So that could be hers.
He sat up, then went into the bathroom to dispose of the condom before coming back out and joining her in bed.
“I have to prepare for that damn debate,” she said.
He turned toward her, and his lips were right there, next to her temple, so it seemed totally logical that he ought to kiss it. “You’re going to be great.”
“I’m afraid this is where people are going to find out that I’m kind of a fraud? And you know what, I never minded being a fraud. But I do now.”
“Why do you think you’re a fraud?”
“Because I … I don’t know … I don’t know anything about policy, really. I mean, I have read up on a lot of things, and I know the city code pretty well.”
“Of course you do. You run a business here. You’re part of the town. And maybe you can’t play the game in quite the same way that Danielle does, but I think that’s a plus. You’re one of us. And you want things to move in favor of those of us who own businesses in this town. Who work here. Who live here.”
“You would think that Danielle would too.”
“No. You know how she is. She thinks she’s better than everyone else. She thinks she can make this place better than it is. But her version of better is … it’s just snobby. She thinks she’s fancier than Rustler Mountain. But if she moved into a bigger pond, she would never have this kind of power. It’s why she stays here. Not for the love of it, but for the love of the status she has in this place.”
“Wow. Well, when you put it like that …”
“She doesn’t have to be exceptional here. She’s coasting on the legacy of our grandfather, and she is not doing him proud.”
“I guess … not.”
“Very not. Trust me.”
“Well, I do want to do what’s right for the town. I also would really like to ride in one of those cool convertibles in the Christmas parade.”
He laughed. “Well, I think that could be arranged.”
“Who doesn’t secretly want to be a parade princess?”
“I don’t. But I’m happy for you.”
She laughed, and he thought that he could maybe die happy if her laugh was the last thing he ever heard.
“Tomorrow, let’s go into town and do some shopping. We’ll visit all the businesses, and we’ll make sure everybody knows about the debate. Make sure all the people you want to know about the debate know about it.”
“You’re brilliant, do you know that? I could’ve had you be my campaign manager instead of being my fake boyfriend.”
He chuckled. And yet,fakejust seemed like a weird word to use here. Because nothing between them felt especially fake.
He didn’t say that, though.
“Well, we created more gossip this way. And you did want that.”
“Definitely.” She pursed her lips. “I do know how to create a spectacle. I’m very good at that.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She let out a long, slow breath. “Do I seem different to you?”
“How do you mean?”
“I don’t know. I just feel different.”
“I guess I just … I’ve always felt I’ve known you. Granted, I know you better now than I did. But you don’t seem different to me. You seem like a woman who knows what she wants. And is on the right track to get it. And for that, you ought to be damn proud of yourself.”
