Campaigning for Love (15 page)

Abby listened while nodding as if she understood at least part of the ramblings spouting from her mouth. But when Katherine paused for a breath, she asked, “Who is Stevie?”

Katherine reclaimed her chair and shared Stevie and Mrs. Tindle’s story. “I mean, I was doing great avoiding Nick, not letting myself care about him. Then he had to go and do something like that.” She waved her hands about in agitation. One came to rest on the brooch pinned to her jacket, sparking another bout of sharing.

“And this. You thought it was so pretty. Did you know they’re champagne diamonds? Four carats of them. He had to have the thing insured and didn’t tell me. I thought they were crystals.” Her hands were clammy, her throat scratchy with fear. “Nobody gives a casual acquaintance four carats worth of diamonds.”

Abby managed to get her mouth closed after a minute or two, obviously impressed with Nick’s extravagance. “I’d say he thinks of you as a lot more than an acquaintance.”

“But what exactly does he see me as?”

Abby shook her head. “You’d have to ask Nick.”

“I can’t ask him. He’d think I wanted to be more.”

“Don’t you?”

That brought her up short. Eyes wide, she gave Abby what had to be a deer-in-the-headlights look before she tried laughing off the question. Her attempt sounded more like a hysterical giggle. She leaned forward and rested her head on the desk. “When I agreed to run for city council it was because I thought his father could sway him into going along with his devious plans and the people of Pemberly would suffer from his lack of care. I can see now, from the things he’s done for Stevie and how he applied himself in family court, that he’d be great as a council member. I never saw myself in public office. I’m happy doing my volunteer work behind the scenes.”

Abby reached out and squeezed her hand. “If your heart isn’t in running and you honestly think Nick is the better candidate, then we need to tell Corinne before she schedules all those public appearances.”

“I know. But I feel like I’m letting everyone down. And Nick. Oh, I didn’t even tell you what he tried to do Friday night.”

“What?”

“He was going to withdraw from the race. For me.”

“What?”

“He told me he was withdrawing from the race because he thought I wanted the seat and he wouldn’t stand in my way.”

“Oh, wow. Oh, my.” Abby stood, struggling to piece together all of Katherine’s disjointed ramblings. “You know what this means?”

When she shook her head, Abby explained. “He hasn’t been looking for a debutante. He’s been waiting for you.”

“Me? What are you talking about?”

She tsked at Katherine’s confusion. “You really don’t have a clue, do you?’

“No, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Tell me.”

“The reason none of the eligible ladies of Pemberly have been the ‘one’ for Nick Delaney is because he’s been comparing them to you. And it’s obvious they’ve all fallen short.” Abby grinned at her temporary speechlessness.

Katherine recovered soon enough. “Oh, he couldn’t. I mean, he doesn’t. You have to be wrong.”

“I don’t think so. Besides, why didn’t he quit?”

She swallowed hard. “His father and Uncle Charles called me and told me what he planned to do.”

Abby leaned forward, encouraging her with a look of open anticipation. “And?”

“And I was furious when his dad said the reason Nick was dropping out was so I’d win. I went over there and well, I was mad. I—I—I beat on his door and forced my way inside. I yelled at him and called him chicken.” She blushed, thinking how crazy she must have looked.

Abby was laughing so hard tears streamed down her face.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, I can see it now.” She was settling into giggles now. “The most eligible bachelor in Pemberly, known for his smooth disinterest in the women who throw themselves at him, has you, with the temperament of a Tasmanian devil, storming his apartment. I assume you got what you wanted since he didn’t withdraw.”

“He promised me he wouldn’t quit.”

“Do you love him?”

Katherine’s eyes went wide at the directness of the question. “I don’t know.”

“Yeah, right.” Abby pointed her toward the door. “I believe you have an honest to goodness date to prepare for with the guy you might be in love with. Now go.”

Katherine hesitated. Abby didn’t understand why this would never work. She didn’t know the truth—Katherine’s fear. She had to make Abby understand. “Every person I’ve ever let myself care for has left me. Either in death or they didn’t want me. I’m not sure I know what love is or that I’m capable of risking my heart on it.”

Abby wrapped her in a warm hug. “Talk to Jeremy. He knows about the most important love in the world.”

Chapter 14

S
omehow, Katherine managed to block out the last part of her chat with Abby while she dressed for the banquet. But when she opened her closet to decide what to wear for her date, the possibilities hit her, and she tried to calm her breathing before she hyperventilated. “Oh Lord, what am I doing?”

She’d never been on a date. She was thirty years old and going on what would be her first real date with... She wouldn’t finish that thought either. Instead, she pulled out dresses in a rainbow of colors, studying each one with a critical eye before she settled on the classic little black dress. She slipped into the sheath dress and donned spiky high heels.

Her next decision, jewelry. There was no question about that, and she reached for the brooch. Four carats. It still made her stomach clench.

The doorbell chimed, snapping her back to reality. She hurried downstairs to the door and caught Nick tugging at the collar of the pale gray dress shirt that complemented his dark gray suit perfectly. In lieu of a hello, he offered her a clear plastic box tied with a satin ribbon.

She pulled the ribbon loose to reveal a lavender-orchid wrist corsage. Her breath rushed out in a reverent sigh. “Oh.”

She bit her lip to keep from saying anything stupid, or worse, crying. Instead, she stood on tiptoe and brushed his cheek with a feathery kiss. “Thank you.”

He made her nervous. He stood scary close but didn’t say anything. Her experience with this sort of thing was zero and since he bore the label of most eligible bachelor in town, she expected him to take the lead tonight. Why wasn’t he saying anything?

His Adam’s apple bobbed after a labored swallow. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. I’m ready if you are.”

He offered her his arm. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”

The banquet room at The Manor House was hosting the annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Appreciation Dinner. When Katherine walked in on Nick’s arm, it set the entire room abuzz. People cast speculative glances their way when Nick escorted her across the room to where his father stood talking with Judge Pierce.

“Nick, Katherine. Are you pooling campaign resources?” Edward teased.

“Tonight isn’t about the election.” Nick looked down at Katherine and squeezed her waist where his hand still rested.

The heat of his touch warmed her skin through her dress. She struggled to understand the sudden increase in her pulse whenever he was this close to her. Hints of his aftershave teased her senses when he leaned in and spoke in a hushed whisper at her ear. A fresh, clean scent, reminiscent of spring and the crispness of the air when everything is abloom.

Corinne joined their circle of conversation, casting a sharp eye toward Nick and his father. “Katherine, you really need to remember you and Nick aren’t on the same team.”

The flush of anger over the remark trailed from Katherine’s neck to her face. “I guess you weren’t here yet when we declared tonight off limits to campaigning.”

Corinne waved her hand in a dismissive fashion. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

Corinne glanced from Judge Pierce to Edward and then Nick. She tried putting her comment off as a joke, but her half-laugh sounded strained. She reached for Katherine’s arm. “Could I speak to you for a minute?”

At Nick’s look of concern, Katherine smiled in reassurance. As soon as they were out of earshot, Katherine faced her. “Corinne, I meant it. Not tonight. We’re here to honor an important cause. We can go back to campaigning tomorrow.”

“Go back to it tomorrow? You don’t get it, do you?” Corinne flounced over to a chair and motioned for her to join her. “Campaigning isn’t something you do when you feel like it. You have to eat, sleep and breathe this race if you expect to beat Nick Delaney. The election is Tuesday. There are reporters here tonight, and it’s free press.” She cut her eyes back to where Nick stood talking to his father. “Although, showing up on your competition’s arm was genius. You’ll get exposure in both the political beat and the society page. I may have underestimated you. He doesn’t have a clue, does he?”

Her temper spiked higher and higher with each word that tumbled out of Corinne’s conniving mouth. “There’s something I’ve been thinking about in regard to the campaign and you helped me see I’ve made the right decision.”

Her words captured Corinne’s complete attention. “Aren’t you going to tell me?”

“Not tonight, no campaigning. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Right now I’ve got a date to enjoy.” She left Corinne to sputter her frustration over not knowing Katherine’s plans for the election.

After the dinner, Nick drove her home and walked her to her front door. He waited while she unlocked it. Their actions were the same, but their motivations so different from the day of their lunch date fiasco. She turned to say good-night.

He reached out and pressed a gentle finger to her lips, stopping her words. “Thank you for coming with me. Sweet dreams.” His lips brushed across her forehead, and then her eyelids and her cheeks like the silky wings of a butterfly. He walked to his car and drove away.

With the whirlwind of emotions churning inside her over her unfamiliar feelings for him and her decision about the election, Katherine doubted she’d fall asleep. But as soon as her head hit the pillow, she drifted off, suffused in peaceful warmth.

The alarm clock awoke her from a deep, restive sleep. She had tons of things she needed to accomplish today. At the office, she set a cup of Gina’s favorite coffee in front of her.

“Is this a bribe?” Gina inhaled, savoring the caramel-sweet scent.

“Possibly. Tell me why Toby Hendricks was chatting you up last night.”

Gina had raised the steaming cup to her lips and almost choked. “Um, how do you know who Toby is?”

“I asked first.”

Blowing on her coffee to cool it, Gina sighed. “We’ve gone out a few times. But seriously, how do you know him?”

“The man has had his handy-dandy tape recorder stuck in my face every time I’m at a public function since I was named Citizen of the Year. I know what newspaper he works for.”

Tapping her fingers on Gina’s desk, Katherine gave her an assessing look. “What is the deadline for a story to make it into the evening edition of the
Sentinel?
”

“Why do you want to know that? You have something newsworthy to share?”

Katherine put on her haughtiest expression. “I might. Can you call Toby and find out?”

“Sure, but I’ll have to use something as bait.”

“Tell him I can give him a story they’ll run on the front page. Above the fold.”

With an impressed arch of her brow, Gina picked up the phone and dialed. Toby volunteered to come right then, but Katherine held him off until the last minute to ensure there would be no leak. Five before noon, Gina led a suspicious but eager Toby into her office.

“Miss Harper,” he said and offered his hand. “This is an odd request.”

Motioning him to a chair, Katherine cocked her head and offered him a patient look. “Really? I would think that when someone knows something involving an upcoming election, the town would be very interested in hearing about it since the election is tomorrow. Any reporter would be thrilled at the chance for an exclusive.”

With a wary glance, he cleared his throat. “Yes, but, you see, you didn’t explain what that something is.”

She straightened in her chair. “No, I guess I didn’t. Forgive me for coming across as demanding while I outline a few things I’ll need your assurance on before we proceed.”

“It’ll depend. My editor has final say in what goes in the paper.”

“I understand. But you need to realize...” She leaned forward, as if she was sharing a secret meant only for him while seated in a room full of microphones. “I’m an attorney and I must have your assurance these small concessions will be met before I’ll tell you my story.”

He watched her, trying to decide if she was bluffing or not. He must’ve believed what she was offering was too big to balk, because he nodded his agreement. “So, what did I just agree to?”

She rewarded him with a pleased smile. “I’d like you to title the article ‘Why Nicholas Delaney Is the Best Man for City Council.’”

He almost bit the eraser off the pencil he’d been tapping against his bottom lip. “Excuse me? I thought he was your number-one competition.”

“Oh, he was. Until I realized he’d do a much better job looking out for the city than I ever could.”

“Huh?”

“Toby, I thought reporters asked who, what, where, when and why.”

“Normally we do. Miss Harper. This is a bizarre conversation we’re having here.”

“I know and I’m sorry for that. But this is the best way to announce my withdrawal from the race. And I want to make sure people know why.”

“You’re quitting today? The election’s tomorrow.”

“I know. But during my campaign, I’ve spent plenty of time thinking about what this city needs and what we, as citizens, have been doing to meet those needs. More importantly, I’ve thought about what I can do to help us attain our goals more efficiently. In doing that, I’ve had a chance to see Mr. Delaney in action. He has a great vision of what to do and how. He doesn’t only see the immediate problems facing our community. He’s looking ahead, thinking about what the choices we make today will mean to future generations.”

Folding her arms on her desk, she willed Toby with all her might to see what she meant. “I tend to get bogged down in the ‘here and now.’ I do a lot of volunteer work. Most people think that makes me a perfect fit for public service, but it doesn’t. I have to have one-on-one interaction, directly helping people, or I’m not effective. Nick works better at planning and managing projects that affect numerous parties and he does it with ease and finesse.”

Toby still looked doubtful. “You’re telling me that on the day before the election you’re withdrawing from the race and your reason is you think the guy you’ve been running against is better qualified than you?”

Could she blame him for not believing her? It was crazy. True, but crazy. “That pretty well sums it up.”

“And I have your permission to quote you as saying he’s the guy you’ll be voting for tomorrow—that you trust yourself and the city to him?”

She met his speculative gaze with surety. “I trust my future to Nick Delaney with all my heart. You can use that as my quote.”

After sneaking a quick glance at his watch, he grinned. “If I leave right now I should be able to get this typed up in time for my editor to yell ‘stop the presses.’” He pumped her hand in an enthusiastic shake. “Thanks for making a dream of mine come true.”

She laughed and watched him fly out of her office before picking up one of the case files she hadn’t had time to give her full attention in these past few weeks. Taking a pleased breath, she got busy doing what she loved with a smile on her face and a warmth that reached her soul.

Katherine stayed at her desk until well after Gina had left to dictate notes on several files that were pending. As she shut her computer down, the phone rang.

“Katherine Harper.”

“I can’t believe you. How could you do this to me? I made you!” Corinne screeched in her ear.

“I didn’t do anything to you, Corinne, and the last time I read my Bible it said God made me.” Her tone underscored with steel. “Now, if you’ll calm down, I’ll talk to you. Otherwise, we have nothing to say to each other.”

“This is what you meant at the dinner the other night, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. I’d thought about dropping out and after you kept on about plotting and scheming, I realized you thought I would owe you if I won the election. I have no interest in blackmail or feeling beholden to anyone. If I’d won, it would’ve been because the people of Pemberly thought I had their best interests at heart. Which, by withdrawing and supporting Nick, I do. He’s the perfect person to serve on the council. Once you calm down, you’ll realize that.”

“I know how his father works. He convinced Nick to suck up to you to gain your trust. But you’re wrong. With the council seat in his hand you’ll find out Nick Delaney doesn’t have a reason in the world to show up on your doorstep.”

“That may be true, but I had to do what I thought was right, and this is right for me.”

“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when you’re sitting home alone every Friday night while he’s grabbing photo ops with some other woman.” After that parting jibe, Corrine hung up.

Katherine sat for a few minutes worrying over Corrine’s words.
Stop it.
She couldn’t account for anyone else’s actions but her own. If this were part of God’s plan for her life, it would happen. If not, at least she’d taken the high road. At peace, she turned off her desk lamp before picking up her briefcase. She locked her door and headed home.

As she pulled into her driveway, the blood roared in her ears and she let out a small squeal. Swinging on her porch swing was none other than Nick Delaney. She closed her eyes and took small even breaths before she climbed out of the car, firm in her belief that Corinne Hightower was a complete idiot.

“Hi.”

“Hello. How was your day?” He used his foot to stop the swing.

She worried her lip with her teeth before stepping up onto the porch and into the light. “Good and yours?”

“Ehh.” He shrugged. “The morning was boring. I spent hours reading briefs and depositions. But then around one o’clock,
The Sentinel
sent Toby Hendricks over with a copy of an article slated for their evening edition. They wanted to run my opinion of a story on the front page of tomorrow’s morning edition. Imagine my surprise when I found my name spelled out in the headline?”

“Oh? Should I complain that they’re showing favoritism the day of the election by giving you extra press?”

He stood and paced the confines of the small porch. “Why?”

“Why what?” Until she knew how he felt about what she’d done, she wasn’t giving him anything to use against her.

He shot her an impatient glare. “Don’t try that. Why did you withdraw—the night before the election?”

“Did you read the story? It’s all there in black and white.”