Tempting by Susan Mallery

going to change your name to Canfield?”
    Dani made it to her car and managed to squeeze inside. She started the engine and shifted into Reverse, but the reporters continued to huddle around her car. Not knowing what else to do, she eased her foot off the brake and let the car start moving. At last the reporters withdrew.
    Her relief was short-lived. As she backed onto the street, several of them ran to their cars. She blinked. There was no way they were going to follow her, were they?
    It was like something out of a movie, only this was real and she didn’t know how to deal with it.
    Her first thought was that she couldn’t go to Penny’s. Not with a parade of reporters behind her. She grabbed her cell phone and used speed dial to call Walker. The former Marine would know what to do.
    The call went through to voice mail.
    Dani swore. She drove through her quiet neighborhood, a six-car escort right behind her. She managed to lose two at the first light and three more at the second. Encouraged by that, she headed for a congested intersection, faked going straight, turned left on the yellow light and zipped around another corner. When she was sure she’d lost everyone, she pulled to the side of the road and called her other two brothers.
    And got no one. Apparently they were all busy with their own lives. She stared at her cell for a second, then called information.
    â€œCampaign headquarters for Senator Mark Canfield, please.”
    Â 
    T HIRTY MINUTES LATER , Dani was in a back booth at the Totem Lake Shari’s. She barely had time to order coffee before Alex entered the restaurant. He looked good as he walked purposefully toward her. Despite the trauma of her morning, she could appreciate the broad shoulders and long legs. If nothing else, he was a distraction.
    As he slid in across from her, he passed her the morning paper.
    â€œYou didn’t see this?” he asked.
    She scanned the headline and groaned. “No. I don’t read the paper or listen to the news in the morning. It’s too depressing. I guess I have to change that.” She quickly read the article. “How did this happen? I didn’t tell them. I swear.”
    â€œI know it wasn’t you.” He explained about Bailey and the reporter and the puppy.
    She stiffened in outrage. “That’s horrible. Who is the guy? I have a former Marine brother who would be happy to beat the crap out of him.”
    â€œI already did that,” Alex told her.
    The waitress arrived with Dani’s coffee. He ordered a second cup for himself. Dani used those few seconds to try to gather her thoughts and return to the real and rational world.
    She held up one hand. “What did you say? You hit a reporter?”
    He shrugged. “Nobody screws with my family.”
    â€œDon’t get me wrong—I’m not complaining. I would have done it if I could have, but it’s still a surprise.” She would have thought Alex would be one of those totally controlled guys who never let emotion get the best of him.
    One corner of his mouth turned up. “Tell me about it.”
    â€œIt’s impressive.” So there was a lot of passion lurking inside the tailored suit.
    â€œI’m tough.”
    He was joking, but Dani thought there was plenty of truth in the statement. He was tough and basically a good guy. She couldn’t complain about him defending his sister. Which meant he was good-looking and a good guy. That could be a problem, when it came to trying to resist her attraction to him.
    â€œCan you do that?” she asked. “Hit a reporter? I mean I know you can. Obviously. You did it. But is it a good idea?”
    Alex’s expression tightened. “It depends on whether or not the guy files charges. If he does, I’m looking at an interesting change in my future.”
    Dani didn’t know what to say. Alex was a lawyer. Weren’t they supposed to uphold the law or