Page 147 of Governor

I stare at him, shaky breaths rattling in my now-dry throat as I force the words out. “I want to run for governor.”

He grins and kisses me. “Then you will. Meanwhile, you’re going to get on the HOA board here. They just had two members die, and we’re buying in time to get you on the ballot. You’re going to practice your election skills by door-knocking and shaking hands and charming the pants off these people. When it comes time for you to run for county commission, you’ll already have a loyal volunteer pool to call upon.”

Damn, he’s tricky. Smart, but tricky.

I don’t know why I’m surprised. I shouldn’t be.

“Okay.”

He’s still holding my head in his hands. “So…do youlikeit?”

“Like what?”

He actually rolls his eyes. “Thishouse. Do. You. Fucking. Like. It. Owen?”

“It’s beautiful. Yes, I love it.”

Then he pulls me in again for another kiss. This one is soft, tender. It lasts not nearly long enough, even though it feels like a sweet forever as he holds me there and reminds me why I’ll never tell him to go fuck himself, even when he’s at his most bastardly.

Because of the times likethis.

“Good,” he softly says as he releases me. “Because I only want to buy it if you like it.”

“Can I ask why here?”

“Besides the county commission seat?”

I nod.

He drapes an arm around me and pulls me close, pointing through the sliders to the backyard. “Privacy. On the other side of those wetlands is an eight-foot concrete wall. Far enough away for privacy. The bedroom locations means neighbors on either side won’t hear us playing. We’ll put a gate between the back yards. When we need to use your house for appearances sake, it’s easy to move back and forth.”

Something hits me. “Wait…isn’t this district Benchley’s old county commission district?”

Carter laughs. “Adds a little bit of poetry to the whole situation, doesn’t it?”

“Fuck me,” I mutter. “I wonder if we can get his endorsement?”

“We will.” He smiles at me. “Besides, Susa has so much crap now, we need two fucking houses for it.”

I laugh. “True story.”

Carter draws me tightly against his side and kisses the top of my head. “Don’t you dare tell her I said that, either.”

“Your secret is safe with me, Sir.” Of course it is.

#notanidiot

“You want to see the other house?”

“Sir’s choice.”

And, because right now he’s like a kid with a new toy, he finishes giving me the tour of this house and then shows me the other one. Different flooring, the kitchen’s a little different, but basically yes, the same house, only reversed.

In the kitchen of that house he draws me into his arms again, his expression serious. “This isonlyfor appearances,” he softly assures me. “Nothingchanges between us. I swear.”

The remaining tightness in my chest finally dissolves. “I trust you, Sir.”

He kisses me again, one hand cupping the back of my neck, not forcing me, almost as if he’s assuring himself this time that I really want to be here.