Her Perfect Candidate

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“To be honest, I’m having such a great time that I forgot this was supposed to be business luncheon. My meetings are usually with old men discussing politics, investments and golf. Not with an adorable woman cracking me up with her blind-date history.”

“Trust me they weren’t that funny to be on, that’s for sure. I’ve asked my friends both politely and rudely to stop.”

“Why do they keep setting you up? Did something happen in a past relationship?” he asked, thinking about what Shawn read earlier.

“Ever since my last long-term relationship ended, they think I’m lonely for a man because all I do is work. But what they fail to realize is that I’m happy being single. I enjoy my freedom. I was with my ex for almost four years and my world was centered on him. I helped him start his medical practice right after I started my interior-decorating business with Jade. I began to lose sight of my dreams and ambitions that he wasn’t even being supportive of in the first place. After I found out he was cheating with a nurse in his office, I dumped him and focused on me and building my business. I’m not lonely, but no one seems to understand except me.”

“They sound like my brother and campaign manager. Just earlier today, they were telling me to settle down with one person. They think that would somehow improve my image and give me a better shot of winning the nomination for my father’s seat.”

“Well, you are a self-proclaimed playboy,” she said, shrugging her shoulders and rolling her eyes away from his with a grin.

He chuckled at her sarcasm. “The media says that. Truth is, I’ve been married before—didn’t work out. Like you, I enjoy my single life. No strings. No attachments. No hearts to break.”

“I wish I could just tell my family and friends I have a boyfriend so they can stop harassing me.” She threw the cloth napkin from her lap into her plate and sat back in her seat.

Steven studied her angelic face, which at the moment appeared disturbed. He knew what she was going through. But now that he’d had met Megan, he wanted to get to know her better. Even though, it seemed as if she wanted to be single and free. Heck, so did he, but he knew he needed to settle down his dating habits and clean up his image if he wanted to win the nomination. Most of the potential candidates for his father’s seat were either engaged or married with families, summer homes and of course a beloved dog. He didn’t even have a dog.

As he watched Megan, he saw the epitome of what he wanted in a woman. Graceful, refined, sexy without having to try, successful and independent. He was ready to learn about her other qualities, as well.

“You know Megan, you could just tell them you’re dating me.”

“But that would be a lie,” she answered, shaking her head.

“It wouldn’t have to be.”

“Steven, that’s ridiculous. We can’t do that.”

“Think about it. Your family and friends want you to date and be happy. My campaign team feels I need to stick with one person. Why not?”

“Because it wouldn’t be right. It would be dishonest, and I know despite your escapades with women, you’re an honest politician. You’re a good man, Steven.”

“Thank you, but I need someone like you and...” he paused as he thought about something else Shawn said earlier. “You need me.”

She leaned over the table toward him and whispered, “I don’t need to date you in name only to please my family and friends. Besides, I have a blossoming career thanks in part to having more free time to concentrate on it instead of cater to an ungrateful man.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” She sat back against her booth seat.

He leaned forward and whispered, “I can get you more clients and a chance to meet with the bigwigs of the Fabulous Living Channel. You can showcase your work on an upcoming show they’re doing this summer.”

She blinked her lashes several times and stared in disbelief. “Decorator’s Dream?” she asked, leaning in toward him again with her eyes wide. Steven grabbed her hands in his when he thought he heard her heart beating faster.

“Yep, that show.”

“How do you know about that show? They’re only in the early-production stages.”

“I know the creator.”

“Justine Monroe? Jade and I sent her a copy of our portfolio and the audition video three months ago...” She stopped. She seemed to be pondering something, and Steven hoped it was a yes to his question. “Monroe...? Is she your ex-wife?”

“No. First cousin. I could put in a good word for you if...”

“If I agree to date you...in name only.”

“Why do you keeping saying in name only? Am I not to get any special benefits?”

“You’ll have the benefit of me on your arm, no more.”

“So, that’s a yes, Ms. Chase?”

“If I decide to do this, are you still going to see other women on the side?” Megan asked seriously.

“No, I don’t intend to date anyone else. Unlike what you’ve read or heard through the grapevine about me, I don’t have dozens of girlfriends.”

“I’m sure the word girlfriend isn’t in your vocabulary. So why me?”

“Because I need a successful, intelligent and classy woman such as yourself on my arm,” he said. “Plus, you’re the quintessential girl-next-door, which is the type of woman I need in order to clean up my image.”

“Don’t you have plenty of other female friends to ask? I read the gossip sites. There are tons of pictures with you and drop-dead gorgeous women. Supermodels, actresses, singers...someone more on your level.”

“I don’t want a woman like that. They get boring. They only care about fame, material things and spending my money. I want someone I can talk to. Someone to stimulate my mind. Someone to laugh with like you’ve made me do for the past hour. And I can save you from more horrible dates. So, yes I’d say you’re the perfect candidate.”

“Perfect candidate? I’m not the one running for office.”

“But will you be by my side when I do?”

Chapter 4

The next morning Megan woke up earlier than normal. She wasn’t a morning person, but she could no longer sleep after tossing and turning with Steven’s request on her mind. He told her to think about it, and if they chose to go forward with their plans, they agreed to tell no one.

She decided to jog on her treadmill and listen to some music. She was nervous about what the future held. But at least she wouldn’t have to worry about any blind dates for a while because she would be in an exclusive relationship with Senator Steven Monroe.

Her main fear was that he’d sleep with women on the side, but it wouldn’t be cheating because they weren’t in a real relationship. Though, he had said he wouldn’t, and she believed him. Megan wondered how her ex would feel about her dating a senator. He probably wouldn’t care. He definitely didn’t care about her feelings when he lied and cheated on her for almost four years.

She was going to get on with her life and if that meant helping a senator clean up his image, then that’s was what she was going to do. Plus, if it meant having a shot to land a guest spot on Decorator’s Dream then it was well worth it. Satisfied with her decision, she jumped off of the treadmill, showered, dressed and headed out the door to Chase and Whitmore Designs.

When Megan arrived, Jade was speaking to the intern, Lucy, in the mostly all-white reception area that Lucy had recently remodeled for a class project. Megan, who loved antiques, was quite impressed with Lucy’s mixture of modern and Louis XVI–style furniture. Light blue and lavender toss pillows laden the white chairs and couches in the client waiting area. Fresh calla lilies and orchids sat on end tables along with decorating books.

Megan smiled as she looked at her best friend. She was truly the diva of fashion and style. Her makeup was flawless which added to her large brown eyes and her auburn-colored skin. Her shoulder-length layered dark hair was curled without a strand out of place. She wore an off-white pantsuit with stilettos making her even taller than her already five-foot-seven-inch height.

“Are you forgetting our job today?” Megan inquired looking down at her khaki capris, tennis shoes and a sleeveless pink T-shirt. Her long hair was pulled back into a bun at her neck. “We’re hanging wallpaper.”

“I have a change of clothes in the car. Besides, that appointment isn’t until this afternoon, and I have another appointment in an hour with Wade Greene, you know the sportscaster.” Jade looked up from the file she was reading. “Chelsea introduced me to him at her cocktail party last month. After seeing what we did with her home, he now wants me to redo his dining and living room areas. Still, I promise to be at the Brown’s to help you hang wallpaper. I just need to show him some fabric swatches for his dining room.”

“And get a date?” Megan questioned her single friend.

“If I’m lucky.” Jade winked and then sashayed back to her office.

“I’m going to run down to Starbucks for a caramel macchiato,” Megan said, heading toward the door.

“I can go get it for you, Ms. Chase,” Lucy offered. She was an eager-to-please intern. Lucy had one more semester before graduation, and Megan was contemplating hiring her full-time.

“No, I need to run a quick errand, as well. I’ll be back in a few.” She really didn’t have to go to Starbucks considering they had a Keurig in the kitchen, but she wanted to go ahead and call Steven with her answer before she changed her mind. And she didn’t want to do it in her office. She rarely closed her door when she was there because Jade and Lucy were always in and out. She didn’t want them to think something was wrong, and she definitely didn’t want anyone to else to know about her arrangement with Steven.

When she walked into the Starbucks, she found an empty table near the back. She figured she would order enough coffee and pastries for everyone before she left. She then nervously dialed Steven’s cell phone number. She couldn’t believe what she was about to do.

* * *

At exactly seven that evening, Megan’s phone rang. She was sitting on the floor brushing Percy, a weekly ritual that he hated. She glanced at the caller ID and saw Steven’s name. He was in a meeting earlier when she called him with her decision. They agreed to talk that evening, and he was punctually calling at the time she’d suggested.

She stood up to grab her notepad that she had earlier jotted some general questions in to ask Steven. Free from Megan’s hands, Percy darted out of the bedroom to escape the brushing ritual.

“Hello?” Megan plopped down on the bed.

“Hey, it’s Steven. How are you doing this evening?”

“Fine, Stevo. And how are you?”

“Stevo?” he asked taken aback.

“Well, I figured you need a pet name for me to call you. You don’t like Stevo?”

“No, it reminds me of my days in high school when the nerds would call me Stevo or worse Stevster.”

“I see. Well, I guess we’ll think of something else. In the meantime, I have some questions that every girlfriend should know,” Megan said getting her pen ready.

“Yes, I have big feet and great hands to give body massages with,” he joked.

Megan felt her face getting hot at the thought of his great hands giving her a body massage with hot oil. A man with big feet could only mean one thing, at least most of the time. She smiled at the thought.

“I already have my list of questions.”