Page 51 of Last First Time
Speaking of Abernathy, the legal Boy Wonder, he’s currently being cornered by Reed’s former campaign manager, Maryanne, and looks like he’s either going to pass out or get sick. I nudge an elbow into Reed’s side and turn us toward Abernathy.
“Ooh, Maryanne looks like she’s going in for the kill. I don’t miss those days.” He whistles low and shivers a little bit. “That woman is the most ferocious terrier I’ve ever dealt. Once she gets her teeth into something….” He snuggles closer to me.
“How about I kiss you and take your mind off the big, scary campaign manager?” I tease, a sly smile curling up my mouth. Yes, I am completely that girl. The one who can’t stop grinning. The girl whose dreams are all coming true. The girl who is going to make all of my Kade’s dreams come true too, whether he likes it or not.
We lock lips for long enough that the crowd around us starts hooting and clapping.
Aunt Opal rings the bell hanging up next to the bar top, and we finally break apart. Kade and I are both grinning like lunatics.
“Speech time,” Aunt Opal calls out.
I flush, but then climb on top of the bar top one last time, tucking my dress up carefully so as to not flash my underwear at all of our friends. “I want to thank you all for being here for me at Riddles tonight. Kade and I truly couldn’t be this happy without you standing here and drinking for free.”
A small laugh ripples through the crowd of our friends.
“I also want to announce the new place will officially open next week. We’ll be having a few specials to celebrate, but I’m not bankrolling your bad habits again until the reception right after our wedding, so drink up tonight.”
This time, I garner a few cheers and some beer bottles held high.
“As you know, Reed Harrington IV has dropped out of the mayor’s race for Valentine.” I pause, meeting each person’s eyes. “It’s a loss for our town, but I’m not sure we deserved all the good things he did for us anyway.”
I take a deep breath. Maybe he’ll be angry. Maybe he’ll think it’s funny. Time to find out.
“Next week, we’ll be opening my newest endeavor, the Campaign Headquarters. I’ve come to a long-term agreement with the landlord—” I wave my sparkling dark rose ring at the crowd, and several people clap and hoot— “and we will be celebrating in the offices there as often as possible. But this time, any photographs we take will be by our choice.”
Kade gives me one of those panty-melting smiles I love so much. Then he winks at me. Yes, we are definitely going to have some dirty pictures taken on that giant desk in my office as soon as possible.
“Also, with the recent legal drama having mysteriously cleared up….” I pause and roll my eyes hard enough that it actually hurts a little bit. Everyone knows by now that von Esrington called the cops to say he didn’t want to press charges once Reed was out of the race. Then he made some big speech about how he was a man of his word.
Gross. Time to stop thinking about that horrible man immediately and start thinking instead about the hot man I’m going to marry.
My eyes travel back to Reed’s gorgeous face, and I give him a small smile. “I’m trying to persuade the hottest guy in Valentine to get back into politics again.”
Our friends look at each other, then Reed, then me. Reed raises one eyebrow at me, waiting to see what happens next.
“I heard there’s a Senate seat open, you see—” The rest of what I planned to say is drowned out in an enthusiastic roar from the crowd. Maryanne is already up, eyes glittering like she sees the Promised Land, and beelining toward my Kade.
Abernathy gives me a thankful little wave, then downs his drink in one go. Poor guy probably needs a vacation after all we’ve put him through in the last few months.
My eyes move back to my best friend, the man I love. Kade gives me a look like I hit him with an axe. Well, I’m not done yet. I squat down and reach behind the bar, pulling out a giant carboard box.
“Meanwhile, to celebrate the official end to my many lonely nights, I’ve gotten special permission to have a bonfire outside. Tonight, we’re going to burn all the things that are weighing us down, releasing the bad karma. You’re all invited, but please don’t destroy anything that you’ll regret in the morning.”
I slide off the bar, hauling the box with me.
Reed looks at me, tilting his gorgeous face to one side. “Senate, huh? Was this really your idea or did Maryanne get ahold of you?”
I put the box down on the floor and throw my arms around him. “I know you’ve always talked about being the Governor someday, but what if we think bigger? I know what a good man you are, Kade. Valentine may not deserve to have a smoking hot mayor anymore, but I think the country always needs a new, sexy senator.”
He hugs me close, kissing my hair. Then all of the sudden, he chokes. Oh. He’s taken a closer look at what’s in the box.
“Kar? What exactly are you burning tonight?”
I bat my eyelashes at him, giving him a look of sweet, phony innocence that he isn’t buying even for a moment. “Oh, it’s a few of my old toys that I don’t need anymore.”
His face turns red, then white. He sputters a few times, then takes a deep breath. “You’re never going to be boring, are you, Karisma?”
I smile at him and pick up the giant box of dildos and vibrators. “I promise to be exactly as interesting as you deserve. Forever.”
