When Passion Flares (The Dark Horse Trilogy Book 2) by Cynthia Dane Read Free Book Online

indeed.
    Joshua sat next to her at the table. Keep your cool. Oh, why was she so nervous around this man of all people? As far as Kerri could tell, he was harmless. “Tell me,” he began, his eyes never leaving Kerri’s frame, “what does the governor’s daughter do for fun around here? I would like to know, in case I become governor. My boys are still quite young, and I want them to have a good childhood, all things considered.”
    Nothing to do except lean back in her chair and hope someone from the campaign hopped in and stopped this nonsense. “Fun? I do what any woman does, Mr. Payne. Get a manicure and gossip about celebrities.” She hoped that he could detect her sarcasm.
    “That so? I don’t know if my boys are into that sort of thing, but I wouldn’t put it past one of them. He is always getting into his mother’s makeup and having a ball.” Something about this man’s smile was unnerving. Like he was up to something. On the contrary, he was like an old friend looking out for one’s best interests. Mine? Kerri didn’t know what those interests were. “I’m surprised that you’re not seeing anyone right now. Or so that’s what the media tells me.”
    Please don’t be coming on to me. Kerri sat up in her seat. “What business would that be of yours, Mr. Payne?”
    “It’s none of my business, at least not at present. But you seem like a nice young woman, and I would hate to see you get caught up in any sort of scandal.”
    Now that rattled a few bones inside Kerri’s body. She gaped at Joshua as if he proposed to her. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but…”
    “I’ve heard nothing.” The man stood, hands in pockets. “And I wouldn’t want you to think I’m spreading misinformation. But these sorts of elections tend to get very heated, and people will do anything in their power to bring down one side or another. Sadly, this tends to leave some casualties along the way. I must be going now. I wish you and your family well, Miss Mitchell. Thank you for your time.”
    No one came to rescue Kerri, who remained in the break room until it was time for her to make her final appearance an hour later. By that time Joshua had chosen a medium-sized mutt to take home to his children, and the cameras descended upon him like dogs themselves. Kerri couldn’t care. She was too perturbed by what that man seemed to know.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
     
    One day, Hunter mused, he would be able to walk around with his girlfriend like other couples did. Out in the open, holding hands and making kissy faces at each other whenever they stopped at a crosswalk.
    Today was not that day. Most likely it wouldn’t be tomorrow either. Maybe after the election they could let their fathers know. Well, Hunter might let his father know. He was somewhat disturbed by the idea of Raymond Mitchell finding out what such a young buck was doing to his daughter. I’ll have to relocate entirely. Maybe he could take Kerri with him.
    “What are you thinking about, huh?” Kerri sat across from him in a private restaurant. Private in the sense that no prying eyes could see them behind a curtain while they ate lunch and flirted with their feet beneath the table. This was as good as it got with dates. The night before, Hunter called his girlfriend and asked if she would like to go out. Of course Kerri wanted to go out. The mere thought made her so giddy that Hunter had to laugh at her high-pitched voice coming through the phone. But it was another day of sunglasses and hats. Hunter even went so far as to drop Kerri off on an empty road a few streets away from their intended destination. The fewer chances there were of someone seeing them in such intimate proximity, the better.
    “I’m thinking that I would love to go outside and hold your hand,” he said. I don’t know if it’s sad that it’s true. “Make the men jealous that you’re with me.”
    “That’s funny, because I was thinking of how many women would