Campaign For His Heart

Willow eyed his hand like it was a snake that would strike if she made the slightest of moves. Apparently, she determined the serpent wasn’t poisonous because she slid her trembling palm against his. Why was she so nervous?

His palm sizzled from her touch. He clasped his fingers around her delicate flesh and led her from the crowded and noisy ballroom. Passing the bay of public elevators, they ventured to the private one that would take them to his residence located on the upper level of the De Lore Hotel.

Willow didn’t budge when the door opened. Reclaiming her hand, she stared at him as if she were totally confused by what was happening.

“Where are we going?” Her tone was quiet and guarded.

“To my place.”

“You live in a hotel?”

That seemed to concern her more than the fact that he was leading her there. He nodded. “The upper levels are residential.”

“Oh.”

When the elevator doors started to close, Lauder stepped between them. “We can talk here if you’d prefer.” He didn’t want to scare her off.

After a second or two, Willow shook her head and brushed past him. Lauder pressed the button, and the doors closed. The ride to the twentieth floor was a quiet one. He used the time to admire how damn gorgeous Willow looked. Her hair was in a tight bun positioned on the top of her head, exposing that neck he craved to lick, nip and kiss.

Her sweet scent filled the close space. The fragrance only made him want her more.

Inside his place Willow surveyed her surroundings before moving to the floor-to-ceiling window and staring out. “This is a fantastic view.”

Lauder shrugged off his suit coat and joined her. “Thanks.” He studied her profile, unapologetically admiring the woman she’d become. Being here with Willow felt right to him. Too right. She’d taken him completely off guard. No woman had ever roused him like this one. At seventeen and now.

A beat of silence passed.

“Why am I here, Lauder?” she asked, never sliding her eyes away from the glow of downtown Raleigh.

Lauder inched his hands into his pockets. “I need your help.”

Willow’s head slowly turned toward him, uncertainty dancing on her pretty face. “My help?”

“Let’s sit,” he said, resting his hand on the small of her back and leading her to the sofa.

For the next several minutes, Lauder explained everything to Willow. He couldn’t read the stony expression on her face. Was she considering his proposal or thinking he was crazy as hell?

Then out of the blue, she laughed. This wasn’t a ha-ha-you’re-funny kind of laugh. It was a struggle-to-catch-your-breath, aching-sides, belly roll.

“You’re not serious,” she said between fits.

Lauder leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. “As a heart attack.”

Willow’s amusement dried up, and she eyed him with a gaped mouth. “There are a thousand women who I’m sure would jump at the opportunity to play your love interest.” Her brow furrowed. “Why me?”

He shrugged. “We have history.” Maybe not the best, but history nonetheless. And chemistry. But he kept that part to himself. She didn’t need him to point out something he was sure she felt, too. Such a potent attraction was hard to ignore or deny.

“Huh.” Her gaze slid away. “I’m not...” Her words trailed off. “No. I can’t—”

“I know this is a lot to process. Don’t answer now. Take some time to think about it. This could benefit the both of us.”

She whipped her head toward him. “How in the world could this possibly benefit me?”

He debated whether or not to mention what Chuck had told him about her adoption attempts, but deciding it would help strengthen his case, he said, “I know you’re trying to adopt.”

Willow pushed her brows together. “Should I even bother asking how you know this?”

“It doesn’t matter, Willow. All that matters is I may be able to help.” Lauder could see her mulling his words over in her head. To sweeten the deal, he added, “There are perks to dating a politician,” and hoped she’d agree.

“You’re okay with deceiving your constituents?” She gave a single, humorless laugh. “Of course you are. You wouldn’t have approached me with this if you weren’t.”

Chuck’s passionate argument had persuaded Lauder to go along with this needing-a-girlfrend-to-improve-his-image charade, but the judgment present in Willow’s voice made him question whether or not he’d done the right thing. Standing, he moved back to the window. “Do a little harm to perform a lot of good,” he mumbled more to himself.

“What?”

Lauder turned to Willow. “Nothing.” Sliding his hands into his pockets, he said, “I have big plans for this state, Willow. Including the foster care system. Especially the foster care system. A system that failed you. A system that failed me. A system that’s still failing kids every single day. You have seen this firsthand.” Offering his hand, he said, “I’ll escort you back downstairs.”

She ignored his outstretched arm. “I can find my own way.”

It was evident she was attempting to escape him, so he didn’t protest. A second later, she was gone. And he doubted he would ever hear from her again.

Chapter 4

Willow hadn’t slept well for the past two days. Every time she placed her head on the pillow and closed her eyes, Lauder’s handsome face filled her thoughts, along with the ridiculous request he’d made. Pretend to be his significant other. For votes.

Clearly, he hadn’t changed all that much. The same old deceptive Lauder Tolson, just in larger and more exquisite packaging. She punched the mound of clay she’d been working on, chastising herself for finding him so attractive and being unable to ignore the intense chemistry between them.

“Uh-oh. Whenever you knead clay like that, all rough and barbarian-like, you’re upset,” Hannah said, moving up behind Willow.

Willow hadn’t shared with Hannah the conversation she’d had with Lauder. Not because she didn’t trust her best friend with the information, but because she was still in shock by it herself. “It’s nothing.”

“Out with it.”

Willow really didn’t want to discuss it, but on the other hand, she did. She needed to vent to someone about just how insane this all was. She sighed and faced Hannah. “Total secrecy.” It was something they said when what would follow had to be taken to the grave.

“I understand,” Hannah replied.

Willow spent the next twenty minutes telling the story as it had been told to her. Including the part about them both benefitting from this ludicrous scheme. At the end, she waited for Hannah to burst out laughing just as she had. Nothing.

“And you said no?” Hannah said.

“Of course I did. This proposition is insane. I won’t get caught up in his web of deceit.”

“Let’s discuss the pros and cons of such an arrangement.”

She must have been nuts for even entertaining Hannah, but she sighed and nodded.

“Con: you’d have to give up this thing with Reggie. But if he’s as lousy in bed as you claim he is, that shouldn’t be much of a hardship.”

“He’s not lousy in bed. He’s just...unadventurous.”

Hannah grinned. “I bet Lauder is plenty adventurous.” She bounced her brows twice. “Anyway, severing ties with Reggie might not be such a bad thing. It could definitely be a pro.”

Reggie was familiar. They both got what they wanted, then went their separate ways, until they needed more. Out of curiosity, Willow inquired, “Why?”

“Because he’s falling for you.”

Willow laughed. “What? No, he’s not. Reggie and I are just friends with occasional benefits.”

“You may not see it, because ‘just friends’ is what you agreed to, but he has a thing for you.”

Could Hannah actually be right? Was Reggie falling for her? The idea might have put a smile on most women’s faces. Not hers. She didn’t want any arrangement she couldn’t easily walk away from. She didn’t do attachments. In her mind, they exposed you to potential heartbreak. Something she’d had far too much of in her life.

Hannah’s words broke into Willow’s racing thoughts.

“Lauder was right, you know? There could be a major perk to dating him.”

“Like what?”

“Your adoption application. Or have you forgotten about that?”

Of course she hadn’t. It always lingered in the forefront of her thoughts. Waiting for that call revealing whether or not she’d be allowed to give a child the love she’d never had was daily torture. “No, I haven’t forgotten. You know I want to adopt a child more than anything in this world.”

“Lauder’s proposition could be the answer. A senatorial candidate has clout.”

For the first time, Lauder’s proposal had her attention. But it only lasted briefly. “I don’t agree with what he’s doing.”

“But we can agree that it’s not the worst thing in the world. If it’s not you, babe, it’ll be someone else.”

For some crazy reason, the idea of another woman playing the role she’d been handpicked for troubled her more than it should. Actually, it shouldn’t have bothered her at all.

“Who would you rather see win, Edmondson or that fine, fine chocolate Lauder Tolson?”

That was an easy one. Edmondson was a joke, parading around town with his robotic family, when everyone knew he didn’t care one iota about improving anyone’s life but his own. “Lauder, of course, but—”

“But nothing. It’s settled. You’re doing this. For the good of your fellow voters of this state. And the precious child who’s going to have the most amazing mother in the whole wide world.” Hannah hugged Willow, then held her at arm’s length. “Now repeat after me: I’m going to do this.”

Willow bit at the corner of her lip, still unconvinced that this was a road she wanted to travel. Hannah had made valid points, but there were risks involved with playing Lauder’s pretend lover. So many risks. Clearly, there was a real attraction between them. Could she actually spend extended amounts of time with him and not fall prey to his charm?

“Say it,” Hannah continued. “Say, I’m going to do this.”

After several moments, Willow mumbled under her breath.

“What was that? I didn’t hear you.”

“I’m going to do this,” she said, the declaration feeling like the kiss of doom.

* * *

Lauder hadn’t expected Willow’s impromptu visit, especially since he hadn’t had any contact with her for close to a week. Now here she stood, mere feet from him and looking like the gold at the end of a rainbow. He played it cool, but all he wanted to do was yank her against his chest, sweep an arm across his desk, gently place Willow on top of it and bury himself inside her.

Unfortunately, none of that would happen. However, his aching body certainly wished it would.

“Willow? What a pleasant surprise.” He eased onto the edge of his desk and folded his arms across his chest. “It’s nice to—”

“I’ll allow you to use me, but I’m going to use you in return,” she said, her expression void of emotion.

Use her? Was that what she thought he wanted to do? Lauder massaged the side of his face, needing a second to recover from her words. Actually, as harsh as it sounded, it was exactly what he was doing, but she then intended to benefit from him, too. “And how will you use me, Willow?” He could think of several ways he would have liked for the usage to occur, none of them suitable to mention aloud. But every one of them stirred him below the waist.

“You were correct. I do want to adopt a child. But I don’t want any unfair advantage,” Willow continued.

Unfair advantage. Had that been meant to be a jab? “I see. So what do you need from me?”

“I don’t need anything from you, Lauder. What I want is for you to put in a good word for me when the time comes.”

Obviously, she had a distorted definition of the term unfair advantage, because her request fell snugly within those perimeters. However, he allowed her to continue to believe otherwise. She seemed set on riding her high horse until the thing died of exhaustion.

Deciding to make her sweat a bit, he said, “I don’t think this will work, Willow.”

“May I ask why?”

Lauder braced a hand on either side of the desk. “For us to be convincing as a couple, we would actually need to like one another. Now, I like you plenty, but you act as if you can’t bear the sight of me.” He shrugged. “It won’t—”

Before he could finish the thought, Willow was between his legs, her arms wrapped around his neck and lips locked to his. The sensation that shot to his groin nearly toppled him off the desk’s edge.

The kiss was unhurried and sensual.

Profound and thorough.

Hot and delicious.

Absolutely perfect.

Willow’s tongue probed the inside of his mouth without hesitation. She tasted sweet, like grape candy. Lip gloss, maybe. When his brain finally rebooted, he responded to their intimate connection, enveloping his arms around her warm body and holding her close to him.

He wanted her.

Desperately needed her.

Willow’s tense frame relaxed against him, and he held her a little more lightly. He wanted this moment to last forever. Unfortunately, several sizzling seconds later, the pleasure came to an abrupt end with Willow pulling away. She ran the pad of her thumb across his bottom lip, then stared him square in the eyes.

“I trust that was convincing enough.”

Like a deer trapped in the headlights of a big rig, he couldn’t speak or move. All he could do was gape into her dazzling eyes.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

He didn’t miss the smugness in her tone. A beat later, she freed herself from his hold and moved toward the door like a sexy siren. His eyes fixed on her ample behind in those figure-flattering jeans. His manhood throbbed so hard, he had to adjust himself. Oh, you will pay for this in the most sensual manner possible.

Blame it on ego, but Lauder couldn’t allow her to get away believing she had the upper hand—despite the fact that she did have it. Pushing to a full stand, he said, “We’re going to need to spend some time together. Get to know each other.” He already knew one thing about her for sure...she was one hell of a kisser.

Willow stopped at the door, her hand resting on the knob. Over her shoulder, she said, “This Saturday. Six o’clock.”

Opening the door, she was gone.

Lauder chuckled and massaged his jaw. He wasn’t sure what, but Willow was doing something to his guarded heart. What was worse, he liked it.

Returning behind his desk, he dropped into the plush office chair, rested his elbow on the armrest and gingerly glided two fingers across his bottom lip. The next time their lips touched—and there would be a next time—he would be the one in control.

Two taps sounded at his door, and Lauder grew overly excited. Had Willow returned? “Come in.” A smile lit his face, then melted away. “Oh, it’s just you,” he said to his foster brother Roth Lexington.

“Damn. Should I leave and come back?”

Lauder rounded his desk. “Nah, man. I just thought you were someone else.”

The two exchanged an affectionate hug. Though he and Roth weren’t related, people actually thought they were biological brothers because they favored each other so much. Both over six feet tall, both had deep brown skin tones, both had prominent features and a commanding presence.

“Where’s Alonso? I thought he was rolling with us to lunch,” Lauder said.

Roth chuckled. “He’s going to meet us there. Had to go home and kiss the twins and do only God knows what to Vivian.”

The room filled with laughter.

“Man, looking at you and Lo, I can almost picture myself settling down. Wife, kids, white picket fence. Almost.”

“It’s the best feeling in the world, man, to come home to a wife and kids you love more than the sun.”

Lauder enjoyed seeing Roth so happy. He was a good brother and deserved all the happiness life had to give.

“What about that sister who nearly plowed into me rushing from your office? Does she have anything to do with your change of heart? Last I recall, you said you’re never getting married and definitely not having any kids.”

“Willow Dawson,” Lauder said, dropping into the chair across from his desk.

Roth occupied the opposite one. “Willow Dawson?” His brow furrowed. “Why does that name sound so familiar?” Obviously, it dawned on him. “Wait, is she the same Willow Dawson who got you kicked out of the group home years ago?”

Lauder couldn’t believe Roth still remembered that. Though he shouldn’t have been surprised. Roth had the memory of an elephant. “One and the same.”

To be honest, Willow hadn’t gotten him kicked out of the group home; breaking Marvin Kramer’s nose had gotten him kicked out. But Lauder had been defending Willow’s honor, so he guessed she could share some of the blame. One day he’d get around to sharing the details of his honor brawl with her. Maybe if she knew the truth, she’d drop her grudge against him.

Roth cut into Lauder’s thoughts.

“Are you two...”

Lauder hadn’t told Roth about Willow playing his pretend lover, but knew he could trust the man with the information. “Chuck thought I should come across as more family oriented, so I’ve enlisted Willow to play my make-believe lover.”

Lauder studied Roth’s face for any signs of disapproval. There was none that he could spot.

Roth chuckled. “Are you sure it’s all make-believe? The woman has you thinking about settling down. That’s...huge. Especially for you.”

Lauder rubbed his jaw. “Can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“How’d you learn to trust Tressa?” Lauder figured that if Roth could open himself up to another person, as guarded as he’d always been, anyone could.

“It wasn’t easy. But when my trust issues jeopardized my relationship with Tress, I vowed to change. I knew that woman was my forever. I didn’t want to lose her.”

“How did you know she was the one?”

Roth beamed as if reliving a beautiful memory, then in a flash sobered. “Her touch.”

By the intense expression on his face, Lauder assumed there was more to the touch story than Roth was sharing. He didn’t pry.

“You’ll know,” Roth said, standing. “Now let’s go. I’m starving.”

Lauder scrubbed a hand over his head. Thing was, he was sure he already knew. And knowing complicated things.

Chapter 5

“You did what!” Hannah’s bright eyes glowed with excitement.

Willow flailed her arms in Hannah’s direction. “Shhh,” she warned, coming from behind her desk to close her office door. “Keep your voice down.” Willow peeped out to make sure no one was within earshot of them, then pushed the door shut. Facing Hannah, she rested a hand on her forehead and sighed heavily. “I kissed him. Like, really kissed him. I couldn’t stop kissing him.”

The second her lips touched Lauder’s it was like she’d had an out-of-body experience, as if she were hovering high above watching herself kiss Lauder, unable to stop. By the time she’d pulled away, her body was so electrified she thought the current would kill her.

“Was it good?” Hannah asked.

Willow attempted to bite back a smile, but it broke through. “It was fantastic.”

Hannah squealed. “Yes! I knew it. I knew you still had feelings for him. After all of these years apart, your heart still beats for your first.” She cupped her hands under her chin and went all dreamy eyed. “That’s so romantic.”

“Because I enjoyed a spine-tingling kiss way more than I should have doesn’t mean I’m still in love with Lauder Tolson. It’s been—” Willow paused, noting the odd look on Hannah’s face. “What?”

“Still?”

“What?”

“You said still in love with him. Meaning, at one point, you were in love with him.”

Willow released a shaky laugh and rubbed her shoulder. “I—I was sixteen. Of course I thought I was in love. Isn’t that what sixteen-year-old girls do? Fall recklessly in love with bad boys?”

“Yes, reckless sixteen-year-olds. Since we met freshman year of college, you’ve always been ordered, in control, methodical.”

Never been reckless? Then how did Hannah explain her agreeing to play Lauder’s fake lover? In her opinion, that was as reckless as you could get. She reminded herself why she was doing it. The idea of becoming a mother made her decision less daunting.

Hannah smiled. “How long have we known each other?”

“Over ten—”

“Yep, over ten years,” Hannah said, cutting Willow off. “So I know when you’re lying. Even when you’re not rubbing the brown off your shoulder.”

Willow allowed her arm to fall to her side. “I’m not—”

Hannah pinched Willow’s lips together. “Shush.”

Willow protested in an array of grunts.

“Shush,” Hannah repeated. “Are you listening?”

Defeated, Willow nodded her head. “Mmm-hmm.”

“Good. Let this thing between you and Lauder happen. You deserve a man like Lauder—fine as hell, rich and powerful. You deserve great sex—the kind that leaves you hobbling afterwards. And you definitely deserve love—the kind of love that will last an eternity.”

Willow hummed but.

“Shush. You’re going to go on your date with Lauder tomorrow night. You’re going to kick all caution to the wind. And you’re going to let. It. Happen.”

Another muffled but.

Hannah’s voice went from soft and sweet, to gruff and deep. “Let. It. Happen.”

Willow jerked. “Umph.” Then she nodded, because that was all she could do.

* * *

Twenty-four hours later, Willow stood in front of the full-length door mirror in her bedroom. Why in the heck was she so obsessed with her appearance for her date with Lauder? It wasn’t like she wanted to impress or entice him. And she definitely had no intentions of letting it happen. Regardless of what she’d agreed to under duress.

The elusive it made her think of the horror movie with the clown. What if tonight was just as terrifying? What had she gotten herself into? An evening with Lauder. Well, at least in a restaurant full of people, they wouldn’t be alone. That was a saving grace.

Why was she putting herself through this torture? Instead of jumping through hoops with Lauder, she could just let Reggie knock her up and forget about all of this fake lover business. No, she couldn’t imagine being tied to any man for the next eighteen-plus years. And if what Hannah suspected about Reggie—that he’d fallen for her—was true, he would surely want to stick around and be in the child’s life.

Not that Reggie was still an option anyway. She’d severed ties with him. Well, actually, not officially, but she’d declined his company for the past few weeks. She refused to acknowledge Lauder as the reason. He wasn’t. Then she recalled the last time she’d been intimate with Reggie. Well, attempted to be intimate. In her head, she couldn’t stop seeing Lauder’s face. It had ruined the mood. She hadn’t seen Reggie since.

The doorbell rang, startling her. Six o’clock on the dot. Lauder was punctual. Scrutinizing herself in the mirror once more, she headed out of the bedroom. Opening the door, she eyed the suited stranger standing there. “May I help you?”

“Ms. Dawson?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Donovan. Mr. Tolson sent me.”

Confused, Willow said, “He sent you?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m your driver for the evening.”

“My driver?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Willow looked past Donovan and spied the black luxury vehicle. No sign of Lauder. “Where is Mr. Tolson?”

“At his residence. I’m to take you there.”

“His residence?”

Donovan didn’t bother responding this time.

A hundred questions raced through Willow’s head. Why had Lauder sent a stranger in a hundred-thousand-dollar vehicle to get her? Why were they going to his residence and not a restaurant? Where there would be other people, she added. Was she overdressed?