadly. “Don't cause a scene.”

Ashley bit back a retort and sat down, uninvited, at their table. Still she ignored Monique.

“Is this any way to treat a friend?”

Niko took a patient breath. “I apologize for not returning your calls. Between the campaign and company business, it's been a jam-packed week.”

“Apology accepted.” She leaned toward him, close enough for her tank-top-covered breast to graze his arm. “But only if after you leave here, you'll stop by my place for drinks.”

He moved his arm away from her chest. “That won't be possible.”

“Why not?”

He looked at Monique, who was tactfully viewing the exchange. “Forgive my rudeness.”

A not-so-subtle jab at this intruder's impolite behavior. “Ashley, have you met Mo Slater? She is an accomplished attorney who is running on the Democratic ticket. Mo, this is Ashley DeWitt.”

“Niko, can we talk privately for a moment?” For the attention Ashley gave her, Monique might as well have been invisible.

“I'm afraid not. Monique and I are having dinner and discussing the mayoral race. Whatever else you need to say to me can be shared here.”

“Trust me,” Ashley purred with a flip of her long brown hair and a smile. “What I have to say is for your ears alone.”

“If it's that private, I'm not interested.”

“Fine!” She gave Monique a cold look and stood. “I'll take my information elsewhere.”

“Goodbye, Ashley.”

She turned abruptly, almost knocking over the waitress delivering Niko's triple-decker and Monique's chicken cordon bleu sandwich.

“Sorry about that,” Niko said once Ashley and the waiter had left. “Jealousy, possessiveness and constant drama are some of the reasons we broke up. I thought we had an understanding, but she's falling back into old ways. You can't imagine...”

Monique offered a sympathetic smile as she spread her napkin. “Unfortunately, Niko, I can.”

Chapter 19

T
he Silver Serenade Concert was finally here. Dapper men and gorgeous, gown-clad women filled The Regency Center and shone brighter than the lights that dangled across the Golden Gate Bridge. A buzz of excitement was in the air as some of the one thousand lucky patrons who'd secured this hot ticket sipped wine, champagne and spirits, while others threw air-kisses to just-seen friends. Monique stepped into the lobby, accompanied by her campaign manager, Lance.

“Oh, my God,” he quietly squealed as he looked around. “This is fabulous! I should probably be sorry that Rob couldn't come.” Pregnant pause. “But I'm not!”

Monique didn't mind that Rob wasn't there, either. But she was glad that he'd finally sent her an email stating he was okay and would call her soon.

“You fit right in,” she said, brushing a stray piece of lint from Lance's lapel. And he did. Handsome enough to be a model, Lance wore a black Giorgio Armani tux with pale-pink-and-silver-striped shirt and silver bow tie. His raven-black hair was slicked back in a debonair fashion, bringing out the angular lines of his face and the stark blueness of his eyes.

Said blue eyes were shining. “I'm going to look like a groupie but I've got to take pictures. Brandon will be so jealous. He would have loved this!” He pulled out his phone and snapped a surprised Monique, underscoring his point.

“Monique, darling!” It was Margo. Monique turned, immediately aware that her godmother was in her element with diamonds dripping, silver silk swirling and not one hair out of place.

She reached where Monique and Lance were standing and held out her arms, first hugging Lance and then Monique. “You look positively radiant!” Margo stepped back to look at her goddaughter. “I love it when you wear your hair down. And I told you that the dress I ordered was perfect. You look positively stunning!”

“Thank you, Margo. I never would have chosen silver as a gown color, but I must say, this darker shade is beautiful.”

When Margo had told Monique that silver attire was strongly recommended for the Silver Serenade Concert, Monique had balked. “Silver? No, Margo, that will wash out my skin. I'll look ashy, like I went to the mall for lotion and they were sold out!”

“I'd seen that gown earlier in a fashion magazine and had immediately thought of you. It's a darker shade of silver, and I knew it would complement your tone perfectly. The earrings, necklace—” she looked down “—your shoes. You should really tip your stylist. She did you a grand.”

“She put me together,” Monique said to Lance. “Thank you, Margo, for doing an amazing job. And you, lady.” She shook her head as Margo let the silver fox boa slip from her shoulders. “I'm sure you must know that you're the belle of the ball.”

“The competition was fierce for which one of us would shine the brightest.” Margo looked around, her sixty-plus-year-old eyes shining. “I think my sparkle is pretty bright, if I must say so myself. Oh, I see some of those ladies now. Come, let's go over so I can introduce you to the board.”

Lance chose to stay and people watch while Monique and Margo crossed the lobby and entered a room for VIPs. There were uniformed waiters offering various hors d'oeuvres and flutes of champagne. In here, the air was rarefied. The bougie of the bougie, Monique thought, as she imagined that the jewels alone worn by the women could probably fund a third-world country for about ten years. After Margo introduced her to the board, they continued around the room, greeting Margo's other friends. Surreptitiously, she scanned the crowd, looking for Niko without consciously realizing it. They hadn't talked since sharing the meal at Cove Café. Crazy, but she missed him and was almost certain he'd attend.

They made the rounds. She didn't see him or any of the Drakes, for that matter. Surprise and disappointment vied for dominance, even as she spotted several Paradise Cove citizens. Thankful for the diversion, she began chatting them up. Margo left abruptly, before Monique could ask about the whereabouts of the Drakes. Figuring she'd find out soon enough, Monique continued talking with a man who owned several Paradise Cove businesses. She had just accepted a flute of champagne when an undeniable murmur spread across the room. About the same time her heart twisted. And somehow, innately, she knew. He was here. At the mere thought of seeing him again, she smiled and slowly turned around.

And there he was—handsome, even dastardly—parting a path in the room with his aura much like Moses did the Red Sea. The smile froze on her face and she was thankful for it. Because it gave the false impression that she was okay with the fact that he was not alone.

“Wow,” the Paradise Cove resident she'd been talking to commented. “Your opponent surely knows how to make an entrance. Niko has gone and brought Cinderella to the ball.”

Monique didn't respond, couldn't. But had she answered, she would have had to agree. Niko's date was tall, equaling Niko's height in her red-bottomed heels. She wore a wine-colored gown, which highlighted her tanned skin and jet-black hair, and stood out in a sea of silver. Even from across the room, Monique could tell that her features were flawless, her smile was radiant and she was exactly the type of woman Niko would choose. They made a perfect pair.

She wanted to head to the ladies' room a moment to clear her head. But it wasn't meant to be. Monique was cornered by a prominent citizen whose grandchildren attended Paradise Cove Elementary. She didn't stop to take a breath while making a very strong case to have a full-scale fire department built in the town within the next two years. Monique listened, while taking small steps toward the hall that led to the ladies' room.

“It should come before a hospital,” the woman added. “If we'd had one, the school may have been saved. And we've got a top-notch medical facility just thirty minutes away!”

After listening for as long as she could without appearing rude, she reached for the woman's hand. “You've made an excellent point. If elected, my team will take everything you've said under careful advisement. Please excuse me. There's something I need to do.”

That thing she'd told Niko she never did. Run!

But it was too late. When she looked up, there he was.

“Hello, Gladys,” he said to the woman who'd barred Monique's escape. He turned to her with hand outstretched. “Good evening, Monique.”

“Good evening, Niko.”

“You look lovely.”

“Thank you.”

“Monique, I'd like you to meet Zaria Hakimi. Zaria, this is Monique Slater, my formidable mayoral opponent.”

Zaria smiled at Monique sincerely. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” she said, with hand outstretched.

She was even more beautiful up close, Monique decided as she worked to get five measly letters past her suddenly dry lips. She was flustered, angry at herself for how she was feeling, and chose to try to regain her footing by putting her relationship to him in perspective.

“Hello.” She shook Zaria's hand. “Are you a resident of Paradise Cove?”

“Not yet,” she said, looking directly at Monique, though the comment was clearly not meant for her.

“It's a wonderful place to live. And should you decide to move there...I'd like to be your mayor.”

Zaria chuckled, a wonderful sound, like bells in the breeze. Her lyrical accent was equally charming. She turned to Niko. “Going after your supporters right in your face. I like her.” Her eyes swept Monique's attire. “I love what you're wearing. That color is perfect for you.”

Seriously? Did she have to be beautiful and a nice person, too? “It doesn't compare to your gown,” Monique responded. “It's just amazing. With all of the crystals and that lace? I could never wear something like that, but on you, it's effortless.”

She looked down just as Niko slid his arm around Zaria's waist. It was more a gentlemanly than possessive gesture, but a monster greener than the emerald ring on Zaria's finger sidled up beside her and whispered,
Wish it were you?

She was saved from her own thoughts when Niko's parents walked up.

“Monique, have you met my mother?” Niko asked.

“No, I haven't had the pleasure.”

Monique greeted Ike Sr. and met Jennifer, who along with some of their children had been backstage talking to some of the organizers of tonight's gala. She also said hello to Ike Jr. and his date before finally escaping when Lance found her and pulled her away.

“Enjoy the evening,” she said to the general group in parting. Niko looked at Monique. Outwardly his expression was casual, but Monique had studied his eyes enough to know that there was something going on in that well-groomed, close-cropped head of his.

Two hours later, after the last encore, she found out exactly what it was.