Page 13 of A Field of Beauty

Tessa answered without thinking. “It’s the scent from that Japanese katsura tree over there.” It was a beautiful tree with heart-shaped buttery-yellow leaves.

The governor turned, searching for who had responded. His eyes lingered on Tessa like she was the only female in the room. He motioned for her to come stand by him. “Tell me again the name of that tree.” Then a photographer told them to look over at him, and the governor put his arm around Tessa’s waist, squeezing her close to him, and a picture was taken.

Afterward, Tyler whispered crossly, “The least you could’ve done was to include me.”

Include him ... in what? The whole thing lasted fifteen seconds. Too fast for her to even think about it. Tyler wanted that moment with the governor. She couldn’t have cared less.

She shrugged with a sigh. As she turned away, she saw that Dawson had been watching the interaction between her and Tyler. His gaze fluttered toward hers. Their eyes met and then flicked away.

During dinner, Tyler barely sat down. Networking, he said. Dawson sat between Lovey and Tessa, eating the meal with gusto while Lovey talked and talked and talked. When Lovey got up to go to the bathroom, Dawson rose, partially, a sign of good manners. He looked up when he felt Tessa’s gaze.

“Since when did you turn into a Southern gentleman?” Tessa asked.

“I’ve always been one,” he said, eyeing her dessert. “Are you going to eat that?”

She pushed it toward him. “So how long have you been seeing Lovey Mitchell?”

Between bites of key lime pie, he mumbled, “Long enough.”

“Long enough for what? Are you serious about her?” As hethoughtfully chewed, she kept at him. “The two of you are opposites. How is it even possible that you’re together?”

He swallowed. “People can surprise you.”

“Dawson—your favorite topic is compost. Hers is the latest hairstyle.”

“Speaking of, did you know that human hair can deter deer from eating plants? I brought back my shorn-off beard to try it on the dahlias.” He polished off the last bite of her dessert.

Tessa’s eyes went wide. “Don’t tell me that Lovey is the barber who gave you the two-for-one haircut.”

Before Dawson could finish chewing to respond, Tyler returned to the table and sat down with a satisfied look. “I’m getting close. The governor’s assistant promised me a moment with him before he had to leave. If I can get his endorsement, my city council position is as good as gold.”

“Got your beauty shots?” Dawson said.

“Not yet. Working on it.” Tyler didn’t realize Dawson was mocking him. Or maybe he did. “So, Dawson, what are your plans?”

“Plans?”

“You’ll probably need to get a real job at some point.”

Tessa twisted in her chair to look straight at Tyler. “He has a real job.”

Dawson pointed his fork at Tyler. “It’s good to be prepared for the future. You never know what could be coming right around the corner.”

Tessa whipped around to Dawson. What did he mean bythat?

Dawson reached out to hold the plate of Tyler’s untouched dessert. “Mind if I eat it?” Before Tyler could respond, Dawson had his fork in the pie.

Suddenly, Lovey plopped down in her seat. “Y’all! Guess who I just had a little chat with! The mayor of Asheville! He was coming right out of the little boy’s room just as I was leaving the little girl’s room. I gave him my business card and told him I could fixthat awful haircut for him, and he said he’d give it some thought.” She sparkled with excitement. “I’ll tell youwhat. He is a charmer, that isfor sure.” She motioned to a waiter to fill her coffee cup. “Tyler, honey, what’s all this fuss about rezoning property? Sounds like my beauty shop could be in jeopardy. The whole block. Good thing I’m only renting my chair in the salon. I’d be furious if I owned the shop.”

Tyler shot out of his chair. “There’s the governor’s assistant. He’s waving me over. Wish me luck.”

Lovey looked at Tessa. “The mayor told me all about it when he saw the address on my business card. Something about four sites in Asheville that were ... what was them big words he used?” She scrunched up her face. “Identified for high-density living.” The waiter came by to refill her cup of coffee. “I can’t remember where those other sites were, but, Tessa, honey, he said something about a site down your way.”

Dawson and Tessa locked eyes.

And not ten seconds later, Tessa felt someone draw close to her. She startled and turned to find Tyler down on one knee, holding an engagement ring out to her. “Darling?” he said. “Say yes.”

Before she could string a thought together in her mind, a photographer’s flash went off. First one, then another and another, as Tyler slid the ring on her finger.

---