Microsoft Word - catherine mann - landis brothers 4 - rich man's fake fiancee.docx (15 page)

But here she was after months of campaigning, totally loving Matthew and finding she also fully enjoyed the new world he’d opened for her.

She’d once thought herself a background, live-in-the-shadows kind of person. Now she’d discovered the rush of being at the epicenter of reaching out to others. And when she needed to recharge? She had an even larger new family to embrace, a family who’d all come to share in this moment.

Her sisters and their husbands blended right in with the Landis brothers and General Renshaw’s adult children. The general and Ginger had been an unexpected blessing in her life, taking her on as one of their own. Nobody could replace Aunt Libby, but Lordy, it felt good to experience the warmth and acceptance of parental love again.

Ashley squeezed Matthew’s strong hand as the television announcer continued, “With ninety-one percent of the precincts reporting, the numbers indicate a clear victory for…”

She forced herself to breathe, keep her focus on Matthew and the TV rather than the hubbub behind them from the small media crew that had been allowed into the Landis compound to report about this moment.

“…the new senator from South Carolina, Matthew Landis,” the announcer concluded.

The already crowded room overflowed with cheers. Matthew gathered Ashley into a tight hug. As much as she wanted to stay right there and revel, she knew there were others in the room who deserved to celebrate with him.

She kissed him quickly, intensely, before pulling back. “Congratulations, Senator Landis.”

He nuzzled her ear, the gentle rasp of his whiskers sending a shiver of excitement mingling with the surge of joy. “Thank you, Mrs. Landis.”

And what an added rush to hear her new name.

They’d quietly eloped two weeks ago, unable to wait any longer to make it official. While the immediate family already knew, she and Matthew would tell the rest of the world during his acceptance speech. They hadn’t wanted their marriage to be tied up with the election outcome. The vows they’d spoken were all about them and not any political agenda.

RICH MAN’S FAKE FIANCEE

32

CATHERINE MANN

SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1878

THE LANDIS BROTHERS

After a final searing kiss, they eased apart and the rest of their huge wonderful family surrounded them in hugs and congrats. Ashley leaned into his muscular side since Matthew seemed determined to keep his arm around her waist.

Cameras continued to flash while streamers unfurled in the air. Hats, bunting and posters instantly redecorated the house with Senator Landis paraphernalia. A champagne bottle popped somewhere in the distance, and thankfully Ginger seemed to have the first interview well in hand so Matthew could enjoy more celebratory time with the family.

Kyle clapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t be getting the big head now, brother. I can still whoop your butt in golf any day.”

“Of course you can.” Matthew grinned good-naturedly. “Golfing is like a college degree for you Air Force guys.”

Laughing and nodding along in agreement, Jonah passed Sebastian folded cash.

Matthew slugged his youngest brother in the arm, laughing. “Jonah, bro, you bet against me?”

Jonah slugged right back. “Dude, we were only betting on the spread of your landslide.”

Ashley patted her brother-in-law’s cheek. “You’re forgiven then.”

Matthew toyed with Ashley’s ponytail streaming down her back from the gold clasp. “So tell me then, guys, who bet for the largest win?”

Sebastian—the most reserved of the group—offered up one of his rare smiles as he pocketed the cash. “We’ll carry that secret to our grave.”

Ashley basked in the moment as the general and Ginger beamed with parental pride. It didn’t even bother her that the small hand-picked media group in the back recorded each embrace and high five and hug. She had nothing to hide and total confidence in the love she and Matthew had found.

As the media’s attention swapped from Ginger to the general for a comment, Ashley turned to Matthew. “When will we be heading to campaign headquarters to give your acceptance speech?”

“Soon enough.” He skimmed his lips over her temple, the warm scent of his aftershave teasing her senses. “First, I want to have a minute alone with you before we leave.”

She flattened her hand to his chest, the cotton of his button-down shirt offering a tormenting barrier to the muscles beneath.

“I think everyone would understand us stealing a moment to freshen up.”

Matthew took her hand and led her through the throng with amazing speed. As they made their way toward the hall, her sisters each gave her another quick hug before exchanging secretive looks. Ashley started to quiz them, then Matthew distracted her with another kiss and before she knew it they were inside the bedroom she’d used when first staying in this home.

He kicked the door closed behind them, gathering her to his chest and sealing his mouth to hers for the kind of tongue-tangling, soul-searching kisses they wouldn’t have dared exchange in front of any camera.

Matthew eased away only to rest his forehead on hers. “I want to thank you for making all of this possible.”

“You would have won with or without me.” She cupped his handsome face in her hands.

“Since I’ve had enough of debates for a while, I’m not going to argue your point.” He turned his head to press a lingering kiss in each of her palms. “But I want you to understand how much more this moment means because you’re in my life, how much more connected I feel to what I’ll be doing because of the insights you’ve given me.”

His compliment touched her as deeply as any intimate caress they’d exchanged. “That’s a lovely thing to say. Thank you.”

“I want to give you something in return.”

“You already have.” This whole experience had helped her mine for depths inside herself she’d never known she possessed. “I have you, our family, our future.”

“But I want you to have a home.”

“Home will be where we’re together.”

“While I agree with you on that one, I also know how much you’re giving up by splitting our lives between D.C. and here.”

He reached to the end table and picked up a folder she hadn’t even noticed when they’d entered.

Probably because whenever he touched her she didn’t notice much of anything else.

Matthew passed her an official-looking document.

Ashley frowned, studying the crisp paper in her hand, her mind scrambling to make sense of the words she saw but couldn’t bring herself to comprehend, to believe. “This is the deed to Beachcombers, to Aunt Libby’s mansion.”

“Yes it is,” he answered with a smug smile.

“But it already sold.” An event she had accepted even though a piece of her heart still ached over that farewell. Except now that she stared at the name on the deed…No wonder her foster sisters had exchanged that knowing look a few moments ago.

“It sold to you. Sebastian took care of the purchasing process so as to mask my name from any of the transactions, and then I transferred the title to you.” He thumbed a tear from her cheek she hadn’t even known she’d shed. “We’ll obviously spend a large portion of time in D.C., but we have to keep an official residence in South Carolina. So I thought we could make Aunt Libby’s house in Charleston our official South Carolina residence.”

She clasped the deed to her heart. “Are you sure? What about your family home here?”

“Absolutely sure.” His green eyes glinted with unmistakable certainty. “Charleston is plenty close enough to Hilton Head for family visits. And you’ll be near your sisters. The carriage house here will be too small once we start having kids.”

Children. Hers and Matthew’s. “I like the sound of that very much. Thank you. Those two simple words don’t seem like enough, but there aren’t words for how much this means to me.”

Already she could envision all the ways she would want to shape the place into a home for them. Basic repairs had been completed and she wanted to stay true to the original décor of the traditional Southern mansion. But also with central AC, a state-of-the-art kitchen and adjoining rooms for her sisters to visit with their families.

Noise floated from the floor below, reminding her their alone time would be short tonight. A doorbell rang, no doubt more staff stopping by to congratulate the new senator. Fireworks popped in the distance, dogs barked in response. A light strobed right through the shades on the window as another news van pulled up outside.

Yet Matthew never once looked away from her face, his whole attention totally focused on her. “I’m glad you’re happy about this. I want us to have our own place. The family compound idea worked well for a bachelor blowing in and out of town, but you and I deserve some privacy to explore the vast benefits of married life.” His eyes took on an altogether different gleam, decidedly wicked.

RICH MAN’S FAKE FIANCEE

33

CATHERINE MANN

SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1878

THE LANDIS BROTHERS

“You’re totally not a bachelor anymore.” She relaxed into the arms of the man who’d stolen her heart and given her his own in return.

He raised her ring finger to his mouth and kissed the spot where her engagement ring and wedding band rested side by side. “Lucky for me, I went for the win.”