Rumor Has It (7 page)

“Where's the fire?” he asked.

“You can let me go,” she said, though her body just wanted his touch a little longer, and when he let her go, she shivered.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I'm good.” Liza smiled. “Thanks for being a gentleman.”

“That's who I am,” he replied, returning her smile. Jackson and Liza walked to the long line and stood there in an uncomfortable silence. “Want a salted caramel brownie?” he asked, breaking the tension.

“Sure,” she replied. “But, I would've taken you for an éclair guy.”

He smiled again and Liza's heart started beating overtime. How had she not noticed that cleft in his chin? And those eyes. Hypnotic.

“I have to avoid this place. I don't have the metabolism of a twenty-year-old anymore.” He rubbed his flat stomach, which Liza was sure hid a six pack of abs. “But after the day I had, I need some sweetness.”

Why did he lick his lips when he said that? Why did her body tingle at the thought of him sampling her wetness and telling her how sweet it was?
Stop it.

“Campaigning is hard,” Liza said, and then her eyes traveled down Jackson's body. She squeezed her eyes shut and sighed. “And it only gets harder. Maybe you should quit.”

“Ha. That was funny,” Jackson said. “I see why you're such a strong member of Montgomery's team.”

“And how would you know that?”

He raised his right eyebrow as if to say,
You're not the only one who's researching the competition
. “Anyway,” Jackson said as the line inched forward, “why don't we talk about something other than politics and campaigns?”

“I have work to do,” she said. “No time to talk.”

“If you say so, but isn't it kind of late to be working?”

She shrugged as she eyed the sweets in the glass so that she wouldn't look at Jackson. “Social media never sleeps. I'm more than a part of Robert's team. I run my own business as well.” She met his gaze. “But, you knew that already, didn't you?”

“I know what's on paper, but I'll admit it, one day—after the election—I'd like to get to know you.”

Chapter 8

Jackson appreciated Liza's lips. The fullness of them, the curve of them, the way they spread when she smiled. But it was that tongue that he wanted to get further acquainted with. It must have been her nervous habit to lick her top lip. She did it more times than he could count. And every time she did it, he got a jolt in his groin. If she did it again, he was going to have to walk away to hide his burgeoning erection.

“Anyway,” she said, taking the focus off his desire, “we could get to know each other a lot sooner if you'd just drop out of the race.”

“That's not going to happen,” he said. “And we're not going to talk about this.”

“You know I had to try it.” She winked and licked her lip again.

“No one can accuse you of not being persistent.” She smiled at him and he just prayed his erection didn't press against his zipper so that she could see his state of arousal.

Finally, they made it to the counter and Jackson ordered two brownies and two cups of coffee. He'd expected Liza to say something, since she'd claimed to be a tea drinker. She didn't. Instead she took her cup and filled it with the dark roast the café offered.

“Tea, huh?” he quipped.

“Oh, hush. It's late and I need a jolt. This is a job for coffee.”

If only he could tell her what he needed. He needed her in his arms, her lips pressed against his and . . . sugar. He needed sugar for his coffee. Anything other than sharing a brownie and a cup of java with Liza would be nothing but trouble. He hadn't had a hint of scandal around his campaign and he wasn't going to let his libido get him in a bind right now.

“Do you want to grab a seat in the atrium?” he asked, thinking that sitting with her in a crowd would ease his lustful thoughts.

“My stuff is in the dining room. You can join me there,” she said.

He nodded and held his hand out for Liza to lead the way. They crossed over to her table—which was in a secluded area of the bakery—and sat down. A few moments passed before either of them said anything.

“These brownies are amazing,” Liza said after swallowing her first bite.

“They're famous for a reason.” As much as he knew he should've focused on his brownie, he couldn't take his eyes off her lips as she munched on her treat.

“I'm going to pay for this in the gym tomorrow.” She took another nibble of the brownie.

Jackson imagined her in a spandex number doing yoga. That sent his body into overdrive. “Do you ever relax?” he asked, then took a sip of coffee. He was the one who needed to relax, his hormones in particular.

“I did that in college. But after working too hard for someone else, I can't cheat myself now.”

“What did you do before you started your business?” he asked.

“Corporate communications for a nasty bank.”

“Wow, corporate America, huh? I can see why that didn't last for you.”

She nodded and took a sip of her coffee. “Worst three years of my life.”

“And running your own business is fun?”

“Demanding, exciting, and a little scary. But at the end of the day, it's worth it.” Jackson could hear the passion in her voice and was turned on by the sparkle in her eyes. His thoughts quickly turned to seeing her waking up in the morning, hair tousled and her lips swollen from his kisses. He sipped his coffee, forcing himself to look away.

“How did you get into politics?” she asked him, looking over her cup at him.

“Thought we weren't going to talk politics, sex, or religion?”

Did sex just drop from his lips?
Liza thought as she lost herself in his emerald eyes. Sure. They didn't have to talk about sex, but that was all she'd been thinking about since they sat down and she crossed her legs to ebb the throbbing between her thighs. Why did she want to lean across the table and lick the corner of his mouth? What in the hell was wrong with her?

“You're right. We're not supposed to talk about those things. I guess I'll hear more about your story during the debate.”

Jackson shook his head. “Liza, you can power down.”

“What?”

“It's just coffee and brownies, okay?”

Liza smiled. “I don't have an ‘off' button, sorry,” she said.

“Is there a ‘pause' button, at least?” Jackson returned her smile.

“Nope.” Liza picked up her cup and took a big sip of her coffee. “You never know when you have to be on, so I just don't turn off. That way, I won't be surprised.”

“You are a woman in need of a vacation,” Jackson said, then downed his coffee.

Heat flushed her cheeks as she thought about what she really needed. His lips on hers, his hands between her thighs and . . .

“Liza?”

Blinking, she smiled. “What?”

“I think you should switch to decaf.”

“Whatever. If I could have a few more hours in the day, maybe I would.”

Jackson laughed. “When you invent that time machine, I want in on it.”

Liza felt herself relax, and as much as she hated to admit it, she liked Jackson. Why couldn't he be running for city council or some other seat? She couldn't get too comfortable. “I'd better get going,” she said.

“I was going to head out myself. Allow me to escort you to your car.”

Everything in her should have said no. She should've pulled her independent card and told Jackson that she could walk herself to her car alone. Instead, she nodded and allowed him to usher her through the late-night crowd of pastry lovers.

“This was nice,” she said, though she regretted it as soon as the words left her lips.

“It was,” he replied with a smile, happy to hear that his efforts to talk to her weren't in vain. “Maybe we can do it again sometime.”

“Sure, as soon as Robert wins the election.”

“Or, after my victory party.” He winked at her and Liza's knees clanked together. What was this man doing to her and why was she allowing it to happen?
Because you're nuts and horny! Horrible combination
, she thought. “You're draped in confidence,” she said. “I'll send you flowers and cupcakes when you lose.”

“And when I win, you'll throw in some champagne and a kiss?”

Liza covered her shock with a laugh. “You are too much.”

“Or just enough. It simply depends on how you look at things. Miss Liza, it was nice meeting up with you tonight.”

“I actually enjoyed your company as well,” she said with a saucy smile. “Too bad we're not on the same team.”

Jackson shrugged. “After the election, I'd love to take you out to dinner.”

Say no, get in your car, and go home!
“We'll have to see,” she said. It might not have been a no per se, but she didn't say yes and that made her proud. Jackson tipped his imaginary hat to her and watched as she climbed into her car. When she started the engine, he sighed. Why was forbidden fruit so tempting?

Chapter 9

Liza slowly drove out of the parking lot, glancing at Jackson in her rearview mirror. The way that man filled out his suit was downright sinful. Of all the men in Charlotte she could be attracted to, it had to be him. The man she needed Robert to beat in a few weeks. The man she had been looking for dirt on for the campaign but found nothing. Hell, he wasn't even inappropriate with her tonight. And, man, she wouldn't even have been upset about it. Jackson Franklin was too fine for words, too sexy for synonyms. And a gentleman to boot. Who knew this kind of man was still around?

Then, why is he still single?
Liza turned on her “Robert for Senate” brainwaves and wondered if she should dig deeper around Jackson's past and find out if he had a secret baby mama, scorned ex, or anything that would knock the luster off his shining star. Though she'd made up her mind that she was going to put Jackson through a LexisNexis search when she arrived home, the thought of his smile and sparkling eyes made her put the campaigning off until tomorrow. Tonight, she was going to dream of the gentleman she shared coffee and brownies with. Liza nearly floated in the house on thoughts of Jackson.

Across town, Jackson studied polls and yawned. Slapping paperwork on the table, he rubbed his tired eyes. He wasn't going to be one of those people consumed with what others thought about him, but he was happy that things seemed to be going his way. In the latest North Carolina state political poll, more than 75 percent of registered Democrats were likely to vote for him rather than Montgomery.

“Great,” he muttered, then yawned again. He reached for his iPad and started to Google Montgomery, remembering that Teresa said he should always know what his opponent was doing. When a photograph of Robert and Liza popped up on the screen, he immediately regretted not going to sleep. That woman was beautiful. Standing beside Robert, she had a huge smile on her face, and in the back of his mind, Jackson wondered if there was more to their relationship than business. He skimmed through the article about Robert's campaign stop at the homeless shelter. He couldn't be mad; at least he was addressing a serious problem in the community. A small tidbit near the end of the article caught his eye: Montgomery had asked his girlfriend to marry him at the stop. So, Liza and this guy had finally made it official. His thoughts turned bitter as he flipped to the second page of the article. When he saw the name of Montgomery's fiancée, a smile spread across his lips. It wasn't Liza.

“I'm going to bed,” he groaned as he powered down his tablet. Then he headed for his bedroom with Liza's smile emblazed on his brain. Sure, he should've been focusing on the election. But that woman had smiled her way into his thoughts. This was going to be trouble.

 

 

Two days later, Liza had a brainstorm for Robert's campaign as she worked with her new client, Peaches Montague, a wannabe rapper looking to build a buzz for her single “Girls of the World.” Liza had talked her out of this thug image she wanted to portray, since the single had such a positive and uplifting message.

She told Peaches that her real-life story—a foster child who'd gone to college and wanted to be a voice in the way women were treated around the world—would set her apart from other female rappers. A new-generation Queen Latifah. When she'd furrowed her brows in confusion, Liza had called her the Janelle Monáe of rap and that had made Peaches smile.

After her client left, Liza decided that she needed to tell Robert that he should wrap his message in an idea that voters would get behind. His dip in the polls gave her pause. She wasn't sure if Nic and Robert had plans for a late push, but they needed it if he wanted to win.

She was about to leave her office when her cell phone rang. “This is Liza.”

“Elizabeth Palmer, is this how we do?” Chante asked, then laughed.

“No, you didn't call me by my full government name,” Liza said with a giggle. “What's up, girl?”

“Other than needing my best friend to help me plan this wedding, I'm great.”

“You just got engaged.”

“And, a proper wedding takes time to plan and, unfortunately, I have no help. My fiancé is trying to win an election, you know.”

“I heard about that. As a matter of fact, I was going to meet him and Nic.”

“Forget them, I need you a little more,” she said.

“All right, I'll be right over with . . .”

“Salted caramel brownies?”

Liza shivered thinking of the last time she had the decadent treat. With Jackson.

The very man she needed to be game planning against. The very man she wanted to get naked with and kiss all over. “Umm, if I bring those over and you say one word about fitting into a wedding dress, we're going to fight.”

“Thanks for the reminder. I actually have to watch what I eat now.”

Liza rolled her eyes, thinking that Chante had a wonderful figure and would probably be able to buy any dress she wanted right off the rack. “So, you are going to be one of
those
brides?”

“And you will be too, soon enough.”

“I'm good on the dog and pony matrimony show,” Liza said with a snort.

“I have a serious question for you.”

“Go ahead.”

Chante sighed. “Do you think Rob and I are rushing into this marriage?”

Part of Liza wanted to say yes. But she also believed Robert when he said he loved Chante. “Love doesn't have a timetable. Do you feel like you're being rushed into something you don't want?”

“No. Rob is amazing.”

“Then keep doing what you're doing.”

“All right. And just bring one brownie and we can split it.”

“Absolutely not. I'm bringing two. You will eat all of it and I don't want to hear a word.”

“Only because you're forcing me,” Chante said, laughter sneaking into her voice.

“Whatever, girl. I'll see you in a little bit.”

 

 

After hanging up with Chante, she headed to Amelie's and ordered the brownies. Though she knew she'd promised her friend that she was going to head her way to help with the wedding plans, she wanted to talk to Robert first about her idea for his campaign. And she had a gnawing feeling about his sudden need to be married.

Or was it the bitterness inside of her rearing its ugly head? Liza would be the first to admit that she didn't believe men when it came to matters of the heart, and as much as she tried to give Robert the benefit of the doubt . . .
Stop it. He loves Chante. He wouldn't use her to gain political points. Would he?

Pulling up to the campaign office, she smiled when she saw Robert's car. She admired his hard work on this campaign and couldn't wait to see him as the next senator. Liza pushed her doubts aside and thought about the guy she shared political science classes with at UNC and remembered why she believed in him. Walking into the office, she was surprised that there weren't any of the volunteers around.
Weird
, she thought, then immediately remembered there had been an event where they were passing out flyers.

I thought Robert was going to be downtown too?
She wandered through the dark halls and headed for his office. Liza paused when she heard moaning. Was someone hurt? More moaning. No one was hurt. Someone was having sex. Really? Grabbing her phone, she was going to snap pictures of the illicit lovers and send them to Nic and Robert. This couldn't be going on in the campaign office. Anger heated her cheeks as she walked into the office and held her phone up ready to snap pictures. Her anger soon turned to disappointment when she saw who the lovers were. Robert. He stood there with some random woman bent over his desk pumping in and out of her as if he weren't engaged to Chante—her best friend. Her sorority sister. The woman she'd just sold a fairy tale to. And Robert had turned her into a liar. She snapped the pictures, then cleared her throat. Robert looked up and locked eyes with his disappointed friend.

“Liza,” he said as he dropped his hands from the panting woman's waist. He pulled out of the woman and Liza turned her head, not willing to look at his wayward dick.

“Bob, who is this woman?” his paramour asked as she tugged her skirt.

“Bob? Bob?” Liza parroted. “Get this sack of trash out of here!”

“Liza, you need to calm down. This has nothing to do with you.”

“Nothing to do with me?” Liza slapped him three times in a row. “Have you . . .”

Robert pointed to the half-dressed woman. “I'll call you later. I have to handle this.”

The woman rolled her eyes and adjusted her clothes. “Don't call me at all. Married bastard!”

She clicked out of the office, and when the door slammed, Liza slammed into her friend. “What was that? What in the hell?”

“I messed up. This is just so stressful and then the wedding. I needed a release and she . . .”

Liza punched Robert in the chest. “You are . . . I can't. Who are you?”

“I'm a man and this has nothing to do with you. What are you doing here anyway?” he asked flippantly.

“Don't use that tone with me. Maybe God sent me here so I can stop my friend from marrying you!”

Robert shook his head and grabbed Liza's arm. “You can't tell Chante. I messed up but it won't happen again.”

“Says the drunk every time he falls off the wagon and doesn't get help. And get your hands off me—I have no idea where they've been. Chante is going to be heartbroken.”

“You're not going to tell her. I need Chante.”

“You need her so much that you're banging random chicks on your desk?”

Robert rolled his eyes and started pacing back and forth.

“Oh. My. God! Robert!” Liza exclaimed. “Put your pants on!”

Robert grabbed his slacks and pulled them up while Liza focused on his discarded boxers. How could he be one of those men? A man with a woman who loved him but spreading his seed like Johnny Appleseed? Did faithful men exist anymore or were they just a myth?

“Did you at least use a condom? Oh my! Now my girl is going to have to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. How could you do this to her!” Liza picked up a mug and tossed it at him. Robert ducked and faced his friend as the mug exploded against the wall.

“Why are you in here acting like a jealous girlfriend? I'm not marrying you. Or maybe that's the problem.”

“Oh, please, Robert! Don't you dare pull that crap on me! I don't and have never wanted you. I believed in you, thought you were one of the good guys!”

“Mind your business, Liza. This has—”

“Chante is
my best friend
and sorority sister. You asked her to marry you in a public manner and I came here to talk to you about your relationship with her and . . . I hate what you've done.”

“Get out. Stop trying to give everyone else a fairy tale because you can't keep a man.”

She wanted to spit in his face. What a bastard! If he was trying to hurt her, he had. Liza thought Robert was her friend, but if this was how he handled friendship, she certainly didn't need enemies. Storming out of the headquarters, she nearly bowled Nic over.

“What's going on, Liza?” he asked as she stomped to her car. She didn't reply. Her mission was to get to Chante and show her that she needed to call this damned engagement off.

 

 

Teresa smiled at Jackson as he finished up a phone interview with a reporter from the
News and Observer.
“Well, thank you for your time and I hope I've earned your vote as well,” he said, then clicked the phone off.

“Great job,” Teresa said. “I love how even your clichés sound fresh.”

“If that isn't the most backhanded compliment that I've ever gotten.”

“Get over it, Jackson. You're leading the polls, people like you, and I don't think we're going to have to go negative, as you wanted. I believe you're going to be the first senator of district forty-five.”

“There's still the general election.”

Teresa pulled a file from the board of elections out of her desk drawer. “This is the general election. The filing date has passed and there is not a Republican nor Libertarian candidate to be seen. This really is a race between you and Montgomery. Voters haven't really connected with him.”

“Well, I wouldn't count him out yet. He has a determined team around him that I'm sure will do everything possible to get him elected.”

“Are you talking about the lovely Ms. Palmer?”

Jackson was surprised that she knew Liza, for about five seconds, then remembered that she knew everything. “Yes.”

“You know their history, right? I wouldn't put it past them to use her assets to get knowledge about our campaign.”

“She isn't that kind of person.”

“Oh Lord, Jackson Franklin, please tell me you aren't seeing this woman.”

“No, I'm not. We just ran into each other at Amelie's one night.” He declined to tell her any more details.

Teresa shook her head and pointed beyond her office door. “See all those people who believe in you and are working all these hours to get you elected?”

“Your point?”

“Don't let the little head cost you what we've all been working for.”

“That won't be a problem. I know what's important.”

Teresa nodded. “Good. We don't have much time left. Now, I have a plan to get out the vote. We need to enlist some drivers to get people to the polls and let them know that the voter ID law is not in effect in this election.”