Jade Whitmore was Megan’s best friend from college. Together they owned Chase and Whitmore Designs, an up-and-coming boutique decorating firm for the past six years.
Jade slid into the empty seat on the other side of Megan and placed a glass of champagne on the table. “Sorry I’m late. I had to meet with the Cannadys to pick up their last payment. Glad we’re done with that project.”
“Me, too,” Megan agreed but her attention was diverted by the commotion at the entrance of the event. The ladies and other guests all placed their eyes on a man flanked with bodyguards and an entourage of people strolling into the gala. The man in the middle turned his back to the crowd as he stopped to shake hands and chat with a few people who approached him.
“Must be someone important,” Megan shrugged and sipped her champagne as she stared at the back of the tall man clad in a black tuxedo. He turned to the side to greet a lady with a too-short dress on who in return gazed up at him as if he were the most handsome man in the world.
Megan cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow as a smile inched across her face and her heart and stomach began to flutter uncontrollably.
“Oh, my goodness!”
Sydney and Jade placed their attention on her, and Sydney waved her hand in front of her twin’s face. “I’ve never seen you smile like that before. I know he’s gorgeous, but stop drooling.”
Megan shook her head as she tried to calm her smile and excitement down, but it was no use especially when he turned his head as if he sensed her staring at him. Their eyes locked, and a charming smile crept across his breathtaking, chiseled face. He nodded knowingly as he took a step in her direction but a couple stepped in his path for conversation. Even though he conversed with them, his eyes on hers never faltered.
Jade tapped her on the shoulder. “Megan, do you know who you’re making goo-goo eyes with?”
She nodded. “Yes, that’s him. The man who changed my flat tire.”
“That’s who changed your tire?” Sydney questioned in a surprised tone.
“Yes and apparently he is someone important since everyone seems to know who he is except me.”
“Um...yes...” Jade started. “That’s Georgia state senator Steven Monroe, self-proclaimed lifelong bachelor and one of Atlanta’s most notorious playboys.”
Chapter 2
“I’ll call you next week about that,” Steven promised, shaking his associate’s hand as he tried to move away from the crowd of people that were beginning to form around him. His eyes couldn’t tear away from Megan’s lovely face. He was quite surprised to see her when he entered the ballroom for just some moments ago he’d taken a cold shower as he thought of her. Of course he told himself the cold shower was to cool down his temperature after changing her tire in the blazing evening sun, but he knew that was a lie.
He hadn’t been in the mood to attend the fund-raiser, but considering it was in the same building he lived in, all he had to do was ride the elevator down to the first floor. Plus, his best friend and campaign manager, Shawn Bennett suggested Steven at least should show his face, shake hands and give a considerable donation. But most importantly stay away from the ladies. His reputation couldn’t handle any more bad press considering he had been on local blogs and news channels with a different woman nearly every week. And considering Steven’s father wanted him to eventually run for the U.S. Senate seat he was retiring from at the end of the year, Steven needed to first clean up his image. While he would be a shoo-in to win the nomination because of his intellect, clean political slate and charismatic nature, the Monroe campaign team was more concerned that Steven’s playboy image would cost him the opportunity to win.
So he’d made a promise to stay low-key and out of the limelight with the ladies and therefore opted not to have a date that evening. However, there was something about Megan that was drawing him to her like a magnetic force. When he entered the room earlier, he sensed the same calming peace he had when he’d initially met her. Was it her perfume in the atmosphere or her cute giggle that made him turn her way, only to find her inquisitive eyes on him? She bestowed her beautiful smile as she had when he’d changed her tire, but this one was accompanied with a look of promise that he couldn’t explain. He had a feeling his smile matched hers.
Steven continued to nod and shake hands with people who approached him all the while keeping his eyes glued to Megan and her table. He briefly glanced on either side of her to make sure she didn’t have a date. On her left was a woman who looked just like her, which must’ve been the twin sister she’d mentioned. And the other lady at the table, while drop-dead gorgeous, did nothing for him, either. There weren’t any men in their presence, and he was grateful. “Hello, Megan,” he said casually. “And ladies.” He nodded at them but kept his eyes on Megan. “Nice to see you here. I was hoping to run into someone I know.”
She chuckled with a head tilt. “Weren’t you just bombarded with people you know? We just met an hour ago.”
“Hmm...I know, yet we keep running into each other. Maybe we’re supposed to be in each other’s lives.”
She released her signature cute giggle again, and he was glad when her friends excused themselves but not before the both of them winked at Megan. He sat in the chair across from her and dismissed his bodyguards who were actually his campaign manager and his brother, Bryce. They’d tagged along to make sure he stayed out of trouble. And he sensed their hesitancy before they strode away.
“I must say, I’m quite glad to see you. You drove away without me getting any of your information. I don’t even know your last name.”
“It’s Chase. Megan Chase...Senator Monroe,” she stated knowingly with a grin.
He threw his head back in laughter. “Does that bother you?”
“Nope. I’m forever grateful. Could you imagine me changing a tire in heels and in this dress?”
His eyes traveled over her body settling on her shapely legs and a glimpse of the side of her exquisite thighs peeking out from her dress.
No, but I can imagine you only in those heels with your legs over my shoulders. He blinked his eyes a few times and cleared the frog in his throat. At first he thought he’d spoken his private thoughts out loud.
“So that means I have your vote in the next election?”
“I don’t know,” she said in a teasing manner. “What makes you the perfect candidate?”
“I’m a regular down-to-earth guy who likes to help people less fortunate than myself and ultimately make a difference in my community.”
“I’m sold. When does your current term end?”
“I just started my second term as a senator for Georgia so not for another two years. However, I’m considering running for a U.S. Senate seat within the next year or so, but let’s keep that between us for now. It’s my father’s seat, and I’m sure there’re a few people who would love to have it if they caught wind of my dad retiring.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” she said sincerely.
Steven couldn’t believe he’d told her such secret information so easily. Only he, his father, brother and best friend were aware of Senator Robert Monroe’s retirement plans. But for some reason he trusted the lady sitting in front of him.
“So how long have you been in the interior-design business?”
“Well unofficially since I was seven years old.” She paused to laugh. “I redesigned my side of my childhood room by using watercolors and markers on the wall. I also cut up some old drapes my mother was going to toss to make throw pillows and a duvet cover. I loved it but much to my mother’s dismay, she wasn’t pleased with the mural on the wall.