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How come she’d been so comfortable trusting him, but unable to trust in herself? She wanted to be a part of his life. He’d told her he wanted to be a part of hers and then shared something intensely personal and painful about his past. That indicated a willingness to take things to a deeper level than before and she should be brave enough to explore the possibility.

Life wasn’t going to get less complicated if she walked away from him. In fact, already her heart was telling her turning her back on the feelings developing between them would lead to complications that would hurt her for the rest of her life.

He’d supported her through a scandal that was every bit as much her own fault as his. He deserved her support now. She was ready to fight for her place in the forefront of Matthew Landis’s life.

Ashley pushed back her chair and stood, gathering her purse. “My dear sisters, I agree. Renovate and sell Beachcombers.

It’s time, time for a lot of things.” She gathered her purse and her resolve. “I’m going to Matthew’s press conference to be with him.”

Where she now knew she belonged, beside the man she loved.

Matthew stood in the foyer of his campaign headquarters, gathering his thoughts. In less than ninety seconds, he would step outside and address the media about his plummeting poll numbers.

His staff stayed in the main office, their conversations a controlled low buzz as they gave him the space he needed to collect himself before stepping outside. He blocked out the noise from television monitors and kept his eyes off all the posters packing the walls.

He had speech notes tucked in his pocket, words that could end his political career, but unavoidable. He had to stop this press war that was tearing Ashley apart, and if that meant he lost the election then so be it. A man had to make a stand for what mattered most.

He hadn’t been able to do anything for Dana, but he damn well could fall on his sword for Ashley. He couldn’t live with himself if he ruined her life to save a career.

In losing Ashley, he’d blown the biggest opportunity of his life, way bigger than any senate seat.

He would find another way to change the freaking world. He had the resources and the drive. Ashley had shown him there were other effective approaches to life than just his bullheaded full speed ahead manner.

Matthew checked his watch again. Thirty seconds. He reached for the knob to step out and join Brent on the porch.

A hand fell on his shoulder. Matthew jolted. Damn. He’d been so preoccupied he hadn’t even heard anyone approach.

He pivoted to find…“Ashley? What are you doing here?”

Her brown eyes gleamed with a wide intensity, totally focused on him in a way that lured him, distracted him, at the worst possible moment.

“I came in through the back. Your mother met me and let me in.” She gripped his lapels, energy pulsing from her, her long hair rising in a staticky halo around her. “Matthew, what are you planning to say to those reporters?”

“The truth. That I’ve let them dictate my decisions in a way that has hurt others. That if I’m going to be an effective senator for my constituents, I have to be willing to take the flack that might come my way from the press.” He resisted the urge to gather her against him even as he ached to skim his hands along her sweet curves under her lemon-yellow sundress. “I’m going to say whatever it takes to protect you and set you free.”

RICH MAN’S FAKE FIANCEE

30

CATHERINE MANN

SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1878

THE LANDIS BROTHERS

She slipped her hand through the crook of his arm. “I’m going with you.”

“Like hell.” He scowled.

She scowled right back. “Just try and stop me.”

Before he could blink, she’d ducked under his other arm and slipped out the front door, straight toward the press conference. Hell, she was determined. And hot.

And headed for trouble.

He bolted after her, almost slamming into Brent, who was attempting to hide the panicked look on his face that appeared whenever things weren’t following his perfectly scripted agenda. The instant spent working his way around his campaign manager cost Matthew the precious time needed to catch Ashley before she took her place in front of the podium.

Complete with a microphone and a captive media audience.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the press. I know you expected to hear from Congressman Landis today, but I have to confess to being a bit pushy in wanting to get my two cents in first for the record.”

She flashed the gentle smile of hers combined with her shy way of glancing through her lashes at the crowd. How odd that he’d never before noticed her ramrod straight steely spine under that gorgeous mass of red hair. Those years in a back brace had honed strength in her nobody was going to cow, not even the most sharklike members of the media.

“I imagine we’ve gathered to talk about revealing photos.”

Her bluntness stunned everyone still. For all of three heartbeats and then photographers started snapping away again.

“Oh, but wait, we already discussed those pictures of me.”

A giggle started in the back, slowly working its way to the front until everyone relaxed and joined in. Interesting how everyone seemed to be perspiring from the summer heat—except for cool, collected Ashley.

“I appreciate that you’re all here. You offer a valuable service in getting the message out. Today, I simply want to make sure the message is factually correct so we’re not wasting time with messy legalities later.”

Whoa, she had the spine set on mega-strong today.

Brent shook his head slowly. “My God, she’s got the press eating out of the palm of her hand. I’ve never seen anything like her.”

Matthew turned back to stare at Ashley bathed in the beauty of her glowing self-confidence that radiated stronger than even the South Carolina sun. “Me, either.”

Ashley nodded to the crowd from the podium. “Now, I happen to believe that a photo of a popular candidate, in his golf clothes, on the golf course, standing by a golf-course employee isn’t particularly scandal worthy. But that’s easier for me to say because I know Matthew and I trust him. I realize that trust takes time.”

He didn’t doubt the surety in her words and wondered why he’d ever thought she couldn’t handle whatever life threw at her. Ashley was a helluva lot stronger than he’d ever given her credit for.

She was absolutely incredible.

Her tone shifted subtly from congenial to factual. “That’s what a campaign is all about, taking the time to get to know the candidate. Learning to trust him to see to our best interests in the senate. I, for one, would like to hear more about Matthew’s strategy for guiding our country rather than about photos that divert your attention from getting to know the smart, dynamic leadership style of Matthew Landis.”

Listening to her talk, Matthew felt a kick in his gut he’d never expected to experience again, one far stronger than anything he remembered experiencing before but recognized all the same. He loved this woman.

She glanced his way with a steady smile that sent a fresh surge of emotion through him. “If you’re ready to speak now, Matthew, I would especially like to hear more about your innovative plans to sponsor legislation targeted at helping to strengthen benefits in our foster-care system.”

He wanted to talk to Ashley, tell her he loved her and yeah, he wanted her, too, but it was definitely about more than being sex buddies. However, the things he had to say to her were private and the sooner he dispensed with the press, the sooner he could get Ashley all to himself.

Matthew collected his thoughts and stepped toward the microphone. He could present that particular talking point of Ashley’s proposed speech blindfolded with his hands behind his back. And after he finished the press conference, he had an entirely different discussion in mind. Except the dialogue with Ashley wouldn’t be as easy to deliver and the outcome odds were shaky at best.

But he wouldn’t let the opportunity of a lifetime pass him by.

Ashley applauded the end of Matthew’s speech with a mix of pride and trepidation. While they’d averted a campaign catastrophe today, would she be able to turn things around for them after she’d all but pitched his ring in his face earlier?

If she trusted the look in his eyes when he smiled at her, then they weren’t anywhere near over. Lucky for her, she’d learned to trust him—and more importantly, she’d learned to trust in herself.

Brent ducked his head close to her ear. “You took a real risk out there, Ashley.”

“He’s worth it.” She soaked in the broad set of Matthew’s shoulders, the honest connection in his eyes when he spoke with individual voters.

Brent extended his hand. “I’m sorry for underestimating you. I should be a better judge of character than that by now.”

“Apology accepted.” She clasped his palm and shook firmly. “You were only looking out for Matthew, which I appreciate.”

Matthew waved farewell to the crowd and joined her, leading her and Brent back inside headquarters where the televisions already blared with reports of the media conference. “Hey, Brent, get your own lady. This one’s taken.”

Ashley elbowed Matthew in the side. “Did you ever consider you’re the one who’s taken?”

“Good point.” Matthew scooped her into his arms as he’d done a week ago when he’d saved her life.

She may have squeaked in surprise, but she didn’t even bother protesting and simply settled in for the ride while his campaign staff cheered them on. How far she and Matthew had come in just a week since he’d carried her from the flaming Beachcombers.

He stepped into his office and kicked the door closed. Keeping her arms around his neck, she slid her feet to the floor, leaning into him, urging his face down to meet hers. How could she have ever thought she would be able to turn her back on this, on him?

RICH MAN’S FAKE FIANCEE

31

CATHERINE MANN

SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1878

THE LANDIS BROTHERS

Matthew nuzzled her ear. “You were…”

“Amazing?” She angled back to grin up at him.

“Absolutely,” he confirmed without hesitation. “I can’t believe I was worried about protecting you from the press. I should have turned you loose on them right from the start.”

She wouldn’t have credited herself with the ability to field them that first day when they’d captured revealing pictures of her. But the past week spent learning about herself, learning about real love, she’d discovered there were things out there far more important than worrying what others thought of her. “I’m just glad to have been of help. I believe in you and your message.”

“Thank you. That means more to me than I think you realize. I’m sorry about the way we left things earlier.” He clasped both of her hands in his. “I want to talk to you about Dana.”

“It’s okay.” She brushed her fingers over his mouth. “I understand.”

“I need to say this.” He clasped her wrist and lowered her hand. “I should have said it the right way earlier, but I don’t have much practice speaking about the past. In fact, I don’t have any experience with it at all.”

“You haven’t told anyone about Dana?”

He certainly hadn’t mentioned that earlier and the admission touched her heart in a new and unexpected way. He’d chosen her over anyone else when it came to sharing such an important part of his past. What a time to realize that Matthew had put her first, even before his own relatives.

“Since my family hadn’t met her and she didn’t have any family to meet me, nobody knew how serious things had gotten.

Nobody until you, now.”

No way could she miss the importance of him sharing this with her and how that linked them. “Thank you for choosing me to be the one you told.”

She only wished she’d been less defensive earlier when he’d tried to discuss it with her.

He cupped her face in his hands, his green eyes glinting with intensity. “I want you to understand that the past doesn’t, in any way, detract from what I feel for you.” He tapped her lips, paused to stroke a slow, sensual circle. “And just to clarify in case there’s any doubt about how I feel for you, I love you, Ashley Carson. I. Love. You.”

The magic words. Even in her fantasies she hadn’t dared go there, but then perhaps that was good. Reality definitely beat any dream relationship in a landslide victory. “I know you do, but it’s still awesome to hear you say it.” She nipped his thumb. “And quite convenient since I happen to love you, too.”

His ragged sigh shared just how much her words meant to him, a strong man so determined to take on the world full speed ahead.

Matthew slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled it back out to reveal…Her engagement ring rested in his palm. “I’ll understand if you would rather have a different one to mark our new beginning, but either way, I want our engagement to be real this time.”

She placed her hand over his, over the diamond and the real promise it now held. “This is exactly the one I want. I wouldn’t change a thing about our past because it brought us to this perfect moment. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He pressed a hard, quick kiss to her lips before pulling back with a smile. “I’m not going to give you time to change your mind, you know.”

Matthew slid the solitaire back in place.

She closed her fist, locking the ring on tight. “Nobody’s going to pry it off my hand again.”

“You’re a mighty force to be reckoned with.”

And she’d only just begun finding her footing.

Ashley looped her arms around his neck, arching up on her toes for another kiss she knew would lead her to the perfect end to a perfect day. “I’m more than ready to make this relationship real.”

“L atest polling reports are in,” the widescreen plasma television blared in the family great room at the Landis compound.

Ashley held her breath as the second before the announcement seemed to stretch out with a slow-motion quality. Sitting with Matthew on the sofa, she gripped his hand, their family and friends around them. Five months ago, she never could have imagined how her life would change because of one impulsive decision to take a risk with the man of her dreams.