Page 47 of Last First Time
Instead the bulk of them chuckle. They’re laughing at me. I am never going to recover from this mess. First of all, the money is probably going to take years to recoup, then I went and messed up my badass reputation in only few short weeks. I’m supposed to be the take-no-prisoners K.T., not this lovey-dovey Karisma that Reed has turned me into. Jerkface.
Reed smiles at me indulgently, like I’m his favorite person in the world. He doesn’t even glance at the sea of reporters. “I’ve always been the type of man who is guided by my passions. It’s no surprise that once I found real love, I’d be the kind of man who couldn’t keep my hands off the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
Then he pulls me closer to him and turns us both to face the horde. “But I would like to apologize to the citizens of Valentine for the difficulty of the past few days. I promise that even with my engagement and upcoming wedding, I do take my job very seriously.”
The noise of the crowd swells up again, like the roar of the ocean waves against the shore. Reed raises one hand, gently gesturing to them to quiet down. “I understand that people may be frustrated by this, but I am not at liberty to comment upon pending legal matters. If you look back at every speech I’ve ever given, I repeat this line quite often.”
The reporters laugh a bit, except for the sharp-taloned woman in front. She has a look in her eyes that I recognize. If she were in my bar, I’d throw her out now. She’s spoiling for a fight, and she is going to get one no matter what anybody else says about it.
“Mayor Harrington,” her voice cuts through the noise. “What about the people who are saying that your—ahem—relationship with Ms. Troudeau is changing you for the worse?”
I snort. Bitch, please. Here she is, in front of every reporter in the Midwest, basically calling me a slut and then saying I’m somehow corrupting Reed. I clench my fists so tightly that I can feel my fingernails digging into my palms. I really am going to snap and start a big hair-pulling cat fight with the reporter who has a stripper manicure.
Reed smooths his hand over my shoulder, petting me. “Honestly ma’am, I haven’t heard anything like that being said, except by you right now.”
He takes my face and turns me to face him, then makes sure the next words are said directly to me. “Besides, everyone knows I wouldn’t be half the man I am today without Karisma in my life. She’s been my best friend and guiding light since we were in college together.”
I sigh and nuzzle into his touch a little. This whole thing feels so damned good that it’s easy enough to let the audience slide away, to take the time to make believe with Reed that our pretend engagement is actually really happening. I want to be the reason why Reed is the good guy he is. I want him to want it too.
But the barracuda in the front row isn’t done yet. “Well if you two are really engaged, then where’s your ring?” Her eyes light up in vicious triumph. She obviously thinks that she’s caught us, but she picked a fight she isn’t going to win this time.
I turn from Reed’s touch and give her the dead eye. “Unlike some people, Reed knows that some women prefer to make their own decisions. He wanted me to pick out a ring that made me happy, instead of something big and gaudy simply for the sake of showing off.” I give her a slow, up and down look.
I look at the crowd again. “Obviously, I have plenty of opinions. And I am so grateful that Reed is man enough to believe that I’m worth listening to, no matter what tax bracket I’m in or what my last name is. That’s half of what makes him the great leader he is. He always listens to people equally, without giving more time or attention to the rich, to the powerful.”
I clear my throat. “He even listens carefully to his critics, more so than anyone I know. He loves our town, and only wants to do his best at everything he does. And who doesn’t want that in their politicians?”
Reed squeezes me a little closer, and I snuggle right next to him. I’m going to be tucked up inside his wrinkled-up suit jacket if I don’t knock it off with all the public PDA here. “And let me tell you, Reed Harrington busts his sexy ass to be the best at every single thing he’s ever done. He’s never cashed in on his family name, and he’s never allowed himself to take the easy rich boy way out of a problem. He has worked hard for every single thing he has in his life, including me.”
A few scattered spots of applause have my face pinking up in embarrassment, but I can’t seem to shut up. I’ll defend Reed to anyone and everyone, including this mob of reporters.
“Reed Harrington is the very best man I know. He’s smart, and funny, and strong, and good at heart. And he’s even amazing in bed. He should have a statute made of his—”
I stop, let the shocked laughter die off, then gather my voice up again. “Look, I get it. There are plenty of men who are jealous of who and what he is, who want to tear him down for being the very, very best at everything.” I take a moment to look pointedly at his junk. Take that news bite and suck on it, people.
I lift my gaze to his supremely handsome face. “But he deserves better. He deserves better than what he’s been getting lately.”
Front row harpy snipes, “You mean like you?”
I roll my eyes. The nerve of this woman. How many times is she going to have to get shot down before she stops her one-woman troll parade?
Reed’s eyes go flat, and he levels his glare at her. “She means this.” He gestures at the press circus. “I don’t deserve to be dragged out in public and peppered with personal questions when I only want to go home and get some sleep. I don’t deserve to have my private life dragged through the news purely for the sake of some votes.” His face and voice go soft.
“But also I don’t deserve having someone like Karisma in my life. She has always been there for me even when nobody else believed in me. I am far too lucky on this one particular issue, that’s for sure.”
I’m smiling so hard that my face hurts. “Ready to go home?” My eyes flicker over to the guards, then back to the man in front of me. Enough with the dog and pony show. We’re getting out of here now.
“Anywhere you want, sweetheart.” Then he kisses me, in front of the giant swarm of reporters and everyone. I hear the whir of the cameras, but everything else melts away in the warmth of his kiss.
Reed
About a week later, I’m draped across the counter at Riddles. K.T. is giving me a dangerous look, and I can’t tell if she wants to drag me into the back room and beat me up or have a mid-morning quickie with me. But probably she wants to murder me.
“I’m not closing the bar this morning, you idiot face. I need to be open basically twenty-four seven until I can make enough money to relocate the business. Tots and Shots isn’t going to fund itself.” Her arms are crossed in front of her delectable tits, but her eyes sparkle. Maybe she wants to rough me up a little and then some kissing? I could get on board with that.
“Look Kar, I can make a phone call and get someone in to cover the bar for you, but there’s nobody here right now except Aunt Opal. It’s not even close to lunch time yet. We’ll be back soon.”
Aunt Opal snorts. “You won’t. I saw that entire news conference, you kissy-face lovebirds, and I don’t think you’re going to be any less than forty-five minutes to an hour.”
