Page 21 of Christmas Hearts

"Should I get Mom to make the arrangements for the wedding?"

"I think Ana might want a say in that. Geez, you really have a problem with communication in this relationship. You need to fix that before you do anything else, brother." Danny says.

We ended up talking business for a while, and when they left, I sort of shrunk back into myself. Things are moving fast with Ana and the campaign, and I don't really know where she and I standin all of this. I've been staying with her several nights a week since I gave her the ring.

She's been coming over to my house as well, but she doesn't stay overnight. We don't want to confuse Daisy, who is absolutely thrilled that Ana is going to be a part of our family.

I decide to move forward with the wedding plans.

I take out my phone and dial Ana's number. She picks up on the third ring.

"Hey, are you okay? You left so fast after the debate."

"I wanted to talk to my brothers about the mayor's threat." I hesitate. Communication, right? "Hey, have you told anyone about our arrangement?"

"Um, I'm sorry I told Mandy about it. She's my best friend, and I needed someone to help me figure things out."

"Okay, just let her know it's a secret."

"She knows, but I'll tell her anyway. You're worried."

"I am, but there's not much we can do. Can I come over tonight?"

"I would love to see you." She says, her voice turning sexy, which makes me smile.

"Don't cook anything. I'll bring takeout."

I put down the phone, but my thoughts remain on Ana. Being with her is so easy. Our conversations just flow, and we agree on most topics. The easy ones, anyway. What did I do to be able to have a woman like that in my life?

With those thoughts in my brain, I spend the rest of the afternoon working in my office, looking forward to being with Ana tonight. I'm hoping we can set a date for our wedding.

Chapter 9

Ana Maria

We wake up to texts and missed calls from family and friends. I don't really understand the messages, so I turn to Justin, who is sleeping next to me. I nudge him on the shoulder, and he slowly opens his eyes.

"What's going on, gorgeous?"

"Something's happened, but I can't figure out what. Everyone is texting us."

He grabs his phone from the nightstand and frowns.

"My brother Ben sent me a link to a video. Let me pull it up."

What pulls up is a long-winded speech from Mayor Douchebag, where he talks about integrity and honor. Then screenshots of text messages appear on the screen. They seem tobe from Ana's phone, and she's having a conversation with her best friend, Mandy about how I offered for her to be my wife to help me with my campaign.

"How did he get those texts?"

"I'm betting illegally. I guess I'll have to get that private detective my brother's suggested. This is a disaster."

He gets up and starts putting his clothes on. My mind is going a mile a minute. The citizens of Woodland Falls will see this as a betrayal, and it will probably be the end of his campaign for the mayor's seat. I hurry to shower and change to help him strategize.

When I come downstairs, he's a wreck, and talking on the phone to one of his brothers is my guess. I make us some coffee and toast while he's on the phone. He keeps pacing all over my living room. I remember Lindsay from the Woodland Falls Gazette and an idea starts brewing in my mind.

Finally, Justin is off the phone, and I pass him a cup of coffee. He gives me a small smile and takes a sip.

"This is really good. Thank you, I needed it."

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