“Those dimples alone are enough to drive a woman crazy,” she said.
“Dimples? Really? That’s all it takes?”
“For some, yes. All it takes are killer dimples.”
“Are you one of those women who falls for a man with dimples?”
The hint of naughtiness gleaming in her chocolate-brown eyes sent a delicious ripple down Matt’s spine.
“I don’t know if that’s something I’m ready to reveal just yet,” she said before turning and continuing on the path.
“No, no, no.” He caught her hand and pulled her toward him. “You don’t get to leave until you answer the question.”
“Says who?”
He didn’t reply. He didn’t let go of her hand, either.
“You’re used to getting your way, aren’t you?” Tamryn asked.
He shrugged. “I’m an only child. It comes with the territory.” He pulled her closer. “Now, tell me. How much will flashing my dimples help with my campaign?”
“I’m sure those dimples will win you a lot of votes.”
Matt dipped his head until his forehead nearly touched hers. In a low murmur, he said, “I think you know that’s not the campaign I’m talking about.”
The urge to kiss her was so potent, so dangerously powerful, that Matt had to remind himself it wasn’t his God-given right. At the moment, he couldn’t think of anything but giving in to the impulse to discover how her mouth would feel against his.
“Why are you making this so difficult?” she asked in a breathless whisper.
“What am I making difficult this time?”
“The oath I took to keep things strictly professional with you.”
“You took an actual oath?” He chuckled. “Did you put your hand over your heart and everything?”
“I’m being serious, Matt. The work I’m doing here in Gauthier is crucial to my career. In fact, I recently discovered that it’s even more crucial than I first thought.” She looked up at him. “I can’t have any distractions.”
“Crucial to your career? That sounds serious.”
She shook her head. “It’s nothing. Just work issues. But it brought home the fact that I need to concentrate on what I came to Gauthier to do. You and your dimples are a distraction I cannot afford at the moment.”
“Is there something I can do to help?” Matt asked.
A pang of guilt ricocheted through him, because he knew damn well there was one thing he could do to help her. But sharing Aunt Nicolette’s diary was off the table.
“I just need to remain focused,” Tamryn said.
Matt snagged her hand again. He pulled it up to his chest and covered it with his own. “I think you can get your work done and still give me the time of day, but I won’t push you too hard. Yet.”
His phone let out a loud beep. Matt pulled it from his pocket and looked at the reminder that had popped up on the screen.
“I have to practice my speech for this evening,” he said, pocketing the phone. “You’re staying for the rally?”
“Seems it’s the place to be in Gauthier tonight.”
“That’s because there’s not much else happening in Gauthier.” He tugged her hand. “Come on. I’ll walk you back to Shayla’s.”
“Actually, I’m going to hang around here a little longer.” She pointed toward the rear of the park. “I want to check out the gazebo.”
