When Romance Prevails (The Dark Horse Trilogy Book 3) by Cynthia Dane Page B

the revelation, let alone the swing Raymond Mitchell had sent his way. Terrence talked a lot about suing the governor, but Philip the campaign manager pointed out how bad that would be for his image. Both of them glared at Hunter whenever he went by.
    “Son, you play a dangerous game.” Terrence said that first night after the debate. He held an ice pack to his forehead, even though no bruise would ever be seen there. “Going after Mitchell’s daughter takes some serious balls. But how about we just keep those balls in our pants, huh? Get me my phone. We’ll finish discussing this later.”
    They never did finish discussing it. But Hunter heard his father mumbling to his advisor here and there about how much more difficult things would be now that Hunter was painted as someone who seduced the enemy.
    Kerri is not the enemy. She was his girlfriend, and he was desperate to see her.
    So desperate that Hunter had spent the past three months trying to figure out how to get to her. Of course he called her multiple times, but they never went through anymore. They must have taken her phone. The bastards. Treating her like she was a grounded teenager. He wrote her letters but they remained unanswered. Some even came back as return to sender. And he even drove up right to the mansion one day, only to be turned away by the security guards. No shock there. They knew who he was.
    For all Hunter knew, Kerri wasn’t even in the same country anymore. But if she weren’t, then surely she would have contacted him the moment she was away from her family’s men. I wish I had gotten her E-mail address. They probably took her computer too.
    “Oh, Hunter.” It was Ronnie, intercepting him in the hallway. “Your father asked me to tell you that we’re having dinner with a donor tonight. You’ll be there, right?”
    She asked it so tentatively, as if Hunter would blow up at her. Father did. Hunter heard those nuggets shortly after Ronnie let slip that she knew about the relationship. “You knew about this?” Terrence had shouted from his office one night. “You knew about it and didn’t see fit to put a stop to it? I’m surrounded by idiots!” Ronnie had become more skittish ever since.
    “I’ll be there,” Hunter said. He waited for his mother to leave. “What is it?”
    “He also says that he wants to see you. Now.”
    The way she said it implied that Hunter would not like what his father had to say. I’ll deal with it. He straightened his jacket, set his jaw, and walked downstairs to his father’s office.
    He should have seen it coming. After all, his father was not the most subtle man in the state, and Raymond Mitchell would sputter about it all day if given half the chance.
    Terrence was all smiles that day as he sat on a couch with a glass of brandy in his hand. Across from him was an older gentleman with a young lady at his side. A lovely young lady with straight blond hair, rosy cheeks, and a certain finesse that said she was bred and read well. She grinned the moment she saw Hunter come through the door.
    “Hunter!” Terrence got up and clapped his hand on his son’s shoulder. The brandy sloshed in his glass in a desperate attempt to make a great escape. “You remember the Carters, right? Distant relatives of ol’ Jimmy, I’m pretty sure.”
    The older man nodded his head with a smile while the young woman twisted in her seat. All Hunter could do was acknowledge them with a smile of his own. Too many forced smiles in that room. “It’s a pleasure.” He didn’t remember them at all, but he did not doubt that they were important donors. Or at least the older gentleman was.
    “Bradley Carter,” he said, holding out his hand for Hunter to shake. “Your dad and I go way back.” Bradley gestured to the young woman beside him. New wife? Hunter wouldn’t be surprised either way. “This is my daughter, Sally. She came up here with me all the way from San Diego.”
    “How do you do?” Sally had a crisp voice