Page 125 of Tate
“Would you like to meet her?”
Scarlett reached her seat and sat down as Senator Jackson turned and gestured offstage.
Glo Jackson owned the room. To be able to sashay onto a stage with that much poise, that much confidence…
“You okay there, bro?” Ford said, and she looked around to spot Tate.
Poor man was standing to the side, near the doors, his eyes glued to the stage, nearly white. Of course he knew she’d be here—that wasn’t a surprise.
Maybe he was simply undone by the impact of Glo shining under the bright lights. She wore a white dress that hugged her body, black heels, and diamonds at her neck and ears. With her hair curled and tufted like it might be a halo around her head, she looked like a princess.
Scarlett felt like Cinderella next to her.
Even in her amazing dress.
Ford put his hand over hers on the table and squeezed.
Glo air-kissed her mother and waved to the audience.
“Isn’t she beautiful?”
Glo rolled her eyes to her mother’s praise.
“And I’m not the only one who thinks so.”
She stepped back and the tall, dark-haired man who’d introduced them leaned in to the mic. “I do too. And I plan on marrying that woman.”
Glo glanced at him. Her smile remained intact, but Scarlett could recognize a woman surprised.
“You know how it is. When you meet the right one, the one you’ve been waiting for your entire life? Suddenly it doesn’t matter if it’s been weeks, or days, or even hours—you need that person in your life. Need their smile, their laughter, their wisdom. Need the way they make you feel invincible.”
Like she might be seduced by his words, Scarlett looked at Ford. His strong jaw, the way his fingers curled in hers, so natural, as if they belonged entwined.
She needed him. And not just as a teammate, but…
He picked right then to look at her. To meet her eyes with his devastating gaze and yes, he could probably see right through to her soul, but she could see his too.
What do you want, Red?
“In fact, what do you say I ask her right now?”
No…no…even Scarlett, who didn’t have a romantic bone in her body—okay, maybe a few, but really, she’d never dreamed of roses and sunlit beach walks—knew this wasn’t the way to a woman’s heart.
Except, maybe, if she craved the limelight.
The room exploded in cheers as he stepped up to Glo and took her hand.
Went to his knee.
The applause died, the audience straining to hear his words. “Gloria Jackson. We’ve known each other since childhood. I love you, and I know you love me. I think the only way to kick off this victorious campaign is one way…”
He produced a box and opened it. “Marry me.”
Glo let out a breath.
Scarlett couldn’t help but find Tate again. Oddly, his space by the door was vacated.
She turned back just in time to watch Glo look at the audience, grin, and say, “Aw. Now if that isn’t a country love song, I’m not sure what is.” She winked, then pulled the man up by his collar and gave him a quick kiss. Turned again to the crowd. “I think that answer is going to have to be in private.”
