But Mark Smith was suave, proving his control when the corners of his eyes crinkled and he said, “So why didn’t you leave with me, then?”
She laughed and toyed with her wineglass stem as she drew on eight years of jaded political-arena experience. “Maybe you should be the politician. Turning the question around and volleying it back to me. Such ego. Joann always said you had one, but I always tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. At least I did up until that night.”
“Of course you did,” he said, a cheeky smile easing over his face as he played along. Her stomach did a figurative flip. He lowered his voice. “The benefit of the doubt is a very powerful thing. It’s like the seat of your pants or your gut instinct. Intangible but very real. Like that kiss.”
“Exactly,” Lisa said, her brain racing to process the multiple innuendos. The man was good.
“So tell me, Lisa, now that fate has given us another chance, what is your gut instinct telling you tonight about me?” he queried, not giving her a chance to retrench, reload or rethink.
Oh, he was master of his game. But now so was she. While she hadn’t a tenth of his sexual experience, she’d still learned to play ball and play well. “It tells me that you haven’t changed a bit. You’re older, certainly, but I don’t know if that makes you necessarily wiser.”
“I was wise enough to have you as my dinner companion.” His gleam spoke volumes.
He’d left her the perfect opening and she took it. “I’m only here because it’s my job.”
He leaned back and studied her, and she knew she’d scored a direct hit. However, the conflicting emotions flickering in his dark eyes lasted for only a moment until he again smiled, although not as brightly as before. His words were measured yet delivered smoothly. “At least we know that you have the capacity for honesty. That’s rare in the political world, isn’t it?”
She had to give him credit. A compliment and a dig, both at the same time. “Perhaps,” she said with a slight incline of her head. “Although, I must say that Herb is honest. He means each and every thing he says and he plans to fulfill every campaign promise he makes.”
Pure skepticism crossed Mark’s face, and he had the courtesy not to laugh. “Oh, they all do, Lisa. And everyone knows the road to hell is paved with good intentions and broken promises. That’s the nature of the beast. Politicians have to have some sliver of raw ideology that lets them be idealistic. It lets them feel good about themselves, convinces them that they aren’t addicted to the allure of wielding power. It proves to them that they have a higher calling, that they are somehow fated to save the world. Business is the same to some extent. We’re all about making the world a better place for everyone, but not without padding our own pockets first. At least corporations admit that it’s all about the bottom line.”
“Cynical,” Lisa observed.
“Always,” he said, the sharpness in his tone driving his point home.
“Herb—”
Mark cut her off. “Not to be rude, but I don’t want to hear about Herb’s promises. I’ll vote for him because he’s my father’s friend and because he’s better than the other two candidates.”
“I will personally guarantee Herb is honest.”
Mark stared at her for a minute. “Sure, for as long as he can be before the job changes him.”
“It won’t,” Lisa declared. “He’s proven himself for a long time. That’s why I’m working for him.”
An arched eyebrow conceded that point before Mark attacked on another front. “But everyone knows Missouri politics are family affairs. The Danforths. The Blunts, the Carnahans, the Clays. In office or not, they all have a lot of influence.”
“True, but Herb has a history of interactions with all of those families on both state and national levels. He’s the best candidate for Missouri.”
Mark took a long sip of water, his study of her never ceasing. “Do you have an answer for everything?”
Lisa didn’t hesitate to nod. “It’s my job. I’m sure you can understand that. After all, isn’t your job important?”
“Very,” Mark said with a corresponding nod.
“Then you understand what I mean. And while I thank you for this lovely meal, it wasn’t at all necessary.”
“It interrupted what you needed to do,” he said drily.
“Honestly, yes.” She almost bit her lip but stopped herself. She’d meant to chastise him, perhaps, but it hadn’t come out that way. She mentally cursed herself. She’d sounded petulant.
The right corner of Mark’s lip inched up and he rubbed his chin. “So I find beside me a woman who can save herself and handle sticky situations on her own. And she’s riled that I stepped in.”
“Absolutely,” Lisa said, a prickle of wariness riveting up her spine. While he’d controlled the conversation earlier, this time he was doing more than exerting his expertise. He was leading her somewhere, readying himself to zero in on something still unknown to her.
“Although you admit that your having dinner with me did please Herb and will tickle my father and mother with delight,” he pointed out.
“But my role isn’t to sit here and eat with you,” she countered.
“And if I asked you to another meal instead?”
Oh, he was smooth. But this time she didn’t miss a beat. She said, “I’d say no.”
Instead of being offended, he simply smiled, that grin of his indicating he’d been quite prepared for her rejection. “Of course you would say no. I can even list the reasons. You don’t have time. You’re too career-oriented. And quite frankly, despite our kiss, you’ve never liked me much, have you?”
She reached for her water glass, the movement allowing her needed composure. He’d turned the tables on her yet again by seeing straight through her.
“Well?” he prodded.
“No,” Lisa admitted, sticking with the honesty approach. “I’ve heard way too many stories of your exploits over the years to believe that you’re any kind of continual dinner-date material. You’re a playboy, Mark. You kissed me and left me. Probably a momentary aberration, certainly a lack of common sense on my part. No, I’m sorry, but you aren’t dating material, much less marriage. And with my job, I don’t have time to waste.”
He sat back, his expression thoughtful. “So that’s it.” He shook his head, more to himself than at Lisa. “My misguided-youth reputation precedes me that much. I’ll have to talk to my sister about that. I can assure you that my being a rogue is extremely exaggerated.”
“Right.” Lisa gave a short, disbelieving laugh. “That’s why you attended Joann’s wedding reception with one woman and left with another after kissing me and declaring that I was the one you wanted. Can you deny that you left with someone?”
“I’m already tried and convicted. What’s the point?”
Lisa pushed her dessert plate forward. Thankfully their tablemates were engaged in their own private conversations. “The point is that I’d really prefer not to discuss this, especially here. I apologize for getting us started on this topic, so let’s drop it. How we feel about each other is irrelevant. You pass the hat, and I tell my parents and Joann I’ve seen you and that you’re doing well. You do the same, and we go our separate ways and all is right with the world.”
That dark eyebrow arched in skepticism. “That’s it?”
“There should be more?”
“Fate reintroduced us for a reason. Are you sure you’re ready to sever our newly formed