Pining For You (Jasper Falls 4)

The woman finally retreated and he paused, holding the weight of the door. “And I guess I should ask your first name, Ms. Marcelli.”

“It’s Skylar.”

His hard jaw softened as relief touched his face and he smiled. The slight curve of those full lips transformed his already beautiful face into downright breathtaking. “Nice to meet you, Skylar. I’m Rhett Buchanan.”

The chill she’d felt chased away by something warm. “I know.”

He wasn’t even speaking, yet he somehow dripped charm. She wondered how much of his personality had been polished for a life of politics and how much was actually authentic. Overall, he seemed like a nice man.

Her grandfather would not be happy about this.

3

“Who was that?” Erin handed him a cup of coffee and took his coat.

Addison raced over to inform him that her balloon had popped when she closed it in the bathroom door. “Can we get another one, Daddy?”

“Sure.” He took the file of copies from Erin and headed into his office. “That was Addison’s new nanny.”

“She’s a McCullough.”

He sat behind his desk, where a list of messages waited. “Actually, she’s a Marcelli.”

“But she’s related to the McCulloughs. You can see it in her blue eyes.”

He hadn’t noticed the color of her eyes, because he’d been too distracted by the beauty mark on her cheek and the way her dark hair caught in the wind. She smelled like Christmas cookies, soft hints of cinnamon mixed with sweet vanilla.

“I didn’t get into her genealogy. Do you have an issue with the McCulloughs?”

“No. I used to date one.” His personal assistant shrugged. “They’re fine, if you don’t mind a little crazy.”

The word crazy got his attention. “What are you saying?”

She swept a hand under her blonde hair, curling it around the back of her neck and dragging it down the front of her blouse. “They’re just a little…off. They all live up on that mountain off the grid. They’re sort of…lawless.”

“Well, if she wants to work for me, she’ll follow the laws. I already told her I require a background check.”

His stomach dropped. Had he made a mistake? She seemed like a decent woman—kind, patient with Addy, in possession of the proper credentials. He was running out of options, and a run-of-the-mill babysitter wasn’t going to cut it.

“I’ll keep an eye on her.” She handed him a printout of the day’s agenda. “Don’t forget the foreman’s name is Ron. Last time you accidentally called him Don. And the other rep is named Brian. He’s the one with the wife who needed help filing for an LLC.”

“Right. What was the LLC for?”

“Jewelry, I think. But I could be wrong. Maybe a gift shop. It’s opening after the New Year.”

“Got it.” He should have never had that fourth cup of coffee. “Don.”

“Ron!” She shook her head. “You need a day off.”

He laughed. “Tell that to the town.”

“Fix your tie…” Before he could lift a finger, her hands were on him. She fussed with the knot, and all he could smell was the candied scent of her lip gloss.

His mind flashed to Skylar Marcelli’s lips. They were natural, no sticky gloss, no color. Just soft little pillows cushioning that sweet little mouth—

“There.” Erin patted his chest.

Disturbed by the trajectory of his thoughts, he cleared his throat. “Thank you.” He needed to get laid.

The secretary, Jan, appeared at the doorway. “Rhett, your ten o’clock is here.”

“Send them back.”

Erin left and Rhett stood to greet the union reps. After shaking hands, they took their seats. He warmed up with some small talk. “How’s your wife’s store coming along, Brian?”

“Great. She’s real excited for the grand opening. We hope you’ll be able to stop by.”

“I look forward to it. It’s good to see another small business come to Jasper Falls.”

The meeting commenced, and Rhett listened carefully for ways he could help the union in an effort to secure their vote in the upcoming year. He loved being a politician, but experience taught him there was always a trade-off. Sometimes he wished he could run on his beliefs alone, but that wasn’t how the world worked, at least not the American government.

He scratched their backs and they scratched his. And while everyone noticed the changes taking place in their little town since he’d revealed the revitalization project, not everyone was pleased with the modifications. But there were always critics.

Some bitched about the constant construction. Others complained that the tourists made too much noise. And several were opposed to simple modernizing in the form of necessary traffic lights were there were none before.

Change was never easy, but the small town folks of Jasper Falls sometimes seemed offended by even the mere hint of it—even when the result meant simpler, happier, more financially stable outcomes for everyone.

With the addition of new commercial establishments came tourists. And with the right budgeting came additional money for infrastructure. Better roads meant less flats, easier winters, and safer drives. But God forbid the town shut down a main stretch of road for a day to make the modifications.