The Marriage Campaign. Michele Dunaway

am I,” Mark said without blinking. As for his statement, Alanna still didn’t believe the relationship was over, so that certainly made his statement enough of a truth to satisfy a politician.

      And as for dating Lisa, as a freshman she’d been cute: blond hair, blue eyes and a smile that, when she got just a little older, would drive all the boys wild. At the wedding reception, she’d been hot. He’d wanted her then. Heck, he remembered being just drunk enough to think that she could be the one. That’s why he’d made a beeline for her at the first opportunity and worked on her all night before finally getting her alone in the hall.

      Which was why this grown-up Lisa with her political promises now annoyed him and yet still intrigued him. And he let nothing that piqued his interest simply slide by without some intervention on his part. Especially now that he understood why she hadn’t met with him that night. Women. Always jumping to conclusions. Like now.

      His smile faded to indicate his seriousness. “Our alliance has nothing to do with some misguided crush or some kiss or us dating—let’s clear that up. However, given that you and I have Joann in common, you should consider me your ally. Despite my jaded view of politics, I have connections in this town that can get you money for Herb’s campaign. I know people that you can’t reach without me and I have access to even more through my mother. Do you know how thrilled Mom’s going to be when I tell her I saw you? And that you’re working for Herb? Herb, who was in their wedding party?”

      “He was?” Lisa hadn’t known that.

      “Yes. And the minute I tell Joann, you know she’s going to suggest that I help you, as well.”

      “I was already planning on calling her later this week. I also had your parents on my agenda.”

      “Well, plans change, don’t they?”

      “Obviously,” Lisa said, and Mark knew she was referring to what she saw as his indiscretion at the wedding.

      Mark reached forward and took a long sip of water. As he’d said, she already had him tried and convicted. There was no point in revealing the truth now. He’d been raised that you always kept an ace in the hole. Lisa’s misperception was his ace.

      He could see the hypothetical wheels turning in her head as she contemplated what he’d said. For a moment he wondered if achieving her end goal ever tempted her to consort with the devil. At least he wasn’t that bad, which he’d prove to her one step at a time. Then he’d reveal the truth. For suddenly Mark had clear insight into what he wanted from Lisa Meyer. He wanted the magic back. At the reception, he’d drunkenly thought she was the one. Maybe she wasn’t anymore, but if nothing else, he wanted her apology and, with it, a complete surrender that she’d been wrong about him.

      “You really should consider my proposition,” he told her. “You know I’m right and that in reality I’m really not that bad of a guy. Let me help you.”

      “Why are you doing this?” she asked.

      He covered her hand with his, an intense warmth fusing them together. “Because Joann would hate it if we couldn’t be friends. Because it’s the right thing to do.” And because I’m not finished with you yet.

      Lisa pulled her hand free as Herb reached the podium. Herb’s speech gave her some time to consider Mark’s outrageous proposal. The offer sounded too perfect, too ideal. And everyone knew the old adage that if something sounded too good to be true then it probably was.

      But Mark held true to his word, starting Pass the Hat with the announcement he was putting four thousand into the kitty, two for him and two for his father. The female vocalist hired for the evening sang a patriotic ballad while campaign staff passed black top hats around the room. Once finished, the formal part of the evening drew to a close, replaced with dancing and mingling for those wishing to stay.

      Although she was able to escape from Mark during the dancing, Lisa had to admit that his proposition bothered her. Form an alliance with him? He was on her list, slightly above the devil. He was a cad.

      So the odds of partnering with Mark: zero. Sure, the idea held merit, but Lisa had learned early that all favors came with either price tags or strings. And he’d already deserted her once.

      Being indebted to Mark Smith in any way was plain frightening, and Lisa was a woman whom little scared. But tonight, the way he’d simply taken over and gotten what he’d wanted—namely her—had been a powerful example of his gumption and guts.

      He was a man who did what suited him, a man steeped in the tradition that growing up in wealth and privilege offered. Mark could have been anything, done anything. It didn’t work that way for Lisa. While she would put Herb Usher into the governor’s mansion, she’d never live there herself.

      Seeing Herb get his governorship was her goal, an investment in achieving the political appointment she wanted.