The Perfect Candidate (45 page)

“What can we do for you, Norm?” he asked.

“You’
re needed downstairs.  Mr. Vance has already started his concession speech,
”
Norm informed Michael.

Michael had the grace to look a little sheepish.  He probably
shouldn
’
t
be missing this
…
as if she had read his mind, Ashley whispered into his ear,
“
don
’
t worry, you know how much Mr. Vance likes the sound of his own voice, I
’
m sure we can get you back downstairs before anyone realizes you were even gone.
”

Michael grinned.  He wasn
’
t sure he hadn
’
t been missed, but he
was
sure that Vance would still be talking when they got downstairs
–
which he
was
… Michael listened to the other man finish his speech, and then it was time for him to take the floor.  He gave Ashley one last kiss, and then took his place on center stage.

“Before I say anything else, I want to thank the people for giving me this opportunity to serve them.  I want to make them a promise, that my team and I will spend the next four years proving that they made the right choice.”

There was a short spattering of applause here, and Michael took the opportunity to put his thoughts in order.  Ashley hadn
’
t let him prepare a speech (convinced that it would somehow jinx the election result), so Michael had to speak of the cuff and from his heart.  Fortunately, that was something he did very well.  He carried on talking, finally ending with a round of thanks.

“…and there is of course one last person who I really need to thank, the love of my life, my wife, Ashley, who believed in me even when
I
didn
’
t believe me.  She is my constant source of inspiration and support, as well as being a powerful, passion force in her own right- and no,
”
Michael chuckled,
“
before anyone asks, she didn
’
t write this speech for me.
”

People turned to Ashley and grinned, as they clapped and cheered Michael.  Ashley felt her heart give a dangerous start, as thought someone had closed their fist around it and squeezed.    She wanted- she wanted
so badly
to believe that what he said was the truth!  If only she was
the love of his life
… she was convinced now that he was hers. 

It was almost frightening how sincere he sounded when he spoke though!  How she would ever be able to distinguish a lie on his lips was a worrying mystery to Ashley.

Michael walked straight up to her when he had finished receiving his applause.  He wound an arm around her waist and bestowed another kiss.  He couldn
’
t seem to stop his public displays of affection!

“So how did I do?” he asked, smiling from ear to ear.  “What was your professional opinion?”

“Well, I think you deviated from the point a little in the middle,” she said, but she was only teasing.  “But I thought that the ending was wonderful,” she confessed, a little huskily.

“Did you really?” Michael murmured quietly.  Ashley saw that there was a strange, darkly intense, light burning in his eyes as he looked down at her.  “Because you know I meant-”

She blinked, uncomprehending. “I’m not sure that I do.”

Michael swallowed hard. He had just been elected as one of the foremost leaders of the Western World…but now he felt powerless and vulnerable. Still, he couldn’t keep the words inside. There was only one thing standing between him and perfect happiness.

“I love you, Ashley.”

Ashley froze, uncertain if she had really heard the words or if they were simply a euphoric delusion.

“You love me?” she finally croaked.

“Is it really that surprising?” he asked, rubbing his palm up and down her back.

Ashley nodded. “I thought you just needed me so that you could become President.”

“It started that way,” he agreed, “but then something changed. I want this-” he paused to make a gesture at the room, the sweep of his arm taking in the campaign posters, ecstatic supporters and the bank of televisions declaring his win. “But I
need
you.”

He stopped to stare at her. Ashley could only stare back- until she noticed a frown forming on the edge of his lips. “I hoped that you felt the same way,” he murmured, finally sparking her into action.

“Of course I do!” she exclaimed, surprised that she hadn’t said so before. “Oh, Michael! I love you so much! The morning of our wedding I wished so badly that it could be real!”

“It was real!” he said firmly and then leaned closer to purr into her ear. “It
is real!”

Ashley tipped her lips toward her husband, inviting a deep, slow kiss- but it was not to be.

“Michael!  Ashley!  I need you over here!”

Ashley sighed and Michael swore under his breath, as Norm interrupted them
again
.

“I think I’
m going to make him ambassador to Fiji,
”
Michael muttered.

Ashley’s lips spread into a grin. “Whatever you say, Mr. President!”

“Thank you for your approval,
Mrs.
President.”

“First Lady!” she corrected.

Michael grinned and peppered another kiss on top of her head. “I like the sound of that!”

THE END