The Emperor's New Clothes by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online Page B

gracious a manner as she could muster. He led her to the floor and took her in his arms, and they moved as one in a surprisingly effortless way.
    â€œSo, how are you enjoying Empire City?” His breath brushed against her ear. His hard body pressed subtly against hers, and the intoxicating scent of bay rum and male heat enveloped her.
    â€œEmpire City?” What was he talking about?
    He smiled, and her stomach fluttered. “We changed the town’s name.” He lifted his shoulders in a gesture of dismissal. “It was ridiculous really, but it’s what the folks here wanted. They think the new name sounds more respectable and civilized.”
    â€œIs it?” She could barely follow his words. The warmth of his body seemed to sear her flesh even through the gown, and she wanted to melt at his feet. What was happening to her? Lord knows, handsome men were nothing new in her life. One could not avoid handsome men while growing up in the theater. But this bronze god stirred her emotions in a distinctly foreign and unexpected way.
    He pulled his brows together in confusion. “Is it what?”
    Goodness, his eyes were dark. Dark and deep and forever. “What?”
    â€œWhat what?” His puzzled expression jerked her attention back to the discussion of—what was it again—oh, yes, Empire City.
    She drew a deep breath. “I was merely asking if a minor name change would provide respectability.”
    â€œWho knows?” He shook his head. “But to go along with the new name, we’ve got a new mayor.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œYeah.” He laughed again, and she steeled herself against its effect on her. “Me.”
    â€œYou?”
    He eyed her thoughtfully. “You sound surprised.”
    â€œI am.” She shrugged as best she could in his arms. “You don’t seem like the type of man who would be interested in politics.”
    â€œThis has nothing to do with politics. It’s simply a matter of respectability.” He adopted a lofty attitude. “A question of civilization as we know it.”
    She laughed at the contrived arrogance of his expression. “Is civilization really that important out here?”
    He snorted with amazement. “You wouldn’t think so, would you. At least, I never did. But now, all of a sudden, good old Dead End wants to attract people and business and growth. So, for some odd reason, it’s important to be respectable and civilized.”
    â€œI see,” she murmured, the tiny seed of an idea taking root within her fertile brain.
    â€œBut I guess it’s not all bad.” A twinkle shone in his dark eyes.
    â€œCivilization?”
    â€œThat’s still up in the air.” He chuckled. “But being mayor has a few interesting benefits I hadn’t expected.”
    â€œReally? What kind of benefits?”
    â€œWell, for one thing”—he drew his head closer to hers, and the sharpness of his gaze belied the lightness in his tone—“as mayor, I’m pretty much expected to play host to visitors.”
    â€œOh?” she said faintly.
    â€œAnd that, Countess, would be you.” That annoying twinkle was back. Was it a promise or a threat? She didn’t particularly want to find out. “I plan on spending a great deal of time with you in the next few days.” Hisvoice was stern, but his eyes laughed. “It’s my official responsibility.”
    â€œWell, I wouldn’t want to do anything to compromise the duties of your office.” She forced a lightness to her tone that belied the emotions churning inside her.
    This man twirling her around the dance floor held an attraction she’d never known before. She’d actively avoided involvement with any male for her own sake and her sister’s. Now was not the time to allow anything so fleeting as newly discovered passions to cloud her mind. She was right when she thought Tye Matthews was