Sparks Fly with Mr. Mayor by Teresa Carpenter

expect to win. I just want our proposal to get a fair hearing.”
    After a moment, he blinked, all signs of vulnerability disguised by harsh control hidden behind his customary facade. She may see him better than alot of people, but she didn’t know him, not if she believed he’d throw her to the lions.
    And she didn’t know herself either.
    â€œYou think any of that makes you weak? You lost a husband in a violent act and he became a hero in the eyes of the world. That’s pretty hard to live up to. Everyone’s scared of something, it’s how you handle the fear that defines you. Have you fallen apart? No. You moved your daughter to a new state and started a new business. That takes guts and planning. And being a single parent isn’t easy. I lost my parents when I was eleven. I know what it’s like to feel an emptiness inside you think will never go away. To spend each day wondering what might happen next, and would anyone else be taken from you.”
    â€œBut it’s been two years.” Chewing her bottom lip, she repeated what so many had told her. “I should be over it by now.”
    â€œThere’s no getting over it.” He leaned forward, stared into silver pools of despair. “You just learn to cope, and you’re doing that.”
    â€œYou don’t know.” She bowed her head.
    â€œWhat’s to know? You may be scared, but you’re making major decisions. And you’re building a life for yourself and Faith. You’re a fierce mama bear but you don’t project all your worry and fear on Faith. You’re the hero. If anyone can get this town to listen to the museum proposal, it’s you.”
    She slowly lifted her head, her hand a balled fiston the granite counter. The hope in her eyes nearly broke his heart.
    â€œDo you really believe that? That I’m strong?”
    â€œI do,” he said easily. “And you better be prepared,” he cautioned. “Because your beauty shop brigade could push you all the way into the mayor’s seat.”
    â€œThat won’t happen.” She shook her head, her rueful tone a clear indication she had her composure back. “We both know the museum proposal doesn’t stand a chance. And most of my brigade—as you call them—knows that. But connecting citizens of Paradise Pines through history, tradition and education is important and shouldn’t be dismissed as laughable. We just want respect.”
    â€œSo you’ll agree to the debate, then?”
    â€œThat’s a no.”
    He sighed. “Will you tell your people to start cooking again?”
    â€œCertainly.” She agreed too easily, all signs of tears gone. “As soon as you’re ready for a real debate.”
    Â 
    He had given her the keys to his house.
    Dani sighed and shook the thought away. She refused to let the man disrupt her concentration.
    Forcing herself to focus, she smiled at the young mother in her chair and asked what she wanted done today.
    But after she helped her client into a robe and sather back for a wash and condition, the woman fell silent and Dani’s thoughts began to wander.
    Cole Sullivan was a dangerous man. His charming smile and easygoing attitude hid a man of unrelenting persistence, surprising responsibility and devastating vulnerability capable of sliding through the best of defenses.
    He threatened everything she’d built for herself and Faith here in Paradise Pines. Dani needed to keep her distance and keep her cool.
    Easier said than done when the cosmos and the good citizens of Paradise Pines kept throwing them together. Or so it seemed.
    Just when Dani had convinced herself she had a handle on her emotions, he managed to weaken her resolve with random acts of intimacy. And he always knew exactly what would get to her.
    Like giving her the keys to his home.
    With the christening only three days away she’d already bought new outfits for Faith and